Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2018 i Practical Motorhome

Spreading the word This month, our series charting motorhome history begins with mobile churches, used by preachers both sides of the Atlantic This month, we are going to look at two major strands of motorhome DNA. Since the end of World War I, religious leaders and missionaries from both sides of the pond favoured the flexibility of a motorhome. The pictured examples (top right) were built in 1922 on the Ford one-ton ‘Tin Lizzie’ chassis. The first shows Mr and Mrs WH Morgan with their Boston-built ‘Little Church on Wheels’, which they also slept in while on their travels ‘spreading the word’. The second, similar combo was built in the UK by Eccles Motor Transport. Later Eccles models had a lantern roof, which became a signature design feature of the…

WHO MAKES THE CORINIUM ENGINE? Fiat Ducato seems to be the only manufacturer to use LPEGR (Low Pressure Exhaust Gas Recirculation - GJ) to achieve Euro 6. Peugeot has gone down the AdBlue road, along with the Mercedes Sprinter and the Ford Transit. I thought the SEVEL chassis (Fiat, Peugeot and Citroën) was produced in the same factory and the only real differences were cosmetic and badges. I’m thinking of buying an Auto-Sleepers Corinium, but who makes the engine? MS Jack replies The Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer and Citroën Relay are all assembled in the same SEVEL (Societá Europea Veicoli Leggeri) factory in Atessa, Italy. However, these brands are not identical and are not co-owned. Peugeot and Citroën are part of the PSA Group, Fiat is not. For all Euro…

Way to go We sailed from Portsmouth to Le Havre on Brittany Ferries (www.brittanyferries.com). We used toll roads almost all the way through France, for speed and easier driving. We also used the toll road around Zaragoza in Spain. We drove through the Somport Tunnel to cross into Spain, but took a coastal route on the return journey. We returned via Roscoff (motorhome parking pictured below) into Plymouth. Where we stayed We mostly wild-camped while we were in Spain, but we did use aires in Cascante and Ascó, both of which were free. We spent one night at the municipal campsite in Plouvorn – we had planned to stay at the handy aire there, but it has now closed. The campsite (barrier access) costs just €5 a night in low…

Price £50,495 OTR Sleeps 6 Belts 6 Base vehicle Peugeot Boxer Engine 2.0-litre 160bhp turbodiesel, Euro 6 L/W/H 7.34/2.69/2.82m (24’1”/8’8”/9’3”) MTPLM 3500kg Payload 508kg Water (fresh/waste) 100/70 litres Battery 80Ah Gas 2 x 7kg Marquis Leisure’s Majestic range of dealer specials has been in its current guise since 2010, when Elddis took over from the now-mothballed Autocruise as the brand on which these motorhomes were based. When the former Explorer Group, including Elddis, was sold to the Erwin Hymer Group in February last year, there was some question about whether dealer specials would continue – they’re rarer on the Continent. So it was reassuring when Marquis announced not long after this that it had signed one of its biggest ever orders with Elddis, to ensure the continuation of the popular…

What would you consider to be high mileage? I recently read that one dealer turned down buying in a three-year-old motorhome because it had too many miles on the odometer. But how many was too many? About 18,000 miles, just 6000 a year on average. I think that’s crazy! Most motorhomes are built on light commercial vehicles, designed to cover up to 100,000 miles a year as delivery vans, and usually with a variety of drivers who treat the accelerator as a simple on-off switch. So why is it that some dealerships still seem to be perpetuating the high-mileage myth? I think it’s largely down to the average motorhome not covering many miles. As I understand it, the average is somewhere between 3000 and 5000 miles a year. I fully…

2014 (14) HYMER CAR 372 If the white exterior and grey front bumper seem bland, it might be worth judging this ’van beyond its cover. Those wheels may not be alloys, either, but they are 16in, because this is on the Maxi version of Fiat’s Ducato. At 6.36m, this is also the extra-long version, so you get more living space for your money, with little to detract from the driving experience. Note, though, that the conversion isn’t switched for UK use, so the sliding door remains on our offside. In standard trim, this Hymer Car would have been meagre indeed. Luckily, it has the Street-Line upgrade, which means fittings such as cab air-con, passenger airbag, electric mirrors, windscreen blind, captain’s-style swivel cab seats and more. The floorplan is closer to…

Peter and Vera Whalley love the freedom of touring in Europe, because you rarely need to book ahead At the time of writing, we are on a European tour travelling through France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Greece. We have wild camped, stayed on French aires, Italian sostas, Swiss sites, Camperstops and all-amenities campsites. The one thing that stands out more than anything for us is the sheer freedom that motorcaravanners in Europe have. We haven’t had to book months in advance; in fact, we haven’t booked anything in advance – except the ferry, but that’s a different story. We could turn up at an aire when we liked – no having to wait until noon to arrive, and needing to leave by 11am – and we could decide how long…

We had a great Mediterranean view from the window of our Bailey motorhome while we were staying at Camping Els Prats on the Costa Daurada in Spain recently. It was wonderful to drop off to sleep lulled by the sound of waves lapping the shore. Cathryn Beattie Us on the Bishop’s Road, overlooking Magilligan Point near Derry/Londonderry. This is well worth driving over, rather than taking the main road. Bill Francis The Moulin de Moidrey provided the perfect backdrop as we parked on the hill above Beauvoir by Mont St Michel, Normandy, at the start of our coastal France exploration. Janet Banks This photograph was taken on a beautiful CL built into an orchard in Kent, just as the sun was beginning to set; there were walking routes…

The Nightstop Scheme is run by us in conjunction with the Motor Caravanners’ Club (MCC), and the sites are certificated locations (CLs); you don’t need to join any club to use them. Please ring them at the times listed* to check for vacancies. For further information on the MCC, visit www.themotorcaravannersclub.co.uk. ■ BEDFORDSHIRE 1 Airman Hotel, 16 Hitchin Rd, Meppershall SG17 5JF Tel 01462 850 853 (*09:00-22:00) ■ BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 2 The Black Horse Pub, Aylesbury Road, Great Missenden HP16 9AX Tel 01494 862 537 (*11:00-00:00) ■ CAMBRIDGESHIRE 3 The Seven Wives, Ramsey Road, St Ives, Huntingdon PE27 5RF Tel 01480 462 180 (*09:00-23:00) ■ CARDIGANSHIRE (DYFED) 4 The Penrhiwgaled Arms, Cross Inn, Llandysul SA44 6LN Tel 01545 560 238 (*09:00-18:00) ■ CARMARTHENSHIRE 5 Railway Hotel, Station Road, Carmarthen SA32 7LQ…

Although we have enjoyed many UK trips in the past three years, health problems had thwarted our usual tours to the Continent. We missed them, so it was with a sense of anticipation that we headed to France in the autumn. Tesco vouchers reduced the cost of our Chunnel crossing, and after an overnight in Folkestone, we arrived in good time for the 9.50am train. The weather was erratic – sunshine and thundery downpours, and farmers busy harvesting left trails of mud, much of which had transferred itself to our ’van by the time we reached a municipal site near Laon. Sights of the city We set off early next morning in the hope that we would find a place in the aire close to the centre of Reims, so…

Moffat Caravan Park is good; the clubhouse/restaurant is first class. Stuart Mcdougall (Facebook) Practical Motorhome says… Moffat Camping and Caravanning Club Site is just minutes from the centre of this fine Victorian town, home of the famous Moffat Toffee Shop and one of the broadest high streets in Scotland. The site is large and flat, with the usual club-standard amenities, including disabled facilities and a parent and baby room. Address Hammerlands, Moffat DG10 9DY Tel 01683 220 436 Web campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk Open All year Touring pitches 180 Tariff (Pitch+2+hook-up) £17.30-£26.60 Cressfield Caravan Park in Ecclefechan is great. Sara Cocken (Facebook) Practical Motorhome says… This small, family-run park is just outside the village of Ecclefechan, birthplace of wordsmith Thomas Carlyle. It’s a great spot for exploring the Borders, or…

GAS SYSTEMS ARE REFILLABLE GAS BOTTLES A GOOD PLAN? I’m just about to buy my first motorhome, and have been advised to install refillable gas bottles as I plan to tour Europe. Can you advise me on the pros and cons of the system, please? Teekay (from PM forum) Diamond Dave replies A refillable gas system replaces ordinary gas bottles. Once they are installed, you only need to pull up to a garage and refill them yourself, as you would with regular diesel or petrol. The three main advantages are: first, you never need to lift a heavy cylinder of gas (except if you change the motorhome); second, the gas is cheaper than using exchange cylinders (the initial purchase and the installation costs aside); and third, LPG is available at…

The great facilities of a coachbuilt motorhome, within the more rigid confines of an easier-to-drive van? That only just begins to explain what you get with a panel van conversion, aka a high-top. Arguably, too, the craft of the converter is more clearly demonstrated when turning a van into a motorhome. A touch of genius is needed to include seating, bedding, washroom and kitchen in such confines. Added to this, while a metal-bodied van boasts greater structural integrity compared with a coachbuilt body, the angles and curves of the former can be a designer’s nightmare. It’s a sector that Fiat’s Ducato (also in Peugeot Boxer guise) has dominated for years, with the Mercedes Sprinter getting the merest sniff of the action. Ford’s Transit and VW’s Crafter are edging in now,…

2009 (09) AUTOCRUISE PACE The Pace is based on Peugeot’s Boxer, and the £1395 Comfort Pack offered the alloy wheels, cab air-con and cruise control seen here. The awning would have cost £695 if from the factory. The layout has a full-length corridor, with sofas at the back making up into a double bed. Travel seating is up front, with a half-dinette behind the driver. The kitchen has a two-ring hob and sink in stainless steel, plus a low-level Smev grill, a flip-up worktop extension, and an owner-added high-level rack. An 81-litre fridge, with full-width freezer, sits under the wardrobe across the way. Kitchen storage is a bit constrained, as the overhead locker was designed around TV use (there’s a TV mounting bracket here). A previous owner has added another…

AT A DEALERSHIP Dealerships are great for seeing a lot of used motorhomes in one place in a short span of time. The prices will be higher than from private sellers, but in return, a dealer must tell you about any problems and the cost of rectifying them, and give the ’van a pre-delivery inspection (PDI) before you collect it. You’ll also be offered at least a few months’ warranty on used models, which is something you’re unlikely to get from a private vendor. See as many motorhomes as you can before making your decision; you’ll soon start to get a feel for what represents good value for money. If you can, build up a relationship with a local dealer. If problems arise or if it needs maintenance, the cost…

FRONT DINETTE, L-SHAPED KITCHEN (31) This may be an ideal solution for those who want to show off their culinary skills while on tour, because the kitchen can often be close in size to what you have at home. Such a layout is becoming something of a rarity on dealer forecourts, though. This could be because too much else in the motorhome has to be compromised to allow for such a kitchen, or maybe we stay-at-home Brits actually prefer to eat out after all! MID LOUNGE, END WASHROOM (35) The large end washroom you can find in motorhomes with this layout is a real luxury. If it is combined with a large drop-down bed over the front lounge, it can make for a perfect holiday getaway ’van for couples. Just…

1 SERVICING EXPLAINED Just what does the annual habitation service involve? Our expert Sammy Faircloth outlines all you need to know, on p88. 2 ALL POINTS NORTH Already toured Scotland’s glorious North Coast 500? Now there’s a new route to explore – we reveal more on p24. 3 YOU TOO CAN EXCEL If you’re tempted by the idea of buying a pre-owned Auto-Trail Excel, our Gentleman Jack has all the advice you need, on p106. 4 BEFORE YOU BUY There’s a huge number of low-profile motorhomes available in the UK – find the right one for you with our comprehensive Buyer’s Guide, on p109… 5 STAY LOW PROFILE …Then find out more about the latest low-profile models on their way to our shores, in our new-motorhome news, on p58!…

Clean away that wintertime dirt Price £70.80 Web www.aquajet-uk.comIt’s easy to let maintenance of your motorhome slide in winter, but it’s important to keep your ’van clean. Now you can buy all you need for a full valet service from Aquajet, which has developed 11 specialist products. The pack includes long-life car polish, AP2001 multipurpose cleaner, glass and mirror cleaner, tyre dressing, heavy-duty alloy wheel cleaner, Auto Fresh air freshener, jet wash cleaner, chemical toilet waste-tank additive, upholstery cleaner, washing-up liquid, and a 600ml spray bottle with trigger. With a litre of each product in the pack, you can banish mud splatters and keep your motorhome sparkling. BS Keep on running Price £46.95 Web www.milenco.comDaytime running lights are well worth having – they can help increase your vehicle’s visibility even…

Way to go French autoroutes are generally quiet and are a great way to travel between locations quickly; bear in mind that you’ll often need to pay a toll, though (see www.autoroutes.fr for a toll calculator). For a more relaxed journey, take the route nationale south. Where we stayed • Camping La Chênaie, Laon Allée de la Chênaie, 02000 Laon, France Tel 00 33 (0)3 23 23 38 63 Web camping-aisne.fr • Camping du Lac Kir, Dijon 3 Boulevard Chanoine Kir, 21000 Dijon Tel 00 33 (0)3 80 30 54 01 Web www.camping-du-lac-dijon.com • Camping Le Valserine, Chézery-Forens Route de Confort, 01410 Chézery-Forens, France Tel 00 33 (0)4 50 56 20 88 Web www.camping-chezery.fr • Camping Au Coeur du Lac, Sévrier 3233 Route d’Albertville, 74320 Sévrier, France Tel…

Poggibonsi, Chianti, Siena… what do those places conjure up for you? Warm days, cypress trees, great art and fine wine? Yes, but they should also prompt images of great motorhomes. They are the centre of Italian motorhome production – just as, say, the M62 corridor might be in the UK. After decimation in the crash of 2008, Italy’s motorhome industry is showing renewed interest in exporting to the UK. We’ve had Laika, Mobilvetta, Roller Team and Rimor in different guises; now comes PLA and Giottiline. For fans of coachbuilts and A-classes with flair and attention to detail, this has to be a very good thing. High-end Italian brand Giottiline is about to make a return to the UK along with sister brand PLA, for the first time in more than…

Selecting a reputable workshop or service engineer to carry out your annual habitation service can seem to be a bit of a minefield. Fortunately, collaboration by the National Caravan Council, The Caravan and Motorhome Club and The Camping and Caravanning Club has resulted in the creation of the Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS). To be part of the scheme requires the fixed or mobile workshop to pass a rigorous annual inspection carried out by an independent inspector, and to comply with strict standards. The technicians must have formal qualifications and comply with the industry’s code of practice. With this in mind, the customer (you) will have peace of mind that the work is carried out to a high standard. For further information, visit www.approvedworkshops.co.uk. Who does the work? The first step…

Suddenly, winter is upon us. For some, that means: carry on touring. For others, it’s an excuse for a break. If you’re one of the latter, and you store your pride and joy outdoors, have you considered investing in a cover? Evidence suggests the cost can easily be offset by the maintained value of a vehicle that’s been cared for when it comes to trading-in time. In short, covering up when your ’van is out of use for a month or more can mean protection not just from the weather, but bird droppings, tree sap and more. It’s also a good security measure, keeping the identity of your vehicle a secret, as well as preventing any prying eyes from seeing whatever is stored inside. Campervan hire specialist Bunk Campers is…

Spending half a million on a state-of-the-art service centre exemplifies how Tyne Valley Motorhomes is part of that small group of specialist dealerships that have gone from strength to strength. Director Jonathan Bell (pictured), whose parents founded the business in 1986, explains: “We are pleased the Service Centre is complete and fully functioning. As the business continues to grow, we have recruited a number of new team members to help us deliver a great customer experience.” But, he admits: “This success has also brought some short-term problems, including space to house the extra people. Longer term, our plan is to rebuild the reception, housing sales and aftersales in the one area. These plans are likely to be realised within the next 24 months.” He’s wary, too, that recent growth in…

2009 (09) TRIBUTE 650 A reduction in its £31,995 asking price just makes this ’van all the more attractive. Distributed in the UK by Auto-Trail (now producing Tributes in Grimsby), examples such as this were made by parent company Trigano in Italy. They found favour thanks to keen pricing and generous specifications, with modern styling, metallic silver paintwork, alloy wheels, and extras such as the bike rack, ladder and awning. The interior features a large fridge/freezer, Webasto heating, and four-ring hob with oven and grill; while the washroom has a separate shower cubicle, swivel-bowl toilet and fixed basin. The dimensions are the same as on the Autocruise, but the floorplan is different. It’s been a favourite layout for decades: rear single travel seat with sofa opposite, twin swivel cab seats,…

TRANSVERSE BED, FRONT DINETTE (21) The pros and cons of a transverse bed are straightforward. One sleeper will have to climb over the other to get out during the night, yet transverse beds are often longer than in-line ones: that’s because designers can make good use of body widths of 2m or more. You still need a place to sit, though, which is where a front dinette comes in. REAR LOUNGE, FRONT DINETTE (27) This layout provides the maximum flexible space for large families, particularly when they go touring in countries such as Britain, with its changeable weather. Parents have somewhere to relax with their friends in the back, while children and teenagers can gather around the dinette table – they won’t even need to move at mealtimes. Many models…