Indholdsfortegnelse for June 2018 i Practical Motorhome

I have just purchased my first copy of your magazine, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Having read some of your readers’ tales, I’d like to tell you about our own recent experience. I am still a relative newcomer to motorhomes and camping, despite owning a now 20-year-old Hymer B584, with only 20,000 miles on the clock, for 10 years. Until recently, the longest I had stayed in it was 48 hours – most of the time it resides at a friend’s pub site. Campsite etiquette was just one of my many reservations, because I imagined myself as an outsider looking on at a well-equipped and organised clique, and was afraid I would stand out from the crowd as the amateur. Owing to the unexpected passing of my mother, and the delayed…

Most manufacturers can build a good big motorhome, but it takes real talent and ingenuity to build a good tiny one. Skamper (a ) and Vikenze (b ) performed well as both car and motorcaravan. They were designed and built by Essex-based Wheelhome. All their recent motorcaravans are garageable, and include all mod cons (even a toilet); plus, they provide four travel seats. Amazing but true! The idea of the miniature motorhome is said to stem from US enthusiasts who wanted more from their motorcar. Firms such as the Tourist Supply Company provided folding kitchenettes that mounted on a car running board, and in the early PNs Red Head offered an Auto Bed that was “just dandy to sleep in” (>). Early US miniaturists then opted for a small, self-contained…

It was an exciting proposition: a solo drive of more than 500 miles from Marquis Motorhomes in Northamptonshire to Speyside in the Highlands of Scotland, and the rewards of exploring malt whisky country would certainly be great. I decided to make an overnight stop and reckoned on Penrith, at about the halfway point. My wagon for the week, a Benimar Tessoro 494, was due to join the Practical Motorhome fleet for a couple of months, and Marquis’s Joe Lawrence helpfully spent the best part of an hour bringing me up to speed on the workings of the cab and the habitation area. I soon settled into the drive, taking the M6 toll road (£11 for a motorhome on a weekday) up past Birmingham. This was autumn (shorter days, longer nights),…

I’d recommend Cherry Hinton Caravan and Motorhome Club site. Gail English (Twitter) Practical Motorhome says… This site on the outskirts of Cambridge is in a Site of Special Scientific Interest, on the floor of the ancient quarry works. Stroll around the adjoining nature reserve and the old chalk pits, or pick up one of the cycle routes into and around Cambridge. The city centre is Di minutes by bus – the stop is a few minutes’ walk, on the main road. There are pubs and shops nearby, too. On site you’ll find the Club’s usual high standards in the toilets and showers. There is a disabled shower room, family washroom, dishwashing area, laundry machines, on-site dog walk and Wi-Fi. Address Lime Kiln Road, Cherry Hinton, Cambridge CB NQ…

• Price From K0, ::0 ( , M as tested) • Sleeps N • Belts N • Base vehicle Renault Master • Engine . l itre, bhp dCi • Length/width/height . 0U/ . / . m ’/’”/’” • MTPLM k g (kg optional) • Payload HNk g • Water (fresh/waste):U/ / litres • Leisure battery :NAh • Gas N x kg The February NEC show was the second trip to Birmingham for the Lunar Cassini range, following its launch at the October 2017 event. The line-up – named after the NASA craft that explored Saturn – features a trio of well-priced coachbuilts, including the two-berth, end-lounge EL. Built on the Renault Master – a relatively unusual base vehicle in the UK – Cassini is Lunar’s entry-level coachbuilt range. But the…

• Price £349 • Weight 10kg • Dimensions (W x D) 290 x 280cm • Fixing height 205cm • Pack size 65 x 27 x 27cm Access Door in front and in tunnel • Key selling points Price, hydrostatic head • Options Carpet, Sabre Link lighting • Web www.kampa.co.uk Kampa’s ‘Trip’ drive-away awning is perhaps so called because, in general, campervan users love to make multiple trips; in other words, they’re not likely to stick around on one site. Because they prefer flexibility, they just want a small, lightweight awning they can put up quickly, for storage or to raise their comfort levels just a notch. It should also only take a minimal amount of space in the ’van when they are on the move. Kampa’s latest drive-away awning seems…

Meet the original UK retailer for Bürstner motorhomes – that was way back in the early s. Skip forward in time and Norfolk-based Becks Motorhomes has added sister manufacturer Hymer to a portfolio that includes Bailey and, most recently, Adria and Hymer (including HymerCar models). At the same time, the company has concentrated on significantly upgrading its premises. Becks has also developed its own app, offering a wide range of general information about motorcaravanning. The app is available from app stores – just search for Becks Motorhomes. The operation all started in LJYY, when Don Beck first offered a VW Dormobile for hire. This eventually evolved into a - vehicle fleet, before moving into retail with an appointment as a dealer for Autohomes, then the UK market leader, in the…

2009 (59) FRANKIA COMPACT CLASS 6400 SD • Price now £53,995 • Price new £75,000 (est) • Base Mercedes Sprinter/Al-Ko • Engine 2.1-litre, 163bhp • First registered 2009 • Mileage 54,747 • Berths/ travel seats 2/5 • Length/width*/height 6.46/2.35/ 3.02m • Extras JVC stereo, second toilet cassette, driver’s door, Cobra alarm, external shower fitting and gas point • MTPLM 3880kg • Payload 642kg RPlus points Fully winterised, practical extras, overall quality • Minus points Small fridge SMC is Frankia’s sole UK representative, and this is this month’s bill-topper. It certainly doesn’t look its age, such is the overall condition. Some of that will be thanks to an almost perfect service history, as well as just one previous owner. From Frankia’s Compact Class, which sat below the Premium Class, the 6400…

Danbury is a name synonymous with VW campervans, although the firm itself has enjoyed three very different sets of owners. Originally based in Essex (hence the Danbury name) and run by the Dawson family, bereavement left the company dormant until the name was bought by Jason and Chris Jones, sons of a highly regarded automotive engineer, and both Vee-Dub enthusiasts. As well as converting the latest European vans, they have been importing Type 2 Bay Window vans to convert. Bays were only made in Europe from 1967 to 1979, but soldiered on in South America until last year, when crash-test and airbag legislation finally ended production there. Coincidentally, around this time Jason and Chris sold up to the mighty Pilote Group; although they both remain hands-on managers. They’ve sold loads…

Email your pictures and their stories ( words, plus name, address and contacts) to hotshots@practical motorhome.com. The best photo will win these guides: All the Aires Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Go Motorhoming and Campervanning; Seaview Camping Scotland; Seaview Camping Wales; Seaview Camping West Country; Road Trip Europe – The Great War and More; Road Trip Europe – Go Dutch. All are from Vicarious Books, www.vicarious-shop.co.uk, N>H> IN2 HHHH. For full T&Cs, see p 4E.…

Way to go We took the M6, A , M , A and A . Where we stayed • Lowther Holiday Park Eamont Bridge, Penrith, Cumbria CASj JB Tel jS]_@ @_d _dS Web www.lowther-holidaypark.co.uk Open S March e_ November Pitches F] Charges Pitch++hook-up be_JbdE Lowther Holiday Park is huge, mainly made up of statics and seasonals, with F] touring pitches. There’s a supermarket and a bar/restaurant, which has a family room, play area, games room and beer garden. There are two washblocks and a laundry room. This site, not far off the M , is a great overnight stop. Late arrivals are taken until Sj.pm. • Speyside Gardens Caravan Park Aberlour Gardens, Aberlour AB LD Tel jSdFj @]S E@_/ ]Q_j @dS j_] Web www.speysidegardens.com Open dj March e@…

Since acquiring Modestine – our Adria Matrix 670 SL Plus motorhome – last spring, Anne and I had become acquainted with our new best friend over two trips, to the Loire and the Dordogne. Le Recoignot in the Deux-Sèvres, France, has been our home for more than four years now, and we have seen a great deal of the hinterland that is up to two hours away by car. But we had been longing to tour beyond this. The south-west, Gironde, Landes and down to the border with Spain seemed like a fair-sized chunk for us to take on. We decided to take the plunge, and only decide on our next destination as we went along. So our adventure began, following the D19 to the pleasant little apple-growing town of…

The free European Health Insurance Card covers countries in the EU and European Economic Area. With the card, you are entitled to the same free or discounted medical treatment as local citizens from GPs and in state-run hospitals in all European Union countries, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The card currently covers those who are insurable under EU law and is valid for five years, but will most likely be affected by our exit from the EU. Children must have their own card, and you must apply for one on their behalf if they are under EO. The card also covers existing medical conditions. You should always carry it – you never know when you might need it. Apply for one through the EHIC website (www.ehic.org.uk) or download the…

I’m getting mixed messages about the state of the market this year – probably exemplified by my stories this month. There’s no lack of folk who are very happy; not least market leader Swift, which says that its performance at the February NEC Show was its best ever in terms of sales. Plenty of dealers are also reporting strong interest, particularly in pre-owned ’vans. Yet there are some more troubling developments, for example the news from Family Travel Centre (see opposite). One thing is clear: the more new sales, the more pre-owned ’vans will be taken in part-exchange, then offered on for sale. So let’s all keep our digits crossed for a positive summer! Shrewsbury-based dealer Salop Leisure has extended its servicing to a seven days a week operation, thanks…

2007 (57) NIESMANN+BISCHOFF ARTO 64E • Price now £38,995 • Price new £63,000 (est) • Base Fiat Ducato • Engine 2.8-litre, 127bhp • First registered 2007 • Mileage 44,794 • Berths/travel seats 4/4 • L/W*/H 6.36/2.27/2.97m • Extras Roof bars and ladder, reversing camera, LEDs, satellite dish, solar panel, alloys, awning, Kenwood stereo and more • MTPLM 4000kg • Payload 976kg RPlus points Quality build, extensive extras • Minus points Driver’s airbag only Although the upholstery here might be something of an acquired taste, you can see the build quality. This three-owner Arto is based on the previous-generation Fiat Ducato with Al-Ko extension, with double-floor construction. The 64E features an L-shaped sofa in the lounge, plus the usual drop-down double bed. At the back it’s different from the others here,…

Our dream began during a three-week motorhome tour of Tasmania, as we travelled up the east coast and back down through the middle, visiting hidden beaches, towns that took a step back in time and vineyards on a coastal headland. We fell in love with the ability to stay a while or move on, depending on how we found a place, and we loved the simplicity of sleeping beside the beach, listening to the waves. We were hooked, and before we even returned to the UK, we had begun to make plans. We wanted to take a year out to travel in America and experience RV living, which, of course, is much more of a lifestyle over there. However, a combination of family loss and the complications of owning an…

One of the best things about motorhomes is that they allow you to discover the unexpected; whether it’s a tiny hidden village in France, or a ruined castle in the heart of the Welsh countryside, often the places you stumble upon along the way become the most fascinating parts of your tour. Which is why we were delighted to read Caroline Mills’ article this month about the Bertha Benz route in Germany (p): this hidden gem marks one of motoring’s most important events, and it seems apt that it’s now possible to follow the trail in our own – admittedly more comfortable – vehicles. This month we’ve also been considering two types of cover: the travel-insurance variety, and the fabric version for protecting your ’van. Both articles make essential reading:…

Even crockery for the ’van can be crafty Price From Z]I. Web kampa.co.uk The trouble with a lot of melamine is that it looks like – well, melamine. So congratulations to the designers of the new Aegean set from the Artisan collection supplied by Kampa. We actually picked this up thinking it must be earthenware. Great surprise, then, to find out how light it is – and how convincingly it looks like the kind of tableware you’d find in a gastropub. This melamine is free of BPAs and dishwasher proof when you get home (as long as you wash it on the top shelf). The -piece set comprises four dinner plates, four side plates and four bowls, while the -piece set also includes four mugs. PB Cook up a storm…

Many of you will have used CampingCard ACSI to obtain low-season discounts in sites across Europe. The card is accompanied by a handbook of the 3300-plus participating locations. For 2018, however, the company is launching a site directory of countries that are particularly popular with its British and Irish readers. Campsite Guide to Britain, Ireland, France, Spain & Portugal lists 2300 fully inspected sites, along with a description, map locator, directions, facilities, tourist information and regional maps. The guide costs £19.99 from Vicarious Books (www.vicariousbooks.co.uk ) and comes with a CampingCard ACSI for low-season discounts of up to 50% at participating sites across 21 countries. Buying directly online (https://webshop.acsi.eu/), the guide costs £22.50 and comes with the ACSI Campsites Europe app. Marking a step towards equality Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron,…

TOP EVENTS A Cambridge Folk Festival This year’s festival is shaping up to offer an even more impressive line-up than usual, and has plenty of music to keep you entertained all weekend. Held in the grounds of Cherry Hinton Hall, it will feature workshops, sessions and lots of musicians! Date M<7 August MSD4 Web www.cambridgelivetrust.co.uk B Ely Cathedral Flower Festival See elegant Ely Cathedral decked out in its summer splendour, with a host of eye-catching floral displays in this annual festival full of colour. There is also a full programme of musical recitals and floral demonstrations, along with a gift and craft marquee. Date MD<M8 June MSD4 Web www.elycathedral.org C Strawberry Fair Head to Cambridge’s Midsummer Common for a vibrant celebration of art and music at this free festival. Residents…

• Price N2, 1WW • Sleeps Q • Belts Q • Base vehicle Peugeot Boxer/Al-Ko • Engine . W Blue Euro K HDi • Length/width/height . / . / . m ’”/’”/’” • MTPLM k g • Payload k g • Water (fresh/waste)/ <P. litres • Leisure battery Ah • Gas Q x kg In the previous issue (May 2018) we revealed our first pictures of Bailey’s new Advance, a six-model entry-level line-up that represented a real step-change from the previous four-model brand. Since then the ’vans have been officially launched (at the NEC show in February), and we’ve had a chance to take an even closer look. The 66-2 tested here is the baby of the new Advance family. It replaces the 635, but has the same front-lounge, end-washroom…

• Price From QM, @@4 (th Anniversary Edition tested: Q2S, • Sleeps / S as tested • Belts 6 • Base vehicle VW T • Engine . Y:litre TDI, bhp • Length/width/height . / ./.m’”/’/’” • MTPLM k g • Payload k g • Water (fresh/waste)BYY/ Y litres • Leisure battery T x Ah • Gas x k g Wingamm has been in business for 40 years; although it’s well known in its native country of Italy, the brand might not strike a note with many in the UK as yet. But we think that situation is about to change, because the UK importers are now established and are attending several shows. Wingamm exports ’vans from its base in Italy to various parts of the globe, and there has been…

If you’ve ever been following a truck and spotted what looks like two black doughnuts where its rear springs might be, you’ve most likely seen the business end of an air suspension system. The ‘doughnuts’ are the airbags that replace traditional steel springs. It’s an indication of how tough and reliable they are – trucks and their trailers have a hard life, and often carry far more weight than even the biggest motorhomes. The systems explained Fitted to a motorhome, air suspension can improve handling and ride quality, and ensure a level stance under almost all conditions. However, there are several systems available, and it’s easy to confuse them. The first and simplest is known as ‘air assisted’, where the airbags are fitted in addition to the ’van’s regular springs,…

2001 (Y) HYMER B STARLINE S680 L • Price now £26,995 • Price new £50,000 (est) • Base Mercedes Sprinter 416 • Engine 2.7-litre, 158bhp • First registered 2001 • Mileage 63,280 • Berths/ travel seats 4/4 • L/W*/H 7.23/2.27/2.96m • Extras Avtex TV, habitation air-con, roof rack and ladder, and much, much more • MTPLM 4600kg • Payload 1370kg RPlus points High payload, heavy-duty underpinnings • Minus points Some DIY, upholstery showing its age A flagship model in its day, this has a similar floorplan to the Arto (p109); but the main difference is at the back, where there’s a transverse double bed set over a garage. Check out the latter – its condition, plus additions such as the electric vent, suggest it’s been used for pets. There’s also…

HOW IT WORKS K MAX WEIGHT The Maximum Technically Permissible Laden Mass (MTPLM) is the most that a ’van is allowed to weigh when fully loaded. If you obtained your driver’s licence after C January CAAK, you’re restricted to driving motorhomes up to k g MTPLM, unless you take a retest. U BERTHS & SEATS Bear in mind that not all motorhomes have the same number of belted seats as they do sleeping berths. You’ll need to make sure that you have sufficient belted seats to carry as many people as you intend to tour with. Our buyer’s guide lists front-facing or rear-facing seats with lap belts as well as three-point belts. T LAYOUT Deciding which layout suits you best is probably the most important factor in choosing a motorhome.…