Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2019 i Practical Motorhome

REMOVING PINE RESIN FROM A SKYLIGHT Our motorhome spent some time parked under a pine tree during the heatwave. We’ve noticed that there are globules of pine resin on the acrylic skylight – what is the best way to remove them? I cleaned the windscreen with Zoff adhesive remover, but I can’t use that product on the skylight. Roland Adcock Jack replies The following are recommended (by themselves!) as suitable: Autoglym Fast Glass, Fenwick’s Caravan and Motorhome Cleaner and Dometic Clean & Care Acrylic Window Cleaning Kit. I used WD-40 to remove resin from my wind-out awning canopy. It says on the can that it’s safe on all plastics, but I’m not sure if acrylic is a plastic in the molecular scientific sense, or just generically described as such. A…

Bryony Symes Bath and Bristol are similar in many ways: both centre on the River Avon and have been important settlements since Roman times and beyond. Yet they are also very different. While Bath is all Georgian elegance – as Claudia discovered – Bristol is more gritty, but with no less illustrious a history. I was keen to discover more of its industrial heritage and its longstanding attraction for free-thinkers and activists. With Bristol’s Baltic Wharf Caravan and Motorhome Club Site fully booked, I decided to pitch up at Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park, which has a good bus service connecting it to Bristol. Powered by people This city was built on a convergence of two rivers – the Avon and the Frome – so waterways are at its heart.…

Way to go • Dover-Calais, P&O Ferries (£117.60) • Calais-Folkestone, Euro Tunnel (£104.16) Where we stayed • Camping Château du Gandspette Web www.chateau-gandspette.com Charge per night £25.45 • Camping Birkelt Web www.irisparc.nl/camping-birkelt Charge per night £23.64 • Camping de Strasbourg Web www.camping-strasbourg.com Charge per night £23.14 • Lech Camping Web www.lech-camping.de Charge per night £36 • Camping Au Bord de L’Aisne Web https://camping-aisne-picardie.fr Charge per night £25.05 Sites booked via Caravan & Motorhome Club: www.caravanclub.co.uk. Find out more • Glocknerman 2019 Web www.glocknerman.at The motorhome 2018 Bailey Advance 70-6 See www.baileyofbristol.co.uk Costs Ferry/Eurotunnel ............£222 Fuel................................... £400 Food and drink.................£250 Campsites ........................£205 TOTAL.............................£1077…

■ “Everything here is fantastic. We will definitely be back! All you could need or want. Dog was very happy, too.” ■ “Restaurant bar staff were fantastic and the facilities for children are really excellent.” ■ “A good quiet location within easy reach of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Excellent facilities, too.” ■ “Really friendly site staff, clean facilities, and excellent food and service at the pub.” ■ “Good spacing, private, with hedge around the pitch. Everything that one could possibly need.” ■ “Beautiful grounds, excellent toilets, friendly staff!” ■ “Well laid out, very tidy, great facilities, and friendly staff.” ■ “Site has superb facilities, especially for disabled people.”…

It was when Ford gave a facelift to its Transit Custom range, earlier in 2018, that Rolling Homes decided the time was right. Hence the Kingsley, the Shrewsbury firm’s first Ford conversion. This is also the first to be named after a female explorer (Mary; the rest of the range references male adventurers). One of the Ford Custom’s key aspects for RH is the dashboard. Car-like doesn’t even begin to describe it, from the multifunctional leather-clad steering wheel to the touchscreen DAB stereo (and more) system. Needless to say, it comes with air conditioning, cruise control, electric mirrors and more, all as standard. There are some attractively priced optional extras, such as automatic transmission (£680), and a more powerful but impressive 168bhp engine (£2725 – it’s a real belter). One…

Digital transmissions and auto-locate satellite dishes have resulted in warp-factor improvement in the quality of TV and radio in your motorhome. The many dishes on the market are of two main types: those permanently mounted on the roof of the ’van, and portable systems that are stored away while travelling and set up on-site. Portable systems are cheaper and can be used at home or transferred to a new ’van. Fixed systems are more costly, but oh-so-convenient, especially if you opt for auto set-up, as we did. Just press the button and the dish does the rest. When buying a satellite dish, think about what you want it to achieve. A satellite’s footprint is the area within which you can expect to receive a watchable signal. However, published maps are…

At the opposite end of the market to this month’s Used ’Van Challenge (p98), here are three two-berths to consider: 1 2007 (07) AUTO-SLEEPER NUEVO EK £27,995 Arguably this is the most sought-after marque on the secondhand market, so you won’t have to go far to find a pre-owned Auto-Sleeper for sale. Marquis Leisure isn’t a bad place to start, either. At the time of writing, across its 12 branches there were some 50 two-berth low-profile coachbuilts on its books. It helps that Marquis is the retail arm of Auto-Sleepers. This classic front-sofas/ end-kitchen example counts a bike rack and rear bumper with towbar among the added extras. DEALER Marquis Leisure: www.marquisleisure.co.uk 2 2014 (14) PILOTE AVENTURA G600LA £42,495 Just 6m long and with a maximum weight of 3500kg, this…

Choice – that’s what it’s all about at larger motorhome dealerships. West Country Motorhomes, for example, had some 14 pre-owned six-berths for sale when I was researching this article in November. Admittedly, that was across the firm’s two branches. I was visiting the smaller of the two, but Swindon is far from a satellite. Even for my early-winter visit, there were about 80 motorhomes on display here alone. The sales manager is the highly experienced and perennially genial Steve Cant. Unusually for someone working on motorhome sales, he can also point to a career that’s involved working directly for mainstream manufacturers. Steve has been with West Country for more than a dozen years now, too. His Swindon branch has been around since 2003, while West Country Motorhomes can trace its…

OCTOBER 2006 This month, we were all about the most exciting new motorhomes that had just been launched. Our cover star was the Ducato-based Bürstner Marano t590, which we tested in Germany’s stunning Black Forest Fancy taking a tour to visit 130 British lighthouses? That’s exactly what David Collins did, driving an extraordinary 5107 miles in 46 days, in the comfort of his Trigano Tribute motorhome Four ’vans went head-to-head in our Big Group Test of low-profile motorhomes, all from British manufacturers. They included Ace, Compass, Pioneer and Auto-Sleepers Remember our 20-year-old, 75,000-mile Project Camelot motorhome? In this issue, the late Doug King gave it a bit of TLC, fitting the sink with a more modern tap mixer unit MISSED AN ISSUE? Want to buy a past issue of Practical…

We love motorcaravanning as much as you do, and we want to make Practical Motorhome even more relevant to your needs and desires – and, with your help, we can do just that. We’re asking every reader to visit the website link below, and tell us all about you and what you love – and what you’d like to see more of – in the magazine. We wouldn’t expect you to fill in the survey for nothing, of course, so every respondent will be entered into a draw to win a fantastic year’s subscription to Practical Motorhome. So, for the chance to have your say, and help make Britain’s best motorhome magazine even better, visit the link below today! Visit here to have your say! https://bit.ly/2Qm3y1U…

BENIMAR Mileo 283 DURATION 5 nights WHEN November 2018 Two great city tours, with historic houses, great art and good food wherever you look…

The A1 is the artery for reaching the main attractions on the Northumberland coast. I began at Berwick-upon-Tweed, parking in the free overflow car park at Castlegate, handy for the town walls. As a border town, Berwick was captured 13 times before being held by the English in the late 15th century – hence the Elizabethan bastions. Along the wall, you will find Berwick Barracks and Main Guard. Today, the early 18th-century building houses museums and art galleries. The nearby Church of the Holy Trinity and St Mary, one of the few built in Cromwell’s time, used stone from the ruined Berwick Castle. Look out for the church’s very fine rose window. Holy Island My timing was bad for my first attempt to visit Holy Island. It’s a half-hour drive…

There aren’t that many names in motorcaravanning better known than ‘Kon-tiki’ – Swift’s big coachbuilt has been a mainstay within its ranges since its launch way back in the mid-1980s. Over the years, it’s proved hugely popular with those buyers looking for a luxury motorhome with all the bells and whistles. So we were excited to hear in summer 2018 that Swift was to launch a fully refreshed version of the Kon-tiki; and it was with even greater anticipation that we tested the 675, an all-new, twin-fixed-bed layout for the 2019 season. A double bed can also be made up from the cushions in the front lounge. Our test Kon-tiki was a high-line version, which adds a further two berths over the cab area, taking it to six berths in…

McLouis is one of a number of motorhome brands that sounds British, but isn’t. McLouis ’vans are actually built in Tuscany. But after a gap of several years, the brand has just started being sold in the UK again, distributed via Auto-Sleepers through some of its dealer network. The McLouis Fusion range comprises five models – all four-berths – that are priced similarly to the Benimar Mileo range, which Auto-Sleepers’ sister company Marquis Leisure has been selling for three years. The McLouis models also come on the Fiat Ducato base, albeit with the 130bhp engine as standard, rather than 150bhp. We took a look at the 7.41m-long 379. Aside from the impressive alloy wheels, there’s nothing radically different about the exterior. Or the standard Fiat cab; although the pelmet above…

Thinking of buying a motorhome? There are many things to consider. All vehicles are complicated – microcontrollers look after all sorts of stuff – but ’vans have the additional complexity of the habitation side. There’s more to think about than just the layout and the colour of the soft furnishings. For example, if the MTPLM is over 3500kg, are you licensed to drive it? Does it have a good payload? Will an A-class cost more to service because of restricted access to the engine bay? And do you have a secure parking place at home, or do you need to find a secure storage site? A few days ago, I received an enquiry about suspension upgrades for an A-class motorhome. It turned out the vehicle was only a few months…

Features Twin LNB, auto-close on engine start-up Size (L x W x closed H) 735 x 760 x 205mm Weight 11.7kg Current draw Dish and control module operating at 12V, just under 2A; on standby, less than 0.5A Supplied and fitted by Vanbitz, Cornish Farm, Shoreditch, Taunton, Somerset TA3 7BS, 01823 321 992 or 01823 353 235, www.vanbitz.com Price £1999 including VAT Fitting (Usually) £240 including VAT and complimentary one-night stay on award-winning Cornish Farm campsite…

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…

1 TAKE A TOP CITY BREAK Bath or Bristol as a destination? That was on the minds of the PM team for the past few weeks. There’s so much to love about both, as you’ll see on p22. 2 CHECK OUT KON-TIKI Swift’s Kon-tiki is one of the best known names in the business, so we couldn’t wait to see the latest iteration. Read our full verdict on p66. 3 LEISURE BATTERIES Perhaps not the most exciting topic, but crucial in your ’van. We learned loads from Sammy Faircloth’s article, which you’ll find on p84. 4 PEDAL POWER Marcus Leach has written in this magazine before about his cycling adventures, but his latest race had us gasping with admiration. See p34 to find out how he fared. 5 PICTURE PERFECT…

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 have to join any club to use them. You’ll need to ring the relevant site to confirm whether there’s space for you before you visit: you’ll find all the information you need to know at http://po.st/PMHNightstops. For further information on the MCC, visit www.the motorcaravannersclub.co.uk. 1 Airman Hotel SG17 5JF 2 The Black Horse Pub HP16 9AX 3 The Seven Wives PE27 5RF 4 The Penrhiwgaled Arms SA44 6LN 5 Railway Hotel SA32 7LQ 6 Belmont Hall CW9 6JA 7 Mousehole Camping TR19 6XB 8 Blenkinsopp Castle Inn CA8 7JS 9 The Castle Inn EX20 4BH 1O The Highwayman’s Haunt TQ13 0DE 11 The Thelbridge Cross…

Claudia Dowell The cities of Bath and Bristol lie just 13 miles apart on the River Avon, although it will take you around 50 minutes to make the journey between the two. The spa city of Bath is set in a hollow at the southern end of the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, while Bristol developed as a port at the confluence of the rivers Avon and Frome, around eight miles inland from the Bristol Channel. Extreme tides in the Bristol Channel allowed the navigation of large ships into Bristol’s harbour. The two cities both have water at their heart, but for very different reasons. So, when editor Sarah suggested a joint tour to both to see which had the most to offer, I jumped at the chance to…

Where we stayed • Whistler RV Park and Campground Whistler, BC Web www.whistlerrvpark.com • Beaverview RV Park & Campground McBride, BC Web www.beaverviewpark.com • Lake Louise Campground Lake Louise, Alberta Web www.pccamping.ca • Dinosaur RV Park Drumheller, Alberta Web www.dinosaurrvpark.ca National and Provincial Park Sites More information at www.pc.gc.ca • Pyramid Campground Wells Gray Provincial Park, BC • Robson Meadows Campground Mt Robson Provincial Park, BC • Wilcox Creek Campground Banff National Park, Alberta The motorhome Hired from Fraserway Web www.fraserway.com Three-berth Adventurer with a five-litre V8 Ford petrol engine and automatic transmission. Well-designed interior layout with good quality fixtures and fittings. We would certainly recommend Fraserway, for the high quality of the motorhome, level of equipment supplied (even an axe!) and their great service.…

What do you think makes this campsite one of our Regional Winners? We are a family-oriented park. We see the owners, the Maguire family, a lot; their values are projected and kept through our staff, right down to the cleaners. This really is a job-for-life sort of place. How does it work with a large static area and the section for tourers? Having a touring section puts a different feel on the park; with new people coming in, it’s transient, giving the park more vitality. A lot of people who come here start off with tourers, take up a seasonal pitch and like it so much, they end up with a static. The new clubhouse has only just opened, which means the people who voted for you have yet to…

There are three car parks in Berwick that have some spaces for motorhomes: the overflow car park at Castlegate, Coxons Lane and Quayside. There is also parking above the beach at Sandstell Road in Spittal; from here it’s approximately a 25-minute walk into the centre of Berwick. Head to nearby Spittal for a glorious beach and fantastic vistas across the water to the walled town of Berwick and the lighthouse. This was a view favoured by artist LS Lowry, who spent many holidays in Berwick. You can follow a three-hour trail of his favourite haunts in the town, by downloading a leaflet at the following Visit Berwick webpage: https://bit.ly/2S9NMEi. Just south of Berwick and Spittal is the Pot-a-Doodle Do activity centre, campsite and restaurant, while 20 minutes away, the Ford…

Can a refrigerator make that much difference? Well, if we’re talking about van conversions with prices in excess of £50,000, it would seem that it does. There’s a bit more to this fifth and newest member of the V-Line van conversion range from Auto-Trail, but a 142-litre fridge/freezer is an interesting starting point. The V-Lines represent a more premium approach, which is also reflected in the price. This starts with a natty exterior in metallic silver, with matching black trim and 16in alloy wheels. There’s a slight surprise under the bonnet, because it’s only the two-litre 115bhp engine as standard. A test drive helps you decide, but I think many will be tempted to upgrade to 2.3 litres and 130bhp – or better still, 150bhp – although price rises start…

Leisure and car batteries may look very similar (1), but are quite different in performance and how they are made. Your car battery is intended to provide a burst of energy to start the engine, whereas a leisure battery releases a lower level of energy, which is intended to work over a longer period of time. Unlike a car battery, once a leisure battery fully discharges, it cannot be recharged. Another key difference is the size of the plates – starter batteries have numerous thin plates, whereas leisure battery plates are three times thicker and coated in a different lead oxide mix. The separators (2), which keep the plates apart, are similar, but the leisure battery is lined inside with a sheet of fibreglass packing, designed to keep the lead…

1 Now add some interest It might seem obvious, but placing something of interest in the foreground of your image really does work, catching the viewer’s eye and leading it on through the frame. Shots without foreground interest are very boring. By simply lowering the viewpoint and including something in the foreground, negative space can be filled, and the resulting photograph will be far more pleasing. 2 Make water look more interesting When shooting large areas of water, you can create the kind of soft, milky effect used by landscape pros simply by slowing your shutter speed (creating a longer exposure). This is a great way of illustrating movement in water – whether you’re shooting the sea, waterfalls or fast-moving rivers – but also in dramatic overhead clouds on a…

What do you expect when you visit dealers to view pre-owned stock? Rows and rows of perfectly prepared vehicles? Or a line-up of stock with a promise that “it will all be fixed” before you buy and take it away? Everyone at West Country Motorhomes, which I visited for this month’s Used ’Van Challenge (see p96) strives to be in the first camp. Typical of many dealers, it operates an open-door policy, so you can browse at your own pace. One advantage of this is that you soon start to spot the little things that might go wrong – cracked shower trays, broken door catches and handles, dents in work surfaces, loose trim and so on. In that case, it really pays to shop around. Increasing growth in the hire…

Those new to motorcaravanning might be a bit confused by the number of ‘berths’ that a motorhome is deemed to have. It’s not unusual, for example, for a vehicle to be labelled a six-berth when that’s the number of beds, but there are only four seats with safety belts. In fact, that’s exactly what you get with one of the vehicles in this month’s Used ’ Van Challenge. It’s not the anomaly you might think it is, however. Say you’re a family of four with a son and a daughter. You might only need four travel berths, and your kids might be young enough not to care about sleeping arrangements, but there will come a time in the future when they will not want to share a bed. Then there…

POPULAR FLOORPLANS.........110 Our comprehensive overview of the most popular motorhome layouts on the market, arranged into easy-to-navigate sections LOW-PROFILES...................... 112 Low-profile motorhomes are hugely popular, and for good reason: they look streamlined and smart, yet offer a huge amount of space within their coachbuilt bodies. There are also more different models out there than any other type of motorhome – all listed in our guide. VAN CONVERSIONS, OVERCAB COACHBUILTS AND A-CLASS MOTORHOMES Our full listings for these three popular types of motorhome will return in a future issue – keep an eye out for them if you’re planning to buy a ’van this year!…