Indholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i Practical Motorhome

1 READY FOR TOP 100 Most of our past month has been taken up getting our Top 100 Sites Guide to press – hard work, but we’re pleased with the result. Let us know what you think! 2 SHOW STARS We’ve also been busy at the NEC Show – lots to see, including the launch of the VW Grand California. You’ll find our show report on p80. 3 WIN £1200 OF KIT! We’ve joined forces with Outwell to offer one lucky reader a chance to win an awning and kit worth almost £1200! See p13. 4 BEST OF BRITAIN We celebrate the best of Britain this month, and our travel section is led by Peter’s story of a winter trip to Scotland – it’s on p24. 5 ARCTIC CHILL Editor…

UNSCHEDULED SOAKING SOLVED Following up my question about rainwater pooling on the roof of my Nu-Venture Rio (Ask Jack, April issue), I am happy to report the problem has been solved. Robsons of Wolsingham (supplying dealer) were very good and allowed me to take my ’van to Knowepark Caravans and Motorhomes of Livingston for the fix, under warranty. Pictured above is the fitted drip rail, which has solved the problem. It made more sense both aesthetically and practically to fit it as shown, because there is no space between the top of the door and the rubber rib. This also stops black streaks appearing on this side. It’s so good that I’m thinking of having one fitted to the other side. I’ve made several small mods to the ’van and…

Where we stayed • Broadway Caravan Club Site Web www.caravanclub.co.uk • Ladram Bay Holiday Park (ACSI) Web www.ladrambay.co.uk • Porthtowan Tourist Park Web www.porthtowantouristpark.co.uk • Trewethett Farm Caravan Club Site Web www.caravanclub.co.uk • Cheddar Caravan Club Site Web www.caravanclub.co.uk • Meadow Farm Touring Park Web https://meadowfarmtenby.co.uk • St David’s Lleithyr Meadow Caravan Club Site Web caravanclub.co.uk • Woodlands Devil’s Bridge (ACSI) Web http://woodlandsdevilsbridge.co.uk Find out more • Broadway GWSR Web www.gwsr.com • Poldark Tin Mine Web www.poldarkmine.org.uk • Cheddar Gorge Web www.cheddargorge.co.uk • Ordnance Survey maps Web www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk Cotswolds OL45 Otterton Explorer 115 Tintagel Explorer 111 Cheddar Explorer 141 Tenby OL36 St Davids OL35 Devil’s Bridge Explorer 213 Costs Fuel .......................................... £170 Campsite fees .........................£487 Food ........................................ £340 Attractions…

Eiffel Tower vs Blackpool Tower Constructed in the late 19th century, the Eiffel Tower is an icon of France – but the Blackpool Tower offers the ‘Eye’ attraction at the top, where you can learn all about the history of the town and the surrounding area. Site Marton Mere Holiday Village Web www.haven.com Neuschwanstein Castle vs Castell Coch The fairytale towers of Neuschwanstein are a fine example of Germanic Romanesque Revival architecture, but for a taste of German-style castles in the UK, head to South Wales for the Gothic Revival Castell Coch. Site Cardiff Caravan & Camping Park Web www.cardiffcaravanpark.co.uk Mont St Michel vs St Michael’s Mount Why travel to Normandy when you can see Mont St Michel’s sibling – St Michael’s Mount – in Cornwall? Time your visit right…

Le Mans 24 Hours vs 4 Hours of Silverstone The Le Mans 24 Hours race is on the bucket list of many motorcaravanners – it’s a thrilling spectacle. But tickets are expensive, the campsites are hugely noisy and the crowds can feel overwhelming. What’s more, you’ll be at the mercy of the euro exchange rate. If you’re after a taste of the spirit of Le Mans in the UK, head for the ‘4 Hours of Silverstone’ round of the FIA World Endurance Championship, held at the famous Northamptonshire track from 30 August to 1 September 2019. The race is a sixth of the length of its French cousin, but you’ll still be able to witness the sheer thrill of the Le Mans experience – the very same cars and drivers…

Royal de Luxe Nantes vs Norwich Puppet Theatre The Nantes-based super-sized puppets might be a little scary for smaller tourers, but a much more family-friendly option can be found in Norwich. Site Norwich C&CC site Web campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk Miniatur Wunderland vs Bekonscot Model Village Hamburg’s Miniatur Wunderland might be the biggest model village in the world, but Bekonscot is the oldest, in a charming location in Buckinghamshire. Site Highclere Camping Web www.highclerefarmpark.co.uk Lego House Denmark vs Legoland Windsor The new Lego House in Denmark is a stunning piece of architecture and has some great displays, but it can’t beat Legoland for fun for all the family. Site Hurley Riverside Park Web https://hurleyriversidepark.co.uk…

Spanish manufacturer Benimar produced its first motorhome back in 1978; the brand began life as Caravanas Benimar in 1974. The Benimar name derives from a merging of the company’s initial location - Benicarló – and mar, meaning ‘sea’ in Spanish. The latter is said to be a tribute to ‘the company’s Mediterranean spirit’. Today Benimar’s models are built in Peñiscola, Spain, and Marquis Leisure is the sole UK distributor of the brand. Benimar is also part of the mighty Trigano Group.…

BASE VEHICLE Chassis Fiat Ducato Engine 2.3-litre, 150bhp Euro 6 Multijet Power 150bhp @ 3600rpm Torque 380Nm @ 1500rpm Transmission Six-speed manual Features include DAB radio with MP3/CD, steering-wheel media controls, driver/passenger airbags, ABS, ESP, traction control, Hill Assist, cruise control, alloy wheels plus full spare, heated mirrors, auto headlights and windscreen wipers, air-con, sat-nav, rear-view camera. Two-year Fiat chassis warranty as standard CONVERSION GRP and 99% wood-free construction, 25mm XPS insulation on side walls, 53mm XPS insulation on floor and roof, high-impact scratch-resistant flooring, twin-locking habitation door on UK nearside, LED awning light, rear-corner steadies. Two-year habitation guarantee, five-year water-ingress guarantee LOUNGING AND DINING Parallel rear sofas and front dinette, two tables, Bergen fabric upholstery, TV bracket, skyview rooflight KITCHEN Three-burner gas hob, oven/grill, stainless steel sink, 80-litre Thetford…

Bailey’s new Alliance range caused quite a stir when it was launched during the October 2018 show at the NEC. The Bristol-based company placed the new line-up at the centre of its motorhome offerings, with the Autograph range at the top and the Advance sitting at the entry-level end. The Alliance was originally available in six layouts, and now a seventh has been added to that tally. Enter the Alliance 59-2, launched at the February NEC show along with its cousin, the Advance 59-2 (see p78). This is the most compact ’van in the range – as with all of Bailey’s motorhomes, each model’s name is an indicator of its length and the number of belted seats available – 5.9m and two, in this case. Like the other Alliance motorhomes,…

When you’re buying a fire extinguisher for your ’van, the Caravan and Motorhome Club recommends a 1kg AFFF device made and tested in accordance with BS EN 3 and with at least a 5A rating. However, this is bulky and while it must be instantly accessible, you don’t want to keep bumping into it. My solution is to recess the device into a cupboard, in an open-front plywood box. I used offcuts of 8mm ply to provide rigidity for this heavy object without adding excessive weight. Measure and cut Start by measuring your extinguisher and cutting out the plywood sides, back and base. You can clamp these together temporarily to check the size. Remember to allow for the angle trims that will fit around the opening. These may be hardwood…

1 2018 (18) ROLLER TEAM 707 £43,995 One of two six-berth Roller Teams now up for sale, having come off the fleet at Peter Roberts. In fact, this could sleep seven, thanks to the combination of rear bunk beds, electric drop-down double and a double plus single made up from the lounge seating. This one has only covered some 5647 miles, and comes with that all-important Driver’s Pack option. At the time of writing, it was less than a year old, representing a saving of about £7000 on a similar-spec new version. DEALER Peter Roberts: www.peterrobertscaravans.co.uk 2 2016 (16) SUN LIVING A35SP £36,995 Don’t let the 19,800 recorded miles put you off here – this Sun Living is well up to parent manufacturing company Adria’s usual build standards. It’s a…

They really pack them in at Emm-Bee – the motorhomes for sale, that is (although customer parking is at a bit of a premium, too). So it’s hardly surprising to hear that a move is on the horizon – almost literally. The plan is to move the sales side to premises just up the road from Emm-Bee’s current location, on the outskirts of Bury, Greater Manchester, retaining this site for servicing work only. But that’s still some way off. Craig Meller is Emm-Bee’s senior sales executive. He originally joined “as a friend of the family for two weeks to help out” and he’s still here some 10 years later. At one point, Craig was the aftersales manager, as well as handling, in his words, various other roles including “valeting, driving…

2005 (55) HYMER CLASSIC C664G A great starter vehicle for a family of four or more, this overcab coachbuilt will sleep and travel up to six, all belted (one lap-belt only). First-time buyers might find the sub-£23,000 price a large outlay, but this really is bargain territory. It has a predictably solid build and has benefited from plenty of upgrades, with the likes of a factory-fitted oven joined by owner add-ons such as the TV. This unusual layout has a double dinette behind the cab passenger seat and a wardrobe aft of the driver. Washroom and kitchen are mid-’van, nearside and offside respectively. The former is large enough to offer a shower cubicle, with curtain rather than door, as well as fixed basin and swivel-bowl toilet, plus two storage lockers,…

AWARDS 2010 We celebrated our 100th (issue) birthday in 2010. This was also our annual awards issue – as well as all the great regular content, we revealed the results of our Owner Satisfaction and Motorhome of the Year awards From 1-100, we included a picture of every single one of our covers. Practical Motorhome was launched in the autumn of 2001, and since then we’ve covered hundreds of thousands of touring miles Editor Rob Ganley toured Kent with his wife and son. They pitched up in a VW California that – as detailed elsewhere in the issue – also safely took us to France and Luxembourg that same month In 2010 we named our Motorhome of the Year as the Tribute T620, a five-berth featuring a large overcab bed…

I wanted to write to you to air a particular bugbear of mine, which is caravan parks that still insist on using codes and/or fobs for toilet blocks on their sites. I know many motorhomes nowadays come with their own washrooms and toilets – even my van conversion has one. But I often use this area to store my fishing gear, and in any case sometimes you just want to take advantage of the comfort you get in a toilet block. I have to admit that my memory nowadays isn’t as good as it was! All too often I get to the block only to realise that I have forgotten the fob (and often I can’t even remember where I left it) or cannot recall the code. If you are…

A lovely place we found at Himmelsberga on Oland, Sweden, during our month-long trip there in June 2018. There’s about 400 of these windmills on the island. This one was opposite an open-air museum, where you can stop for the night. Peter Benson This photograph was taken as we started to descend Switzerland’s Grimsel Pass in our Auto-Trail Apache 700, heading for the Furka Glacier, which you can see in the distance. We could never have imagined traversing such steep, winding and challenging roads in our motorhome, but we did! Nigel Lee A few weeks ago, we parked overnight at Dunstable Do wns car park, only to be stunned b y this sunset! Clare Curtis A few days in early January at a chilly…

Time for tea Price £89.95 Web www.ember.comYou can enjoy the perfect cuppa, any time, with an Ember Ceramic Mug. This clever cup connects wirelessly with an app on your phone, so you can regulate the heat of your tea, coffee or hot chocolate and keep it at the perfect temperature for sipping. Set your choice of temperature from 50C to 62.5C on the app, and when you pour in your drink, the mug maintains that level for up to an hour. It can even regulate the temperature all day if used with the included charging coaster. Made from ceramic-coated stainless steel, the mug weighs just 340g, perfect for enjoying your favourite hot drink. BS No washroom? No problem! Price £295-£425 Web www.boondocktrailers.co.uk/road-shower/road-shower-4sIf you tour in a small campervan, the likelihood…

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 Inn…

Attractions & towns From cities with centuries of history to seaside resorts for all the family, the UK has something to offer every visitor Natural beauty You don’t have to travel to other countries to find spectacular landscapes and wonderful wildlife Events & activities This country really knows how to party, with family-friendly activities and festivals throughout the year and all over the UK Food & drink The Continent has some truly great cuisine, but for traditional food (and iconic drinks), you can’t beat Britain Kids (big & small ) Wherever you tour in this country, you’ll find great entertainment for the children – and the grown-ups, too…

Italian Lakesh vs Lake District Valleys, hills and a great canopy of sky, all reflected in tranquil lakes, tumbling waterfalls and tinkling streams; the Lake District never fails to enthrall. Scale England’s tallest mountain, Scafell Pike, or ponder the depths of our deepest natural lake, Wastwater. Feast your eyes on Windermere’s vastness, then gaze across miles and miles of sweeping fells. Great lakes There’s breathtaking beauty around every twist and turn in the Lake District National Park, with each new vista thrilling the soul and refreshing even the most jaded of travellers. Nourish the body, too, with local delicacies that include Herdwick lamb and Cumberland sausages, Ullswater’s sticky toffee pudding and the famous Kendal mint cake. On the Continent, the Italian Lakes also offer great natural beauty, enhanced with added…

Calzone vs Cornish pasties If calzone is Italy’s way of making pizza more portable, the Cornish got there first, with the original miner’s meal. A meaty marvel that’s perfect for lunch on the go. Where to eat www.philpspasties.co.uk Where to stay Tehidy Holiday Park Web www.tehidy.co.uk Edam vs Double Gloucester Everyone knows Edam for its red-wax coating, but Double Gloucester is equally tasty – and it’s also possible to find it wrapped in a pliable waxy jacket. Where to eat www.cotswoldcheese.com Where to stay Moreton-in-Marsh C&MC Web www.caravanclub.co.uk Bratwurst vs Bangers Germany is rightly famed for its sausages, but you can find equally tasty bangers on our shores, from Gloucester, to Cumberland, to Lincolnshire, and everywhere in between. Where to eat www.heapssausages.com Where to stay…

Ariot of incredible colour – that was our overriding impression of the beautiful island of Corsica. Turquoise sea, red cliffs, green forests, grey mountains, golden sand – it was all simply stunning. We made the sea crossing with Corsica-Sardinia Ferries, from Toulon to L’Ile-Rousse (returning from Bastia to Nice). Having spoken to people who had travelled in both directions around the island, we concluded that an anti-clockwise tour would be best. Of course, if you don’t like being too close to the cliff edges, then travelling clockwise might be better! The main roads in Corsica are generally good, especially on the east side; but there are plenty of narrow sections and numerous rock or tree overhangs, so you’ll need to exercise caution. We often saw pigs, goats, sheep or cows…

Price £51,995 Sleeps 3 Belts 4 Base Fiat Ducato Engine 2.3-litre, 150bhp, Euro 6 L/W/H 5.99/2.30/2.89m (19’7”/7’5”/9’5”) MTPLM 3500kg Payload 650kg Water (fresh/waste) 120/105 litres Battery 85Ah Gas 2 x 6kg In the past few years, compact motorhomes have really grown in popularity, and for good reason: they’re easier to drive and park, command less of a premium on ferry crossings, and generally have an MTPLM equal to or less than the magic 3500kg figure – therefore can be driven with a category B driving licence. No wonder, then, that Marquis Leisure – sole UK importer for popular Spanish brand Benimar – has chosen to retail the compact, new-for-2019 Mileo 283 via its extensive dealer network. This sub-6m motorhome is also hugely UK-friendly – the accommodation door being on the…

CLAUDIA DOWELL “Driving this motorhome is a doddle – it’s so compact and has a good turning circle. Adding the rear-corner steadies is also a good idea, helping to make the rear lounge feel less bouncy when you’re pitched up.” SARAH WAKELY “I spent a lot of time in this motorhome when travelling to Belgium in it last year, and I loved it. The layout is ideal for a couple – you can choose to leave the rear lounge made up as a bed during the day, so there’s no setting-up to do after a busy day exploring.” PETER BABER “A 150bhp engine in a ’van of these dimensions is a real treat – it means quick getaways at junctions, even with lots of kit on board. Given the 650kg…

SWIFT ESCAPE COMPACT C402 From £47,350 The Swift Escape Compact range was new for 2019, and this model won our latest Best Compact Motorhome award. It’s slightly narrower than the Mileo 283, but is also based on the Fiat Ducato. ELDDIS ACCORDO 135 £42,999 Elddis’s version of the front half-dinette, rear-lounge layout is a fair bit cheaper than the Benimar Mileo 283. It’s based on the Peugeot Boxer, but has a less powerful engine than the Spanish ’van, and a lower spec level.…

The inclement late-winter weather - and extensive work on our annual Top 100 Sites Guide - really put paid to our touring plans over the past month, which was a shame, because we were looking forward to getting our new Bailey Advance 76-2T out on the road. But while we worked on ideas of where to take the ’van, I spent time getting to know its finer details. The 76-2T was a late addition to the Advance range of coachbuilts, which is Bailey’s entry-level motorhome line-up. Along with its sibling 76-4T, the 76-2T addressed the fact that there were no fixed-single-bed ’vans in the line-up when it was launched. These models are favoured by those who don’t like having to make up a bed each night, or don’t want to…

This photo feature is the last but one in the current series about our recently purchased Bailey Advance 66-2. The final instalment, which will feature in an upcoming issue, will be a warts ‘n’ all review of our first year’s ownership. 1 The earliest additions have to be decided at the time of ordering – they will be fitted at the factory or by the dealer before collection. Every buyer will have a ‘must have’ list, but two of the most popular are a wind-out canopy awning and a bike rack. Increasingly, these are part of the standard spec, or an options pack. The latter bundles together add-ons and upgrades, usually offering far better value for money than retrofitting. In addition, there shouldn’t be any arguments over whether the additions…

2017 (17) LAIKA ECOVIP 309 TOSCANA ‘Toscana’ denotes a special edition – and the 309 here was one of only two Ecovips to get the Toscana spec. This ’van was sold new by Emm-Bee and has had just one owner to date. Its overcab profile gives it a slightly boxy look, but offers space for overhead lockers and/or a sunroof. Elsewhere, it’s a standard layout, with fixed single beds at the rear that also convert to a double. The central area is taken up by the kitchen’s three-ring hob, sink, Dometic fridge and small Dometic warming oven. There is also a full-facilities washroom. The Toscana spec lifts this motorhome several notches. The many extras include a 150bhp engine upgrade, metallic blue cab, alloys, electric drop-down bed, satellite TV system and…

Editor Sarah spotted this beautiful 1973 Ford Transit-based Dormobile Freeway at a Sunday Scramble event at Bicester Heritage. This particular model, looking almost like new, was built as a one-off promotional vehicle and has covered fewer than 30,000 miles. “It was absolutely pristine inside, too,” said Sarah. Spotted an interesting ’van while on the road? Send us a photo, along with details of where you saw it, to talk@practicalmotorhome.com – it could be printed in the magazine!…

We use our ACSI Camping Card frequently, for low-season discounts on sites in France and Spain, and decided to see how the ACSI experience in the UK compared. The ACSI book now has more than 40 sites listed in Britain, many of them in the south-west. We settled on following a south-west nature trail, mainly using ACSI and Caravan and Motorhome Club (C&MC) sites, walking and running in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs), National Parks and along coast paths. The Cotswolds Our first stop was at the C&MC site at Broadway in the Cotswolds. Using OS Explorer Map OL45, there is plenty of walking through beautiful countryside and woodland in the area. The village of Broadway, which is about half a mile from the site, has a good selection…

The Dolomites vs Ben Nevis The Dolomites have a special beauty all their own, but if you really want to get away from it all, a hike up Ben Nevis can help you to escape the rat race and get your head straight. Site Glen Nevis Caravan and Camping Web www.glen-nevis.co.uk Norway’s fjords vs Scottish lochs Norway’s beautiful fjords are a sight to behold, but the country is tricky to reach from the UK in a motorhome – save yourself time and money, and enjoy Scotland’s stunning lochs instead. Site Loch Lomond Holiday Park Web www.argyllholidays.com Netherlands vs Norfolk Broads Holland’s tulip fields and marshes are a network of canals and windmills in a flat landscape; just like the Norfolk Broads, where you’ll also find rivers, canals and…

Oktoberfest vs Great British Beer Festival Munich’s annual Oktoberfest is a sight to behold, but if you want to sample a tremendous choice of tasty ales, without the huge crowds, try the Great British Beer Festival, held at Olympia, London, from 6-10 August 2019. Site Chertsey C&CC site Web www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk La Tomatina vs Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll Cooper’s Hill Cheese Roll and Wake, a centuries-old tradition of chasing cheese down a hill, takes place on 27 May. And unlike Spain’s La Tomatina festival, you can take part or watch without getting covered in flying tomatoes. Site Briarfields Hotel and Touring Caravan Park Web www.briarfields.net St Patrick’s Day Parade vs Notting Hill Carnival Summer says farewell in the capital with the Caribbean exuberance of the Notting Hill Carnival on 24-26 August.…

Mountain rail: Jungfraujoch vs Snowdon The Jungfraujoch railway, in the heart of the Swiss Alps, has the highest station in Europe, at the dizzying altitude of 3454m (11,332ft). You reach this height via a series of breathtaking views, although the final stretch is cloaked in darkness as the tracks tunnel through the mighty Eiger before reaching the top. Once there, you can spend time at the Sphinx observatory or simply enjoy the views. But it’s not for everyone. If the price of the train ticket doesn’t make you light-headed, the altitude at the summit surely will… A much more accessible option is to take the little mountain railway to the top of Snowdon. On a bright, clear day, the scenery can be equally as stunning, and there is also the…

Way to go We left Toulon on 8 May, arriving in L’Ile-Rousse, and returning to Nice from Bastia on 11 July using Corsica-Sardinia Ferries. This trip to Corsica was part of an extended trip around Europe. Where we stayed We stayed in a variety of places, including campsites, aires, motorhome parking, camping à la ferme and occasional free spots. Prices quoted are for two people and a motorhome. Our preference is for quieter, natural places and, where possible, near where we want to visit. There are many places to stay in Corsica, and we found some fabulous spots by chance. Campsites are variable and the facilities might not match the price. Some were unkempt, even though it was the start of the season, but all were in fabulous locations with…

SPACE INSIDE The Mileo may be a small ’van, but it has plenty of storage. The space under the nearside rear sofa is accessible from outside, too STEADY AND SOLID There’s not a huge overhang on this ’van, but rear-corner steadies do make things less bouncy when you’re walking around inside EAT OUTSIDE Al fresco dining is easy thanks to the inclusion of an exterior gas barbecue point – simply connect your BBQ and start cooking IT’S A GAS The gas locker holds two 6kg bottles; it’s located nice and low, too, so you don’t have to lift them high when they need changing COMFY DINETTE Both cab seats swivel to join the dinette seat as a lounge. This circular table is big enough for snacks OFFSIDE INLET The water-filling…

The smart two-tone paintwork is a real attention-grabber. The red-and-white theme continues inside, too. The Westfalia Kepler Sixty looks a million dollars and starts just short of £60,000, including a ‘basic’ £58,052 OTR, plus the pretty much indispensable Kepler Pack at £1615. Our test ’van, with a few other ‘essential’ extras, costs some £69,179. Comparisons with VW’s own California Ocean are inevitable (an Ocean with the two-tone treatment seems to cost less, with a better overall specification, but judge for yourselves). Arguably, the Sixty lacks a little of the class leader’s sophistication – anything from the electric operation for the elevating roof to the more upmarket dashboard, auto-latching sliding door, and cab blinds. The California is also based on a version of the Caravelle people carrier, rather than the variants…

THREE BRIDGE TAKES A BOW Buckingham-based company Three Bridge Campers was making its first appearance at the show this February, after a five-year wait to get in. The company, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, is about to move to larger, purpose-built premises in Milton Keynes. It specialises in VW T6 conversions, with particularly modern and sculpted interiors including induction hobs, as in the Infinity model pictured here. The move will provide it with more space to service motorhomes, and possibly to move into new base vehicles, such as the VW Crafter. WILDAX GETS INTO ISLANDS Wildax had its new Sprinter-based island model, the Elara, on display. Unusually for a van conversion, it can include a rear island bed. A layout with fixed single beds is available; although we…

Price....................................£47,999 Berths................................................ 4 Belts.................................................... 2 Base....................Peugeot Boxer/ ........................................Al-Ko AMC Engine.......................Peugeot 2.0 ..........................Blue HDi, 130bhp Length/width/height.............................................7.57/2.28/2.76m Payload..................................558kg Overall expenses.............None Previous reports.April 2019…

For some, the thought of touring abroad might be a bit daunting – driving on the right, tolls, the language and the regulations. But don’t let this dampen your wanderlust – here are some top tips to help you prepare for the big adventure. Be prepared The main gateways to Europe are ferry ports. If you dislike sea travel, there’s the Eurotunnel, from Folkestone to Calais. It only takes 30 minutes to cross under the Channel, as opposed to 1.5 hours by ferry from Dover to Calais. Once you drive off the ferry or train, you must remember to drive on the right (except for Ireland, Malta and Cyprus). Driving laws vary, so always check the rules for the countries that you are visiting and identify what you will need…

Want some advice on how to optimise your motorhome for the best trade-in price? Or how to make more of your current ’van in the season ahead? My tips this month are aimed especially at those who might be thinking about trading in your ’van for a newer/bigger/smaller/better ’van. Or simply one more suited to your changing needs. But this advice will also apply if you’re about to retrieve your vehicle from winter hibernation and get ready for some spring adventures. Forgive me for repeating the old adage, but it’s very pertinent, especially if you’re buying a new ’van: by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail. Most of the following are self-explanatory, but for all of them, your best starting point is your local specialist motorhome dealer. 1…

2013 (63) BÜRSTNER IXEO PLUS IT 875 G This one really is something special, and it’s in excellent condition. A further bonus is that it was sold new by Emm-Bee and comes with a full dealer service history. Bear in mind, too, the extra stability of the rear tag axle; while weight-wise, it tops out at 5000kg, with over a tonne of payload. Inside, you’ll find an electric drop-down double bed over the lounge, cabinet with glasses, and Bürstner’s trademark upholstery. The generous lounge offers seating for six (or more at a squeeze), and four for travel. The roomy kitchen has a Tec Tower fridge/freezer and oven/grill (the latter set high, so you’ll need to take care), sink with drainer, three-ring gas hob and excellent storage (large drawers as well…

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…