Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2020 i Practical Motorhome

To say that the past couple of weeks have been extraordinary would be a huge understatement – as I type this, the UK is four weeks into a lockdown the like of which has never been experienced before. We can’t go anywhere, of course, which has proved particularly hard for us motorcaravanners – especially as we pass the start of the traditional touring season. But there are some positives to come out of this. We have time on our hands; so if your motorhome is stored on your drive, why not tackle a few of those niggly jobs you’ve been meaning to do for a while? With that in mind, in this issue we have 11 pages of brilliant DIY you can take on now (p88)! What’s more, to keep…

Keep yourself entertained during lockdown with this fantastic selection of ebooks to download right now, featuring puzzles, travel, history and more – and there’s no purchase necessary! Simply visit the link below to claim yours. You’ll get each of these titles sent straight to your digital device. Here’s what you can expect to receive… Teach Yourself Wildlife Photography Discover tips for garden wildlife, photographing in zoos, bird portraits and bug safaris; location shoots for deer, seals, puffins and butterflies; and a selection of inspiring images from Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Mensa Puzzle Problems Mensa Puzzle Problems is a highly demanding puzzle book, created by the intelligence experts at Mensa. Exercise your mind and assess your IQ with these perplexing puzzles - perfect for keeping you occupied during the lockdown!…

Who are you? Paul Critcher, Deputy Editor of Practical Motorhome. For me, touring has always been all about the pleasures of travel and being able to enjoy everything that the great outdoors has to offer. Why are you a local authority on Rye, East Sussex? I’m originally a Sussex lad (although I am from the west side of the tracks), and I just love this part of the world – I’ve visited the town many times. What do you love about it? Rye has such wonderfully preserved history – walking the ancient streets here is like taking a step into medieval England – and even today, you might find yourself having an encounter with the odd growling pirate in one of the town’s many inns! What’s your favourite place to…

Reviews editor Amid all the understandable concern about coronavirus, it’s easy to overlook some of the more positive developments in the industry. Yes, it’s a concerning time for all of us, but we will emerge out the other side of this – and there have been some clever initiatives to keep things moving during the lockdown. Take, for example, Chelston Motorhomes – as I report over the page, they’re putting together personalised videos for customers who are tempted by one of their motorhomes; what an innovative solution. We’ve also heard about a motorhome hire company that’s been loaning vehicles to NHS staff (also in my report over the page). It’s so good to see that, despite everything, there’s still positive news out there. Email Peter via peter.baber@futurenet.com…

Download a guide to buying They may not be the biggest supplier of campervans, but they’re certainly packing a punch with a downloadable guide that aims to show you how to buy one that’s just right for you. We’re talking about Sussex Campervans, the Horsham-based manufacturer of bespoke campers. In the current climate, it’s a great chance to catch up on your reading. And even though you won’t be able to go out and look at vehicles in the flesh for a while yet, you can get to work on researching the various types of motorhome you might want to own in future. Visit www.sussexcampervans.com to download the guide. You’ll also have the opportunity to go on a virtual tour of the firm’s premises. Again, the timing for this couldn’t…

n the look-out for a new motorhome? If so, we can help! Just like our inspiring travel stories, expert reviews and useful advice, we think that our online classifieds are the best in the business. You can read our review of your chosen ’van, watch the video then find it online, making www.practicalmotorhome.com the one-stop shop for all your touring needs. We already know that 50% of you access our website via mobile device, so our classifieds have been designed to be fully responsive – they should work just as well on your tablet or smartphone as they do on your home computer. We’ve worked hard to make these classifieds as easy to use as possible, with filters to help you narrow your search by location, price, brand, year, weight…

Many campsites these days provide visitors with a television aerial point on their mains-connection pillars, just beside each pitch. This is particularly useful in areas where the TV signal is weak, or the number of channels that can be received via the motorhome roof aerial is limited. Ideally, 25m of coaxial cable is required, and this should be enough to reach any aerial point. More flexible versions of coaxial cable are available than the type normally used for the TV at home, and this might be worth researching, because the cable will be easier to manage in regular use and storage. Coaxial cable does not take kindly to being twisted and bent, which means that providing a storage drum will help you to keep it in the best possible condition…

How to use the guide We’ve organised our listings by layout, which is generally the most crucial aspect for buyers. Simply locate the floorplan you like in the guide; then, on the left of it, you’ll find details of every UK model with that layout. Simple! This month, we’re looking at van conversions (aka campervans). HIGH TOP, FIXED ROOF how to buy… Setting a budget Begin by setting a realistic budget: not just the initial cost, but ongoing maintenance – both the base vehicle and the interior will need regular servicing – fuel consumption and insurance. The price of a new motorhome can look prohibitive, but offset this against what you would spend on a holiday, and how you would use your motorhome, how often, and the freedom it gives…

• A69/A68 Styford Junction, Corbridge, and A69/A6079 Bridge End Junction in Hexham Until spring 2021. Road closures and diversions • M6 junction 10 Until 2022/2023. Lane closure and 60mph speed limit • M6 junctions 13-15 Until 2021/2022. Smart motorway upgrade. Contraflows in place • M6 junction 19 March 2020 to September 2021. Junction improvement • A14 Cambridge to Huntingdon Until end 2020. Road widening using contraflows • M3 junctions 9-14 Occasional lane closures until 2021/2022 • M20 junction 10A Until summer 2020. Junction 10, both directions closed. Junction 10A open in its stead • M621 junction 7 Stourton Widening of junction as part of first phase of improvements to junctions on the M621…

Duration 5 days When June 2019 Why? Enjoy panoramic views of sweeping beaches and learn about the historic achievements of WWII heroes Reclining on the deck of the Brittany Ferries Normandie super-ferry in the early summer sunshine, I pondered how I might have had to make this journey 70-odd years earlier. Would I have preferred to travel by sea, in a wildly rocking landing craft, with freezing water lashing over the sides, and bombs and shells falling all around in a macabre lottery, where luck, not talent or skill, was your only ally? Or would I rather have made an airborne crossing in a wooden Horsa glider, towed by a four-engined plane and released to the vagaries of the unseasonal summer weather, to essentially crash-land in enemy territory? I thanked…

In-depth tests These are our most detailed tests – we spend at least one full day (usually more) inside each motorhome, to bring you our comprehensive verdict. The overall score is based on the opinion of multiple members of the team. ’Van reviews Each month we test new models of all sizes – we then report back to you in our regular ’van reviews pages. This is the place to look for the quick low-down on a model! Our ’vans, Our month Practical Motorhome has numerous long-term-test vehicles – we’re loaned these by manufacturers. We treat these as if they’re our own, allowing us to give you a full, warts-and-all report over the months.…

This month, we are suggesting a Hobby for your hobby! Based in picturesque Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, Hobby (and stablemate Fendt) produced a wide range of motorhomes during this period, but here, we are concentrating on the brand’s 600 and 700 series, which featured permanent beds. All of these low-profile overcab coachbuilts were built on the Fiat Ducato cab, but crucially with Al-Ko fully galvanised chassis extensions, featuring independent torsion-bar suspension for the rear axles. Handling is pin-sharp, even on the longest models – a major contributor to the engaging driving experience. Stylish exteriors often hide rather lacklustre interiors, but this is not the case with these Hobby ranges. Radiused cabinetwork in Alder, complemented by contemporary soft furnishing fabrics, usually in blue, pushed all the right buttons. All will sleep…

There are a few crucial tasks to carry out on your motorhome after any period of lay-up – here are a number of things to think about when the lockdown is lifted! Clean your motorhome and check all joints and seals carefully. Give the interior a clean, too. Thoroughly clean your motorhome’s water system using a dedicated specialist product. Be sure to flush it through after. Check that your appliances all operate correctly. Carefully examine your motorhome’s tyres for condition, age, tread depth and pressure. Check your base vehicle’s fluids and road lights.…

When you are thinking about giving your ’van something of a makeover, the most obvious place to start would be to fit alloy wheels, if it doesn’t already have them. You might also be able to increase the wheel diameter from 15” to 16”, but this will incur additional cost, as both wheels and tyres would be required. Many companies offer wheels for most base vehicles, including Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer, Citroën Relay, Ford Transit, Renault Master and Trafic, Vauxhall Vivaro and Movano, VW Transporter and Crafter, and Mercedes Sprinter and Vito. If your motorhome has an Al-Ko chassis, hubs, brakes and wheels will be as the base vehicle. But your motorhome exerts extra stresses and forces, so you would be well advised (once lockdown is lifted) to seek the…

Mandatory items when you are travelling in mainland Europe include hi-vis jackets and a red triangle, which, in the event of a breakdown, must be deployed at a distance from the rear of your ’van to warn oncoming traffic of a stationary vehicle ahead. Most commercially available triangles are of the folding variety, but in the main, they are quite small and can easily be missed when deployed. This project covers the construction of a 450mm-high triangle with a large reflective red and yellow surface area and alternately flashing red LED triangles (one inside the other), which draw attention, especially at night. We’d advise using it with your original triangle, rather than to replace it. The two LED triangles are driven by an electronic car flasher unit, which in turn…

JANUARY 2005 Satisfaction guaranteed in this New Year issue, with the results of our owner satisfaction survey and the ultimate travel guide to Europe! Slovenia was the ‘secret’ destination in our travel feature, in which writer Daniel Wright headed for the lesser-known east of the country, beginning the journey in Novo Mesto, the nation’s industrial powerhouse and home to manufacturer Adria Right ‘Tread warily’ were the wise words of the headline to our feature on tyre safety, in which technical editor Nigel Donnelly got down to the bald facts of the matter Below For our live-in test, we put the Romahome Dimension camper through its paces – we loved the kitchen’s good equipment and excellent storage MISSED AN ISSUE? Want to buy a past issue of Practical Motorhome? Simply call…

letter of the month The lockdown over the past few weeks has played havoc with our touring plans, of course (just like every one else), but we have found it has provided a few positives. For starters, we’ve been able to do those jobs on our Rapido A-class that we’d been putting off – not least cleaning it from roof to wheels! We’ve also taken the opportunity to clear everything out (it’s amazing how much rubbish we’d accumulated during our three years of ownership). What’s been most interesting, though, is the wanderlust that not being able to get away has inspired in us. Previously, we were only planning a couple of tours in the UK this year, but now we’re determined to go further afield once the lockdown is lifted.…

Our expert panel should we keep insurance cover during lockdown? Q What is the insurance industry doing about the lockdown? I have fully comprehensive insurance cover but can’t take my motorhome anywhere, so do not need road cover. Have you had any response from insurance companies or other motorcaravanners? The premiums are not cheap and I am having to pay for cover I cannot use. Name withheld A Peter Baber answers… As you might expect, motorhome insurers are very keen that you do not change to third party only cover, or even apply for a Statutory Off Road Notification (SORN) during lockdown. But they are not being entirely self-interested in arguing that. Even if you cannot move your motorhome, it could still be liable to fire, accidental damage or vandalism,…

WHEN TO GO Normandy is very beautiful whenever you choose to tour, but if you visit in early June, you can learn about the area’s key WWII role in the many commemorations. WAY TO GO ▪ Ferry options ▪ brittany-ferries.co.uk▪ poferries.com▪ condorferries.co.uk▪ ldlines.ferries.org▪ dfdsseaways.co.uk FIND OUT MORE ▪ Normandy and D-Day ▪ en.normandie-tourisme.fr▪ dday-overlord.com▪ normandywarguide.com ▪ Merville Battery ▪ batterie-merville.com ▪ Pegasus Bridge ▪ d-dayrevisited.co.uk ▪ Café Gondrée ▪ pegasusarchive.org/normandy/gondree.htm ▪ pegasus-bridge-cafe-gondree.com ▪ Caen Memorial ▪ normandy.memorial-caen.com ▪ Le Grand Bunker ▪ liberationroute.com/france/spots/t/the-grand-bunker-atlantikwall-museum ▪ museegrandbunker.com ▪ tracesofwar.com/sights/76/The-Grand-Bunker-Atlantic-Wall-Museum.htm ▪ Ouistreham ▪ ouistreham-rivabella.fr ▪ Longues-sur-Mer Battery ▪ normandywarguide.com/place/longues-sur-mer-battery FOOD AND DRINK ▪ Casserole & Bouchons Web casseroleetbouchons.fr WHERE WE STAYED ▪ Camping La Vallée 88 Route de la Vallée, 14510 Houlgate, France Tel 0844 406 0100 Web eurocampindependent.co.uk La Vallée is a…

M5 NORTH Sponsored by You might say that this is the road to holiday heaven in the UK, connecting, as it does, the north, north Wales and the Midlands via the M6, and south Wales, London and the east via the M4 to the mild weather, moors, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and coastal resorts of England’s beautiful south-west. As such, it gets extremely busy during the holiday seasons. Not that it isn’t busy at other times, because it also connects Britain’s second-largest city, Birmingham, with the port of Bristol, linking the industrial heartlands of the Midlands to Avonmouth and south Wales. The road follows the route of the A38 quite closely, although unlike the A38, it bypasses Bristol. The first two sections to be built, between the M42 and…

CARPETS AND UPHOLSTERY OzKleen Carpet Power Cleaner Price From £2 (500ml) Buy if… you are looking for competitively priced efficiency The formulation, gentle enough to use on wool and silk, removes coffee, grease, red wine, make-up, pet stains and more. Spray the area and leave for five minutes, then dab off with a damp cloth. The dual-setting spray nozzle applies just the right amount for spot cleaning or large areas. The product also eliminates odours, leaving a light lavender scent. LIKES Competitive price. Will not harm natural fibres DISLIKES None Autoglym Interior Shampoo Price From £5.39 (400ml) Buy if… you are looking for a versatile cleaning product A leisure vehicle favourite, mainly because it’s versatile – one cleaner does all – which means fewer containers to cart around. Can be…

For our 2020 Owner Satisfaction Awards (issue 230), thousands of you who had bought a motorhome over the past three years told us about your experiences. Here are the brands and dealers that did well in the used-’van categories. Manufacturer - gold awards Bürstner, Hymer, Roller Team Manufacturer - silver awards Auto-Sleepers, Swift Group, Auto-Trail, Elddis (EHG), Volkswagen, Chausson, Bailey Dealer - gold awards Todds Motorhomes, Dolphin Motorhomes, Motorhomes and Caravans Dealer - silver awards Becks Motorhomes, SMC Motorhomes, Brownhills…

For many motorcaravanners, choosing where we stay in our ’van will be influenced, at least in part, by whether we will be able to hook up to mains powe Increasingly, we’ve come to expect all of the comforts of home when we tour –a microwave, electric space heating and a fridge/freezer are just some of the ‘essentials’. But unlike home, we don’t have the same mains supply capacity, and if not heeded, this can cause problems. On two recent trips, site neighbours have approached me with the age-old question: “Has your power gone off?” Sometimes the supply itself has indeed gone down, but more often than not, they’ve exceeded the current delivery capacity of the hook-up and the overcurrent trip has activated. Although normally it’s then just a case of…