Indholdsfortegnelse for February 2022 i Practical Motorhome

VW campervan print Bring some California dreamin’ to your living room with this classic VW campervan print. Framed, glazed and printed in the UK on 250gsm satin photo paper. Price £130 Web www.johnlewis.com Campsite cuisine Treat yourself or someone you love to Camper Van Cooking, packed with recipes that promise to make any road trip a culinary delight. Price £14.12 Web www.amazon.co.uk Up front about it Declare your love for all things motorhome with this snazzy T-shirt: it comes in various colours, and is fitted for men or women. Price £17.90 Web www.amazon.co.uk Amazon Kindle With a space-saving Kindle, you’ll never run out of reading material on tour. Its front light means enjoyable reading anywhere, any time. Price From £69.99 Web www.amazon.co.uk Sunnykud Pets teepee Get your pets in the…

WALES Brecon Beacons Famed for its wild terrain and used as a training ground for the military, Brecon soars to a summit at Pen y Fan (at 886 metres, the highest peak in southern Britain) and offers a majestic mixture of mountain and moorland. Peppered with farming communities, ancient castles and more grand views than you can shake a stick at, it sits in the heart of Wales both literally and symbolically. Walkers and cyclists are truly spoilt for choice here, with many excellent routes, and the area’s famed cavernous geology lends itself to exploration by keen potholers. Star-spotters should be sure to bring binoculars to this International Dark Sky Reserve, while those who have a cultural bent can check out significant towns, notably Hay-on-Wye, with its famous book festival.…

Compact low-profiles are popping up all over the place. This season Chausson, never shying from innovation, has brought out two ’vans that are just 2.1m wide – narrow enough to make twisty country lanes and tight city streets less of a strain. The S514 is also just 5.99m long. We went to Emm Bee Motorhomes in Bury, Lancashire, to take a look at it. Despite its length, the motorhome still includes a garage. What looks like an external locker on the side away from the door is actually a clever feature that Chausson calls a Technibox, a locker giving easy access to the fuse box, water tank and water drain-off all in one place. The vehicle is based on the Ford Transit with 2.0-litre, 130bhp engine, but our test model…

If someone cycles past you up a steep hill looking serene, they are either very fit indeed – or they’re riding an electric bike. Ebikes still have pedals and can be ridden like conventional bicycles, but integrated motors add extra power and propulsion when needed. They range from bicycles with small motors that assist when the cyclist is pedalling (known as pedelecs), to models with throttles, which operate like mopeds when the rider engages the motor. While ebikes have enjoyed a real surge in popularity since the late 1990s, they’re not really a new idea – they’ve actually been around since the Victorian era. Ambitious inventors and engineers first attached motors to bicycles in the 1880s. Although ebikes have great potential to ease traffic and lower pollution levels, heavy, electrically…

Bilbo’s bags Volkswagen accreditation Specialist VW campervan producer Bilbo’s – and winner of the Best Van Convertor (Direct Sales) trophy in our recent Owner Satisfaction Awards (issue 253) – is the latest company to sign up to Volkswagen’s Motorhome Qualification Scheme. It’s an exclusive club – at the time of writing, there are just four other independent converters on the accredited list: CJL Leisure, Hillside Leisure, Jerba and Rolling Homes. Among the requirements for accreditation are GB Type Approval and UK trade body compliance for all VW-based models. Bilbo’s – which produced its first campervan more than 40 years ago – also had no problem with the stipulation that any such business must be at least three years old. David and Moira Latham are the founding partners of Bilbo’s. Says…

t’s surprising how many companies within the leisure vehicle industry are family concerns. One such firm is bespoke bedding manufacturer Jonic. But how did they begin, and what are their future plans? I recently visited their Morecambe factory, where I met cofounder Nicky Cannon and her son Ben, to find out more. Back in the early noughties, Nicky and husband Jon bought a five-berth caravan for them and their children, Ben, Chris and Emma. Now Nicky wanted to buy bedding to suit. Seeking a specialist Despite trying to find a firm that manufactured specialised bedding, or somebody to do so at reasonable cost (which included scouring the pages of our sister title, Practical Caravan), she drew a disappointing blank. Undeterred, Nicky decided she would make her own bedding, and having…

BRECON BEACONS, WALES Coordinates 51.8815° N, 3.4435° W Why tour here? This Welsh mountain range is popular with walkers and climbers, many of whom will head for the peak at Pen y Fan - the highest point in southern Britain. Brecon Beacons National Park is also a magnet for cyclists and mountain bikers, who come in search of challenging routes and uniquely attractive scenery. Find out more about the National Park on p24, and see our special cycling supplement on p67. Don’t miss… Cyclists will love the two long-distance National Cycle Routes that cross Brecon Beacons National Park, the 55-mile long Taff Trail and the more challenging 250-mile Lôn Las Cymru, from Chepstow to Holyhead. practicalmotorhomeuk…

Supply chain problems trigger early price rises for many brands Continuing difficulties with supply chains have caused many motorhome manufacturers to raise their prices unusually early in the season. Bailey, Adria and Rapido are just three of the brands who put up prices in November. Others are likely to follow suit in the near future. Bailey said the increases had been caused by the supply chain remaining very challenging, although demand is still high. A spokesperson said: “We are coming under pressure from suppliers for component price increases as a result of rising commodity prices and transportation costs. To date we have been able to absorb these, but we are no longer in a position to do so.” Adria said the price rise should not be too unexpected – it…

For this period of production, the Siena-based Rimor Autocaravan Company was family owned and managed, under the direction of its founder, Luano Niccolau. The fact that it was an independent firm among many others belonging to two global groups gave rise to fresh thinking and a vehicle that was notably different to mainstream offerings. The most significant difference was in the method of mounting the coachbuilt body onto the chassis. Conventionally this is achieved by fixing it directly to the original ladder chassis with (perhaps) the addition of one or two outriggers. Rimor claimed that this practice put an uneven load on the underpinnings, potentially causing the body to flex and joints to open, and sometimes resulting in the dreaded water ingress. To address this question, Rimor designed a galvanised…

A LITTLE TLC FOR KC Motorhomes are rarely able to meet every one of their owners’ requirements, whether that might involve adequate payload, or enough 12V sockets, or needing a solar panel system to allow for off-grid camping. KC is no exception, and I have already started putting together the list of mods – and making a few of them, too. First up was a USB above each cab door, as the driver’s side provides power for a DAB radio when we’re on site. An additional USB was added in the bedroom, to power a Fire TV Stick, and a couple more low down on the front of a lounge seatbox. In the passenger’s side lounge seatbox is a fan to blow air from the Alde heating system into the…

You might find that your motorhome fridge isn’t quite as efficient in colder weather, especially if it’s windy. Depending on your vehicle’s manufacturer, you could also experience draughts inside the ’van, emanating from around the fridge. Some manufacturers are much better than others at preventing this. Ideally, the back of the fridge should be sealed, so that it vents to the outside and there are no draughts inside. But if you do notice these problems, fridge vent covers are a big help. You will need to buy covers specific to your fridge brand, for example, Dometic or Thetford. Our ’van has a Dometic fridge. The cover is shorter than the actual vent, because there must be ventilation for the flue if you use the fridge on gas, otherwise toxic gases…

WHICH MOTORHOMES CAN I DRIVE? Did you pass your driving test before 1 January 1997? ✔ You can drive a motorhome up to 7500kg on your B+C1 licence. When you reach 70, you must submit a medical form to renew your licence to continue driving a ’van over 3500kg, and do this every three years. Did you pass your driving test after 1 January 1997? ✔ You can drive a motorhome up to 3500kg on your B [car] licence. To drive a motorhome heavier than 3500kg, you must take a C1 test. HOW TO LOAD YOUR MOTORHOME CORRECTLY Heavy items, such as TVs and boxes of wine, should be stowed low down and as close to the floor as possible; medium-weight items, such as clothing, should go below head height.…

letter of the month As someone who has spent a great deal of time on campsites (I’ve owned a motorhome for 10 years and was a keen caravanner before that), I’ve become increasingly aware of the number of dogs on sites. I’m not one for banning them – live and let live – but I’d like to see better site separation of pet-free areas and more emphasis on well-behaved dogs. Nobody likes to be woken to the sound of dogs barking; not to mention the amount of mess left behind when owners fail to clear up after their pet. Chris James Editor Sarah Wakely says… Personally, taking my dog on holiday with me is one of the joys of touring – but this certainly can be a divisive issue for…

Oh yes it is! Panto is back for 2021 Car Park Panto returns this month to venues across the UK, presenting the Horrible Histories Horrible Christmas Show, in partnership with Birmingham Stage Company. The world’s first drive-in panto, Horrible Christmas is a Covid-secure experience, where kids (and adults) can jump up and down in their own seats, cheer and make as much noise as they like (beep those horns!). It’s designed to get everyone into the festive spirit from the comfort of their own vehicle. Horrible Christmas tells the story of how Christmas comes under threat from a jolly man dressed in red, and it’s up to one small boy to prevent disaster. From Victorian villains to medieval monks, Puritan parties and Tudor treats, it’s an exciting trip through the…

1 Heights of Abraham Web www.heightsofabraham.com Stay at Tax Farm Caravan Site CL Web www.taxfarmcaravansite.co.uk This 60-acre estate has something for everyone – photographers, explorers and many others besides. Take in spectacular views on the cable car ride up to the summit of Masson Hill, for 360-degree views across the surrounding Derwent Valley, or go underground, into the caverns on a guided tour of this truly fascinating space, which was formed some 350 million years ago. There are winding footpaths through the gardens and parkland, with plenty of viewpoints such as the Victoria Prospect Tower, and opportunities to find out about the mining history of this important region. Plus, for dining in a really dramatic location, try the Vista Restaurant. 2 Chatsworth House Web www.chatsworth.org Stay at Chatsworth Park Caravan…

It was only a couple of seasons ago that Swift’s Kon-Tiki was revamped to become Kon-Tiki and Kon-Tiki Sport. Now it has been updated again, as Kon-Tiki. The range won’t go into production until 2022, but we were able to take a look at the shortest model, the 7.84m-long 764, a four-berth with a French bed and rear-corner washroom. It’s on a 4500kg Fiat Ducato chassis, so you’ll need the right licence; under the bonnet is the larger, 160bhp engine. From the front, the motorhome looks relatively unchanged. All Kon-Tikis now come with an electrically operated front sunroof, except those with a drop-down bed. At the back you get a full-height garage and two skirting drawers. But when you step inside, the change is dramatic. If you usually associate Swift…

TRAFFIC-FREE TARKA TRAIL The hugely diverse landscapes of north Devon can be explored from the Tarka Trail, one of the country’s longest stretches of traffic-free cycling paths. Rowden Barton CL is just a few miles away from the trail, and provides panoramic views across the glorious Taw Valley. Web www.rowdenbarton.co.uk CROSSING SOUTHERN WALES Located just off the Celtic Trail, a Sustrans route that takes in the beautiful Welsh countryside to be found between the Severn Bridge and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Our Welsh Caravan & Camping makes a perfect base for enjoying the diverse scenery of the region. Web www.ourwelsh.co.uk CYCLE ROUTES GALORE The New Forest is full of family-friendly cycle routes, including Burley Hill Fort Loop, a 9.3-mile circuit that takes in woods, hills and an old railway.…

Adria Twin 2007-2014 When the Twin – with its permanent double bed in a sub-6m panel van conversion – was first introduced, the competition were heard to opine, “There’s no demand for a permanent bed in a PVC.” By the time the X/250 had morphed into the X/290, most of the naysayers had copied this pacesetting layout, although constant improvements kept the Twin ahead of the pack. The original Twin layout (later monikered Twin SP) was by far the most popular; the 2009 season saw the launch of the family-friendly 4Twin, which, as the name implies, offers four (adult) sleeping berths. The Twin GT, meanwhile, was a special edition that made a serious style statement, as well as offering higher specification. ESSENTIALS jAdria Twin on Fiat Ducato X/250 LWB and…

Of all the resources that are carried on board your motorhome, battery power is probably the most vital. Reduced leisure battery power will mean the heating, fridge, water pump and eventually even the lighting malfunction. All electronic devices – no matter whether they’re AC or DC – rely on a certain voltage to function and if they don’t see it, they might not work correctly. So it pays to keep your leisure battery properly topped up at all times. Increasing demand for power Batteries have a tough time in motorhomes, having to cope with a combination of deep steady drains over long periods as well as high-output spikes of power from devices such as inverters. These days, given all of the additional electronic gadgets that are packed into modern motorhomes…

Featuring new 2022 models! About 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, of which we had confirmed details as we went to press. All information was correct at the time of going to print. 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…