Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Practical Motorhome

1 After a wonderful day out in Granada, Spain, we drove up through the spectacular Sierra Nevada National Park to our campsite, Las Lomas. We stopped off at a viewpoint to take this picture. The site was fabulous, too! David Dowling 2 Who says camping in winter is miserable? This photo was taken as we were leaving Ludlow and heading to Hereford. What a gorgeous view of Ludlow Castle! Pete Walker 3 This is an early evening photo of Lough MacNean, at Rushin House Caravan Park in Belcoo, Northern Ireland. The far shore is County Cavan, across the border in Ireland. Great base for adventures. Alan Hutchinson Email your pictures and their stories (40 words, plus name, address and contacts) to hotshots@practicalmotorhome.com. The best photo will win these guides: All…

1 Camping chairs A comfortable camping chair is worth its weight in gold on tour. These two Sunmer padded camping chairs weigh in at just 3.3kg each, and come with a handy drinks holder and a useful pocket for stashing your copy of Practical Motorhome. Price £89.99 Web www.amazon.co.uk 2 Gas spanner Spare your knuckles and unnecessary effort by investing in a good gas spanner. This heavy-duty example is well priced and should make changing gas bottles a doddle. Price £6.35 Web www.amazon.co.uk 3 Levelling ramps Plastic ramps (or wedges) are a must-carry when you’re on tour - place them under one or more of your wheels and you’ll be able to drive up them, giving you more of a level motorhome. These are good value. Price £18.95 Web www.towsure.com…

■ A-class Often seen by many as the most luxurious type of motorhome, these models are built from a chassis cowl up. Their bespoke cab offers lots of space, but driving one can feel slightly different at first. ■ Grey water Waste water from your tap or shower that is (usually) collected in an on-board tank. ■ GTW Gross train weight The maximum weight that the vehicle and any trailer combined can be, including the loads within each. ■ Hardstanding A type of campsite pitch that offers the user a solid base, rather than grass. Common materials are Tarmac or gravel. ■ Hook-up Cable connection to the mains electrical supply at a campsite. Provides power to mains sockets and appliances. ■ Leisure battery This 12V battery powers most of the…

Autoglym is scientifically proven to bring to light the true beauty of your paintwork and wheels - just as the designers intended ■ 1 x 325ml Bodywork Shampoo■ 1 x 325ml Super Resin Polish■ 1 x 325ml Extra Gloss Protector■ 1 x 500ml Clean Wheels■ 1 x 500ml Instant Tyre Dressing■ 1 x 300ml Wheel Protector 3 ways to subscribe 1. Call 0330 333 1113 and quote A15V 2. Complete the FREEPOST coupon opposite 3. Subscribe online at www.magazinesdirect.com/A15V WHY SUBSCRIBE? ■ 13 issues of Practical Motorhome delivered directly to your door ■ Save up to 27% ■ Expert advice, top ’van reviews and inspiring travel features ■ Get exclusive subscriber covers! GO DIGITAL! Instant access on your iPad, iPhone & Android device Visit magazinesdirect.com/A15V for digital subscriptions and pricing…

Swift’s Kon-Tiki is named after the balsa wood raft on which six men and a parrot crossed the Pacific Ocean from Peru to the Polynesian Islands, to prove earlier civilisations could have undertaken the same trip. The expedition was led by Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl in 1947. It’s unlikely our Kon-Tiki would float, but it is equally capable of exciting exploration… on land! These range-topping tandem-axle models were unveiled in late 2006 and production commenced for the 2007 model year, with all having gained European Whole Vehicle Type Approval. Both launch models (669 and 679) are Luton overcab coachbuilts and all are built on a double-floor, fully galvanised, independently sprung chassis. Cabinetwork used Swift’s new ‘Spaceframe’ locker construction method, with smart Tanganica Walnut finished cabinetwork, and loaded up with a highly…

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.…

Coordinates 53.3860° N, 0.1456° W Why tour here? This range of low hills in Lincolnshire, known as the Wolds, represents a marked contrast to the nearby marshy Fens. In 1973, much of the region was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, meaning the landscape of woods, grassland and chalk pits is now largely protected. Find out more about this glorious part of the world on p32. Don’t miss… The wide, open landscapes that define the Wolds make impressive photography subjects, as exemplified by this shot of the Bluestone Heath Road, an ancient route and ridgeway across the Wolds. practicalmotorhomeuk…

1 Wales South Wales Touring Park Web southwalescaravansite.co.uk A recent spring wedding found us heading for South Wales Touring Park near Llanelli in Carmarthenshire. Like many of the sites in the Tranquil Parks group, this is a family-run park, in this case by brother and sister Hywel (pictured right) and Cathrin, and open all year round. Another bonus was the campsite’s excellent location – it’s very easy to get to, just one mile from Junction 48 off the M4. With the Brecon Beacons National Park to the north and the Gower Peninsula to the south, it makes a great base for exploring this lovely area. The small campsite, with just 25 pitches, is beautifully landscaped and terraced, which should have given all of the pitches glorious views across the Welsh…

Duration 10 nights Time of year August Why? Unique landscapes that are the ideal backdrop for an unforgettable tour I’ll never forget the first time I jumped behind the wheel of a motorhome and embarked on an adventure which even now, some years later, remains indelibly etched in my memory. In fact, it seems like only yesterday when my wife and I took our children for an unforgettable (pre-pandemic) 10-day tour around Iceland. There are several reasons why this journey, in particular, stands head and shoulders above all others we’ve enjoyed as a family. For starters, it was our first motorhome tour. Second, we were blessed with cloudless skies for the entire time, and third, we were experiencing all of this in Iceland, a country we adore. Swimming in a…

With one exception – the vehicle that we review here, which we saw at the Swift factory – Swift’s Select Compact range is not new. It’s been rebadged from last season’s Escape Compact, aimed at buyers looking for a van conversion. At 2.26m wide, the Select Compacts are the same width as Swift’s Select van conversions. The C500 is similar in layout to the C502, but instead of having two fixed singles at the back, it has a rear lounge. It’s really for those who are happy to deal with putting together a bed at night if it means they can have a larger area for relaxation and socialising. The ’van has alloys as standard and a reversing camera, although there’s a clear view through the rear window. Two belted…

A cursory glance at Hymer’s first motorcaravan might suggest that it is very different from its current offer… but actually, the opposite is true. The Caravano was handcrafted to a stratospherically high standard, plus the selection of base vehicle and fixtures and fittings were tip-top for the time. It would have been an aspirational purchase, much like Hymers are today. Borgward’s B611 was a wide forward-control van with a higher payload and a superior drivetrain compared to its competitors. It also featured more powerful engines and a four-speed all-synchromesh gearbox driving the twin rear wheels. Three layouts were planned, but (anecdotally) only this one was ever built. Three-abreast cab seats were located just ahead of the two inward-facing lounge settees. The latter converted into a generously sized transverse double bed…

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 you to explore new territories. Remember that motorhomes tend to hold their value very well, too; much better than most cars will. great for innovation HEMBIL DRIFT (p113) → Price From £52,000 OTR →Sleeps 4 → Belts 4 → Base vehicle VW T6.1 → Engine 2.0-litre TDI 102PS → Length/width/height 4.89/2.29/2.01m (16’1”/7’6”/6’7”) → MTPLM 3000kg → Payload…

A new eight-part series from BBC Scotland focuses on three generations of the same family who run a caravan park in Fife – and some of their regular residents. The Wallace family (pictured above) have run Pettycur Bay Holiday Park in Fife for the past 40 years, building it up to be one of Scotland’s biggest parks, with more than 600 pitches and a leisure complex. Although most of the pitches are static caravans, the park also accommodates motorhomes and tourers. The series, Life on the Bay, which started on BBC Scotland on 9 January, focuses on the Wallace family, including owner and manager Tom, his son Alan and grandson Steven, and some of the loyal residents. The first episode sees Tom, aged 82, and Steven installing a new caravan…

Classic Dog Drying Coat No more soggy dogs making a mess of your ’van! Two layers of absorbent towelling wick away the wet, and the soft cotton is cosy. Price From £28.95 Web ruffandtumbledogcoats.com Peaceful evenings This lightweight Outdoor Revolution mosquito zapper uses ultra-violet light to attract the insects, making summer tours comfortable. Price £10.99 Web www.worldofcamping.co.uk Movie night Bring the big screen to your motorhome with the Camping World LED projector: it connects to a variety of digital devices. Price £99.99 Web www.campingworld.co.uk First Aid Kit for Walkers This lightweight pack from Ordnance Survey comes with plenty of first aid essentials to keep you prepared for unexpected incidents. Price £17 Web www.millets.co.uk Waterproof All-Weather Socks These ankle-length socks from Sealskinz are designed for a variety of temperatures and will…

Trust in us… Exhibitions at the National Trust ■ Churchill and the Crown, an outdoor photography show at Chartwell in Kent, explores the friendship between the young Queen Elizabeth II and Sir Winston Churchill, whose family home this was (runs to 27 February 2022). ■ Meanwhile, at Nunnington Hall in Yorkshire, discover the geography and rich wildlife of the River Rye through a new art exhibition, Cause and Effect, in association with North York Moors and the Ryevitalise Landscape Partnership (open from 19 February to 3 July 2022). ■ In Northumberland, magnificent Lindisfarne (1) reopens for the 2022 season with a new soundscape installation, Song (After Nature), by Paul Rooney. The work evokes renowned Portuguese cellist Madame Suggia, using the calling of the seals residing around the island as a…

If you’re planning to buy a motorhome, it pays to do your research and seek out the right manufacturer. A new leisure vehicle is a significant purchase. Fortunately, there is plenty of choice, with many excellent motorhome brands out there, so have a look online, go to a show, see the products and meet the manufacturers in person. Here’s our round-up of some of the top ’van manufacturers in the market - it’s not an exhaustive list, but it will help steer you towards brands that are worth a look. Visit the motorhome shows If you find the sheer number of vehicles out there bewildering, help is at hand. There are UK shows you can visit where you can view a wide variety of models from many of the manufacturers…

Mercedes unveils all-electric camper The first all-electric campervan based on a Mercedes has been launched by a Swiss van converter. The camper, based on the Mercedes EQV, the battery-electric version of the V-Class van, is being produced by Sortimo Walter Rüegg, but as a ‘dual invoice’ vehicle, with both parties taking responsibility for it. The ’van is currently only available in Switzerland, although discussions are also underway about exporting it to other countries. The camper includes three units that can be fitted into the EQV. These comprise a kitchen, currently on sale for CHF3585 (£2869), a larger unit including a kitchen and a bed, starting at CHF4787 (£3831), and a pop-up roof starting at CHF9980 (£7986). All of these prices exclude tax. Klaus Rehkugler, head of sales and marketing at…

With all of the heritage of the Auto-Sleepers brand behind it, the new Auto-Sleeper Air is a campervan with plenty of promise. This is despite the fact that it’s entering what is now a very crowded market. Based on the SWB Ford Transit Custom, the Air’s low-key exterior features subtle graphics. Our test model was smartly finished in Diffused Silver, one of a choice of four metallic colours which are a no-cost option; these also include the Chrome Blue of the model shown on the cover of this issue. The six-speed Select Shift gearbox is a £2000 extra, but park assists, sat nav and adaptive cruise control are all fitted as standard. The campervan sleeps up to four and comes with a roof that is raised on gas struts, a…

On Guard for a Silver service award Independent specialist motorhome insurance company Caravan Guard has picked up the latest in a long line of awards. It collected Silver for the Personal Lines Broker of the Year category in the latest Insurance Times Awards. Assessing companies across the world of insurance, the judging took into account aspects such as excellent customer feedback and high levels of loyalty. At the same awards, Caravan Guard was also a finalist in the Customer Champion of the Year – Broker category. Managing director Ryan Wilby says he’s delighted that the family business was recognised at these high-profile awards: “It was fantastic to be finalists for two awards on this national stage, and to bring back some silverware for our team was the icing on the…

One of the main attractions of the motorhome lifestyle is the hygge effect: the sheer cosiness of settling yourself down in a small, warm space, somewhere that you will always feel safe and secure. This is indeed a wonderful thing, but many people find they need a bit more room for convenient motorhome living – for accommodation and storage or for practical activities during the daytime – particularly if the vehicle they own is a small campervan. They could, of course, buy a bigger motorhome, although that might be more challenging to drive and store, and there is a better solution that’s simple and relatively cheap. Why use an awning? The answer is an awning. Awnings are fabric structures that attach to or sit beside your ’van, delivering extra usable…