Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2023 i Practical Motorhome

1 Looking back to our 2015 trip to Morocco. We made a lunch stop, between Imi-n-Ifri and Kasbah Amridil, over the Tizi-n-Outfi pass in the High Atlas Mountains. We had stopped after getting stuck behind a rather ancient lorry being driven at walking pace! David and Judy Gittings 2 Here’s my contender for Hotshots (or should I say Coldshots?)! My wife and I and our four dogs were at a stopover near Crufts Dog Show at the NEC in early March. We quickly got to grips with the heater controls and had a very cosy time, despite the sub-zero temperatures outside. Carl Stretton 3 A very chilly start for our motorhome, Muriel, in the snowy depths of North Yorkshire. Alex Morton Email your pictures and their stories (40 words, plus…

Having been fans of Morse and Lewis since watching both series on TV, my housemate Pearl and I have always admired the fine architecture of Oxford. So for our first trip of the season, we planned a tour including the city. We also wanted to visit Stratford-upon-Avon, so we looked for a campsite that would make a good base for exploring the two places. Chipping Norton Camping and Caravanning Club Site, almost equidistant from both, proved ideal. A leisurely drive to the site The campsite is a comparatively easy reach from our home in North Wales, so after a leisurely drive, we were soon set up on our pitch. We prefer to use public transport when possible, leaving our motorhome on site, so next morning, we walked to the pretty…

Auto-Trail’s Refresh hits the spot A new service for owners of its motorhomes has been inundated with enquiries since being introduced by Auto-Trail. The Grimsby-based manufacturer announced its Refresh project at the start of this year – and immediately started receiving numerous requests from owners looking to have decals replaced, paintwork freshened up and/or professionally polished, joins resealed, extras fitted and more at its specialist Repair Centre. Auto-Trail says guide prices are hard to offer because so many factors come into play, from the age and condition of the vehicle to the availability of parts and estimated completion time. But all visiting ’vans also get a free valeting. Repair Centre manager Clare Osborne says: “We are delighted to help our customers with Auto-Trail Refresh and have been overwhelmed with interest…

Motorhome covers are available in a wide variety of shapes and styles, but all have one thing in common: when fitted and used properly, they should help protect your ’van for years to come. Choosing your cover wisely is very important – the best can add years of life (and looks) to your vehicle, while others have the potential to damage it. Selecting a suitable material is vital, as any cover that traps moisture on the surfaces of your motorhome for long periods may do more harm than good. Why buy a motorhome cover? Most motorhomes spend at least half of the year standing dormant – on your drive, in a farmyard or at a specialist storage facility. Wherever you keep it, your ’van will deteriorate most rapidly when it…

One of the many great benefits of owning a motorhome is having your own facilities on board, which makes keeping your toilet fresh and clean really important. There’s a wealth of toilet chemicals out there, however, so what’s the difference between them, and which should you choose? Here’s our guide to the different types available, and what they do. Waste-tank chemicals The typical motorhome toilet includes a holding tank below the bowl – once this is full, you remove the cassette, before emptying it into a dedicated disposal point (never anywhere else). It’s crucial to use some form of toilet chemical or additive in the tank to help break down waste and paper, and keep things smelling fresh. When purchasing, look for bottles that have the words ‘toilet fluid’ on…

HIGH TOP, FIXED ROOF great for firm beds SWIFT CARRERA 144 (p96) Price From £67,995 OTR Sleeps 3 Belts 4 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato Engine 2.2-litre 140bhp Euro 6D final Length/width/height 5.99/2.26/2.72m (19’8”/7’5”/8’11”) MTPLM 3500kg Payload 537kg Water (fresh) 100 litres Leisure battery 80Ah Gas 2 x 3.9kg Do you often think beds that you put together with platforms feel a bit flimsy? Then you’ll like the ones in Swift’s brand-new van conversion range. They are a perfect compromise of slats and platforms – and very, very sturdy. You will sleep well. how to buy… Choosing a layout People’s needs from their vehicle will differ, and your layout choice will depend very much on your touring companions and how you are planning to use your motorhome. To understand which types…

what3words ///most.quirky.alpha Why tour here? Packed with delightful stone cottages and mouthwatering views, Beddgelert is the quintessential Welsh mountain village. With Snowdon a few miles north, you’ll find there are countless options for walking and cycling adventures. The stunning valley of Nant Gwynant is also well worth exploring. But it’s the bubbling, heaving river of Glaslyn, and the gorge of the same name, that are among the biggest attractions here. Don’t miss… There’s a beautiful walk along the Glaslyn river, which leads to Gelert’s grave, legendary resting place of the faithful hound of the medieval Welsh Prince Llywelyn the Great. The dog’s grisly demise is retold on the tombstone. Read more about touring Wales in Susan Taylor’s report on p40. practicalmotorhomeuk…

Self-heating lunchbox Enjoy hot, fresh food on the go with this clever device, which stores and steam-heats your food wherever you are. It’s rechargeable, 99.9% leakproof and controlled by an app! Price £225 Web steam-box.com Natural firelighters Crafted from wood wool dipped in wax, these British-made bundles are a lightweight, natural alternative to firelighters. Price £4.99 Web certainlywood.co.uk Folding trolley With a steel frame, hardwearing liner and deep-tread wheels, this collapsible trolley can be loaded up for a beach day, picnic or festival. Price £89.99 Web trailoutdoorleisure.co.uk Beach powder Finally, an answer to sandy sandwiches and gritty picnic blankets! This gentle powder is formulated to instantly remove sand from skin and is certified safe for babies and children. Price £10.99 Web beachpowder.co.uk Down camping blanket Perfect for campfire nights or…

SUDOKU To solve the puzzle, each row, column and 3x3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. No single digit can appear twice in any one row, column or 3x3 box HALF & HALF Which Royal Navy captain led an 1839 Antarctic expedition aboard the ships HMS Terror and HMS Erebus? Cross out a letter in each square to get a grid filled with words. The uncrossed-out letters in the shaded squares give the answer. WORDWISE You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the…

Fantastic festivals 12-15 May 2023 Arran Mountain Festival Outdoor enthusiasts should head to Scotland to enjoy this superb hillwalking and mountaineering festival, offering a wide choice of walks and climbs that range from moderate to extreme. Be aware that some moderate walks involve easy scrambling, elements of exposure and some rough terrain – this is very much a connoisseur’s festival. You’ll also be able to attend talks and a ceilidh at social events open to all. Events and walks are individually priced. ⓦ arranmountainfestival.co.uk Stay at Lochranza Caravan and Camping Site ⓦ arran-campsite.com 12-21 May 2023 Bath Festival The theme of this year’s great celebration of music and books is ‘Opening Up’ and visitors can enjoy a variety of entertainment throughout the city, with the focus on Bath’s Guildhall. See…

Known as the capital of the New Forest, Lyndhurst is the largest of the many pretty Hampshire villages sprinkled throughout the national park. The village dates back to the time of the Domesday Book, when it formed part of the New Forest lands established by William the Conqueror. Today, it’s a magnet for the many visitors who come to enjoy the region’s arts and culture, as well as the natural beauty of the forest. With trains from London taking only 90 minutes to nearby Brockenhurst, it’s an extremely popular holiday destination, particularly at half-term, when large numbers of visitors from across the country head there to enjoy a family break. And why not? Wild ponies, gorgeous scenery and outdoor activities make this a great place to get away from it…

OUR EUROPEAN ODYSSEY pt 15 On 3 November 1893, the Cabo Machichaco, a steamship carrying over 40 tonnes of dynamite, caught fire and exploded in the Spanish port of Santander, destroying many of the surrounding buildings and claiming the lives of hundreds of people. Thankfully, our own arrival at one of northern Spain’s best known cities, aboard the splendid new Brittany Ferries vessel Santoña, was far less dramatic. In fact it was as peaceful as we could have wished for, the sun gently giving life to the impending day, birdsong carried through the air and a warmth that we’d really missed during our recent time back in the UK. Driving off the ferry, there was a sense of relief at finally being back on the road, the difficulties that had…

Jerba gets into Crafters Jerba Campervans has started making its first conversions based on the VW Crafter, as it gears up for an expansion on site. The North Berwick company has already made its first new Crafter conversion, and is on to its second. The new model is highly bespoke, and can be built on medium, long or extra-long wheelbases, between 6.0m and 7.4m in length. It includes an onboard toilet and shower. The move into Crafters comes just after the firm won planning permission to expand its workshop as part of a £210,000 investment. This will help it increase production capacity and install a bespoke spray-painting booth – the first of its kind in Scotland. Jerba cofounder Simon Poole said moving to the Crafter, when the firm had only…

HERITAGE Triple E of Manitoba is the oldest volume producer of Canadian ’vans still trading. The company was started by PW Enns in 1965. Pictured below is a 1980 6.71m (22ft) Triple E Empress A-class, the first A-class designed and built in Canada. The photo was taken in one of Canada’s many truly spectacular National Parks. A motorcaravanner’s dream! ELEVATING-ROOF MOTORCARAVANS are gaining ground over traditional B-class high-top van conversions. This is a Pleasure-Way Tofino; it’s really compact at just 5.41m (17’ 9”) long, thus eminently suitable for use as an ‘only vehicle’. Pleasure-Way was started by RV dealer Merv Rumpel, who wanted a better-quality conversion to sell. The firm is based in Saskatchewan and prices its conversions in US dollars… in this case, $94,250 (£75,500). TRUCK CAMPERS (known as…

It might be unfair to criticise some sales folk, but whenever I hear the term ‘entry-level’ being used to describe a ’van costing £50,000 or more, it really makes me wonder what planet some of them are on. We know that many people have around £5000 to £10,000 to spend on a motorhome and for a good many of them, this won’t be their first vehicle. Obviously, there are those in jobs that don’t pay well at the best of times, and recently, they have been joined by another group, who find themselves with less foldin’ than they have been used to. I am still meeting motorcaravanners who have had to sell a high-value ’van and buy a sub-£10,000 model because they have lost their job, or their business, despite…

Handbrake spring has sprung Another mature ’van that recently came in for a service had a different problem with the brakes. In this case, the handbrake on the nearside rear would suddenly lock on, for no apparent reason. The motorhome in question was a 2003 Peugeot Boxer-based Auto-Sleeper, with disc brakes all round. The handbrake on these comprises a set of shoes inside the rear disc, which looks rather like a top hat, with the footbrake caliper clamping onto the rim and the handbrake shoes working inside the drum part. My first thought was that it might be a sticking lever in the shoes assembly, so I had the drums off the rear to check, but all was good. ‘The bell crank has a return spring, which should pull the…

letter of the month I was interested to see a great article in the June 2023 magazine (issue 271) about windsurfing at Rutland Water. I am a keen watersports enthusiast and a senior RYA Instructor. Reading the article, I was particularly concerned that, as a self-described beginner, the author was not wearing any personal flotation device (buoyancy aid or life jacket) in any of the pictures, and this was not mentioned in the article. This is recommended by the RYA and required by most centres. Every year there are injuries and rescues needed of people who are not prepared for the sport, particularly if they were to become separated from their board. Every sailing course starts with buoyancy (personal and craft). This saves lives and readers need to be aware…

MARCUS’S HIGHLIGHTS… Samobor, Croatia “If Dorothy hadn’t had an unlucky fall and broken her arm, we would never have visited Samobor. As it was, we had a week to wait before her check-up, after which we planned to cross into Bosnia. So we decided to visit this wonderful little town. Only 25km from Zagreb, it is home to a variety of crafters and artisans, although the real highlight is the food – especially the kremšnita, a truly spectacular cream slice.” The Dolomites “Our love for the Dolomites can be summed up best by the fact that we have been there twice on the trip so far, once in the summer and once during the winter. Both times, we ended up at the same campsite (Camping Sass Dlacia), albeit with the…

Wales is famously a land of castles – and not only those built of stone, which have stood the test of time for centuries, but also far more temporary constructions, made of sand and washed away by the rippling tide. On a visit to its spectacularly beautiful north, I also discovered that this is a land of water (and railways, but that’s a story for another day) – from the sea demolishing those sandy structures, to the moats surrounding the castles of stone, and from the gently meandering rivers to the wildly cascading waterfalls. Caernarfon cobbles We started our Welsh trip at the small, friendly Is-Helen Farm Caravan Park in Caernarfon, a convenient 20-minute walk from town via the Aber Swing Bridge (whose gates are locked at 11pm prompt, no…

‘There has been a religious sanctuary of some kind on this huge granulite outcrop since at least the early eighth century’ The northern part of France can seem a bit over-familiar if you live in England. It’s only a hop across the Channel to reach it, after all. Before last year, for example, I had been to the Normandy beaches more than once. I have been lucky enough to swim in Arromanches harbour and at Omaha beach. I have also been more than once to see the Bayeux Tapestry, and explored Falaise castle, one of William the Conqueror’s strongholds before he became William the Conqueror. But last year, I realised there are plenty of places in the north of our nearest neighbour that I am yet to become acquainted with.…

■ 15 tools in one■ Multi-tool functions include pliers, wirecutters, scissors, wood saw, leather punch, bottle opener, file with hook remover, can opener, fine edge blade, and slotted & Phillips screwdrivers■ One of a comprehensive range of Premier Hand Tools, suitable for daily professional use■ Manufactured from high-quality stainless steel■ Fully hardened and tempered for long life■ Fine blanking construction for superior performance■ Supplied with belt pouch■ Ideal for all motorhome activities! SUBSCRIBE ONLINE AT www.magazinesdirect.com/B54Y Or call 0330 333 1113 and quote B54Y Lines are open Monday-Friday 8:30am-7pm, Saturday 10am-3pm UK Time ■ 13 issues a year of Practical Motorhome delivered straight to your door! ■ Exclusive features on the best trips available across Europe throughout the seasons ■ Product reviews ■ Industry experts providing technical tips to answer…

Portable power stations have really taken off recently – for many who post online, they’re a must-have item that promises to transform your motorcaravanning life. But what exactly are portable power stations – and do you need one? The first point to bear in mind is that, over the years, motorhome manufacturers have refined their products to the point where the modern vehicle is a pretty powerful bit of kit, which can generally offer you at least a weekend’s camping on its built-in battery power. If you find yourself in need of more off-grid capability, the cheapest way to achieve this is simply to double or triple your battery bank. However, power banks are still very popular - so what are they all about? WHAT IS A POWER BANK? A…

Ideally, you’ll need a dry day and two people to fit a full cover, because they are large, awkward and heavy. Try to avoid fitting the cover with any moisture or dirt on the ’van, or the inner surface of the ‘jacket’. First, remove the main cover from its bag and lay it out, exterior down, in front of the vehicle. Position it with the front end of the cover next to the ’van’s front bumper. You’ll need a couple of extendable poles to make fitting easier. Costing around £12 each, they are available from online retailers, DIY stores, or cover manufacturers. Extend the pole so that when you reach up, it’s long enough to lift the cover over the highest point on the motorhome roof. Now slot the ends…