Innehållsförteckning för Summer 2018 från Practical Motorhome

Almost 40 years ago I witnessed a fierce debate over what the British name was for the type of motorcaravan that the Americans call a ‘truck-camper’. Some UK manufacturers called them a ‘demountable’; others called them a ‘dismountable’, insisting that there was no such word as ‘demountable’. However, we are going with the (currently more widely used) term ‘demountable’. Based on a minivan (1) the residential section was ‘easily removed’ when on site or when the ’van was required for work trips. Built by the Murray Caravan Company in Wigan, the caravan part retailed for £190 and could be fitted to any secondhand minivan. Most demountable caravan bodies didn’t have an additional set of wheels, but the zany Caraboot (2) from Chorley-based Euxton did. The caravan body enveloped the minivan…

Price Rainbow Skies £18, Phi Phi Pink £30 (pictured) Web https://dockandbay.com Dock & Bay is a company that was founded by two travellers – one British, one Australian – who have set out to reinvent the towel. We all use them, so why not make them bright, light and colourful? That’s exactly what Dock & Bay has done, producing a range of towels that are colourful and sure to brighten up your motorhome’s washroom. They’re made of microfibre, so are lightweight and absorbent but dry extra quickly, so they won’t smell damp. What’s more, they’re really compact, and will barely take up any space in your ’van. Despite this, they’re super-absorbent and can take up more than twice their own weight in water. We love the colourful designs, but we…

A Banchory Show Enjoy agricultural delights at the Banchory Show, held in the heart of Aberdeenshire this July. You can expect to see Highland dancing, livestock judging, tug o’ war, dog shows and much more. See the website for full details of the programme. Date 28 July 2018 Web www.banchoryshow.co.uk B Deeside Music Festival You can watch some great live acts across a variety of musical genres at this year’s Deeside Music Festival, including the Gerry Jablonski Band, The Lorelei, Sonic Bucker and more. Weekend tickets are available for £45; if you want to pitch up in your ’van, you can buy a camping pass for £20. Date 31 August-1 September 2018 Web www.deesideactivitypark.com C Scottish Traditional Boat Festival The charming harbour town of Portsoy celebrates its cultural heritage with…

The next morning I drove to the north of the island, where the rolling landscape gives way to something rather more pockmarked. This is the result of the copper-mining boom that swept the area at the end of the 18th century. Copper plate from this area went to line the ships that sailed to the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, and played a part in the victory (copper doesn’t rust). You can find out about this fascinating local history at the Copper Kingdom museum (www.copperkingdom.co.uk)in Amlwch, which was once the biggest copper port in the world. Here you can also learn about copper’s darker side: Thomas Williams – a mining boom pioneer, who became known as the copper king and was at one time the wealthiest man in Wales –…

Price (as tested) £53,630 OTR Sleeps 4 Belts 2 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato Engine 2.3, 130bhp, Euro 6 L/W/H 7.26/2.35/3.03m(23’8”/7’7”/9’9”) MTPLM 3500kg Payload 320kg Water (fresh/waste) 135/85 litres Battery 100Ah Gas 1 x 7kg, 1 x 13kg At last year’s 2018-model-year launch, it was clear that Auto-Trail’s aim was to ‘make things a bit more affordable’. The result of this was the company’s decision to introduce layouts from more pricey ranges into slightly cheaper line-ups. One was that featuring in the ’van tested here, which has a transverse-island-bed floorplan previously only available in the more expensive Tracker range. Flexibility is an Auto-Trail strong point: for no extra cost, you can opt for a high or low roofline, with the latter replacing the overcab bed (taking the berth tally to six)…

BASE VEHICLE Chassis Fiat Ducato Engine 2.3-litre, 130bhp Euro 6 Multijet II Power 130bhp Torque 320Nm @ 1800rpm Transmission Six-speed manual Features Cab air-con, cruise control, ABS brakes, central locking, engine immobiliser, spare wheel, 15” steel wheels, daytime running lights CONVERSION GRP high-gloss scratch/damage-resistant side walls. GRP high-gloss overcab roof moulding. Acrylic-capped ABS side skirts. High-security entrance door with central locking. Grade 3 insulation. Full vinyl underfloor protection. 40mm-thick laminated wall construction. 45mm-thick laminated floor construction. 40mm-thick laminated roof construction LOUNGING AND DINING Parallel sofas with foldaway dining table. Aosta Cherry solid plywood interior furniture. Isabel luxury upholstery with dress curtains. Two scatter cushions. Loose-fit carpets. Pleated flyscreens/blinds to all opening windows. On-the-move heating KITCHEN Flush-fitting four-ring hob (three gas, one 800W). Full oven/grill and pan store. 96-litre three-way fridge…

It’s hard to believe that it’s only three years since Sunlight shared a new-model launch with fellow Erwin Hymer Group brand Dethleffs. Things have changed a lot since then, with the former becoming a recognisable and popular brand in its own right; this year, it held a glitzy launch at the Allianz Arena, home of Bayern Munich FC. Last year the company made a move into both A-classes and van conversions. This year’s updates were more muted, but did include a new, bright-red version of the Cliff van conversion, and a clutch of other new models. REAR BEDS AND SPECIAL EDITIONS The Cliff van conversion range was launched last year, and was very well received; the 601 model even won the Best Budget Motorhome gong in our 2018 Motorhome of…

Held in late April, this is the UK’s most comprehensive show for heavy and light commercial vehicles, plus road transport in general. Sadly Mercedes-Benz wasn’t present – so no first look at the new Sprinter! (See Practical Motorhome’s September issue for our first drive of this new base vehicle.) Ford took one of the largest stands, with the new Transit Custom centre stage. With an all-new cab interior, the model had plenty of attention, especially the Sport model in Orange Glow paint. But it’s not just attention: sales have seen Ford increase production at the Ford Otosan joint venture in Turkey to 33,000 units per year. These sales since launch now stand at more than 200,000, with many on our UK roads, and already a firm favourite with campervan convertors.…

Water, water: we all need it, and we’ve got so used to having it literally on tap at home, we take it for granted in our motorhomes as well. We turn on the tap and it instantly pours forth for us to drink, cook with, wash in and so on. But having water available on tap in a motorhome is quite different to having it on tap at home. With the miserable winter we suffered from probably still fresh in our memories, I’m sure there are more than a few readers who’ve experienced water-system problems this year; so this month, I’m looking at common failures and how to avoid them in future. I’m sure we all know (from bitter experience) that when water freezes, it expands; if it is in…

1 MODEL REVIEWS Editor Sarah and Reviews editor Peter have been zipping across Europe to take a look at the latest 2019 models. Details of what they discovered start on p77. 2 BAG A BARGAIN We may be looking at 2019’s motorhomes, but it’s not too late to buy a 2018 model. Check out our Buyer’s Guide (from p117) before you do. 3 TRACK AN EPIC TOUR We were astounded to hear about the man who drove from Japan to London in his campervan – what an adventure! Learn more on p22. 4 TEST RESULTS Auto-Trail’s Imala 732 has been on our test fleet for a number of months, and it has proved hugely popular. Find out why in our full Live-in test, starting on p64. 5 TO SERVICE OR…

HELP TO DISENGAGE THE HANDBRAKE I will probably need to have an operation for arthritis in my thumb some time this year. After a few weeks I’d expect to be able to drive our motorhome because it has ComfortMatic, but I would be unable to release the button on the handbrake. Have you any knowledge of fitting an electric handbrake to a Ducato? Mark T Jack replies Your local mobility vehicle adaptation centre should be able to help you with this. However, they might suggest a comparatively expensive electronic parking brake system. These require specialist fitters to change the brake pads for you. A much cheaper option is to make your manual parking brake operate via an electric motor. Companies such as www.steeringdevelopments.co.uk are dab hands at this. Cheaper still…

Way to go We took the ferry from Portsmouth to Caen. The French municipal sites are clean and tidy. Some can be dated, but they are adequate for a night or two and reasonably priced. With an ACSI card, many offer discounts. We find aires in towns/villages safe, but avoid those on motorways. Where we stayed • Rookesbury Park Caravan and Motorhome Club Site Address Hundred Acres Road, Wickham, Fareham PO17 6JR Tel 01329 834 085 Web www.caravanclub.co.uk • Camp Municipal du Chateau Address 3 Rue du Val d’Ante, 14700 Falaise Tel +33 (0)231 90 16 55 Web www.falaise.fr/tourisme/lecamping • Camping du Lac des Varennes Address Route du Port Gauthier/ Saint Lezin, Marcon, France Tel +33 (0)243 44 13 72 Web www.flowercampings.com • Camp Municipal Lac de Sagnat Address Route…

What does scooping the Regional Winner for Wales award mean to you? We welcome the attention and the extra business it brings, but wouldn’t want it to spoil the atmosphere! We have guests, mostly from north-west England, returning year after year, who make this a very special community. For example, there is a game called ‘Manhunt’ that children have played for generations here. I don’t know the rules, but they play it on the meadows. You are David Bellamy award winners, so an eco-friendly environment is clearly important. How have you achieved this? We are very proud to have planted more than 100,000 trees on the site, and our beehives should produce their first honey this year. We’ve set aside one field for solar panels producing 50kW of energy. It’s…

Plas Newydd  www.nationaltrust.org.uk/plasnewydd-country-house-and-gardens National Trust-owned country house and gardens overlooking the Menai Strait. Visit in spring and you can enjoy the splendid five-acre rhododendron garden. For those who might prefer painting to gardening, the house also has an art gallery. Menai Heritage  www.menaibridges.co.uk Everything you ever wanted to know about the two famous bridges – Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge and Robert Stephenson’s Britannia Bridge. South Stack Lighthouse  www.rspb.org.uk/reserves-and-events/reserves-a-z/south-stack-cliffs This spectacular lighthouse standing amid dramatic cliff formations is also an important RSPB reserve. Llynnon Mill  www.llansadwrn-wx.co.uk/gwynt/llynnon.html The only working windmill in Wales, this fine building is now fully restored and producing wholemeal flour using organic wheat.…

Auto-Trail’s roots in motorcaravanning production took hold in 1982, when Bill Boasman and Barry Holmes – proprietors of the leisure-vehicle repair business of the same name – decided to try their hand at building a motorhome. Over the years the company has built on Mercedes, Talbot and VW base vehicles, among others, but has always retained a strong reputation for style and build quality. The brand’s fans have remained loyal throughout, and the popular Auto-Trail owners’ club now has thousands of members.…

The upmarket brand at the centre of the Erwin Hymer Group has been celebrating a major partnership with Mercedes-Benz and its Sprinter van, as part of its 2019-season launch. The group has been on the acquisition trail, snapping up UK-based Explorer Group earlier this year; while the Hymer brand has performed well, notching up a 15% increase in sales between the first quarter of 2017 and the same period this year. Although there is a new model in the Hymercar van conversion line-up, and a new special edition Tramp and ComfortLine range, the emphasis for 2019 is the launch of the B-Class Modern Comfort (B-MC), a two-model range developed in a two-year secret partnership with Mercedes-Benz. The B-MC range takes advantage of the front-wheel-drive Sprinter – in particular its 177bhp…

German manufacturer Frankia has been making motorhomes since the 1970s, starting with its first Mercedes-Benz-based vehicle in 1973. Since then it has earned a reputation for quality. All Frankia models are in the premium sector, offering solidity and reliability and UK-friendly layouts. What’s more, it offers the opportunity to buy any model on a right-hand-drive chassis. Frankia’s sole UK dealer is SMC Motorhomes, based in Newark. CLEVER BEDS AND MORE Frankia’s 2018 offering added a few layouts, and that trend continued at the 2019 launch in Wirsberg. Most of the ranges have received tweaks, and there are a couple of new floorplans that should appeal to UK buyers. F-Line is the entry-level range, and floor plans are available in A-class and coachbuilt versions. A-class models get a new front design…

1 The U-shaped production line. During our visit, it was moving on one stage per hour, but it will speed up to a 50-minute changeover as the workforce gains experience in this new range. The countdown clock shows the time left before change-over. All Bailey motorhomes are made using its patented Alu-Tech construction. Practical Motorhome has covered this key development in the past, but new readers can learn more at www.bailey-caravans.co.uk/bailey-of-bristol/alu-tech-means-you-can. 2 Old Bailey! In 1948, Martin Bailey built his first caravan for retail. Pictured is the highly successful Bailey Maestro from the 1950s. 3 New Bailey! State-of-the-art facility for panel laminating in Clevedon – a hop from the Bristol factory, but rather further from the Melbourne one! Investment in the new facility was more than £4.5m. 4 The Peugeot…

The pre-owned inspection service announced by the National Caravan Council (see right) can only be a very good thing. POPPI (Pre-Owned Pre-Purchase Inspection), part of the NCC Approved Workshop Scheme (AWS), covers everything from damp testing and all major fittings and ‘non-critical’ items, to key features such as tyres and so on. The vital point is, of course, the bit of paper that says the motorhome you’ve bought is officially safe to use and has been verified as such by experts. POPPI is also available for private purchases, but you’ll have to negotiate with qualified personnel (lots of mobile technicians have AWS status). POPPI is the preserve of all dealers operating within the Approved Workshop Scheme – a joint enterprise between the NCC, the Caravan and Motorhome Club and The…

There’s a lot to be said for buying a pre-owned motorhome from the dealer who sold the vehicle from new, especially if they also kept an eye on it over the years. That’s the premise for this month’s Used ’Van Challenge, based on a visit to long-established Todds Motorhomes in Preston. Indeed, I can’t think of any downside to buying a motorhome from a dealer who has sold it new and, more than likely, been involved in its care – from fixing glitches, to adding accessories, to full servicing. Workshop staff will have detailed knowledge of the vehicle, and sales teams will also have more confidence selling a product that they know well. Another consideration is the dealer itself, of course, and the ties it has with any particular manufacturers.…

Protection for pups Price £17.99 Web www.mountainpaws.co.ukTaking dogs with us when touring is great, but an outdoor lifestyle comes with risks. Pets can get injured when out walking, and ticks are a definite threat, possibly transmitting Lyme Disease, which can result in heart disease or meningitis. Carrying a doggy pharmacy when you’re on the road is a great idea. The new Mountain Paws Dog First Aid Kit is perfect for the job; it’s small, light and can even be attached to your belt. Inside it features specially designed Tick Tweezers: just use the tool for removing the pest quickly and safely without leaving the head behind. Also included in the kit are gloves, wipes and swabs, to help you treat any injury, as well as saline solution, paw pouches, an…

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…

Braemar C&MC Site is a lovely place, just on the edge of the village, with stunning scenery close by and fantastic walking direct from the site, including woods full of red squirrels. Andrea Parker (Facebook) Practical Motorhome says… No longer run by the Caravan and Motorhome Club, Braemar Caravan Park is part of the beautiful Invercauld Estate, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, with stunning views of the mountains and plenty to do nearby. There are opportunities for walking, hiking, cycling, photography, winter sports, learning about local history and enjoying arts and crafts. Not to mention the distillery tours and tastings. This site is ideally located for all of the above, in 200 square miles of the varied landscapes of the Invercauld Estate. This includes Scotland’s…

“We loved everything about Tyddyn Isaf. It is clean and well maintained, with an excellent team who obviously love their job.” “Facilities for children are brilliant. The stunning beach is a five-minute walk through a private gate. We loved it so much after staying for five days that we came back again two weeks later for another five days!” “Tyddyn Isaf is perfect for us – it’s peaceful, close to the sea and coastal walks, and has great amenities on site. Perhaps most important is that it’s a family-run campsite with perfect hosts.” “They can’t do enough for you at Tyddyn Isaf and we will definitely be returning there next year.”…

CLAUDIA DOWELL “I love the interior of all Auto-Trail motorhomes, and this one is no exception. I particularly like the combination of light-coloured upholstery and darker wood finishes; the lighting available throughout the whole interior is excellent, too.” SARAH WAKELY “Flexibility is one of Auto-Trail’s strongest suits, and it’s beautifully demonstrated here in the Imala 732. Want to travel four-up? Choose the half-dinette. Want to sleep six but travel with two? That can be catered for, too. All in all, it really puts the buyer in charge.” PETER BABER “There’s a bit of a pinch-point between the washroom and the kitchen, but that’s the only place in this motorhome where things might seem a little cramped. Otherwise this feels like a spacious ’van, even when there are six occupants staying…

LUNAR ROADSTAR TI From £59,994 OTR Lunar’s Roadstar TI has a similar layout to the Imala 732, but the island bed is set longitudinally, rather than transversely, and there’s a half-dinette fitted as standard. This model is also based on the Renault Master. BAILEY AUTOGRAPH 79-4 £56,995 OTR Like the Lunar, the Bailey also has a longitudinal fixed bed. The model’s specification is high as standard and includes Alde water- and central heating, LED lighting, a 100W roof-mounted solar panel, an external BBQ point and more.…

Last year’s Dethleffs launch was characterised by technical changes, but not much in the way of new models; in fact, relatively few were introduced, and one entire range was deleted. This year’s event was more newsworthy. In addition to interior tweaks, all-new models and more, there was the launch of a new A-class and coachbuilt range named Pulse. Dethleffs’ popular Trend range – low-profiles and A-classes, as well as a trio of overcabs – receives a number of revisions for 2019. Three new layouts are available: the compact island-bed 6557; the 7075 DBL, also featuring an island bed; and the fixed-single-beds 7057 EBL. All come in low-profile or A-class forms. The 6757 island-bed layout has also been tweaked. Exterior changes include the introduction of a new front design for A-class…

The name‘Randger’ isn’t one that’s well known in the UK, but that’s a shame: this French company is part of the Trigano Group, and produces a range of good-quality campervans with a variety of layouts from its Dordogne production facility. Now, however, British buyers will be able to take a closer look at them because Marquis Leisure – the UK’s biggest motorhome and caravan dealership, with 12 branches across Britain – has made two models available on our shores: the R499 and the R535. Both are ‘crossover’ vehicles, based on the Fiat Talento – the recent replacement for the Scudo – and converted with good-quality campervan fixtures and fittings inside. Both are also four-berth, and have four belted seats, too; they also have an MTPLM of 2980kg, meaning that you…

For early- or late-season touring – or even in the UK’s changeable summer weather – few garments are more useful than a walking fleece. In milder months, the fleece can be used as the outer layer, to be stashed in a rucksack if the weather gets too warm. But in the cold, they are a warm mid-layer. Heavy winds do tend to penetrate them more than other types of jacket. It’s the same story with rain resistance – fleeces are intended to be used with a waterproof outer layer. Water and wind resistance, and heat retention vary, which is where we kicked off our tests. We used a low-pressure water mister to simulate light rain and timed how long it took to soak through and make inner surfaces wet. We…

1 2008 (08) AUTO-SLEEPER SIGMA EK £31,995 From a choice of half a dozen Auto-Sleeper coachbuilts for sale at Southern Motorhome Centre at the time of reporting. Sigma was a short-lived model (by Auto-Sleeper standards), with this EK the end-kitchen version. Peugeot Boxer-based, it has only covered some 23,000 miles. It’s a handy 6.28m long, with a good forward lounge that includes a rear travel seat for two, as well as the opportunity to set up two sofas. There’s the usual high spec, plus an added bike rack. DEALER Southern Motorhome Centre: www.southernmotorhomes.co.uk 2 2001 (Y) AUTO-TRAIL APACHE 634 £19,995 We’re getting into real bargain territory here, but Cheshire-based Spinney Motorhomes is a long-term Auto-Trail retailer. This 634 will sleep four, but note there’s only travel seating for two. The…

Longevity is a great thing because it breeds a special kind of trust. Todds Motorhomes has been a Swift dealer since the company first came into manufacturing motorhomes, back in the second half of the 1980s, just a couple of years after David and Edna Todd had set up their retail business (although they’d actually had some success with their own conversions prior to this). Another early franchise, Nu Venture, dates back to the 1990s. Auto-Trail, then, is a relative newcomer, being added in 2005. “I remember that very well, it was when I first joined the company,” says sales manager Craig Stephens (pictured below), “and this is my 13th year here.” The unique thing about Todds is that every vehicle it sells – and it specialises in motorhomes –…

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 of return visits…