Innehållsförteckning för October 2018 från Practical Motorhome

Map your next picnic Price £39.99-£49.99 Web www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk These picnic rugs from Ordnance Survey can make any hillside into a comfortable spot to rest. Covered with a full-colour, scaled map, there is a choice of design: the Lake District, Snowdonia, the New Forest and Dartmoor, or a map of the UK which, at 240 x 140cm, is ideal for the multiple picnic-ers. The standard rug is 140 x 140cm. With a rip-stop nylon waterproof base and a neat sack, it won’t add bulk to your kit, either (it weighs just 485g). It also has reinforced button holes at the corners, so it can be pegged down in high winds. BS Discreet draining Price £19.99 Web www.prestige.co.uk None of us likes wasting ’van storage space on dish drainers that…

Role playing Don’t be embarrassed, just kick off your shoes and try the following. But always ask the sales staff to observe or advise beforehand, to avoid accidental damage. ■ Make up any beds that convert from lounge seating ■ Don’t just measure the beds, lie on them ■ It is not sufficient to stand in the washroom doorway and glance around. Go in, close the door and pretend to shower, and sit on the loo ■ Put the table up and check it will accommodate the number of expected diners Campervans only: ■ Try raising and lowering the roof yourself to assess just how difficult it really is ■ If the ‘facilities’ consist of a portable toilet in a cupboard, can this be accessed with the bed made up?…

Way to go We approached the town of Castellane from the north on the N85. An alternative entrance to the Gorges du Verdon from the west is Riez, useful if you’re arriving from the A51 motorway. The route along both the right and left banks is narrow, winding and precipitous in places, but is perfectly acceptable for motorhomes taking it slowly (as everyone does); we drove at little more than 20mph for the entire route, and there are places to pull off the road every few yards. It is not recommended for motorhomes to travel along the Route des Crêtes. Verdon e-bike, based in la Palud-sur-Verdon, offers e-bike tours along the route, a much less nerve-wracking experience than negotiating the road in a ’van. For those who would prefer to…

All the Aires France was first published by Vicarious Media (www.vicariousbooks.co.uk) in 2006 and listed 600 French aires. Subsequent editions proved too big for one book, so it was split into North and South editions. The current editions of the guide list 3562 aires and the next ones will include about 4000; the latter will be published at the start of 2019. Authors Meli George and Chris Doree have been touring since 2001. In 2006 they started inspecting French aires and they have carried out about 10,000 inspections in France, Spain, Portugal and Benelux. Each inspected French stopover has two colour photos, concise directions and co-ordinates in GPS format. Service points and parking are described, including desirability. Further information includes distances to nearby towns, shops and restaurants, local green spaces,…

Way to go From North Wales we took the A55 to M6, then M65 to Colne, A6068 and A629 to Skipton and A59 to Harrogate. Where we stayed • Harrogate Caravan Park Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate HG2 8NZ Tel 01423 546 145 Web www.harrogatecaravanpark.co.uk Open Until 4 November 2018 and weekends in November; closed 11-17 September 2018 Pitches 66 Charges Pitch+2+hook-up £22-£30 Food and drink • Bettys www.bettys.co.uk • Wildings Tearoom 01423 711 152 • Old Barn Café www.oldbarnmalham.co.uk/cafe.html • Cottage Tea Rooms https://bit.ly/2mDDIGe • The Coffee Pot Café https://bit.ly/2LJMMUG Find out more Visit Yorkshire, www.yorkshire.com Costs Car hire .............................................. £121 Fuel .....................................................£103 Food & drink ......................................£101 Parking...................................................£5 TOTAL ..............................................£330…

County Durham firm Elddis’s first full year under German (Erwin Hymer Group) ownership has seen some considerable growth in its range, with the reintroduction of Compass as a motorhome brand and an expansion into van conversions. Motorhomes haven’t gone down the Consett assembly line wearing the Compass badge for the past decade, so their reintroduction suggests increased confidence in a company that has also developed its van conversion concept in only eight months. Just as with the restructuring of Compass caravans two years ago, the new motorhomes will be identical in terms of layout, spec and body length to models also in the Elddis line-up. For this year they will be restricted to the entry-level Avantgarde range, the equivalent of Elddis’s Autoquest. There isn’t yet a Compass equivalent of Elddis’s…

Price.........................................£45,500 Berths......................................................2 Belts..........................................................2 Base vehicle...................................................................Peugeot Boxer/Al-Ko Engine......... 2.0 Blue Euro 6 HDi Length.........................................6.59m Width..........................................2.28m Height..........................................2.76m MTPLM....................................3500kg Payload......................................800kg Miles covered on test..........1107 Faults.............................................None Overall expenses..................None Previous reports........July 2018, ...........................................August 2018…

Bürstner City Car Harmony Line 603 Price £49,495 Berths 2 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg Given that a two-berth van conversion already has cab seats, does it really need a front dinette? That’s the daring question Bürstner is putting forward in this new model, which dispenses with rear seats (but not the table) to provide more leg room and a sideboard. Chausson 634 Flash Price £41,400 Berths 5 Base vehicle Ford Transit MTPLM 3500kg Can you really sleep five in just over six metres of motorhome and still have two lounges, loads of storage space, a garage and beds that don’t obstruct the door? With drop-down beds up front, and a crafty new Easy Box storage solution in the rear, the 634 shows you can. Le Voyageur Signature 8.5CF…

Ventura VR200 Price From £29,995 Berths 2/4 Base vehicle Peugeot Boxer MTPLM 3300kg (pre-conversion) Every campervan buyer has their own list of must-haves, which is where the Ventura VR200 is so clever. It starts at less than £30,000 and offers you a tremendous amount of choice in terms of kit that can be specified, allowing you to get your camper fitted out with all you need – and nothing more. Tribute T-736 G Price From £47,131 Berths 4/6 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg The newest model in Auto-Trail’s budget coachbuilt range provides room and comfort for a family, with a large transverse bed and garage at the rear and a spacious front lounge. It doesn’t look like your standard budget ’van, yet it will still give you change from…

Bailey Advance 66-2 Price £45,500 Berths 2 Base vehicle Peugeot Boxer/Al-Ko MTPLM 3500kg The latest incarnation of Bailey’s Advance range was launched mid-way through the 2018 season, and impressed our testers from the start. Baby of the family is the 66-2: it features a very spacious end-washroom and a whopping payload that comes in at 800kg. Compass Avantgarde CV20 Price £36,677 Berths 2 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg The relaunched Compass range for 2019 includes this keenly priced and roomy Fiat-based two-berth (also available as an Elddis Autoquest) with a good-quality kitchen and washroom, and a rear lounge with sofas that should be large enough for most to use as single beds. Compass style gives it modern looks, too. Swift Escape 612 Price £47,200 Berths 2 Base vehicle Fiat…

Carthago Liner-for-two 53 L Price From £125,530 Berths 2/4 Base vehicle Fiat Al-Ko/Iveco Daily MTPLM 5000/6700kg We’ve had our eye on the liner-for-two – Carthago’s answer to the Dethleffs Alpa or Frankia’s Plus layout – for some time. With its C-shaped lounge and reclining chair, it’s bound to turn neighbours green with envy. And now it’s available in this 8.5m-long twin-axle version with a bigger garage and a choice of base. Swift Kon-tiki 675 Price £96,145 Berths 4/6 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 5000kg The Kon-tiki range has seen the most transformation in Swift’s 2019 line-up. With an intriguing ‘around the corner’ stargazer window at the rear, a huge front lounge and an overcab sure to get kids excited, this twin-axle offers ultimate luxury in a space that won’t have…

Welcome to part of the pre-owned motorhome market that’s rarely written about – ex-rental vehicles that are ‘defleeted’ and put up for sale. There could be more of these around than you might think. The ideal back story is that the one previous owner (the hire company) goes on to offer its vehicles for sale, preferably after a short period of work. The Bunk Campers fleet (see below), for example, is some 200 vehicles, making it one of the UK’s largest operators. These vehicles are phased into the retail side through the course of each year, but typically they’ll be about two years old (for coachbuilts) and anything over one for campervans. The key could be finding vehicles not reduced to the basic spec for the hire market, as well…

There are more bizarre motorhomes than this selection, but they were meant to be wacky – whereas all but one of these were thought sensible! Reader Fran Barrington starts us off with (1). She asked: “Does this hold the record for maximum number of wheels on a ’van? And has it been on the road? The answers are ‘No’ (I’ve seen a 32-wheeler in Arizona) and ‘Yes’ (my research indicates it had been, but is now stored). We’ve all seen log cabins and timber-clad house-trucks, but this 1920s ’van (2) was hewn out of one Douglas fir trunk. The creators might have been ‘bark-ing mad’, but they were obviously not as rich as the person who (according to Caters News Agency) paid £1m to have his eleMMent Palazzo (3) finished…

By now, many readers will be aware that we have changed our motorhome. I have already given some of you a ‘tour’ of our newbie, and answered many questions about how we selected it and about purchasing in general. So many, in fact, that we decided the subject deserved an Ask Jack special. I’ve converted a few panel vans in my time, and this is our 13th commercial conversion. We’ve never been able to afford a new one before (probably can’t this time, either, but it was now or never!) though in the past, we had a new conversion of a five-year-old panel van. It is oft repeated but still so true for many of us (including this long-serving road test correspondent) that there’s no fool like an old fool.…

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…

The really big news for Adria motorhomes in the UK for the 2019 season is more to do with pricing than models, because the Slovenian manufacturer is freezing prices on van conversions, low-profiles and A-classes. The company makes this move on the back of what has been the most successful year in its 53-year history, with a 14% rise in motorhome sales against a European average of 10%, and despite the distraction of being taken over by the Trigano Group. Adria also aims to make its pricing more transparent by including more features as factory-fitted options. There are, however, new additions and developments in all ranges, and a couple of new layouts. For 2019 the all-two-berth Twin van conversion range has adopted the same Axess, Plus and Supreme spec as…

Last year Swift announced a major consolidation of brands that led to the disappearance of the Autocruise name. This theme has continued for the 2019 season, with the Bolero name and the only relatively recently launched Rio range both being axed. In their place, however, the Escape range – which underwent a complete overhaul last season – is expanded, with the addition of the new three-model Escape Compact sub-range. And, looking towards the other end of the market, while the Bessacarr range was also overhauled for the previous season, this year, it remains pretty much unchanged. The most upmarket Kon-tiki range, meanwhile, gets a completely new look, and two additional models. For 2019, Kon-tiki models have been given a more aerodynamic exterior profile, with a new overcab on High-line models…

The Owner Satisfaction Awards 2019 will be organised by Practical Motorhome in partnership with The Camping and Caravanning Club for the third year in a row – but we can’t do it without you. If you’ve bought a new or pre-owned motorcaravan since 1 January 2015, and have owned it for at least six months, then we would love to hear from you. How were you treated when you bought the motorhome, how has the ’van behaved, and would you buy again from the same manufacturer or dealer? What’s more, everyone who completes our survey stands a chance of winning a top prize bundle of a week’s free camping at the Camping and Caravanning Club sites of your choice, a Cadac BBQ and a £100 PRIMA Leisure voucher! Competition T&Cs…

Randger R535 Price £43,995 Berths 4 Base vehicle Fiat Talento MTPLM 3010kg This year Marquis Leisure introduced two Trigano Group Randger models to the UK; our favourite is the R535, which manages to squeeze both a high level of kit and a small washroom into its 5.4m length. It’s based on the Fiat Talento, too, which offers an impressive driving experience. Wellhouse MS-RT Price £57,000 Berths 4 Base vehicle Ford Transit Custom MTPLM 3400kg This latest model from the Huddersfield van converter spares nothing to give you top-notch automotive engineering married to a smart interior that’s filled with classy racing-style touches. Turn up with this at your next motorsport rally and you’re sure to be the envy of your friends. Dreamer Select Cap Land Price TBC Berths 4 Base vehicle…

Bürstner Ixeo T 690 G Price £70,995 Berths 2 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3850kg Bürstner’s amalgamated Ixeo range was launched as A-class-only last season. The low-profile Ixeos, launched this year, include this compact model with high-level beds. Bürstner has used the time between the two launches to have a look at the garage underneath the beds, and make the entrance to it even bigger. Roller Team Pegaso 590 Price £59,990 Berths 4 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg Sitting at less than 6m in length, the all-new Roller Team Pegaso 590 is a fine little A-class that feels really well fitted out inside. There’s a generously sized, UK-friendly lounge up front, and a rear washroom that features a separate shower cubicle. A drop-down over-lounge bed completes the features list.…

Auto-Trail Tracker EB Price £61,597 Berths 4/6 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 4250kg The new Tracker EB follows Auto-Trail’s recent penchant for making successful upmarket layouts available for those with more hard-pressed wallets. Last seen as a Frontier Dakota, it offers plenty of berths, and an end washroom with one of the biggest showers we’ve ever seen in a ’van – ideal for those with young kids. Adria Matrix 670 DC Price £66,125 Berths 4 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg Parallel-sofa lounges are all the rage this year, and they suit families or groups looking for plenty of relaxation space. This ’van has a large fold-up table that leaves a wide gangway and plenty of legroom – this means that all four occupants can relax in comfort, and the…

The recent heatwave has been a great reminder of just how pleasant evenings outdoors can be. Although lanterns were long ago replaced as a means of illuminating motorhome interiors, they really come into their own for lighting outdoor tables, gazebos and awnings. LED models throw out lots of light, despite being compact and lightweight. Doesn’t it all seem a world away from the gas-powered lamps of yesteryear? Well, yes and no. Modern lanterns are a bit like electric cars. These are clean and fume-free, but for long distances travelling with the family and lots of luggage, they simply don’t compare to the mile-munching ability of a good old diesel engine. Similarly, for LED lamps, longevity per charge is the issue. It’ll surprise nobody that an LED lamp’s battery starts to…

Most motorhome owners aim to spend as much time as possible touring, but what do you do with your ’van when you are not out on the road, during the off-season? This might not be as straightforward as parking it on your driveway, owing to the substantial length and height of many motorhomes. But before exploring the available options for long-term storage, let’s first consider the jobs that need to be carried out beforehand, to ensure that your motorhome will be ready for the next adventure. Preparation for storage 1 To minimise the risk of damp, invest in a dehumidifier or buy the cheaper, granular version. If neglected, mildew will grow on flyscreens and walls. 2 Keep the refrigerator door open, to prevent mildew growing. This also applies to the…

1 2017 (17) SUN LIVING LIDO M45SP £42,995/£41,640 The two double beds – central drop-down and rear-transverse over garage storage space – make this a particularly spacious four-berth motorhome. The two prices? The higher is if you buy it outright. For the lower, ask about the Motorhome Holiday Company’s owner investment scheme where, when you’re not using it, it’s rented out on a 50/50 profit-sharing basis. Last year this model brought in almost £14,000 gross. DEALER The Motorhome Holiday Company: www.motorhomeholidaycompany.com 2 2018 (18) SUN LIVING S70SC £46,995 How about a bit of bargain island-bed luxury? This would have cost more than £54,500 when new, thanks to a generous sprinkling of options (Comfort Pack, Motorhome Pack 2, lots more individual kit), totalling over £3000. It’s done 6000 miles since then,…

It’s been a whirlwind year for Camperco, the group that comprises converter Nomad Campervans, the Bunk Campers motorhome hire operation and Camperco itself, which is the retail side, selling motorhomes and a range of accessories. It had already embarked on a period of planned growth when it was acquired by Australian company Apollo Tourism and Leisure earlier this year. The parallels between the two companies are striking. Their roots may be in hire, but expansion plans involve making moves into mainland Europe. Already, Camperco has been rolled out across the UK. Despite the address – and, indeed, location – Camperco calls the branch I visited this month its Birmingham outlet. That’s to suit its hire customers. Opened back in March, it has now been joined by two other outlets: Conwy…

AT A DEALERSHIP 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…

1 FOCUS ON FRANCE From aires to campsites, ferries to driving regulations, we’ve really enjoyed compiling all the French advice you’ll find in this month’s issue! 2 ALL-NEW FOR 2019 Over the past few months we’ve brought you details of all the latest 2019 models, and this month it’s the turn of the Brit brands. Our round-up starts on p87. 3 BARGAIN BUYS What’s one good way to bag a used bargain? Buy an ex-rental ’van. Nick Harding explores that option on p128. 4 SAFE ’VAN STORAGE Many of us aren’t lucky enough to be able to keep our motorhome on our premises, so storage is the solution. How do you go about choosing the best option for your needs, though? The answer is on p116! 5 AND FINALLY… Lastly,…

‘Must haves’ (for the Bancrofts) ■ Must be less than the value of our trade-in plus £25,000 ■ 3500kg or less (advancing age) ■ Low entrance threshold for ease of access and egress ■ Two nicely sized easy-access single beds (that we can make into a double on occasion) ■ A washroom changing/ showering area with sufficient ‘dry’ floor space ■ Minimum 500kg payload dry (400kg with full fresh-water tank) ‘Wants’ (for the Bancrofts) ■ SEVEL cab ■ A long body integrity warranty ■ Wipe-clean walls and cupboard fronts ■ Dog-friendly fabrics ■ Cab air conditioning and cruise control ■ A microwave oven ■ Not wide-bodied and under 6.5m in length, so it can be used ‘as a car’. Our new Advance stretches the tape to 6.6m – we’ve allowed…

Way to go From St Malo, approaching Rennes, follow directions for St Nazaire and Redon and join the N177. After 25 miles turn onto the N59 towards Langon and Grand Fougeray. Where to stay • Camping Municipal du Port Beslé-sur-Vilaine, 44290 Guéméné-Penfao Price Pitch+2+hook-up €10 Open May-end September Email campingduportdebesle@orange.fr A small municipal campsite with 25 pitches and five wooden chalets for hire. The office isn’t staffed all day, so on arrival choose your pitch then ring the number displayed at the entrance to notify the manager. She will call to collect the money and give any advice or information. • Camping De L’Hermitage 46 Ave du Paradis, 44290 Guémené-Penfao Price Pitch+2+hook-up €17-€22.50 Open 1 April-15 October Tel + 33 (0)2 40 79 23 48 Web www.campinglhermitage.com Facilities…

■ A full, valid driving licence ■ Proof of insurance ■ Passport ■ Vehicle registration document (V5C) ■ GB sticker (if your motorhome doesn’t have an EU flag/GB numberplate) ■ High-vis jacket – one for each occupant ■ Warning triangle ■ Headlight-beam deflectors ■ Breathalysers ■ Spare bulbs ■ Snow chains if you are travelling in colder conditions…

The biggest news this year for Auto-Trail might be the introduction of Alde heating in its upmarket Frontier range. It’s the first time the Grimsby manufacturer has included the wet heating system in any of its models. Frontiers for 2019 also come with Auto-Trail’s Basic Media Pack, which normally costs £1149, as standard. This includes an 18.5” TV, sat-nav, a DAB and FM radio with MP3 and Bluetooth capability, a reversing camera and a Status TV aerial. Including these new features has pushed the average price of a Frontier up by 4.4%. The range now starts at £73,444 OTR. But the Trigano Group company has otherwise been very price-conscious this year – no other prices on any Auto-Trail or Tribute ranges have gone up by more than 0.5%. The Frontier…

Welcome to our annual awards. Each year we focus on the best new models available for the upcoming season; all motorhomes and campers that are new or substantially revised since our last awards, are on sale during the 2019 season, and are available for us to view before our final judging, are eligible for entry. Over the next few pages you’ll find the contenders; the winners will be revealed in our November issue! Best for innovation.............................................................................................p100 Best rising-roof camper...................................................................................p100 Best high-top panel van conversion..........................................................p101 Best budget motorhome..................................................................................p101 Best compact motorhome..............................................................................p103 Best coachbuilt motorhome..........................................................................p103 Best motorhome for couples ........................................................................p104 Best motorhome for families........................................................................p104 Best for luxury (3500kg and under)........................................................p106 Best for luxury (over 3500kg).....................................................................p106 SUPPORTED BY…

Chausson Twist 594 Price TBC Berths 2 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg This roomy two-berth with a jazzy interior from Chausson is one of the best new models from the many mainly low-profile and A-class manufacturers who have entered the van conversion market this year. It’s made in the UK (at fellow Trigano Group brand Auto-Trail’s factory) and has a UK-friendly spec too. Devon Arizona Price £45,075 Berths 2 Base vehicle Peugeot Boxer/Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg The Arizona proves that you can have a van conversion measuring under 6m in total that comes with a four-burner hob and a sink with a permanent drainer, not to mention a full washroom at the back. You also get a side-facing sofa to admire all those views from the comfort of the…

Rapido 686F Price TBC Berths 2/3 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg Rapido’s new ‘86’ designation denotes a motorhome that includes the French manufacturer’s clever new parallel-sofa arrangement in the front lounge. This model includes a height-adjustable island bed and a roomy central kitchen and washroom; but it’s still only 7.19m long, so parking shouldn’t be tricky. Dethleffs Pulse T 6651 DBM Price £59,390 Berths 3 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg Dethleffs’ new Pulse range of low-profiles and A-classes caused a stir at its launch in the summer: the line-up took 18 months to complete, and has a clear emphasis on interior light. The compact, luxurious, 6.99m T6651 DBM layout is our favourite – a rear island bed and quality fixtures and fittings throughout. Auto-Trail Frontier Comanche HB Price…

Hymer B-MC T 580 Price £65,920 Berths 2/3 Base vehicle Mercedes Sprinter MTPLM 3500kg Hymer’s B Class Modern Comfort (B-MC) line is the result of a two-year partnership with Mercedes and in particular, its new 177bhp front-wheel-drive Sprinter. This has resulted in a motorhome that has a level interior and a double floor capable of holding most essential services, but still a MiRO of less than 2900kg. Adria Sonic Supreme I 710 DC Price £84,755 Berths 4 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg We were still waiting to take a closer look at this model as we went to press with our shortlist (the model shown here is the 710 DC’s sibling, the 710 SL), but we loved the SL, and have been very impressed with the ‘DC’ parallel-sofa layouts…

One of the best reasons not to use a fuel lantern is cost. However cheap they are to run, they’re not free. And most of the time, LEDs are. Hook-up is rarely metered, so the cost of boosting a lamp’s internal pack, or a set of rechargeable batteries, is in effect nothing if you have the facility. With this in mind, running costs became a big part of our considerations with fuel lamps. To calculate an hour’s cost, we used a petrol price of £1.20 per litre, and assumed other lanterns were running on a generic disposable 500g butane/propane cartridge, or – with the Campingaz models – their similar-sized CV470+ cartridge. Typical average prices were used for both. Away from cost, we appraised light in much the same way as…

This unit required no more than four bits of plywood, a dozen cable ties and a screw. But it solved a dilemma. Turning the driver’s seat around to relax in the lounge was fine, but I wanted a platform the same height as the seat bases (360mm) on which I could sit a cushion, to achieve maximum lounging comfort. It would also be used as an extra seat when necessary, and had to pack away into no space at all and cost nothing. The beast was fashioned using some off-cuts of plywood. And we always have lots of cable ties! Drawings and design The prototype worked well. But then my wife decided it would also make a great side table next to her outside lounger. Some mates saw it and…

Refine your search by location, make and model, price, berths and more to find your next motorhome quickly and easily Scroll through our gallery of large images and get to know the ’van before hitting the road Our simple-to-navigate ads will help you check out each motorhome and contact the seller Explore each ’van’s vital statistics on our mobile- and tablet-friendly classifieds website to see if it’s the right motorhome for you On the lookout 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. Now you can read our review of your chosen ’van, watch the video then find it online, making www.practicalmotorhome.comthe one-stop shop for all…

The shorter Safari Treks sold well in the UK, mainly because they were of suitable length for our roads and campsites. Dudley’s and then Travelworld imported them. Back then, it was also popular to buy a pre-owned one in the US, use it for an extended tour, then have it shipped back home. Safari was the brainchild of Mat Perlot, formerly marketing manager for a firm making tour coaches and buses. He was disappointed that his employers failed to take advantage of the huge demand for RVs in the 1980s, so set up his own factory. Here we are looking at models built from 1995, on Chevrolet wide-track chassis with twin rear-wheel drive, and usually powered by a V8 6.5-litre turbodiesel (7.4-litre petrol optional). These compact Safari Treks had two…

JULY 2003 Practical Motorhome looked quite different 15 years ago! Some things don’t change, though: as with this issue, we brought you inspiration on touring in France, and – then as now – we were all about the ‘thrill of the open road’ Just like today, Kon-tiki was a big name in the motorhome world. We featured a six-page Live-in test; the Swift looked vastly different to the latest, all-new version that’s just been launched (p94) The late Doug King is a much-missed contributor to our pages. In the July 2003 issue, he passed on his sage advice about buying used – advice that’s just as relevant now Our beloved Gentleman Jack – still very much an active contributor to the magazine – listed all the terms that you needed…