Innehållsförteckning för May 2020 från Practical Motorhome

1 Touring the North Island of New Zealand in October 2018, for a 60th birthday, in a lovely hired Bürstner. This photograph of the Mount Tongariro range was taken en-route to Whanganui. Derek Strachan 2 We had the great pleasure of spending New Year’s Eve at the welcoming quayside of Glencaple on the beautiful Dumfries & Galloway coast. What a stunning way to end 2019! Alex Morton 3 At the end of our Spanish tour, we stopped at Candás, on the north coast. Camping Perlora was sensationally located on a rocky headland, just a 10-minute walk from town. Jos Simon 4 We found Glanllyn, in the Snowdonia National Park, by chance. They didn’t have hardstandings with hook-up left, but did have power by the lake. Were we lucky? I’d say…

Mobilvetta’s Kea P low-profiles now have habitation doors on the correct side for the UK. But because of its fixed single beds, the Kea P65 is 7.38m long – not ideal to fit in your driveway, or a parking space. Now, the same kind of motorhome is available in a shorter length – if you don’t mind a transverse bed. The Kea P67 comes in at 6.99m. It has a similar exterior, with skirting locker and an external barbecue point and shower. The cab is almost identical, so you still benefit from the souped-up 160bhp Fiat Ducato engine and cruise control – but you do have to put up with a slightly cheap-looking dashboard. Step into the lounge and the first advantage of this layout is apparent. Although the P67…

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I sometimes wonder if compact coachbuilts might be my favourite type of motorhome (taking campervans out of the equation). They offer all the facilities you’d expect in any ‘proper-size’ motorhome, but with a footprint on the road/campsite/driveway that’s no larger than a typical van conversion (or even a large car these days). Because on-board space is relatively limited, designers have to be a bit cleverer, not just in the provision of kit but also ensuring there’s enough room to manoeuvre and for storage. Plus, bear in mind the British penchant for rear lounges. Luckily, at least three of our top manufacturers have responded to the call – Bailey, Elddis and Swift. It’s probably no coincidence that these also happen to be the UK’s three main caravan producers. A lot of…

2018 (68) SWIFT ESCAPE COMPACT C404 This is a very early version of a Swift Compact – the range was amalgamated into the Escape line-up around this time, although it was really just a badge change. It’s well worth comparing to the Bailey that’s up next, – but this is £10,000 more. However, there’s an age difference of more than three years in the Swift’s favour. It’s had just the one owner, covered far fewer miles and is a full four-berth, thanks to the drop-down double over the U-shaped lounge. And it comes with the £1740 Comfort Pack (cab air-con, passenger airbag, flyscreen for the hab door, windscreen blind and more). The kitchen has a good run of work surface, a three-ring hob, combined oven and grill, and a microwave.…

Summary The fitted Sinclair air-con unit looks great inside and out, and functions perfectly first time. Out & About has definitely gone the extra mile to do a professional job here – one of the benefits of using an NCC AWS-accredited outfit. “We simply practise what we preach,” David explains. “If I wouldn’t do it in my ’van, I wouldn’t do it in yours.” The owner of this model will certainly appreciate that! Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Motorhome, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances. Individuals should take…

Has your motorhome’s freestanding table become wobbly over time? Turn it over and see if loose leg-fixing screws are the cause of the problem. Start by firmly but gently retightening them. If, like mine, your table is basically constructed from a chipboard core with melamine laminate faces, you might find that the screws just rotate in their holes – this will never be a success, as you cannot easily replace the screws with longer or fatter ones. Table meets its match The solution to this is to remove the screw-on legs entirely, and use pieces of matchstick with a coating of PVA wood glue to fill the holes. Not only will this reduce the hole size, it will also provide a much better grip for the original self-tapping fixing screws.…

Barbecue accessories You can barbecue like the experts with this 10-piece stainless steel kit from B&Q – all you might need to cook up delicious treats. Price £32 Web www.diy.com Dometic CAM200 bike rack camera The CAM200 can be mounted on your fully loaded bike rack, to give a clear view for reversing into the tightest of spots. Price £350 Web www.dometic.com Campervan doormat Keep the dirt out of your campervan or motorhome with this aptly designed doormat. Price £12.50 Web www.redcandy.co.uk Keychain charging cable This tidy keychain charging cable is perfect for a power boost while you’re on the go, and it’s compatible with Android and Apple. Price £15 Web uk.wildandwolf.com Citronella candles Citronella candles create a relaxing atmosphere on warm summer evenings spent outdoors, and they help to…

WHERE WE STAYED ■ Glenmore Campsite, Aviemore Aviemore PH22 1QU Tel 01479 86 1271 Web www.campingintheforest.co.uk Open All year Touring pitches 206 Charges £28 per night with hook-up Glenmore has a wonderful variety of pitches – woodland with a short dash to Loch Morlich, or open grass with views up to the magnificent Cairngorms. The facilities are spotless. ■ Portsoy Links Caravan Park Links Road, Portsoy AB45 2RQ Tel 01261 842 695 Web www.portsoylinks.org Open All year Touring pitches 50 Charges £19 per night without hook-up Superb location and terrific, friendly staff. The facilities are clean and functional. ■ Findhorn Bay Holiday Park The Park, Findhorn, Forres IV36 3TY Tel 01309 690 203 Web www.findhornbayholidaypark.com Open 1 April - 31 October Touring pitches 35 Charges £22 per night with hook-up…

VED campaign gains support The NCC is stepping up the pressure on the Government to change its recent hike in VED for some ’vans, with more than 80 MPs now backing its Fair Motorhome Tax campaign. The extra support came after a drop-in session for MPs, hosted by MPs David Davis and Emma Hardy at the beginning of February. The organisation is now hoping for changes to the system, which has seen VED on motorhomes fitted with new Euro 6d TEMP engines rise in some cases by 705%, to be announced in the Government’s next Budget. NCC director general John Lally said: “We continue to engage with HMRC over this. The minister recognised the concerns of the motorhome industry, and said VED remains under review.” New conversion during the show…

Has it really been 15 years since Dethleffs and Hymer announced their plans to build budget ’vans from an all-new plant in Germany? The premise was that build quality would be maintained, but prices would be sharpened. Carado (from Hymer) and Sunlight (Dethleffs) took Europe by storm, although their success has been a bit more muted here in the UK. The XV Edition models announced for 2020 are more expensive, but they come with all manner of spec upgrades – and the bold claim that you’ll save more than £11,000 by not ordering such items separately. On review here is the Sunlight T69L, one of two low-profile coachbuilts available in XV Edition format. From the outside – and apart from the windowless habitation door – this looks a world away…

IN ASSOCIATION WITH ADRIA CORAL 600 SL AXESS → Price £59,865 → Berths 3 → Belts 4 → Base vehicle Fiat Ducato → Engine 2.3-litre, 140bhp Euro 6d TEMP turbodiesel → Length 6.99m → Width 2.30m → Height 2.85m → MTPLM 3500kg → Payload 637kg → Expenses None → Previous reports Issue 229I I picked up our Adria Coral 600 SL Axess from Geoff Cox in Derbyshire in late November last year, and had really enjoyed staying in it for one night while bringing it down to our depot in Camberley, in Surrey (see report in issue 229). But with Christmas and an overseas holiday getting in the way, I hadn’t really had much chance to go away in it again. So I thought a quick spin in it before…

It’s difficult – nay, impossible – to visit Brownhills without being very impressed. It’s a massive site – more than 10 acres – dedicated to all things motorhome, with space to include a 50-plus vehicle showroom, plus hundreds more on display outside, extensive workshops, a café/restaurant, large accessories shop and more. The customer parking area, which includes bays for any size of motorhome, dwarfs the size of many dealerships’ total premises. Customer loyalty counts strongly here, too. Hence Club Brownhills, which you can join when you buy a motorhome, new or used, from the firm. Members have everything from on-site overnight camping facilities (if you’re bringing in your vehicle for servicing work, for example) to substantial discounts on accessories, a pretty full calendar of social events, and exclusive access to…

2015 (15) BAILEY APPROACH ADVANCE 615 The Approach Advance was introduced by Bailey for the 2015 season, with this, the 615, the baby of the line-up. Unusually for a model so short, it has an Al-Ko chassis extension, which promises a more forgiving ride. This ’van is part of Bailey’s policy of one-spec-suits-all, which pays dividends not just for the manufacturer (in terms of economies of scale) but also purchasers – you know exactly what you’re getting for your money. This example also has the Premium Pack (try finding an Approach Advance without one) – this £1199 option gave you cab air-con, DAB radio/CD player with Bluetooth, passenger airbag and a windscreen blind. Two lounges are rare in any motorhome, especially one as short as this. The cab seats swivel…

VENTILATION IN YOUR ’VAN Recently, there seems to have been quite an upsurge in the number of people doing DIY van conversions. I have observed this because one of the services that we offer in the workshop is certification of the gas system installation for self-builders, and we’ve had quite a few requests for this in the past few months. Many insurance companies are now insisting on the gas system being inspected and certified by a suitably qualified person, so this is becoming a necessity for many self-converters. One area that is a regular stumbling block is ventilation. Even though privately owned motorhomes are exempt from the gas regulations, we can only inspect a vehicle according to those regulations. Free flow of air Within these requirements there is a stipulation…

What’s not to love about a gadget? If you visit the caravan and motorhome shows (1), you’ll be familiar with the often flamboyant demonstrations launching the latest gizmos, and the many stands selling anything and everything to do with all aspects of touring. If you haven’t been to one of these shows, I’d recommend going along – they’re an excellent way to see what’s available. Meantime, here are some of my favourite products on the market. Rear-view camera and monitor Many motorhomes have a limited rear view from the driver’s seat and the rear-view mirror is often redundant or lacking. A rear-view camera (2) offers bird’s-eye views of the space around your ’van and the view up the road behind you, in perfect clarity, from the carefully placed monitor (3).…

letter of the month I cannot be the only one who sometimes finds it a little awkward to see the speedometer in my motorhome due to the position of the steering wheel. One solution is to use a GPS speedometer app on a tablet (1), which gives a good-sized readout in my line of vision that is easier to see than that of a standard sat-nav unit or phone app. I made a simple cradle out of plywood, which hangs on the radio control knobs, safely held with a cord to the dashboard. The functionality of the app depends on which one you choose, but there can be useful features such as ‘maximum speed’ or trip readings, as well as the ability to give readings in kilometres. There is the…

March All year This year is the 300th anniversary of the birth of the UK’s first ecologist, Gilbert White, and you can find out more about the man who believed that we need to live in harmony with nature at his former home in Selborne, Hampshire. The Gilbert White House and Gardens also hosts the Oates Collection, an exhibition about the lives of two great explorers, Captain Lawrence Oates of Antarctic fame, and his uncle, the naturalist Frank Oates. There’s a shop and café, too, so it promises to be a full day. 22 March (Mothering Sunday) If Mum’s taste in reading tends towards the classics, an afternoon at Jane Austen’s House Museum (www.jane-austens-house-museum.org.uk) in Chawton, Hampshire, should be just perfect. She might also enjoy exploring Chawton Village, St Nicholas…

A van conversion with a raising-roof on a Fiat Ducato? You don’t see that very often. Until this season, it has really only been Hymer that has offered such a vehicle. But now, Auto-Trail has launched two such models as part of its new Adventure range – specifically designed to take on the Hymer market, it says. We went along to look at the longer of the two, the Adventure 65. The exterior decals certainly enhance the impression that this is a ’van for adventurers. There is an underslung gas tank, which frees up room inside, and the roof fastens with metal clips. Slide back the door and you’ll notice a thin strip of LEDs on the outside of the kitchen unit. This should provide fairly good lighting for any…

You just might see my eyes light up when mention is made of Ford’s latest 168bhp engine and automatic transmission. For Benimar’s Tessoro range – eight coachbuilts, all based on Ford’s Transit – the former is standard, the latter an extra £2000. Grab a test drive if you can, because they offer a superbly relaxing drive. Add to that the great price-to-spec proposition that is standard with every Benimar model, and you can see why the Spanish marque has made such inroads into the UK market. The four-berth Tessoro 483 promises a lot – electric drop-down double bed; full-width end washroom; garage storage; maximum weight a licence-friendly 3500kg… Crucially, too, no optional extras to add – it really is that well equipped. And this all comes in at significantly below…

→ Price £649 → Weight 16.5kg → Dimensions 325 x 250cm → Fixing height 250-265cm → Pack size 80 x 45 x 31cm → Access Twin front doors, two side doors → Key selling points Double ripstop fabric, single-point inflation, steel pegs, lifetime guarantee on the air tubes → Optional extras Annexe with bedroom (£199), Lumi-Light tube lighting kit (£79.99), groundsheet (£24.99), Jet Stream electric pump (£79.99), Deluxe Tech storm kit (£19.99), up/downlighter (£12.99) → Web outdoor-revolution.com Do good things come in threes? It turns out they might well do: Outdoor Revolution’s E-Sport Air is available in three height versions and, as you can see, it’s the mid-range L version on review here that’s most suited to a typical coachbuilt motorhome (in this instance, a Swift Bolero 684FB). It’s a…

Multi-Owner Satisfaction Awards winner Southern Motorhome Centre (SMC) is hosting its third annual WildAx Open Weekend on 28-29 March, at its premises on the outskirts of Bracknell, in Berkshire. Although van conversions by WildAx take centre stage, you can also expect to see at least 30 selected pre-owned vehicles at special prices, ranging from under £20,000 to nearly £60,000. Part-exchanges are welcome, and there will be opportunities for test drives. Other attractions include a weekend barbecue with complimentary food and drinks. There will also be a free draw, with a range of prizes, all related to touring. WildAx’s top man, Duncan Wildman, will be in attendance on the Saturday to answer any questions about his company’s products. SMC owner Mike Graves says: “If you’re new to motorhomes and want to…

2017 (17) ELDDIS ACCORDO EVOLUTION 120 One of Brownhills’ own – Evolution is the name for its line of special editions, based on the Autoquest/Accordo ranges from Elddis. As a dealer special, this example has a significantly higher level of specification compared to the initial model. It’s a long list, but once you start delving into what you get for your money, you’ll soon be convinced. Like the other two ’vans reviewed here, the level of use is so minimal, it’s too early to say how it will fare in terms of wear and tear. One thing is for sure, if you own a model like this for three or four years, then trade in, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how residual values have been retained. Accordos are narrow-bodied, and…

Co Durham manufacturer Elddis is now part of the mighty Erwin Hymer Group, although it has been in business building Brit-friendly caravans and motorhomes for more than half a century. It responded to the changing profile of motorhome purchasers in three significant ways. First, by limiting weights to a licence-friendly 3500kg. Second, by offering unbeatable value for money, and third, by making sure that there is a travel seat for every sleeping berth. Masters at lightweight construction, Elddis had been working flat-out building value-for-money Autoquests – many of which were offered as dealer specials – when it realised that it needed to broaden the offer, by building some luxurious flagships; hence the Aspire, which was replaced by the classily contemporary Encore in 2015. Spectacularly well-equipped the range certainly is, but…

As the summers appear to be getting hotter, and more of us are touring on the Continent, life in a motorhome can sometimes feel a bit too warm for comfort. On the hottest days, opening your ’van door when you arrive on site can be akin to opening the oven – the heat inside is simply stifling. Hot motorhomes are not much fun to be inside, and sleeping comfortably in one is nigh-on impossible. You have to keep balancing the relative merits of opening windows and rooflights (mozzie bites) or battening down the hatches (an unwelcome sauna). But as well as cooling the interior, air-con is great for allergy sufferers, because most units will clean and dehumidify the air. Pet owners will appreciate that they can leave animals in comfort…

PARTS CHECKLIST ■ Genuine Reich Tap Microswitch, to fit Reich Vector S Tap for caravan or motorhome ■ 25mm valve mixer tap ceramic disc cartridge shower/bath/basin faucet valve (25mm refers to diameter of the cartridge; this fits a tap with a 33mm diameter screw base, which anchors the tap to the worktop) ■ Silicone grease, to lubricate swivel spout seals TOOLS CHECKLIST ■ Standard toolbox ■ Torx T7 screwdriver, for the collar retaining screws These very stylish taps are quite common in motorhomes, especially the upmarket variants. When used in vehicles with pressurised fresh-water systems, they come without an embedded microswitch, whereas for systems that use an ‘on demand’ pump, the action of lifting the tap lever activates an internal microswitch, which then supplies current to the pump. In general,…