Innehållsförteckning för January 2021 från Practical Motorhome

Email your pictures and their stories (40 words, plus name, address and contacts) to hotshots@practicalmotorhome.com. The best photo will win these guides: All the Aires Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands; Go Motorhoming and Campervanning; Seaview Camping Wales; Seaview Camping West Country; Road Trip Europe – The Great War and More; Road Trip Europe – Go Dutch. All are from Vicarious Books, www.vicarious-shop.co.uk, 0131 208 3333.…

Ancient Caledonian pine forest, heather moorland, mountains and glistening lochs dotted with islands – these have helped to earn Glen Affric its reputation as Scotland’s most beautiful glen. Strathglass (‘strath’ meaning a broad valley in Gaelic) takes in three remote glens – Glen Strathfarrar, Glen Affric and Glen Cannich. Our plan was to tour them by VW California, taking our time to soak up the scenery and solitude. And what better time to visit one of the last remaining fragments of ancient Caledonian pinewoods (the third largest in Scotland) than in full autumn colour? October is a great month to tour; the midges have gone and it’s blissfully quiet – we practically had the place to ourselves, bar the occasional roar of rutting stags. Our wheels were a new VW…

Last year, Pilote latched on to the trend for low-profiles that take advantage of having a drop-down bed to include a huge end washroom. The P696D, the first to feature this layout, was such a success that earlier this year, the company launched the P626D, offering a similar floorplan, but in a length – 6.2m – that is shorter than some van conversions. What’s more, this ’van comes with two foldout travel seats, so you could use it as your day-to-day vehicle, too. Now for 2021, the P626D is one of five low-profiles being presented in the UK with the Evidence package. This is on a “take it or leave it” basis – you can’t pick and choose the options – but does offer all sorts of goodies for a…

■ Tell us about your role – what do you do? I’m Director of Marketing and Membership Services for the Caravan and Motorhome Club. My role is all about communicating to members, so they understand all of the great benefits and things that we do to support them and ensure they get the most out of the great outdoors. ■ How long have you been with the club? Five years. I previously worked at Eurotunnel for seven years as marketing director and the club was one of our clients. So I knew its reputation, but at that point, I didn’t really appreciate its scale, and all of the wonderful things about it. ■ Tell us a bit about its history What I love most is that because this is a…

Dolphin makes a grand entrance It might not sound that significant, but recent circumstances have offered dealerships a bit of a breathing space – the ideal opportunity to spruce up their premises. At Dolphin Motorhomes’ Hampshire branch in Southampton, for example, the whole of the customer reception area has now been given a complete refurb, including new glazing, flooring and ceiling, as well as automatic double doors, external cladding and signage. Also new is an undercover handover bay, where customers can come and collect their motorhome purchases and be given a thorough demonstration of how it all works – whatever the weather. The service department has now had a similar overhaul, with its own designated entrance and parts storage area. As marketing manager Nicky Hopper explains: “Not only can we…

My other car is also a Porsche’ was one of the highly amusing bumper stickers of the 1980s, and popular with yuppies. These young upwardly mobile professionals, with their rampant consumerism and overt materialistic attitude, were thought to be a product of Thatcher’s Britain, and quickly became a bête noire for some. Margaret Thatcher was considered a strong leader, and many felt this was precisely what the country needed as they thought it was on its knees. Others opined that she did more to fuel the class war and marginalise vulnerable groups than any other post-war Prime Minister. What is a matter of record is that, after we climbed out of the recession of the early 1980s, Mr and Mrs Average in the UK enjoyed the rest of the decade…

YES WE CAN… CAN bus is a term that seems to strike fear into the hearts of many motoring DIYers these days. I often see comments on internet forums about not fitting one thing or another because it might “upset the CAN bus system”. So what is the CAN bus and why does it get upset? ‘CAN’ stands for Controller Area Network, and ‘bus’ in this case is a communication system that transfers data. So CAN bus is a communications network in a car, transporting digital messages between microcomputers, known as ‘nodes’. These then carry out an action based on the message – switching on a brake light when the brake pedal is pressed, for example. The CAN bus network consists of a pair of wires – the bus –…

Glen affric, Scottish highlands Coordinates 57.23596°N 5.15327°W Why tour here? Affric is one of Scotland’s finest glens and comprises a glorious mix of habitats, including lochs, moor and woodland. The beautifully picturesque glen works its way from the mountains of Kintail through a nature reserve and down to Loch Affric. Don’t miss… This is home to one of the largest ancient pinewoods in Scotland; be sure to take a wander among these atmospheric trees brought to life by birdsong and breeze.…

I take a deep breath in an attempt to calm my rapidly rising heart rate, trying not to look down or think about anything other than the process I need to go through to make it around the edge of the rock face. A task easier said than done, suspended from a sheer cliff face hundreds of feet above the valley floor, held by little more than a rope and two small carabiners. I must admit, this isn’t the usual predicament a visitor to the Lake District would expect to find themselves in, but then, this has been anything but your usual trip to what is, without doubt, one of the UK’s most alluring regions. Autumn colours At the time of our visit to the Lakes, the already beautiful scenery…

PROFILE When did you and your husband Ron start working for the C&CC? April 2015. Where are you from? We’re Worcester born and bred, and we had camped at Blackmore as Club members for the past 25 years. How old are you? I’m 49 and Ron is 55. What did you do before your current role? I drove buses from the age of 18, then later, qualified as a hairdresser. Ron managed the bus company, where we met, before he worked for the county council’s Vehicle Inspectorate. We’ve been Club members since the 1990s, with our children. ■ What made you decide to become a Holiday Site Manager with The Camping and Caravanning Club? We had always fancied it, but obviously had to wait for our girls to grow up…

February NEC show called off Next February’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show, at the NEC in Birmingham, has been cancelled, due to continuing uncertainty about the spread of Covid-19. Show organiser NCC Events says it did not take the decision lightly to put off the show, which had been due to run from 23 to 28 February. It felt an early announcement was the only way to “safeguard show partners, exhibitors and visitors from the financial exposure of a late show cancellation”. NCC Events chief executive John Lally said, “The team is extremely disappointed, as they have done everything they can to prepare a Covid-secure floorplan, ensuring that both exhibitors and visitors would have a safe environment.” The next instalment of the February show, which usually focuses more on accessories…

Plus FREE SEALEY TOOLKIT • This comprehensive kit includes a selection of screwdrivers, reversible ratchet bit driver, combination and long-nose pliers, bits and Chrome Vanadium WallDrive sockets • Tools feature soft-grip handles for comfort and control • Supplied in a practical and handy carry case Free Sealey Toolkit worth £45.99 Enjoy 12 months for just £34.99 – that’s just £2.69 per issue Receive every issue delivered direct to your door Your special Christmas offer • FREE Sealey Toolkit worth £45.99 • Enjoy 12 months of Practical Motorhome for just £34.99 – that’s just £2.69 an issue! • Receive every issue delivered direct to your door • Exclusive subscriber covers • A thoughtful gift that keeps delivering throughout the year Upgrade to include digital for only £10 • Instant access any…

Once you get into the realm of the A-class, in motorhome terms you really are at the top of the food chain, and can and should expect a ’van that provides performance, luxury and high specification. And then there’s the price! These are undeniably expensive vehicles, so whether you have the income to afford such treats or are selling up and throwing your hat (and savings) into the ring, you’ll no doubt be putting in the hours of research. Let’s face it, this is not a purchase to get wrong. Fortunately, there are some amazing A-class models on the secondhand market – here’s just a taste of what you could be enjoying. Rapido 880F (2019) ■ BERTHS/TRAVEL SEATS 4/4 ■ L/W 7.04m/2.35m ■ MTPLM 3500kg ■ PAYLOAD 435kg ■ PLUS…

*including yourself! NEAT STORAGE Store up to 13 issues of your magazine subscription in a coordinating slipcase or binder. www.magazinesdirect.com No hidden costs Shipping included in all prices We deliver to over 100 countries Secure online payment DISCOVER GREAT GUIDES & SPECIALS From photography to music and technology to gaming, there’s something for everyone. A magazine subscription is the perfect lockdown gift that keeps on delivering throughout the year. Choose from over 8O magazines and make great savings off the shop price! Plus a digital card of your choice to send to your family member or friend! FUTURE magazinesdirect.com Official Magazine Subscription Store…

WHICH MOTORHOMES CAN I DRIVE? Did you pass your driving test before 1 January 1997? ✓ You can drive a motorhome up to 7500kg on your B+C1 licence. When you reach 70, you must submit a medical form to renew your licence to continue driving a ’van over 3500kg, and do this every three years. Did you pass your driving test after 1 January 1997? ✓ You can drive a motorhome up to 3500kg on your B [car] licence. To drive a motorhome heavier than 3500kg, you must take a C1 test. HOW TO LOAD YOUR MOTORHOME CORRECTLY Heavy items, such as TVs and boxes of wine, should be stowed low down and as close to the floor as possible; medium-weight items, such as clothing, should go below head height.…

letter of the month l first started tent camping back in 1947, with my grandparents, and then, when 1 got married, l introduced my husband to the joys of camping. We started off with a trailer tent and later moved to a caravan, in which we took our two grandchildren away with us during the school holidays. They really loved the freedom camping gave them! These days, we drive a motorhome. Our daughter and her husband bought When my granddaughter married and had children, they bought a caravan and now they take their two daughters camping. When we go away together (below), we are four generations of campers: great-grandmother, daughter, grand-daughter and two greatgranddaughters. Sandra Vincent VAN LIVE! RETURNS NEXT YEAR Following the recent success of our own Van Live!…

December ■ 5-6, 12-13 December Glyndebourne is the fabulous venue for a concert of opera highlights and Christmas classics. You could also make an afternoon of it by booking in at one of the restaurants. All seats are booked in pairs – discover more about its Covid-19 precautions and book tickets at glyndebourne.com. ■ 8-24 December If you’re staying at the Caravan and Motorhome Club Brighton site, there’s a treat in store at Brighton Open Air Theatre, in Hove. Wrap up warm to enjoy family performances of The Snow Queen (suitable for two-year-olds upwards) and Hansel and Gretel, which is billed as a postmodern pantomime for eight-year-olds upwards (and includes a rapping dragon). The shows run simultaneously and last about an hour. There’ll be mulled wine for the grown-ups! Find…

When Erwin Hymer UK ran its socially distanced launch event in early September, most of the focus was on the expansion of Compass and the introduction of a raising-roof campervan. But despite the interruption of the lockdown, it managed to introduce a new model into the Elddis Autoquest (and Compass Avantgarde) range. The Elddis Autoquest 150 brings a four-berth in-line island-bed layout into Elddis’s entry-level range. It’s essentially the same floorplan as the Encore 250, but some 7cm shorter. The only outside evidence of this shortening comes when you notice that, unusually, part of the Autoquest decals spread across the rear windows. The cab is standard Peugeot. The parallel settees in the lounge contain fold-out travel seats, so you could use this as a day-to-day vehicle. When you step aboard,…

‘I’M THINKING ABOUT BUYING A BRAND NEW MOTORHOME, AND THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT COMES WITH A WARRANTY. IT’S JUST LIKE A GUARANTEE, RIGHT?’ Not exactly. The Consumers’ Association says guarantees are mainly focused on whether the product lives up to your expectations, and are free. Warranties, on the other hand, are more like an insurance policy, and are often not free, particularly if you opt for an extended one. The main thing to remember is that a warranty should have no impact on your consumer rights. As NCC deputy director general Alicia Dunne says: “The simple rule is, a warranty can add to a consumer’s rights, but can’t take them away.” NCC consumer rights adviser Peter Stonely takes this further: “A seller’s liability is for the lifetime of the…

Hymer and Mercedes-Benz go together like sauerkraut and wurst, not least because back in 1971, the very first Hymer ‘Integral’ (what we would call an A-class) was based on a Merc. As early as the mid-2000s, Hymer predicted an increase in demand for lighter motorcaravans, weighing 3500kg or less, because of driving licence restrictions at both ends of the age spectrum. Initially, lightweight models were on the Fiat Ducato, then 2014 saw the launch of the Merc-based lightweights, the ML-T range. Although they were initially exhibited in 2014, all are to 2015 model year specification. ML-T kicked off with a four-model line-up, three with a practical payload at an MTPLM of 3500kg (chassis upgrade possible) and one with a generous payload, but an MTPLM of 4200kg. All available at 3500kg…

The cold, dark evenings are not to everyone’s taste, and some of us like nothing better than to cosy up by the fire at home in winter. Before you store your motorhome for the season (1), however, it is advisable to carry out a few simple housekeeping and maintenance tasks. That way, you should have no problems next spring. Indoor tasks ■ Cleaning It really would be remiss to leave any motorhome in a mucky state, so the first step is to give it a thorough clean before putting it away. Be careful about the cleaning agents you use on plastic fixtures and fittings. Avoid using household bleach, which will damage the plastic. And bear in mind that products such as Thetford Bathroom Cleaner (2) can be used in the…

Now featuring 2021 mo de ls! how to buy… Setting a budget Begin by setting a realistic budget, not just the initial cost, but ongoing maintenance – both the base vehicle and the interior will need regular servicing – fuel consumption and insurance. The price of a new motorhome can look prohibitive, but offset this against what you would spend on a holiday, and how you would use your motorhome, how often, and the freedom it gives you to explore new territories. Remember that motorhomes tend to hold their value very well, too. how to buy… Choosing your motorhome Whatever your view of the internet, it has made choosing your motorhome far less exhausting. Countless dealers have told us that, whereas in the past prospective buyers would spend days traipsing…