Innehållsförteckning för March 2024 från Practical Motorhome

Check your breakdown cover! I wonder how many readers might find themselves in the situation that we had to deal with the other day? We went to start our motorhome, only to find the battery was flat. No problem, we are members of a breakdown service and thought we could get a jump start from them, so we could get going and pick up a new battery on our journey. We phoned the service and they asked for our registration number. There was a pause and then we got the bad news. They would not attend, as our motorhome was over the weight that they would come out to. We have an Auto-Trail Dakota Frontier on a Fiat Ducato, and on checking, discovered that it was indeed a small amount…

Avtex AMR985 Mobile Internet No need to forgo your favourite shows with this new internet solution from Avtex, offering 3, 4 and 5G connection on the go from a simply installed roof-mounted unit. Price £381 W outdoor-world.co.uk PackTowl Made from sustainably sourced fibre, this soft 42 x 92cm towel absorbs 10 times its weight in water, and folds into a pocket-sized bag. Price £15 W outdoorpeople.org.uk Portable Table Tennis Bring out your competitive side with this portable ping pong set, including four bats, six balls and a net that can be used on any surface up to 180cm wide. Price £44.99 W prospin.net Garmin Camper 795 Garmin’s new motorhome-specific sat nav offers custom routes, preloaded guides and satellite imagery, all on a bright 7” screen. Price £349 W garmin.com EarthPak…

Part of Cornwall’s infamous history is that its many coves – Prussia Cove, for example – were really perfect for smuggling. The deeds of the ‘free traders’ were memorably recorded in Daphne du Maurier’s classic 1936 novel, Jamaica Inn. Smuggling in some form has existed ever since customs duties were first established in the 13th century, but the ‘trade’ reached its peak during the 18th century. Bleak and isolated Bodmin Moor was taken advantage of as an unmonitored route, and canny smugglers regularly moved their contraband across the moor on its way to the many keen customers up-country. Jamaica Inn, midway between the north and south coasts, was notorious as a stopping-off point for smugglers travelling on this route, and became steeped in many tales of treachery and debauchery. When…

OUR EUROPEAN ODYSSEY pt 24 As we passed through the gargantuan arches at the top of the pass, I found a sense of awe tangled with surrealism washing over me. We’ve been over higher passes on our travels, as well as several more beautiful than this, but this was different, this was more than just a road. This was the Silk Road. Armenia’s Silk Road. Driving along it felt as if we were following the ghosts of times gone by, travelling not just on asphalt but through the annals of history. My thoughts went back to a time long before motorhomes existed, when caravans of camels and horses would have travelled huge distances, carrying all manner of goods to be traded in the great bazaars and markets of the world.…

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Like many who visited the October 2023 NEC show, I found the prices of new models eye-watering. There was the usual array of glittering ’vans and some brilliantly inventive packaging and novel layouts. But the overriding theme was the pricing. In 2016 I bought a top-spec Renault Trafic van for £17,000 from a Renault main dealer, then spent some £20,000 having experts convert it. So it owes me around £37,000 in total. Today, that wouldn’t even buy you the base vehicle, and a fully converted Renault Trafic to a similar specification would cost around £70,000 or more. Basic campervans all seem to start at £50,000 to £60,000, while a top-spec VW Transporter is north of £100,000. If you’re thinking of trading in your old motorhome – as many people do…

How to use the guide We’ve organised our listings by layout, generally the most crucial aspect for buyers. Simply locate the floorplan you like in the guide; then, on the left of it, you’ll find details of every UK model with that layout. Simple! Note that TA in a model name denotes a twin-axle. how to buy… Choosing a layout Before you get close to buying your dreamed for van, you need to have a good think about what you are likely to use the vehicle for: is it just for touring, or for day-to-day use as well? If the latter, you may need a shorter vehicle with more travel seats in the back. And you need to think about who is likely to use it. If children are coming…

Bourg St Maurice, France What3words ///release.tidying.other Why tour here? A brilliant base for those exploring the popular ski resort of Les Arcs, this town in the centre of the Tarentaise Valley has excellent transport links and easy access to the slopes by funicular railway. It’s only 10km from the Italian border and within an hour’s drive of other notable resorts, such as Tignes, Val d’Isère and Les Trois Vallées. Even better for motorhomers is the fact you can stay at Camping Huttopia Bourg St Maurice, putting you in a prime position for visiting the many delights of the town and the mountains themselves. Don’t miss… The magnificent ski slopes of Les Arcs, of course. Get up early to enjoy fresh powder and clear mountain air. You can read more about…

I read your recent feature on touring in Kent (issue 280), which mentioned the Canterbury Park and Ride that “accepts motorhomes” was closed. I live near Canterbury and we often use the Park and Ride at New Dover Road, all year round, in both our car and our motorhome. We frequently use it for shopping trips and take the opportunity to use the motorhome service area, too. There are two large motorhome parking areas in the Park and Ride and it’s also open all year. The bus service is included in the £4 per day (until midnight); it might not be 24/7, though!…

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 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 clue is: Problem 6 = average More than 12 = well done HALF & HALF Hyetometer and ombrometer are terms for instruments that measure what? Cross out a letter in each square to get a grid filled with words. The uncrossed-out letters in the…

On exhibition! ■ Outi Pieski at Tate St Ives 10 February to 6 May 2024 Discover the work of visual artist Outi Pieski in this exploration of the identity, culture and environment of the Sámi people, who live in the region of Sápmi, which includes the northern part of Scandinavia and the Kola peninsula in Russia. Gallery entry is £10.50. W tate.org.uk Stay at… Ayr Holiday Park W ayrholidaypark.co.uk ■ Spectra Festival of Light, Aberdeen, Scotland 8-11 February 2024 Spectra, the magical Festival of Light, returns to Aberdeen for its 10th year. Annually, it produces a spectacular programme of works by some of the world’s leading visual artists, studios and companies, to transform the mighty Granite City with light, sound and art. Entry to the event is free. W spectrafestival.com…

Duration Seven days When March 2023 Why? Combine superb skiing with the warmth of a comfortable motorhome! The question most people asked after they heard we stayed in a motorhome for our family ski holiday was “Were you warm enough?” and our answer was a definite “Yes!” But it was a fair question and the first thing my wife asked about when I suggested taking a motorhome ski holiday. She was also worried about coping with damp ski gear in the ’van and wasn’t thrilled at the prospect of walking to the facilities across a snowy campsite. Thankfully, the reality was much better than expected and we all agreed we’d do the trip in a motorhome again - success! I was impressed by how well the Truma Combi blown-air heating…

Bailey Adamo 75-4I ➔ Price £75,499 ➔ Berths 4 ➔ Belts 4 ➔ Base vehicle Ford Transit ➔ Engine 2.0-litre, 160bhp with automatic gearbox ➔ Length 7.49m ➔ Width 2.38m ➔ Height 2.85m ➔ MTPLM 3500kg ➔ Payload 352kg ➔ Expenses N/A ➔ Distance travelled 184 miles ➔ Previous reports Issue 280 When we said we were very keen to start making use of our new long-term loan motorhome, a Bailey Adamo 75-4I, I had no idea just how soon this would happen, or that my very first trip in it would involve going back to the place where it was built – more or less. The Adamo range may still seem new to some of Bailey’s diehard fans, as it was only launched a few years ago. But since…

Swift applauds top dealerships Swift has commended a number of its dealers in its latest Approved Dealer Programme Awards. Salop Leisure scooped Best Overall Dealership, coming top in a scrutiny that includes customer satisfaction survey reports and mystery shops among a total of eight customer-focused key performance indicators monitored over the year. Other winning dealerships were West Country Motorhomes, with branches in Somerset and Wiltshire (Larger Dealer category); Highbridge Caravans and Motorhomes, Somerset and Devon (Medium-sized); Don Amott Leisure Kingdom in Derbyshire (Small) and Lowe & Rhodes Leisure from Stoke-on-Trent (Rising Star). Also among the winners were Brownhills (Nottinghamshire), top for Customer Service, and Heart of England (Northamptonshire), winner in the Best Mystery Shop. For Salop Leisure, with its main site near Shrewsbury and outlets at Machynlleth and Stourport-on-Severn, joint…

1 Are motorhome heating systems effective? A properly maintained heating system in a modern, well-insulated motorhome is very effective indeed. It will not only heat the interior space quickly – typically reaching your target temperature in around 20-60 minutes – it will also be able to maintain that level of warmth extremely efficiently. UK motorhomes are frequently tested in industrial-size cold chambers, which can generate temperatures below -20°C. So a modern vehicle could keep you very warm, cosy and comfortable, even in those conditions. These days, they really are four-season leisure vehicles. 2 Are motorhomes fitted with separate heaters for hot water and space heating? The majority of modern motorhome heating systems will heat both the interior space and the water in a single combi unit. Clever engineering means that…

New Nottingham site for the C&CC The Camping and Caravanning Club has recently purchased Thornton’s Holt Camping Park, near Nottingham, from site owners Polly and Simon Jones. The 13.5-acre site dates back to the 1960s and has been owned by the same family for more than 30 years. It can accommodate up to 175 motorhomes, tents and caravans, and has a café and shop. The site’s impressive eco-credentials include solar water heating, rainwater harvesting for flushing toilets, and recycled glass insulation beneath the washrooms. It is in a fantastic location with a wide variety of attractions and activities, and has excellent transport links. Polly and Simon said: “We were keen to ensure Thornton’s Holt continued to be a touring site that provided a warm welcome to our customers, and we…

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

Cornwall’s heritage dates all the way back to Neolithic times and beyond, although one of its most enduring industries is mining, which began in the Bronze Age. Tin, copper and gold have all formed the bedrock of Cornwall’s output at one time or another in the past, and they reached their zenith during the Industrial Revolution. Did you know, for example, that at the beginning of the 20th century, half of the world’s tin originated from there? With increasingly high demand for metal, Cornwall’s landscape was transformed by the equipment needed for deep extraction, and the remains of those mines are still very much in evidence today. These days, that rich industrial history has earned the county World Heritage Site status for 10 of its great mines. The last working…

Adria drops Active Duo price Adria has announced reductions in the price of its new rising-roof campervan in a move to make this “the best value campervan in the UK”. The Adria Active Duo was launched last summer, and went on to win the Best Small Campervan category in our 2024 Motorhome of the Year Awards. The Renault Trafic-based ’van was also given an in-depth Big Test review (issue 279). But at the start of December the company announced it would be dropping the OTR price of the vehicle by 15.6%, to £52,990. Optional extras associated with the vehicle have also come down in price, so you can now get the Active Duo with a Comfort Pack, a 150bhp engine with auto gearbox, two Renault packs, an infotainment system, metallic…

Bailey is the latest UK brand to see the attractions of the van conversion market. Endeavour was launched at the NEC in October, but it had already been through rigorous testing with base vehicle manufacturer Ford and Bailey itself. The model we review here, the B62, was one of the vehicles taken on the recent Bailey Sahara Challenge. With its chrome blue exterior, black sunroof, alloys and roll-out awning, it must have cut a dash on the dunes. The cab is standard Ford, with an added reversing camera. The B62 runs on Ford’s 2.0-litre 155bhp engine, but as standard, you get Ford’s six-speed automatic gearbox. Both cab seats swivel smoothly and have swan-neck reading lights. That is as much as you get up front in terms of a ‘lounge’, although…

HERITAGE Bag yourself a Munro! No, not one of the Scottish peaks featured in the Victorian mountaineer’s famous tome, but a CI Munro motorcaravan. These were built in huge numbers in the 1970s and 1980s, after the company’s change of focus from trailer caravans to motorhomes. Most of their models were underpinned by various Mitsubishi chassis-cabs, including the Canter shown here. CI Munro was eventually taken over by… STAR CONVERSION Family owned and run for more than 30 years, Wendekreisen is based in Auckland and Christchurch. The firm’s aim is to focus on quality, but at a price-point that also offers exceptional value for money. The Koru Star 2 on Maxus Deliver 9 pictured above retails at $147,990 (around £72,810) – heavy duty, rear wheel drive and automatic transmission. Cheaper…

Chausson is currently based close to the River Rhône, in the heart of the picturesque French region of Ardèche. However, it commenced trading near Paris, back in 1903. Originally, it was an auto-parts manufacturer specialising in radiators, and its first complete vehicles were school buses, which rolled off the line in huge numbers from 1942. More recently, it has specialised in the conversion of innovative, design-led motorhomes, and it is now part of the vast Trigano Group. The Titanium first saw the light of day in late 2018, with production starting for the 2019 model year. It has sporadically been available on the Fiat Ducato chassis-cab, but has also always been built on Ford’s finest, the Transit. Here, we focus on the Titanium with Ford underpinnings. The current generation of…

Charge of the lightweight brigade There is a growing popularity for lithium-based leisure batteries, and with good reason – but are they really as efficient as the advertising says? First, let’s consider what a battery is. This is an energy store, just like a fuel tank, and before you can use any of the energy (fuel), you need to put some into the battery (tank). Traditionally, we have used lead acid batteries in a variety of forms, everything from basic lead acid to gel to AGM, and even some rather fancy chemistries using silver – but they are all based on lead, which means they are pretty heavy. A 100Ah battery can weigh around 30kg. Another limitation of the traditional battery is the safe depth of discharge (DoD), which is…

In these days of sky-high energy costs (and don’t forget that as businesses, campsites have to pay the commercial rate for energy, so don’t benefit from the caps that consumers do), we can all do our bit by being more energy conscious. In the past, many of us have no doubt been guilty of using electricity unnecessarily in our leisure vehicles – for example, leaving the heating on all day when we haven’t been around to actually need it. Generally speaking, even starting from cold and during the cooler times of the year, a motorhome will be up to temperature within an hour at most after you’ve turned on the heating. Alde 3030 control panel When Alde updated its heating system to the latest 3030 boiler (which is fitted as…