Innehållsförteckning för March 2026 från Practical Motorhome

Have you made any motorhoming resolutions for the New Year? It’s something we’ve been talking about a lot at Practical Motorhome HQ this month, for our article on p17. In it, our team reveals what they’re planning for 2026, be it technical projects or travel destinations at the top of their bucket list. Mine is to get out on a bike from my motorhome more often – cycling and touring make great bedfellows, so I’m determined to leave the ’van on-site and get out on two wheels more this year. We’ve also been busy this month debating and finalising the winners of our prestigious Practical Motorhome Awards. Every year it’s a challenge to pin down which motorhome and campervan models will take our trophies, but it’s an enjoyable challenge –…

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, All the Aires France; All the Aires Spain and Portugal; Road Trip Europe – Best of Belgium; 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. Note, list of prize books may change depending on stock. All are from Vicarious Books: www.vicarious-shop.com ,0131 208 3333.…

Have you ever inspected your freshwater tank to be greeted by a stale smell? Or wondered how long you can leave the water in the tank? It’s one of those areas many new motorhomers forget about until something goes wrong – a funny taste, a strange smell, or random little black bits floating in the fresh water tank. But with a little regular attention, your fresh and waste systems can stay healthy, hygienic and working exactly as they should. Start with the freshwater tank Your freshwater tank is the heart of your onboard system, and, like any vital organ, it deserves regular check-ups. Modern tanks can harbour biofilm – that slimy layer where bacteria love to hide – so it is essential to perform a thorough clean every few months.…

WINNER Swift Trekker 540 Base vehicle Ford Transit MTPLM 3500kg MiRO 3042kg Payload 458kg Berths 4 Belts 4 Length 7.01m Width 2.37m Price £78,590 Visit any motorhome show these days and you might well come across a relatively new start-up offering you the perfect off-road getaway ’van for four of you – but it may be at an eye-watering cost. Well, the Trekker 540 is the perfect such ’van set at a realistic price, and it’s produced by a company with a long-standing reputation, too. Built on a Ford Transit Trail body with a rugged exterior, it should be ideal for treks along unmetalled roads and even the odd grassy stretch. Yet inside you have a comfy space with a parallel-sofa lounge beneath a generous drop–down bed, and a spacious…

WINNER Bailey Autograph 81–5 Base vehicle Peugeot Boxer/Al-Ko MTPLM 4500kg MiRO 3587kg Payload 913kg Berths 6 Belts 5 Length 8.13m Width 2.45m Price £93,999 We Brits love a rear lounge in our motorhomes - because the weather isn’t always perfect on our shores, we tend to spend more time inside than our Continental cousins, so a good-sized space to relax in is a must. That’s where the Bailey Autograph 81-5 is so impressive. Within its 8.13m length the designers have succeeded in squeezing in not only a good-sized front dinette (with three belted seats), washroom and kitchen, but the lounge at the back feels very roomy and airy. That’s thanks in part to the wide body. That luxurious feel is backed up by the standard kit list: a Sonos portable…

WINNER Auto-Sleeper Active FL635 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg MiRO 2937kg Payload 563kg Berths 4 Belts 4 Length 6.36m Width 2.26m Price £69,749 (£75,749 with pop-top roof) It’s always a bonus for families when a campervan measuring less than 6.5m in length manages to include two lounges, so both adults and children can spread out to their heart’s content. This, one of three models in Auto-Sleeper’s new Fiat Ducato-based campervan range, does precisely that: there is a front dinette with two travel seats, but also a comfortable rear lounge with parallel settees. The latter can be turned into a perfectly adequate double. To make this a four-berth you can opt for the pop-top roof that children are sure to love climbing into. The adults are then free to make…

Dolphin Motorhomes is now the name over the doors at the premises of what was Premier Motorhomes in West Sussex (see story opposite). Dolphin has bought the site, but not the business – which sadly went into voluntary administration in August 2025. Hence, aspects such as warranties cannot automatically be transferred over to Dolphin. Also, Premier held franchises for the sale of new motorhomes that have not previously been offered by Dolphin. There is some good news. Dolphin has confirmed a small number of pre-ordered spare parts were included in the sale. And it has been able to re-hire some former Premier staff. Dolphin’s MD Josh Willis says: “Premier Motorhomes was a dealership I had great admiration for. We look forward to meeting former Premier customers and we’ll do everything…

AUTO-TRAIL BADGER & FOX 1995-1999 It is widely thought that Auto-Trail didn’t undertake panel van conversions until the launch of the V-Line in 2014. Actually, it has been producing them for over 30 years. Some early examples – including these 1990s conversions of the Fiat Ducato – were cutting-edge. Auto-Trail was the first volume UK and European producer to develop and fabricate a moulded GRP high-top with a fully integrated Luton overcab. This contrasted with a previous effort by the Canterbury Sunhome (Hall of Fame no. 35, issue 304) which looked as though a wider coachbuilt motorhome-top had crash landed on a delivery van. Fox and Badger were both available as two-berths (raked high-top) or as four-berths (high-top with Luton overcab). Both featured a forward lounge consisting of an inward-facing…

Be prepared to compromise Newcomers to motorhomes often ask: “What is the best or perfect motorhome?” My answer is, there isn’t one – they all involve compromises. Consider a micro-camper – they’re just the job for weekend breaks, particularly for outdoorsy types who like hillwalking and sports like windsurfing, and just need somewhere to sleep and do basic food preparation. But they are definitely lacking in living space. Now, consider a 40-foot American RV with triple slide-outs giving you masses of living space and all mod cons. The downsides are that you need an HGV licence to drive it, its size will restrict the places you can get to somewhat, and it will drink fuel at an alarming rate. While the micro-camper can probably be parked on your drive at…

what3words ///branching.outraged.hockey (to car park) Why tour here? This medieval town, on an exquisite bend of the Sûre River in Luxembourg, couldn’t have been placed more perfectly. It is a delightful spot – particularly when viewed in the sunshine, because the deep green of the forest of Upper Sûre Nature Park is a natural foil for the glinting river and the light reflecting off the pale walls of the many historic houses. At the top of the village you will find the ruin of the Esch-sur-Sûre Castle, which dominates the skyline. This is one of the oldest castles in Luxembourg, dating back to the 10th century, and has a wonderful vantage point for views over the rooftops and the valley and river below. You can find out more about touring…

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 a space available before you visit: go to www.practicalmotorhome.com/nightstops for more info. For further information about the MCC, visit www.themotorcaravannersclub.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 Mousehole Camping TR19 6XB 7 Blenkinsopp Castle Inn CA8 7JS 8 The Thelbridge Cross Inn EX17 4SQ 9 The Ship Inn YO15 1EW 10 The Crown Inn GL7 5QH 11 Elton Farm GL14 1JU 12 The…

Our expert panel Sarah Wakely Editor-in-chief sarah@practicalmotorhome.com Paul Critcher Deputy editor paul.critcher@futurenet.com Peter Baber Reviews editor peter.baber@futurenet.com Peter Byrne Content editor peter.byrne@futurenet.com Gentleman Jack Contributor askjack@practicalmotorhome.com Nick Harding Contributor practical.motorhome@futurenet.com Diamond Dave Contributor practical.motorhome@futurenet.com IS THERE AN AFFORDABLE WAY TO CLEAN MY AWNING? Q Can I use washing-up liquid to clean a driveaway awning?(1) I am trying to save money and wondered if that would be an acceptable alternative to dedicated cleaners. Brian King A Joanna Davies replies… If your awning just needs a light, spot clean – to remove dust, bird droppings, or general grime – a small amount of mild washing-up liquid mixed with lots of water should be fine. Always rinse thoroughly to remove any soapy residue, as leftover detergent can attract dirt and cause streaking. Frequent…

A recent short break to the Christmas markets in Hamburg and Lübeck has got me thinking about how refreshing a quick getaway can be. Particularly at this time of year, when if we’re not careful we can find ourselves (or at least I can – I know that most of you are an active bunch!) vegging out in front of the laptop or gogglebox and indulging in too many Cheeselets (scroll, much, scroll, munch…). I digress; the point is that with a little self-motivation you can be out there exploring some of the many great places within a day’s drive. With this in mind, we’ll be looking to extend our regular ‘48 hours…’ feature to take in a nearby overseas destination. Why not suggest one of your own favourites –…

Robin Hood’s Bay is a small coastal village on the edge of the North York Moors, scattered across a small stretch of rugged coastline. Its maze of steep, narrow streets tumbles toward a wide, windswept beach where fishing boats once set out into the North Sea. Today, it’s a place where visitors linger over coffee in cosy cafés overlooking the water while fossil hunters scan the shoreline. The village’s higgledypiggledy cottages, once home to smugglers and seafarers, create a postcard-perfect backdrop for slow, scenic wandering. Whether you come for coastal walks along the Cleveland Way or just the quiet charm of a village that feels suspended in time, Robin Hood’s Bay offers an inviting glimpse into Yorkshire’s romantic coastline. DAY 1 9am Bay walk Get your bearings in this historic…

Back for a fifth year in their current form, our prestigious annual Practical Motorhome Awards feature the best motorhomes and campervans on the market today. This year we’ve included a whopping 20 motorhome and campervan categories, covering a range of budgets, sizes and types. So, whether you’re looking for a luxury motorhome, a value-for-money campervan or anything in between, we’ve something here for you. To be eligible to win one of our trophies, motorhomes and campervans must have been new or revised since our previous awards, and available for the 2026 season. So what are you waiting for? Simply turn the page to see all of our winners and highly commended vehicles. You can also visit our website to see all of our winners in details, and read more about…

WINNER Chausson 798 Ultimate Line Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg MiRO 3104kg Payload 396kg Berths 3 Belts 4 Length 7.36m Width 2.35m Price £71,990 Partly due to the supply chain issues Fiat had in the months after the Covid lockdown, Chausson has concentrated much of its production in recent years on the Ford Transit, whereas previously it had offered customers a choice of either vehicle. So for 2026 it’s great to see this excellent island-bed model included as a Fiat-based Ultimate Line as well as the Ford option. Ducatos are still the vehicle of choice for many, even if they are slightly more expensive. With Ultimate Line you do get a marginally more powerful engine than the Ford, as well as some extra features as standard including hill descent…

WINNER Mobilvetta Kea Kompakt 55 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg MiRO 2888kg Payload 612kg Berths 4 Belts 4 Length 6.39m Width 2.15m Price £79,995 This season Mobilvetta has become the latest Continental manufacturer to launch a compact range. Compact in this case refers to width (2.15m, with the mirrors folded). The van itself is 6.39m, so not the shortest in these awards, but is still very easy to park. And it manages to get a lot into that length: a nice comfortable face-to-face front lounge with a highly versatile pedestal table, a smallish kitchen which nevertheless manages to have workspace where you need it, and for once has a fridge that is at eye level, so you don’t have to bend down, which can be an issue in narrower…

WINNER Auto-Trail Expedition 54 Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg MiRO TBC Payload TBC Berths 2 Belts 2 Length 5.41m Width 2.27m Price £52,595 Auto-Trail’s Expedition range of campervans, launched a few seasons ago, has proved a real contender for those looking for the convenience of a campervan, but with the slightly extra room and comfort you get from a Fiat Ducato rather than a VW Transporter or Ford Transit Custom. Up until now, however, the range hasn’t included a model based on the short-wheelbase Ducato - something that, at 5.41m, would make such a vehicle easier to find parking spaces for, and even easier to use day-to-day. That has all changed this season with the launch of the Expedition 54, on just such a wheelbase. While it will be…

The all-electric campervan – something that relies entirely on an electric motor and has no need of gas within the habitation area – is still proving something of an elusive Holy Grail, at least among mainstream manufacturers. But a hybrid model – using a motor that is mostly electric but has a petrol engine to back it up – seems to be a much more approachable idea, with both VW and Ford bringing out hybrid versions of the campervans that are sold under their own name. Earlier this year Panama, still a relatively new entrant in the UK market, added a P10\E hybrid model to its existing P122 and P57 conventionally powered campervans. We took it for two spins, first in Somerset and then in Northamptonshire, to see how it…

On the look-out 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. You can read our review of your chosen ’van, watch the video then find it online, making www.practicalmotorhome.com the one-stop shop for all your touring needs. We already know that 50% of you access our website via mobile device, so our classifieds have been designed to be fully responsive – they should work just as well on your tablet or smartphone as they do on your home computer. We’ve worked hard to make these classifieds as easy to use as possible, with filters to help you narrow your search by location, price, brand, year, weight…

FEBRUARY 2021 Chocolate box-village adventures were on the menu this month, with trips to pretty Sussex and Cornwall. Plus, an unusual pop-top and how to find a van conversion just right for you! Motorhomer Andria Massey found Chichester in West Sussex to be a wonderful choice for a relaxing break, whatever the season Gentleman Jack’s tour of the archives took him back to the 1990s, with the advent of the World Wide Web and a host of exciting new motorhomes (right) If you were in the market for a new van conversion, Tony Brown was on hand to guide you to your perfect vehicle (below)! MISSED AN ISSUE? Want to purchase a past issue of Practical Motorhome magazine? Simply call 0330 333 1113, visit www.magazinesdirect.com/single-issue or email help@magazinesdirect.com…

Nortent Aluminium Heavy Duty Tent Stakes (10 Pack) Durable and lightweight, these Y-pegs offer exceptional strength and flexibility for your awning. Designed to bend, they include pull cords for easy removal, plus this set of 10 comes in a handy bag. Price £22 uvalleyandpeak.co.uk Nebo 10K Wireless Powerbank This 10,000mAh power bank features fast USB-C PD charging, a USB-A output and wireless or plug-in charging with kickstand and a phone rest, all in a compact, 226g design. Price £40 millets.co.uk Ruffwear Highlands Sleeping Bag A lightweight, water-resistant sleeping bag to keep your dog warm on a winter tour, featuring compressible synthetic insulation, a half-length zipper for easy entry, and an insulated neck baffle to block draughts. Price £116.99 mountaindog.uk YETI Single 20oz Stackable Cup This durable, double wall insulated cup…

WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING FOR 2026? Tell us! www.facebook.com/practicalmotorhome Email! talk@practicalmotorhome.com Peter Rosenthal, contributor … buy a new ’van… Ever since my Renault Trafic disgraced itself by spectacularly breaking down on an autoroute in its country of birth, we’ve had a bit of a downer on it. Even though it has an entirely new set of coolant hoses to replace the bleeding originals, the trust has been broken and my love affair with my smooth driving Gallic chum has worn off. I’ve had it nine years and it’s time for a change; plus, we could also do with something a little larger with a proper washroom (the novelty of a Porta Potti has long worn off) and a fixed bed. Because I do a lot of motorsport, having a campervan…

Exhibition time! From hip-hop to Le Carré Turner in January at the Royal Scottish Academy To 31 January 2026 An annual display of JMW Turner watercolours that were left to the nation by the art collector Henry Vaughan in 1900; the watercolours are only ever shown during January, when natural light levels are at their lowest. Highlights include ‘Falls of the Rhine at Schaffhausen’ (1) and ‘Venice from the Lagoon’. Free entry. nationalgalleries.org/exhibition/turner-in-january Stay at Edinburgh Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite caravanclub.co.uk Hip Hop: A Welsh Story To 22 February 2026 Find out how hip-hop has shaped Welsh culture at this exhibition at the National Museum Cardiff. Experience the music, dance and fashion through the stories of the people who shaped the movement’s past, present and future. Free entry. museum.wales/cardiff/…

Well, it’s been a tough though enjoyable process, lasting the best part of two months, but over the next few pages we unveil, and you can read about, the category winners of this year’s Practical Motorhome Awards 2026. Judging them has not been easy due to the sheer quality of every one of the entrants, but we have still managed to stick to focusing on models that are either new or revised for the upcoming season. We hope you enjoy reading about the winners. Do let us know what you think – did we include your favourites? In the meantime, I am happy to say that the year isn’t quite over for me. As I write this I’m still planning one final quick motorhome tour before Christmas. More about that…

WINNER Carthago liner-for-two I 53 L (Iveco) Base vehicle Iveco Daily MTPLM 6700kg MiRO 4685kg Payload 1611kg Berths 2 Belts 2 Length 8.55m Width 2.27m Price £186,570 We had the Fiat-based version of this motorhome as a long-term test model several years ago and loved it. Its clever design means that once you are parked up on site you’ll almost forget you are in a motorhome, because the cab becomes a comfy bedroom with two single beds separated from a C-shaped lounge by a transverse hotel-standard washroom. But the German company hasn’t rested on its laurels. For the 2026 season, all liner-for-two models now come with the ‘V-face’ front facade Carthago first introduced on its Mercedes-based chic e-line models. It looks more car-like, with a prominent central grille with five…

WINNER Elddis Whirlwind GT 196+ Base vehicle Peugeot Boxer MTPLM 3650kg MiRO 2951kg Payload up to 655kg Berths 6 Belts 6 Length 7.37m Width 2.68m Price From £67,689 OTR Elddis’s new Whirlwind range is partly designed to bring the price of a motorhome back within reasonable limits where ordinary mortals, including ordinary mortal families, can afford them. But that doesn’t mean this new model – which shares the same layout as the old Autoquest 196, with a rear lounge and front dinette that create two double beds, and a drop-down bed over the front dinette that makes up the third – is stripped bare. Far from it. You still get 16-inch alloy wheels on the outside, a bright interior and a decent kitchen with a three-burner hob and an oven.…

WINNER Carado CV541 Pro Base vehicle Fiat Ducato MTPLM 3500kg MiRO 2912kg Payload 588kg max Berths 2 Belts 2 Length 5.41m Width 2.05m Price £61,490 In the past few seasons we have seen launches of two motorhomes with full staircases instead of ladders leading to an upstairs bed in a pop-top roof. The Hymer Venture S and Bürstner Lyseo Gallery models (now sadly discontinued) are examples of this. But all of these are expensive luxury motorhomes and they are big beasts, too - well over 6m in every case. Should such luxury be available only to those who can afford it and have the parking space? Carado clearly thinks it should not. Its new CV541 Pro features just such a staircase, yet the ’van costs just over £60,000 new -…

WINNER Citroën Holidays Base vehicle Citroën SpaceTourer MTPLM 3100kg MiRO 2365kg Payload 735kg Berths 4 Belts 4 Length 4.98m Width 1.92m Price £55,695 Citroën’s entry into the campervan market can accommodate families (up to a point, because it only has a maximum of four seats). But it would also make a perfect little runaround vehicle if you just fancy something that you might want to head off in on the spur of the moment. You can actually remove the rear bench seat completely, so if you are off, say, on a solo biking adventure you should have all the room you need to store cycles and equipment in the space behind – and yet you will still have the bed in the rising roof to make use of in the…

I hear a lot of complaints about blown-air heating systems, and the most common problem appears to be the unequal distribution of heat around the motorhome. The basic concept of blown-air heating is that a diesel, gas or electric-fuelled main unit warms the air in a closed chamber. The air is then pushed through ducting to a variety of strategically placed outlets. The first problem is usually the location of the main heating unit. If it is at the rear of a large motorhome, the ducting to the front will be very long and the majority of the warm air will go to the nearest vents, meaning those on longer ducts will get little air flowing through them. It is pretty obvious from this that the best location for a…

Crockery is often kept in a top cupboard in the kitchen, where ’van manufacturers can provide plastic-covered wire racks for this purpose. Unfortunately, plate racks are often fitted in cupboards facing the direction of travel, with doors that have non-positive catches. In the event of an emergency stop, the plates might land on the floor in a heap of fragments, and even if not placed in this direction, wire racks usually waste a great deal of space. In our motorhome, I did think the original wire cupholders looked promising; but when I reached my destination, the top cup had been jumping up and down on the one stored below, with quite disastrous results. A much better system would be to remove any shelves from your cupboard, preferably side-facing, and fit…

1 Your report says more than half of drivers have cut down on night-time driving because of glare (or would if they could). How serious is this as a road safety issue? It’s a significant issue. If people avoid driving at night because they don’t feel safe, it restricts their mobility and independence. And for those who do drive, glare can interfere with vision and driving reactions. While data on glare directly causing road collisions is difficult to find, it is clear that we should ensure drivers can see when driving at night. 2 Is the problem worse with certain types of headlight, such as LEDs or those bright blue-white ones? The data suggests that LED and whiter headlights may be linked to glare. Drivers told us in the survey that…