Indholdsfortegnelse for July 2022 i Practical Caravan

Thirty-five years on from last owning a caravan, we proved a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. In our case, not so much dangerous, just expensive! If only we had started buying Practical Caravan before buying a van. One very expensive mistake made, we moved on and thanks to your hints, tips and advice, found another caravan that was right for us. We now have an outfit that suits us perfectly – a 2019 Lunar Ariva and 2021 Dacia Duster tow car. It meets our budget, fulfils our needs and gives us good accommodation and a vehicle we can park without difficulty in town centre car parks. Going forward, we will keep buying Practical Caravan, if for no other reason than that the maintenance tips will save us more than…

During the first lockdown, we made a brief foray into the world of motorcaravanning, but by the time of the second Covid summer, we had already decided to get back to having just two wheels on our mobile home-from-home. That, however, is another story and now here we were again, having recently taken delivery of our shiny new caravan. We were both itching to get back on the road. One of our favourite areas to visit is the Cotswolds and we soon planned a short trip and booked our sites. To start with, we would stay to the south of the region and then head towards the northern area. As soon as we turned off the busy M4, we began to unwind and enjoy the passing countryside as we drove…

‘Foodies will revel in the superb choice of eateries, and for seafood lovers, it’s simply heavenly’ DUBBED THE PEARL of Kent, the harbour town of Whitstable, on the north-east coast of this charming county, is popular with visitors attracted by its seafood restaurants, boutique shops and art galleries. It’s perhaps best known for native oysters, harvested since Roman times and celebrated at the Whitstable Oyster Festival. Only a few miles north of Canterbury, the town was on an important trading route, and today makes a fantastic stop while touring this part of the Garden of England. For visitors, the great beach, seaside shops and restaurants, all within an hour of London, make it highly appealing. Photographers will love the eclectic mix – it’s a natural for Instagrammers – and foodies…

Price £21,485 Berths 2 MiRO 995kg MTPLM 1109kg THE SPRITE COMPACT, Swift’s ‘back to basics’ caravan, was one of the key new models in its 2022 line-up. It is narrower and lighter than much of the rest of the company’s ranges, and keeps alive the promise of a new van for less than £20,000 – so long as you forgo any sunroof. But budget ranges are often the starting point for dealer specials, because their basic spec offers opportunities to add lots of goodies. So how has the Sprite been upgraded? We checked out Broad Lane Leisure’s special edition, the Fairway Classic Compact 360, to find out. Pitch and set-up As is common with many special editions, lots of the extras included in the Fairway come on the outside. For…

New car sales have come to be dominated by SUVs. Choose rationally, however, and you can make a good case for the estate car being just as good to tow with, perhaps better. As a rule, an estate will have a lower centre of gravity than an SUV, and you can expect more luggage space and a lower boot floor. Just as choosing an SUV doesn’t necessarily mean that the car will be four-wheel drive, so choosing an estate doesn’t mean doing without it. Plenty of estate cars have four-wheel-drive versions. So if luggage space sits close to the top of your list of touring priorities, these are five of the very best estate cars to tow with. SKODA SUPERB ESTATE 2.0 TDI 150PS SE L DSG Price £35,795 Kerbweight…

IF YOU’RE NEW to caravanning, your first time towing a van was probably when you left the dealership; but the next time should certainly not be when you go on holiday. Tow it for a couple of hours at least, on some familiar roads, including a dual carriageway. And if the dealer hitched it up for you, now’s your first time to practise that procedure. Ensure the caravan’s parking brake is on and the jockey wheel is secured and wound down sufficiently, so the van’s coupling head is higher than the car’s towball, then wind up the corner steadies. Reversing to hitch up is much easier with an assistant. They should stand at one side of the drawbar up to the front panel of the van - not between the…

‘While we were away, I said I’d love to do the South West Coast Path. I wanted to find hidden gems and show off the places that are not so well known’ (p34) Where are we? Tintagel Castle, North Cornwall Why tour here? This wonderful castle, set on the clifftops of the north Cornwall coast, is matched in beauty by its natural surroundings. This place of myths and legends is also said to be where King Arthur was conceived. Enjoy exploring the ruins of the 13th-century castle or seek out the remains of Tintagel’s early medieval settlement in the fifth century. Read more about destinations along the South West Coast Path on p34. Don’t miss… The remarkable new bridge with 360-degree views. Photographer Getty Images…

Whatever the weather, you’re out and about, taking brilliant photos! TAG US #PRACTICAL CARAVAN OR EMAIL LETTERS@ PRACTICAL CARAVAN.COM…

1 Camping and Caravanning Club The Camping and Caravanning Club offers a members and non-members a user-friendly way to search for sites, especially if you’re not sure exactly where you want to go. Filters allow you to narrow your search, depending on type of outfit and whether you’re taking an awning, and in addition, you can choose from a huge range of Club sites and CSs. There’s also a map-view feature, which is perfect for browsing the general area to find the right site for you. > campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 2 Cool Camping Cool Camping asks for your destination and generates a list of sites in the region. From there, you can apply a selection of filters: dates, number of people and the required accommodation are your basic options, but you can…

WHEN MODERN CAR-towed caravanning began back in 1919, there were no official sites, of course. Then, caravanners – who were few and far between – would stop on small wayside spots or ask a landowner if they could pitch up for a few nights. By the late 1920s and 1930s, small campsites began to emerge. In truth, these were basically just a plot of land, usually a farmer’s field, with a couple of caravans placed in no particular order. But as the two national Clubs were founded, sites became more formal and recognised, as caravanning reached the middle classes by the mid-to late 1930s. It was in this period that councils began to look at rules on number of people camping, and important matters such as sewerage and rubbish removal.…

EHG UK gets new boss Industry insider steps up to head van manufacturer Erwin Hymer UK has a new boss, after the retirement of Rob Quine, the man who led the company for the past 14 years. Chris Short, who until the end of last year was vice-president for operations at global components manufacturer TT Electronics, became managing director of the Co Durham company on 2 May. Chris is from the northeast and has worked in various industries. Rob had been with the company, which manufactures Xplore, Elddis, Compass and Buccaneer caravans, as well as many dealer specials, for almost 22 years. During his time as MD, he oversaw its takeover by the German Erwin Hymer Group, shortly before that firm was in turn taken over by the US-based RV…

Price From £17,765 Berths 2 MiRO 690kg MTPLM 750kg CAMPING ACCESSORY and trailer tent supplier Camperlands made its first foray into producing a solid-roofed caravan some 18 months ago, with the Campmaster. This housed a double bed, with the rear kitchen partly exposed to the elements. It has now been renamed the Lightweight, to make room for the Campmaster King, the company’s first fully fledged caravan, a two-berth with a front lounge. We went to view it at the firm’s Manchester base. Pitch and set-up The King is built on a Knott chassis and braking system – a name that might be unfamiliar to anyone with a British caravan built in recent years, although trailer tent owners will no doubt recognise it. In many other respects, it is similar to…

1 Pick up the tab 2017 T@B 320RS Niche tourers like this are highly sought after, and a good pre-owned model such as this 2017 320RS, priced at £13,495, will be snapped up pretty quickly. Its light weight also makes this one attractive to owners of smaller tow cars. Ideal for a couple on a budget! ❱ broadlane.co.uk 2 Special edition 2009 Swift Fairway Dealer specials, or any used tourer with extras, make really good sense. This popular Swift Fairway special, based on the Charisma 460 and on for £9995, would be great for a couple with a limited amount to spend. Upgraded soft furnishings add to the comfort levels here. ❱ broadlane.co.uk 3 A light delight 2018 Lunar Ariva The Ariva is a real gem, well equipped and light…

CUT OUT AND KEEP GUIDE! EATING AND TRAVEL are very closely intertwined. It is impossible to set out on any trip without food playing a major part in the experience, from the meals we eat on the road, to the people and stories associated with all of the delicious local produce that we might discover. I would argue that the ability to sample foods and regional delicacies that would not be easily available to us in everyday life is one of the greatest pleasures of travel, particularly caravanning. I have lost count of the number of times we have been driving through a village or past a little roadside market, and pulled over on seeing purveyors of local produce that we would otherwise have very little opportunity to cook and…

1 Hampton Court Palace Food Festival This family-friendly event will provide visitors with a huge array of delicious food and drink, while music and a selection of pop-up bars are sure to create a very lively atmosphere. Of course, you also get to enjoy these culinary feasts while taking in the historic splendour of Hampton Court Palace itself. When 27-29 August Where Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, East Molesey KT8 9AU > hrpfestivals.com/hampton-court-palace Where to stay Walton on Thames Camping and Caravanning Club Site is around a 15-minute drive away > campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 2 Essex Festival of Food & Drink There’s bound to be something to tickle your tastebuds at this festival, with wine and beer tasting, a Barbecue Theatre and plant-based workshops all on offer. That’s on top of live music, delicious…

Fridge power Most modern caravans have absorption fridges with no moving parts. Cleverly, they can work on three different power sources: gas, mains electricity (230V), or 12V, usually only when the tow car’s engine is running. It’s important to check your fridge functions in all three modes – you wouldn’t want extended periods, such as a long drive on 12V, when the contents are inadequately chilled because of a fault AH, THE HUMBLE refrigerator... it’ll keep on quietly chilling away for years without a whimper. In fact, modern fridges are so good, we get complacent – until they go wrong, that is. Then it’s like being plunged back into the listeria-filled Dark Ages. Here’s some great advice to help your caravan fridge perform at its best. General overview and maintenance…

Price From £43,950 Kerbweight From 2055kg Towing limit 2500kg 85% match From 1747kg MAZDA WILL HAVE a new flagship this autumn when the CX-60 SUV arrives in showrooms. Available to order now, the CX-60 is the brand’s first plug-in hybrid vehicle. The new car is powered by a 2.5-litre petrol engine and a 100kW electric motor for a combined output of 327hp. The CX-60 promises to be both quick and frugal, with a 0-62mph time of 5.8 seconds and an official combined figure of 188mpg. The electric range is said to be 39 miles, or 42 miles in city driving, with carbon dioxide emissions of just 33g/km. On paper, the CX-60’s towing credentials look impressive, too. Not only does it weigh over two tonnes, but it also has a towing…

SO MANY HEADLINE puns. ‘The joy of six’, ‘six appeal’, ‘Six and the City’. Casting aside the cliches, the Mazda 6 Tourer is genuinely appealing. But the big question is, can such an, ahem, sixy-looking machine cut it as a used tow car? We shall see. What’s it like inside? Most people buy an estate because they need load space, so it makes sense to start at the back. In the 6 Tourer, you’ll find a boot that’s a good size and shape; it offers 522 litres of space with the rear seats up, and 1664 with them down. In comparison, a VW Passat offers 650 and 1780 litres, but it really is huge. The Mazda will cope with everything you might need. Room for people is good, with plenty…

BRITS WHO ARE thinking about embarking on a Bank Holiday tour with their dog have been urged to make sure they are driving their pet safely - otherwise they could be breaking the law and might face a fine of up to £5000. The warning came after a study conducted by IAM RoadSmart - the largest independent road safety charity in the UK - found that 42% of dog owners will have their pet in an unsafe place when they’re driving their car. Of this 42%, more than a third said their canine companion was unrestrained, either in the back seat, passenger seat, the footwell or the boot. While a further 8% restrain their dog in the passenger seat, this could still prove disastrous in the case of a collision,…

YOU ALSO SAID... WHAT ABOUT FAMILY SITES? We’ve been a touring family since 2020, when we bought our fantastic Sterling Eccles 2010 Emerald caravan, and since then have enjoyed some wonderful family adventures at places across the UK. Since buying our caravan, I have also enjoyed reading your magazine every month. I especially enjoy your free supplement, the Top 100 Sites Guide, but this is the second year on the trot that I have been left disappointed by your overall winner. With secondhand caravan prices and sales going through the roof, you continue to select adults-only campsites as winners, with Eye Kettleby Lakes last year and Old Oaks Touring Park this year. I’m sure both are well deserved, but you and they exclude families. This leaves me feeling disappointed at…

Focus on... Norway’s fjords THE PAUSE ON international travel caused by the pandemic has given many of us the time to think about where in the world we’d really like to tour in the coming years. You won’t be surprised to find that beautiful Norway features highly on many a wish list. The western region of this truly spectacular country is particularly beautiful in the spring and early summer, and the team at Fjord Norway have put together seven reasons why you should be visiting now. 1 Fruit trees and flowers in bloom Thousands of trees and millions of flowers will be in bloom. The trees normally blossom during May, a particularly beautiful time for exploring Hardangerfjord and Sognefjord. 2 High waterfalls Many of Norway’s most impressive waterfalls are found…

WHAT DO YOU enjoy most about the campsites you stay on? The responses that we receive each year for our Top 100 Sites Guide tell us that you love clean washrooms, spacious pitches and a warm welcome from the team onsite, but also that you appreciate it when a site caters to your interests. Whether you’re into cycling, fishing or simply want great sea views, there’s a site out there just for you. And that’s where this handy round-up can help. In the second part of our guide – the first featured in issue 452 – we take a look at brilliant parks for those wanting to stay on a smaller site, working farms, dog-friendly sites and much more. If you’ve stayed at a site that’s not featured here, but…

Knaus Tabbert sales record Knaus Tabbert delivered a record-breaking 25,922 units last year, but supply chain issues meant its earnings dropped 10.3% to €60.7m. Its inventory of unfinished vehicles stood at €19.1m at the end of 2001, compared with €4.4m tine year before. Vans accounted for 27.9% of sales, up from 26.2% the year before. ‘Beige house’ sells for £2100 A Lancashire man who was brutally honest about the dilapidated 1980s CI Europa he was selling on eBay for hi mother managed to sell the four-berth for £2100 – and clocked up a couple of marriage proposals on the way. Michael Ellis said the caravan was a “slightly beige house on wheels”, admitting it had a leak in the skylight so bad you would need a bucket under it full-time.…

AL-KO ATC My caravanning career could have been very brief, if it weren’t for Al-Ko’s ATC trailer control technology. I was driving through France on my very first towing adventure, heading from Caen to La Rochelle on the Péage. The caravan was towing beautifully and on a long downhill stretch, my speed had crept up unnoticed to almost 70mph. At that moment, a large panel van went rocketing past and the powerful draught sent my caravan swerving slightly sideways. Previously, any wobbles had quickly sorted themselves out, but this time it swerved back in the opposite direction, then altered track again… I was in a ‘snaking’ situation. In the fraction of a second it took me to think “This isn’t good!”, there was a brief graunching sound as the van…

THE LUNAR COMPANY went into liquidation in 2019, after 50 years of manufacturing and gaining a loyal following. A start-up buyout in 2020 didn’t go to plan, mainly owing to the arrival of the pandemic, and the brand now appears to be consigned to the history books. However, Lunar produced around 3000 tourers a year, so there should be plenty on the used forecourts for now. The Delta was the brand’s flagship for many years and loyal customers loved the spec and the choice of layouts. The Delta range was based on the firm’s successful Clubman line-up, although by this stage, some buyers reported that build quality had begun to slip. We found an excellent 2019 Delta TR, with a rear bedroom and midships bathroom – always a popular layout…

1 Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and The Waterside Inn, Bray Heston Blumenthal opened The Fat Duck 25 years ago to promote immersive fine dining and molecular gastronomy. This year, the restaurant is celebrating with a four-volume menu, charting his journey through experimental cooking and some of his most renowned dishes. Housed in a 16th-century building in the riverside town of Bray, the restaurant received its third Michelin star in 2017. ❱ thefatduck.co.uk ❱ waterside-inn.co.uk Where to stay Henley Four Oaks Club Campsite is a 20-minute drive away, on the edge of the Chiltern Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty ❱ caravanclub.co.uk 2 Ludlow Farm Shop, South Shropshire Ludlow Farm Shop is an award-winning food hall nestled in South Shropshire and surrounded by the farmland that supplies it. Some 80%…

Price £45,055 Kerbweight 1814kg Good to look at and to drive, the Arteon is a great tow car choice, so long as you can pack carefully *includes wing mirrors What’s new? We’ve driven a four-door coupe version of the Arteon – our Tow Car of the Year in 2019 – before and were impressed with its towing ability. Now Volkswagen offers the car in a second bodystyle: the Shooting Brake. If the term is unfamiliar, it’s an old name for an upmarket estate. Whether or not you plan to join a shooting party come the Glorious 12th, there are good reasons to choose the Shooting Brake over the regular Arteon. The most obvious is boot space, which increases from 563 to 590 litres for regular petrol or diesel models. However,…

FORD Mondeo Estate The days when this was the go-to value-for-money estate may have passed, but it’s still up there with the better options. For a start, it’s big, so should have no trouble carrying the stuff a caravanner needs. There’s a good range of engines, and the 148bhp diesel is strong. Ford didn’t skimp on kit, so all models have dual-zone climate control, cruise control and alloys as standard. SKODA Superb Estate If all you need is space, the Superb lives up to its name. It’s large enough to hold a concert in – that’s before you fold the seats. It’s a shame there aren’t so many clever touches, such as load dividers, but you can’t have everything. There’s a vast range of engines, both petrol and diesel, and…

IT MAY BE a cliche, but prevention is definitely much better than cure. That’s certainly the case where caravans are concerned, and spending an hour here and there on maintenance can save you a lot of time trying to rectify a problem later; and in some cases, a lot of expense, too. Okay, so some of these tasks aren’t very glamorous, but they might stop a not-so-pretty job turning into a nightmare. Two things that come to mind here are jammed windows and external locker doors or toilet blades. Having a window that won’t open is bad enough, but let’s not even try to imagine the scenario if you need to use the van’s toilet, and you can’t open the blade to the cassette... A bit of basic maintenance work…

IF YOU’VE BEEN to one of the NEC shows or visited a caravan dealership recently, it’s highly likely that you’ve spotted the Paintseal Direct stand, or at least seen one of its advertising leaflets somewhere. Indeed, many dealerships also offer Paintseal Direct’s specialist protective coating for their new caravans. So what is its history? I went to Nottingham to learn more about the company. Paintseal Direct applies its protective GEN-3 Ceramic Glasscoat on caravans and motorhomes, which not only keeps the paintwork shiny, but also makes it easier to clean. I speak from experience here, because we had our caravan treated when it was new. It doesn’t require polishing, either - abrasive polish should actually be avoided. So confident in the product is the company that it offers customers a…

Featuring the latest 2022 models! YOUR VAN BUYING QUESTIONS ANSWERED Please check model details with the manufacturer or dealer before travelling to view or buy WILL YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR CAR? Q First and foremost - and especially if you are new to towing a caravan - you should follow the 85% guideline. This states that when fully laden, the caravan should not weigh more than 85% of the tow car’s kerbweight - so you’ll need to find out the latter figure before you can start to consider which caravan you might want to buy. If you find a caravan that complies with the 85% guideline with your existing vehicle, then all you will need to do is have a towbar fitted (if it doesn’t have one already). That…