Table of contents for October 2022 in Practical Caravan

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MALVERN IS A SPA TOWN sitting at the foot of the Malvern Hills, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. We have been visiting the Caravan and Motorhome Club’s Malvern Hills campsite, in the village of Hanley Swan, for years now and in all that time, little has changed. This pretty village is within easy walking distance of the site and comes complete with a gastropub and small shop, not to mention a picturesque duck pond, where you can sit and watch the wildlife. Unusually, the CAMC site is virtually adjacent to The Camping and Caravanning Club’s Blackmore site, the two only being separated by 100m or so. We chose a hardstanding pitch in the lower part of the site, from which we could observe the beautiful Malvern Hills in…

Price £35,850 (until 21 August 2022) Berths 4 MiRO TBC THIS LAYOUT, WITH a transverse island bed and end washroom, is popular among manufacturers. In Coachman’s case, the VIP 575 – which also sports this floorplan – is actually its best-selling model. So how do you improve on a winner? Simple: you add an axle (and almost 50cm of extra length). But is the new VIP 675 just the same as the 575, only with four wheels? And does the design work? Pitch and set-up Towing a twin-axle can intimidate some, but this is a conventional-width caravan, so should be fine on the road, especially with ATC as standard, and shock absorbers. Twin-axles are more cumbersome to move around on site, though, so you might want to think about a…

Price £52,610 Kerbweight 1825kg Towball limit 100kg FOR OUR LINCOLNSHIRE trip, we paired the Discovery D4-4 with an Audi Q5 Sportback S line 40 TDI Quattro S tronic. With a kerbweight of 1825kg, and a corresponding 85% figure of 1551kg, it made light work of towing the 1206kg Bailey. Our test model also came with a variety of optional kit, including a retractable towbar (£765), which folds away easily and quickly via a button in the boot. Other options included the smart Navarra Blue metallic paintwork (£675), the Comfort and Sound Pack (£1395), and a 70-litre fuel tank (£100; 65 litres is standard). Quiet and refined Under the bonnet lies a 2.0-litre 201bhp turbodiesel engine, and it felt super-refined on the road; it proved supremely quiet when cruising along the…

THERE’S NO DENYING that awnings are pricey, so you might think you can easily save money by buying a used one, whether online or via a private sale. You certainly can, but you need to take a few precautions before you decide to shell out your hard-earned cash – here are our tips on finding the right pre-owned awning for you. 1 Size matters Before you do anything else, check that the awning you’re planning to buy will fit your caravan – this is particularly important if you want to buy a traditional framed awning. You need to work out your van’s A-measurement, which is the distance from the ground beneath one end of the awning rail, right around the rail, and down to the ground again. For porch awnings,…

Price £58,253 Kerbweight 2123kg Towing limit 2000kg Swift Challenger X 860 courtesy of www.broadlane.co.uk *includes wing mirrors What’s new? The Multivan replaces the Caravelle, Volkswagen’s no-nonsense large MPV. Despite the name and the looks, it’s not based on one of VW’s vans – it actually uses the same underpinnings as most of their passenger car range. It’s big on space, big on tech, but also big on price, starting from £48,883 and rising to £60,433 for the top-spec model. That’s a lot of cash. Then again, the Multivan is a lot of car. Go for the standard wheelbase model we’ve been driving, and it’s just shy of 5m long, with an enormously roomy and practical interior. What are we looking for? We want to know if the Multivan is good…

WHAT TO LOOK FOR OUTSIDE ■ Check the caravan’s condition matches its declared age and usage. ■ View the caravan in clear daylight when it’s not raining, to give you the best chance of spotting evidence of any cracks or damage. ■ Ask the vendor to chill the fridge before you arrive. Likewise, request that the space-and water-heating system is on when you arrive (especially with Alde heating, which takes longer to warm up), to check that everything is working as it should. ■ Ask about the leisure battery age, and how it has been charged and cared for. Someone who uses an intelligent trickle charger clearly cares about their battery. Ask the owner to charge it before you arrive. The battery meter should read 12.7-12.85V when fully charged, and…

OUR OWNER SATISFACTION Awards are the only industry scheme based completely on owner feedback, including both the practicality and the reliability of the caravan itself. Each year we ask readers of Practical Caravan and members of our scheme partner, The Camping and Caravanning Club, to have your say on any caravan you’ve bought and owned over the past three years. Our survey is comprehensive and includes everything from your opinion on the washroom to overall value for money. As an essential part of our Owner Satisfaction Survey, we also ask you to rate the dealer who supplied the caravan to you. Again, our questions are no-holds-barred and thorough: we want to hear all about your experiences – both positive and negative – and whether you’d buy from the same dealer…

MODERN CARS AND caravans come with lots of sophisticated safety equipment. From trailer stability control to Al-Ko’s ATC system, to the latest generation of autonomous emergency braking technology, vehicles and tourers are safer than ever before. But there’s one item of safety equipment without which, all of these clever electronics wouldn’t matter a jot – the tyre. Whether accelerating, cornering or braking, everything a car or caravan does relies on the tyres. As I write this, the fine, sunny summer weather is continuing, but in the wet, the condition of your car and van tyres becomes doubly important. The tyres will struggle to find grip in those circumstances if there is not enough tread depth to clear water from the road surface. Regular maintenance No matter how much or how…

‘Mighty Hadrian’s Wall is 1900 years old this year, yet parts of it are still in remarkable condition (p26)’ Where are we? Sycamore Gap, Hadrian’s Wall, Northumberland Why tour here? One of the most photographed sights in Northumberland National Park, Sycamore Gap makes a notable impression, the tree sitting in a dip in the landscape near Hadrian’s Wall. The Roman Milecastle 39 (known as Castle Nick) is to its left. This year marks 1900 years since the building of Hadrian’s Wall, which took six years to complete and measures some 73 miles long. Don’t miss… View it at night when it can be seen in silhouette against Northumberland’s famously star-filled skies.…

Focus on… Northern England IF YOU TOUR in England’s north this autumn there will be plenty to entertain you; here, we pick out just a few highlights. > Blackpool Illuminations When Until 2 January 2023 Blackpool’s bright lights have entertained visitors since 1879. From 14 to 29 October, the Light Pool Festival has a free programme of events, installations and art trails. > visitblackpool.com Stay at Manor House Touring & Glamping > manorhousetouringpark.co.uk > Walking East Yorkshire When 10-23 September 2022 Activities at this annual festival include long-distance treks, Nordic walking, canal boat rides, horse riding, wildlife experiences, seabird cruises, vineyard tours, brewery visits, ghost walks, lighthouse tours and a wide selection of outdoor pursuits. > walkingeastyorkshirefestival.co.uk Stay at Blue Rose Country Park > bluerosepark.com > Scarborough Jazz Festival When…

EHG UK forecasts continuing growth ERWIN HYMER UK says it is confident it can weather supply chain issues as it continues to invest in its Co Durham operation. In posting financial results for the year to the end of July 2021, the firm – whose brands include Elddis, Compass, Buccaneer and Xplore – says it also expects to see a “full recovery in retail demand”, although the timing remains “uncertain”. In 2020/21 the company made a pre-tax profit of £2.4m on a turnover of £102m. That was only a slight drop from the year before, when it made a £3.7m pre-tax profit on a turnover of £103m. EHG UK says that its business activities were restricted by the continuing problems with component supplies. “Despite this, demand for the company’s products…

Price £27,410 Berths 4 MiRO 1226kg MTPLM 1400kg KNAUS HAS BEEN active in the UK since the early 1970s, with a focus on innovative design. For 2023, the popular Sport&Fun, which it describes as “the extreme sports athlete of caravans”, is available in a new Black Selection version. Pitch and set-up The good-looking Knaus is very distinctive, with a sweeping front profile and an offset window. The special edition does away with the standard blue exterior detailing, which is replaced here by grey/black decals and mouldings, while smart black alloy wheels complete the styling. The Al-Ko chassis has heavy-duty corner steadies and an AKS hitch stabiliser. The side panels are smooth aluminium and there is a slimline lift-and-tilt sunroof, along with roof rails and a rear ladder. The chassis is…

WE’RE ALL FAIRLY reliant on mains power these days – while 12V USB sockets can suffice for many of our gadgets, laptops, low-wattage kettles and camera battery chargers still depend on access to a mains supply. That’s fine if you’re on a site with hook-up, but what if you stay at a site or festival with no hook-up, or it’s unavailable for some other reason? You could fit an inverter, but a more straightforward solution is to carry a portable generator. Many generators have a bit of a reputation for being noisy, but not those from Jackery. The firm, founded in California in 2012, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of outdoor solar power utilities. Powering up In the UK, Jackery offers a trio of battery-powered, rechargeable portable generators.…

1 Continental style 2017 Caravelair 420 This French-built tourer, imported by Marquis, is from a robust range, offering a fixed bed and four berths. It was well cared for and at £13,995 would make a bargain buy. The excellent spec includes a TV aerial, microwave and oven/grill, shower and gas-only blown-air heating. › burlinghamcaravans.co.uk 2 Compass points 2017 Compass Capiro 462 This two-berth is one of our favourite vans. The kitchen at the rear is excellent and the side washroom is a good size, too. The spec includes quality soft furnishings, Alde wet heating and plenty of storage. This one, at just £18,995, had clearly been taken care of. › burlinghamcaravans.co.uk 3 Rise to the challenge 2015 Swift Challenger SE 565 This Swift offered a really good spec for its…

A family hatchback can make a fine tow car. While you won’t be towing a big twin-axle behind a small hatch, match car and caravan carefully, and these relatively small cars can be strong and stable tugs. These days, describing family hatchbacks as ‘small’ is stretching things – like most classes of car, they have grown. Park today’s VW Golf Mk8 next to the Mk1 from the 1970s and it will dwarf the original. Choose one of the best hatchbacks, and you have a worthy alternative to a more fashionable SUV or crossover. Given that most small SUVs are hatchbacks with a raised ride height and chunkier looks, a regular hatch performs as well, if not better. In fact, their lower ride is a plus for stability. These are five…

NISSAN Qashqai The Qashqai is comfortable on a long journey, just what you need when heading off on holiday with a caravan in tow, but not so soft that it feels in any way unstable. The 1.5-litre diesel is smooth and economical, but if you don’t like the idea of diesel, the 1.3-litre turbo petrol will be just about strong enough. The good news is that most versions are well equipped and feel solidly put together. SEAT Arona The Arona is a small SUV that really does it all. It’s good to drive, and has plenty of cabin and boot space. Better still, all models are fitted with a height-adjustable boot floor. There’s a vast range of engines, many of which are available with a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox, which…

THESE DAYS, WE are all the possessors of multiple devices and gadgets, such as mobile phones, tablets and the like – most of which are rather power hungry and require regular charging. When this is carried out at home, it is usually achieved via a charger plugged into a mains socket on the wall; in the car, with a USB 5V socket running on the vehicle’s 12V system. But when you are in your caravan (especially if it is an older model), periodic charging of these devices is often not nearly so convenient. If you are not on a hook-up, for example, there is the lack of mains power supply to be considered, and then there’s the 12V interface if you use a plug-in style 5V charger. In addition, when…

Featuring the latest 2022 models! YOUR VAN BUYING QUESTIONS ANSWERED 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 way, you save yourself all the hassle and expense of having to buy a bigger…

Star letter East Devon delights I’ve just finished reading the article ‘Devonshire Dream’ in issue 456 of your enjoyable magazine. I found it quite inspiring and thought it was very informative. What a lovely place Sidmouth seems to be – and then I thought, of course it is, I know it well because I live there! And yes, it is well worth a visit. One thing… you said Fields Department Store had three floors. I wish it had, because it is a real asset to the town, but unfortunately only has two. East Devon is a wonderful place to visit and I am so thankful that I live here. So many places to explore and enjoy! Sandra Iris DRAWING TO A CLOSE There’s still time for budding artists to enter…

Given the title of this article, devotees of Thomas Hardy are almost certainly expecting a tale of Britain’s stupendous south-west. But if you really want to get away from the multitudes, you’ll need to do a 180° turn at Gloucester Services and head towards the astonishing north-east instead. Northumberland is a sensationally rural county stretching from Newcastle-upon-Tyne to the Scottish borders, and halfway across England from the North Sea coastline. Yes, it’s big, but it’s spectacularly beautiful and bewitching, too. Anyone who’s visited this glorious region will know the feeling I’m having right now – you want to tell everyone how incredible it is, but you don’t want them all to go there and spoil its matchless tranquility. So let’s keep this between ourselves, shall we? Read on to discover…

ZSL ZOO, WHIPSNADE > zsl.org/zsl-whipsnade-zoo Take an international tour around this 600-acre zoo and safari park, divided by continent, giving visitors an immersive experience and insight into the residents’ lives. Also onsite are play areas and Hullabazoo, where children can meet and greet some of the animals. Stay at Town Farm Campsite > townfarmcamping.co.uk ROTHIEMURCHUS, CAIRNGORMS > visitcairngorms.com Located in Britain’s largest National Park, Rothiemurchus teems with wildlife. It is home to a quarter of the UK’s threatened species, including red squirrels and European wildcats. Perfect for birdwatchers, rare species here include the Scottish crossbill, Britain’s only endemic bird. Stay at Rothiemurchus Camp and Caravan Site > rothiemurchus.net COTSWOLD WILDLIFE PARK > cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk Set in 160 acres, this wildlife park hosts a range of animals and is involved in vital…

‘As the birthplace of Shakespeare, this charming medieval town is a magnet for fans of the Bard’ THE CHARMING MARKET town of Stratford-upon-Avon is simply brimming with iconic history and heritage. As the birthplace of William Shakespeare, the medieval town is a magnet for fans of the Bard, who can immerse themselves in all aspects of his life. The River Avon meanders through the city, whose streets are lined with splendid Tudor architecture housing interesting shops and eclectic restaurants. HOUR BY HOUR DAY 1 10am First stop, the Bard’s birthplace Where better to start than at Shakespeare’s Birthplace? Built in the 16th century, the house is set in the town centre and has been carefully restored. Today, it’s a truly fascinating shrine to the playwright, with wide-ranging exhibitions and manicured…

Tested by Sarah Wakely Price £20,499 Berths 4 MiRO 1059kg MTPLM 1206kg Awning size 1156cm IT’S BEEN A while since I last went out in our long-term-test Bailey Discovery D4-4, so during the recent spell of warm weather, I was determined to put that right. It was this thinking that resulted in husband Matt and me taking the van – one of three models in Bailey’s entry-level Discovery range – to Lincolnshire for a long weekend, where we planned to visit a car show. We paired the Bailey with an Audi Q5 Sportback S line 40 TDI Quattro S tronic (see panel, right), loaded up all of our kit (and the dog!), and hit the road. Unfortunately, we’d chosen a day when the AA saw fit to issue an amber…

This is the second year running that we’ve held our new-look Practical Caravan Awards – they’re all about helping you discover the very best products, as well as celebrating the latest industry innovations. Our awards encompass a range of categories, including brilliant accessories, top tow cars, awnings and of course, the best new caravans out there. Our aim is to help you make the absolute most of your money, no matter what you’re planning to purchase, whether that’s a £3 bottle of specialist cleaning products or a £35,000 caravan. Our expert team – who also form our panel of awards judges – have decades of caravan experience under their collective belts: from the biggest to the most compact caravan, from the cheapest gadget to the most innovative awning, we’ve tested…

THE CRUSADER RANGE from Elddis made its first appearance back in 1976, and rapidly built up a loyal following. Models for 2011 were built on BPW chassis, complete with IDC stability control, while twin-axle tourers also came with a jack. Alde heating was standard in the line-up, as was a dual-fuel hob. New interior locker design and soft furnishings were the order of the day, while updated graphics and DVD connections were also standard kit. Model history Producing a big family tourer offering luxury style and spec was what Elddis did best, and the six-berth Tempest model was an important addition to the upmarket Crusader mix. Most of the models in the range provided two or four berths, but this new version, with fixed triple bunks, a large side dinette…

Price From £45,000* Kerbweight From 1850kg* 85% match 1573kg* Max towing weight 1600kg* *estimated Hyundai has unveiled the new Ioniq 6, an electric saloon due in showrooms early next year. Although technical details and UK specifications are yet to be confirmed, the vehicle is closely related to the Ioniq 5 under the skin, so we’re anticipating a similar kerbweight and the same 1600kg legal towing limit. However, you wouldn’t guess the two cars were related from the Ioniq 6’s rakish design, which is much curvier than the edgy look of the Ioniq 5. The shape has been designed with aerodynamics in mind, and because the 6 will slip through the air more easily than the 5, it should go further on a charge. The longest-range model is estimated to cover…

CUSTOM. NOT THE ‘traditional behaviour’ type of custom. We’re talking about the ‘specifically designed’ kind of custom. Why? Well, when SsangYong launched the second-generation Korando in 2019, it also made it available in a trim level called Pioneer, which was aimed at those who regularly tow caravans. Indeed, the spec of the Pioneer trim level was created using feedback from those self-same caravanners. If that isn’t custom-made, we don’t know what is. What’s it like inside? Pretty big, with lots of head-and legroom up front, and the front seats both offering a good range of adjustment. The good news continues behind the front seats, with ample space for three at the back, and the centre rear passenger shouldn’t feel too hard done by, because the central tunnel isn’t very big.…

THERE’S A LOT to think about when you decide to purchase a caravan, whether you’re buying new or pre-owned. For starters, should you buy from a dealership or privately? If you’re buying new, then that question will be answered for you – a dealer is usually the way to go – but a private purchase is also an option if you are planning to buy secondhand. Here, we take a look at 12 key points to consider before you part with your hard-earned cash, to help you track down the caravan of your dreams. 1 Check your tow car matching The first and most important thing is to double check that your tow car can safely and legally pull the caravan you are thinking about buying. We would always recommend…

SO YOU’VE DECIDED to sell your tourer. Now you need to consider how you can achieve that sale with none of the pain or pitfalls that you might have been expecting! Here are a few expert pointers to help ease you through the process. These days, one of the most common ways of selling is to go to a caravan dealership. However, in the past, selling your caravan was rather more limited. For instance, my first tourer was bought privately via an ad in the local newspaper, which had a good selection of used models for sale. Another way was to check out the latest issue of Practical Caravan, which had a section for private sellers nationwide. Yet another possibility – and one that proved very popular for many years…

MOTOR MOVERS ARE a brilliant addition to your caravan, and very popular – they make manoeuvring onto a pitch so much easier, and can help with security as well, because you can park up with the A-frame tucked safely away from the road. Here’s what you need to know if you want to have a motor mover fitted, or are looking at a used van that has one. Is my battery up to the job? If you’re planning to get a motor mover fitted, you’ll need to check that your battery is up to the job. Motor movers require a lot of power, so a 110Ah leisure battery in good condition is a prerequisite for reliable operation. Check this larger battery will fit in your locker (especially if you are…

MOST CARAVANNERS WITH a small to medium-sized tourer probably have a two-wheel-drive tow car, while owners of bigger twin-axle caravans generally go for a 4X4, mainly because of the weight requirements. On the other side of the equation, most 4X4s are never used off-road, but mainly for towing. Four-wheel drive dates back almost as far as the car itself and 4WD trucks were common in WWI, but it took another conflict to bring them to the fore. The Willys Jeep from 1941 is the grandfather of the 4WD you tow with today. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, 4WD systems copied the Jeep. Rear-wheel drive was permanent, with selectable or part-time 4WD, via the second gearlever. The third gear lever in 4x4s was for low-range gears when off-road and applies to…