Содержание выпуска: March 2020 — Practical Caravan

Recently, I was idly browsing a 1980 issue of Practical Caravan for one of our features (p122). What struck me wasn’t the dated upholstery schemes, or the extraordinary vintage adverts; no, what caught my attention was how many different types of caravan were available to buyers – the choice was vast. It’s a phenomenon that still exists today, which is why I believe our annual Owner Satisfaction Awards – run in conjunction with the Camping & Caravanning Club – are so crucial. This year almost 3000 of you told us about your experiences of buying a van and you can find the full results on p49. It makes for fascinating reading – hopefully, it will make that choice of caravans feel a little less daunting if you’re planning to buy…

I bought my caravan – which had been registered new late in September 2017 – from a private seller in 2018, when the van was 10 months old. I had the warranty transferred over to me. Although the second service needed to be booked in July of last year, I could not get it carried out by the manufacturer until early October – which was two years and eight days after the original purchase date. As it turned out, some warranty issues were brought up on the service, but the firm refused to do the work because they said the van was out of the two-year warranty for the parts. The lesson to be learned? Book your service six months before the warranty runs out, or you could lose that…

1 DFDS, which operates ferry routes from Dover, Newhaven and Newcastle, is offering customers a Brexit Guarantee. Kasper Moos, Vice President and Head of Short Routes & Passengers, explained: “If you book direct, you are able to cancel with no additional cost.” T&Cs apply; see dfds.com. 2 Old Oaks Touring Park in Somerset has five new hedgehog houses for the winter. They are filled with straw to give these endangered animals a dry, warm place to shelter. 3 Ladram Bay Holiday Park in Devon has an initiative to retrieve a tonne of plastic washed up onto its beach. Visitors are being encouraged to help keep the beach clean; progress in the One-Tonne challenge is marked by a sand column. 4 Plans are afoot for the redevelopment of the C&MC’s Cayton…

No moping, please. February may not be your favourite month, but there are plenty of places to explore and things to do, despite the chill (and possibly the wet)! For families planning a tour over half-term, we’ve picked out the engineering wonders of Aerospace Bristol and the fascinating history behind coins at the Royal Mint. For the active, there are half-marathons in Brighton and Bath. February is also a time for planning your next big adventure. We love the idea of a vintage convoy travelling in Europe (p34), or a tour around the stunning university town of Cambridge (p20). Where are you planning to tour in 2020? claudia.dowell@futurenet.com Features editor CLAUDIA DOWELL is our touring expert – she’s been caravanning for years, and loves to explore both far and wide!…

GETTING A FIT of the giggles is a tricky business when you’re perched precariously on a racehorse simulator, riding flat out towards tßhe winning post at 40mph. The main problem is that when you laugh, you can forget to breathe – and when you do breathe, you don’t do it regularly or often enough. The upshot is, not enough oxygen gets through to your leg muscles and they rapidly turn to jelly. I know, because it happened to me when we visited Newmarket’s National Horse Racing Museum during a long weekend in East Anglia. As a keen rider, I had an irresistible urge to experience what it feels like to be a jockey. We were staying at The Camping and Caravanning Club’s site at Great Shelford, conveniently located for visiting…

‘Whatever guise such trips come in, they still enable us to appreciate the beauty of the world near where we live, and a multitude of activities’ THERE’S SOMETHING QUITE magical about planning a caravan trip: sitting late into the night with an assortment of maps and books, reading other travellers’ blogs, piecing together itineraries that will take us far away from home. From the moment the process begins, the excitement gradually builds. The allure of discovering foreign lands, the prospect of tasting exotic foods, the distant thought of stolen moments of escapism. They all add to the thrill of the experience, long before we set off. However, contrary to popular belief, we don’t have to travel thousands of miles over several weeks to have an adventure. After all, adventure is…

‘Anglesey has everything from Blue Flag beaches to high cliffs, lighthouses and historic sites’ Who are you? Andria Massey, Footpath Secretary and Access Officer, Ynys Mon Ramblers Group, and freelance photographer. Why are you a local authority on Anglesey? I holidayed in Wales from childhood, so when I retired in 2004 there was a strong pull to settle here. I chose the beautiful Isle of Anglesey. What do you love about it? It has everything from Blue Flag beaches to high cliffs, 30 miles of the All Wales Coastal Path, lighthouses and historic sites. It is only 30 minutes from Snowdonia National Park. The people are friendly, it has a fairly low level of crime and the food is fabulous. What’s your favourite place to visit? South Stack, with its…

Manufacturers Satisfaction scores awarded by respondents GOLD AWARD Coachman............................................................................91.3% Adria.....................................................................................88.2% Swift Group .........................................................................87.4% Bailey ...................................................................................86.3% Elddis (EHG UK)..................................................................83.4% Lunar ....................................................................................83.4% SILVER AWARD None Mentioned in dispatches Caravelair, Eriba, Freedom, Gobur, Hobby, Hymer, T@B, Vanmaster, Wingamm 2019 RESULTS Gold Award Bailey, Elddis (EHG UK), Swift Group Silver Award Lunar Supplying dealers Satisfaction scores awarded by respondents GOLD AWARD Peter Roberts Caravans ...................................................92.9% Blackmore Vale Leisure ....................................................90.6% Salop Leisure ......................................................................85.6% SILVER AWARD Raymond James Caravans ..............................................75.1% The Caravan Company .....................................................71.1% Mentioned in dispatches 3A’s Leisure, Active Leisure, Albion Caravans, Automotive Leisure, Bardsea Leisure, BC Caravans, Blackdown Leisure, Blackwood Leisure Vehicles, Canwell Caravans, Caravan Tech, The Caravan Warehouse, Catterick Caravans, Chichester Caravans, Chris Jones Leisure, Clwyd Caravans, Couplands Caravans, Crossburn Caravans, Crowland Caravans & Camping, Davan Caravans & Motorhomes, Dee Valley Caravans, Dickinson…

Some years ago I noticed a growing trend in used tourers being exported by dealers. These vans were shipped to New Zealand – many were models that didn’t sell well here, an ideal way of shifting stock. In 2020 this has become a major part of the used market, with South Korea now also a customer for used UK tourers. But as dealers send more stock out to these countries, might this mean that used tourers become harder to source here? New van production is down, which will affect supply to the used market. And will older, lower-priced tourers disappear? It could happen, and it would mean used prices rise. practical.caravan@futurenet.com ANDY JENKINSON is a caravan expert and historian – he loves pre-owned and classic tourers!…

Spring still seems a long way off. To cheer myself up, I’ve been listing cars I hope to drive in the coming months. I think 2020 has the makings of a vintage year for tow cars. Could this be when the electric tow car really comes of age? A handful launched in 2019, and the Polestar 2 joins them in 2020. The first fully electric car from Volvo’s spin-off brand, the executive fastback has a legal towing limit of 1500kg. Then there’s the new Land Rover Defender. I was underwhelmed when I first saw photos, but its looks have grown on me and it’s now one of the cars I’m most looking forward to driving this year. motty@practicalcaravan.com Tow car editor DAVID MOTTON is a former PC editor, and has…

Model tested D180 AWD SE Price £43,175 What Car? Target Price £40,525 Retained value after three years 50% Kerbweight 2028kg 85% of kerbweight 1724kg Gross vehicle weight 2750kg Max towing limit 2200kg Gross train weight 4950kg Towball limit 145kg Boot size (min/max) 115/1451 litres Payload 722kg Test conditions Wet Engine size 1999cc Power (bhp)/rpm 178@4000rpm Torque (lb ft)/rpm 317@1500-3000rpm Official combined economy 37.2-39.6mpg Towing economy 25.4mpg CO2 emissions 155g/km First year car tax £855 Second year car tax 465 Insurance group 33E Euro NCAP rating (2014)…

There’s no better time of year to get to grips with all those odd jobs that you might have been putting off – after all, there’s still time before the start of the traditional touring season, so why not carry out those must-do upgrades right now? It was with that in mind that we decided to bring you a DIY Special this month – over the next few pages you’ll find a host of hints and tips to help you make the absolute best of your caravan during 2020! There’s everything from improving your van’s seating, to choosing the right air-con unit for your needs – do send us your pics to let us know how you’ve got on. practical.caravan@futurenet.com OUR TECH EXPERTS include (left to right) John Sootheran, Sammy…

ROD’S WIFE, KIM, felt that she needed more side support when she was seated at the end of the front sofa, near the door. “Kim likes to snuggle up in the caravan when we have our friends in,” explains Rod. “She didn’t like the lack of support at the end of the sofa.” Rod pondered the problem and came up with the idea of a removable armrest that would match the existing upholstery. 1 First he decided on the shape and size of the armrest and then created a template in cardboard. He used this to fashion two pieces of 4mm-thick plywood. He went for two pieces in order to create sufficient thickness (about 12mm) to match the original sofa side panel that the armrest would sit on, as Rod always…

Winter wonders We made the colder months more colourful with our bright red cover! Stars this month were the all-new Sprite, Swiss winter touring, and the low-down on insulation, to help you stay warm Super Sprite In 1980, the Sprite name was already well established – and it still exists today. In the November issue, we tested the Alpine C, which had recently received a facelift – our verdict? “Value for money, and extras that make life more pleasant” Four-door fun We loved the Subaru 1600 4WD, which had been launched the same year and cost £4983. “The 4WD doesn’t have magnificent towing capabilities,” we said, but the Subaru “is not really overpriced, especially as it boasts a high level of standard trim, including head restraints and digital clock” Gadgets…

■ Reading one of your recent reviews, I noticed the verdict was that “the front window needs to be a tad wider”. Recently we were on tour when a site neighbour, a man of larger build, fell and damaged his hip while inside his van. First responders were quickly on the scene, but realised they could not get him out. Several fire appliances were called. Eventually fire personnel were on hand; apparently they had two choices to rescue the injured man – cut the side of the caravan or squeeze him through the front window, which luckily they managed to do. If the window had been any narrower, they wouldn’t have had this option. SM…

Insulated Aquaroll cover Stave off wintry conditions with this insulated Aquaroll cover, which can help to reduce the risk of your water supply freezing. Price £32.50 Web www.bags4everything.co.uk Microfibre travel towels These super-absorbent travel towels come in two sizes. They are antibacterial, and the larger one also has a wet and dry bag. Price £10.55-£19.95 Web www.snugpak.com Lunii My Fabulous Storyteller Keep the kids entertained on the road – they can personalise a story, and listen through headphones or the integrated speaker. Price £64.95 Web www.cuckooland.com Livall smart helmet The BH60SE Bluetooth smart helmet can help you ride safely; features include LED indicators. Price £99 Web www.halfords.com Outwell Windscreen Deluxe Protect your privacy with this durable 5m-long windbreak – just check campsite restrictions. Price £119.99 Web www.worldofcamping.co.uk EchoMaster monitor/reversing camera…

› A63 Castle Street Princes Quay Bridge and Roger Millward Way, Hull, until spring. A pedestrian footbridge crossing the A63 and roundabout improvements. › M6 junction 19 March 2020 – September 2021. Part of the Smart Motorway for J16-J19. › M62 junctions 10-12 Ongoing upgrade of 9.8-mile section to Smart Motorway. Completion scheduled for next spring. › M6 junctions 13-15 Until 2021/2022. Smart Motorway construction. Installation of gantries and central reservation work. Contraflows in place.…

When to go Cambridge is a treat to visit at any time of year, although if you fancy a punt on the river, winter might not be the best time! Way to go The city is easily accessed via the A1(M), M11, M6 and A14, and from the M25. Find out more Visit Cambridge › www.visitcambridge.org National Heritage Centre for Horseracing & Sporting Art › palacehousenewmarket.co.uk British Sporting Art Trust › https://bsat.co.uk Ely Cathedral › www.elycathedral.org Oliver Cromwell’s House › olivercromwellshouse.co.uk King’s College and Chapel › www.kings.cam.ac.uk Food and drink Tack Room › palacehousenewmarket.co.uk The Almonry Restaurant & Tearooms › www.elycathedral.org Our outfit Car Vauxhall Astra 2.0 Sports Tourer Caravan Coachman Festival 450 two-berth…

Way to go Route Horsham, Rodmersham Green, Bearsted, Farningham, Battle, Lower Beeding, Brighton, Nutley, and then back to Horsham Find out more Bakery course Run by Monique at Green Cottages Kitchen › www.green-cottages.com/baking Foraging Guided by Gavin from Totally Wild UK › totallywilduk.co.uk Brewery Run by Gary and Bunny at Kissingate › www.kissingate.co.uk Bushcraft skills Guided by Leon of WildWood Bushcraft › www.wildwoodbushcraft.com Costs Campsite fees £90 Fuel £150 Attractions £450 Food and drink £100 Total £790…

NOTHING SPURS YOU to finish a project like a tight deadline. Rather ambitiously, I decided to take my 1960 Car Cruiser Carousel on our annual pilgrimage to the European Classic Caravan Rally with the Retro Caravan Club. And just a month before we were due to set off, I stood looking at the empty, unpainted shell, which had no windows, and thinking, “I can do this!” I bought the Car Cruiser some years ago, at a house clearance. Looking at the various site receipts we found in the drawers, it must have been standing in the garden since around 1978. Alas, the poor caravan was so bedded into its resting spot, the council had apparently refused to cart it away. Clearly, there was only one man crazy enough to take…

I’m just back from a week’s trip to the Rheims area of France. The journey has brought home to me once again the huge advantages of visiting these places with your own vehicle, as you are never limited to what you can squeeze into a suitcase. (The last time I flew to this part of the world, we had to discard a good part of our luggage at Charles de Gaulle.) This applies not just to champagne, Rheims’ best-known export, but to things such as scooters, too. It’s good to see that this February’s NEC show will focus on those little electronic wonders that make life on site so much easier. I hope to see some of you admiring what is on display there. peter.baber@futurenet.com Reviews editor PETER BABER is…

NEC show to include special scooter section This February’s Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show (18-23 February) at the NEC looks likely to include a section on scooters and electronic bikes for the first time. Details were being finalised as we went to press, but the Electric in Motion section is set to showcase a range of electric mobility vehicles you can take in your van. Caravan Guard gives it away Leisure insurance company Caravan Guard donated £25,000 to local charities during its ‘Countdown to Christmas’. Over 25 days, the Halifax firm gave £1000 a day to hospices, the Alzheimer’s Society and the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Liquid assets save the day Quick thinking saved a Christmas Day caravan fire – started by an abondoned candle – from being worse than it…

Price £56,585 What Car? Target Price £50,435 Retained value after three years 48% Kerbweight 2172kg 85% of kerbweight 1846kg Gross vehicle weight 2840kg Max towing limit 2700kg Gross train weight 5540kg Towball limit 110kg Price of towball and electrics £1075 Boot size min/max 302/1856 litres Payload 668kg Test conditions Damp Engine size 1969cc Power (bhp)/rpm 232@4000rpm Torque (lb ft)/rpm 354@1750-2250rpm Official combined economy 37.7-44.1mpg Towing economy 24mpg CO2 emissions 154g/km First year car tax £855 Second year car tax £465 Insurance group 41E Euro NCAP protection rating Or you could try… NEW Land Rover Discovery 3.0 SDV6 Price from £57,360 Our favourite heavyweight tow car. Great to drive with or without a caravan, and a supremely practical seven-seater. USED Audi Q7 3.0 TDI Quattro S-Line 66-plate, 36,000 miles, £28,995 Although…

HAVE YOU EVER visited one of the national shows and been wowed by the huge array of LED lights that are now available on the market? I often find myself – just like a moth – drawn to them (1)! Companies such as Leisure Lines/CAK Tanks (leisurelines.net) help customers to get a feel for LEDs, by having a working display of products to assist buyers in choosing colour, style and function (2). In a lot of older caravans, the interior lighting can seem rather dim. Some of these models still use halogen light bulbs. ‘LEDs have a long lifetime, do not produce heat and are cost-effective’ In contrast, my new van has fantastic lighting and at night, can be lit up like the Starship Enterprise (3)! But improving the lighting…

Rod is a bit of a perfectionist, especially when it comes to his caravan. So, when he discovered that water was splashing into his gas locker through the mesh-covered vent in the floor, he had to do something about it. 1 The original mesh vent is designed to let heavier-than-air Butane or Propane gas drop out of the bottom of the gas locker, should a bottle or hose develop a leak. Some wire mesh is screwed in place over the aperture to ensure that rodents can’t get in. Obviously, this wasn’t enough to prevent road-spray entering the locker. 2 Rod found the perfect new cover at Homebase: a louvred, aluminium vent measuring 229 x 152mm (9 x 6in) and costing just £3.75. Some vents like this are not to be…

WITHOUT DOUBT, TRUMA is one of the big players in the caravan industry, and in 2019, it celebrated its 70th birthday. Most caravans include at least one of its products, whether it’s just a water pump or solar panel, or a full heating and water system that’s fitted by the van manufacturer. Add to that the numerous Truma accessories – motor movers, air conditioning units and the iNet system, which provides remote control of the heating in your van, and LevelControl to monitor the amount of gas left in a bottle. In 1961, company founder Philipp Kreis invented the first officially approved caravan heater, the Truma-matic, opening up the possibility of winter caravanning. In those days, UK caravans had little in the way of insulation and had single-paned glass windows.…

Last issue we featured details of clubs for owners of various brands of caravan; this month we’re taking a look at groups for those who caravan alone. Whether you’re single, widowed, divorced, separated, or simply enjoy touring solo, these clubs give you a chance to take part in events and tours with like-minded individuals across the whole of the UK: The Phoenix Camping Club ■ www.thephoenixcampingclub.co.uk New Horizons Camping Club ■ www.newhorizonscampingclub.co.uk The New Companions Camping Club ■ newcompanions.org.uk…

WHICH TOW CAR? ‘The Vision name was used some years later by Coachman for a range, but dropped in 2019’ Q I’ve fallen in love with the looks of the Suzuki Jimny, but the local dealer tells me there’s a long wait. What would you suggest as an alternative for towing our Swift Basecamp all year round? G Mason A David Motton answers… The Jimny has indeed been a runaway success, thanks to its chunky looks and back-to-basics appeal, but in truth, it makes a very poor tow car, providing slow acceleration and weak stability. If you’re looking for a budget SUV to tow a lightweight van, you’d be better off with a Dacia Duster. The prices start from £10,995, but it’s worth spending the extra to get a diesel 4x4.…

Cambridge Camping and Caravanning Club Site Sheltered by trees, yet close to Cambridge, this is the ideal base for exploring city and countryside locations. The pitches are spacious, with hook-up. The amenities block is well maintained and a small shop sells basic food and camping gear. A plus point for us was the site’s proximity to the park and ride, where you can park your car and enjoy a hassle-free journey to Cambridge. Address Cambridge C&CC Site, 19 Cabbage Moor, Great Shelford CB22 5NB › 01223 841 185 › www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk Open 1 April to 3 November Charges £7.85-£13.25 per person, per night…

1 Surrounded by marshes The small campsite at Reedham Ferry & The Archers Touring Park accepts caravans up to 7.5m long, and boasts free fishing in the River Yare. The site is in the heart of the Norfolk Broads, surrounded by peaceful and picturesque marshland. › www.reedhamferry.co.uk 2 Pitch up by the beach Stay at Dunes at Whitesands Camping for easy access to Whitesands beach in Pembrokeshire. The site has enormous pitches, with a fire pit and picnic table so you can make the most of the views. Sea anglers could net bass, flounder, dogfish, whiting and much more. › www.dunesatwhitesands.co.uk 3 Lakeside fine dining Located on the shores of spectacular Llangorse Lake, renowned for its pike fishing, in the heart of the beautiful Brecon Beacons, Lakeside Caravan Park has…

In-depth test In our most detailed test, we spend at least one day (usually more) in the van, to bring you our verdict. The score is based on the opinions of the PC team. First look Each month, we test new models of all sizes and report back to you in our regular review pages. This is the place for the quick low-down on a model! Our vans, our month Our long-term-test tourers are loaned to PC by the manufacturers, allowing us to give you warts-and-all reports over the months.…

Welcome to the Practical Caravan Owner Satisfaction Awards for 2020. Over the next few pages, you’ll discover Britain’s most satisfying new and pre-owned caravans – as well as the best dealers to buy them from. The response to our survey from readers of Practical Caravan and members of The Camping and Caravanning Club – all of whom bought a new or used caravan in the past three years – has been great. Almost 3000 caravanners provided full responses to a detailed questionnaire; we’d like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to the survey. Questions cover the design and features of the van, reliability, build quality, dealer service – even the clarity of the handbook. We’ve made some changes this year, with tougher minimum sample sizes, so you…

Manufacturers Satisfaction scores awarded by respondents GOLD AWARD Adria.....................................................................................88.1% Coachman............................................................................84.3% Bailey...................................................................................82.4% SILVER AWARD Swift Group .........................................................................78.9% Elddis (Erwin Hymer Group UK)......................................78.6% Lunar ....................................................................................76.6% Mentioned in dispatches Caravelair, Eriba, Fifth Wheel Company, Freedom, Hobby, Hymer, Knaus, T@B, Trigano, Vanmaster, Weinsberg 2019 RESULTS Gold Award Coachman Silver Award Bailey, Elddis (EHG UK), Lunar, Swift Group Supplying dealers Satisfaction scores awarded by respondents GOLD AWARD Winchester Caravans.........................................................91.4% Sussex Caravan Centre......................................................88.3% Ropers Leisure....................................................................88.2% Blackmore Vale Leisure ....................................................87.3% Newport Caravans ............................................................84.8% Couplands Caravans .........................................................83.4% Broad Lane Leisure ...........................................................83.3% Salop Leisure ......................................................................82.6% SILVER AWARD White Arches Caravans ....................................................79.4% Chichester Caravans ..........................................................74.0% Oxford Caravan Centre......................................................71.3% Swindon Caravan Centre .................................................70.7% Mentioned in dispatches Active Leisure, Automotive Leisure, Berkshire Caravans, Black County Caravans & Camping, Blackdown Leisure, Blazers Caravan Co, Campers & Leisure, Cara Motorhomes & Caravans, Clwyd Caravans,…

Price £23,490 Berths 2 MiRO 1397kg Payload 127kg MTPLM 1424kg Awning size 932cm Spec list ATC • Omnivent • External access to nearside locker • Branded washroom • Mirror and doormat • Truma Waterline connection • Al-Ko wheel lock Measurements Interior length 4.95m Shipping length 6.66m Overall width 2.23m Nearside single bed 1.96 x 0.72m Offside single 1.86 x 0.72m Front double bed 2.02 x 1.86m Contact Contact Kimberley Caravans Tel 0115 938 2401 Web www.kimberleycaravans.co.uk…

How much? £18,000 or more The lowest-priced examples have come down to around the £18,000 mark, which will net you a 2015/16 model with a mileage of about 100,000. This needn’t be a bad thing, because the car will have spent most of its life on low-stress motorway. The interior condition and the amount of paperwork are the key concerns. A budget of £25k puts you in the ballpark for a 2016 car with less than 40,000 on the odometer, or a well-cared-for newer example with a few more miles showing. If you have more to spend, the GLC world is your oyster. What will it tow? Kerbweight 1845kg Towing limit 2500kg Noseweight limit 100kg 85% match 1568kg How much is a towball? Westfalia swan-neck towbar £186.00 Westfalia detachable towbar…