Innholdsfortegnelse for April 2022 i Campervan

Editor’s note | Welcome Hello Welcome to the April issue, and happy spring, everyone! I love this time of year, for so many reasons. Firstly, my birthday always falls around Easter, and I absolutely love chocolate, so it’s the perfect combo. I can think of many, many an Easter bank holiday where I’ve started the day sitting in my campervan bed, scoffing chocolate eggs and opening presents at the same time, and then gone out hiking for the day to burn off some of those Easter and birthday treat calories! Wherever you go, everywhere is so pretty at this time of year, isn’t it? Daffodils bobbing in the fields and spring lambs full of the joys of life. One of my absolute favourite places is the Lake District, where you…

Enjoying | Destination of the month Destination of the month Newquay Cornwall’s beautiful coastline is campervanning heaven and the delightful seaside town of Newquay is a real jewel in its crown… Cornwall is to campervans as fish is to chips! These two belong together like a marriage made in heaven and a trip to Cornwall’s iconic sandy beaches is surely on every campervanner’s bucket list, if you haven’t already been… Newquay is certainly one of the jewels in the crown of this gorgeous stretch of coastline and you won’t be short of places to stay or things to do and see here. This part of north Cornwall is known for Fistral and Watergate beaches, where waves from the Atlantic roll in and create a strong surf, making it ideal for…

Do you love campervanning? Do you want to be inspired by real-life campervanning experiences, UK and overseas travel, top campsites for touring, campervan road tests, practical advice and much, much more? Then you need Campervan every month. When you subscribe to the paper version of Campervan, you’ll enjoy all of these great benefits: • SAVE money on the cover price • Get FREE delivery direct to your door – BEFORE it goes on sale in the shops • PROTECTION against cover price increases • SAVE £5 on all Warners Shows in 2022 when you pre-book your pitch • FREE day visitor entry to the Yorkshire Motorhome & Campervan Show in Harrogate & savings on day visitor entry to all other Warners shows And much, much more! Just £11.99 a quarter…

Our campervans | 2008 Auto-Sleeper Warwick The Warwick and the pirates! Mike Eastman, 60s ‘boy band’ member, goes back to his roots… In 2011, After a period of 43 years, our record company decided to rerelease our back catalogue of singles, LPs and some BBC Radio One recordings. No one was more surprised than me, and I duly granted them a licence to do so, thinking, maybe this time I really will be a millionaire. I’m still waiting… On hearing the news, Paul, my fellow songwriter from way back when, rang me. We decided we would record some songs left unfinished in 1970, write some new ones, and release them all on a new CD compilation, to ‘ride’ on the new interest in the band. This was in 2015. The…

In the know | Seatbelt legislation Are you sitting safely? Understand seatbelt legislation and make sure you’re all strapped in safely in your campervan with our guide WRITTEN BY Barry Norris Travelling in a campervan should be fun and safe for all the family to enjoy. It was in 1966 when legislation made it compulsory for all new passenger cars to be fitted with front seatbelts, but it wasn’t until 1983 that it became compulsory to wear them. As public acceptance of seatbelts increased, so further legislation has been introduced, covering a wider range of vehicles and applications, including specific requirements for children. However, with so many classic campervans still on the road, there are a lot of grey areas regarding carrying passengers in seats where no seatbelts or only lap…

In the know | Next month On sale 21 April 2022 campervan FREE DOM TO EXPLORE In next month's issue Enjoying Mike Waterman heads to the USA and explores the Pacific Coast Highway by campervan… Your campers Anne's Hillside Birchover Classic campervan is a little bit on the special side… Our campers Campervan fan, Hazel, shares her favourite moments of camping in the UK in merry May… Choosing We take a look at a top-of-the-range VW T6.1 conversion from Ecowagon… Campsites A round-up of some of the best campsites around the UK for a holiday by the sea… All contents subject to change Subscribe at outandaboutlive.co.uk 01778 392019 subscriptions@warnersgroup.co.uk Digital Campervan offers To enjoy access to a fully searchable digital archive of all issues of Campervan since it was launched, visit motorhome.ma/cpvnexact…

News | What’s happening in the world of campervans News Volkswagen launches mobile home in a box Read all about what’s going on in the fascinating world of campervans… Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles has launched a range of mini-mobile camping units offering a kitchen area, bed, water supply and storage space. The ‘mobile home in a box’ is a range of modular units, built by Ququq, that fit into the existing luggage compartments of certain VW vehicles. The kitchen can be ready in a few seconds and the bed unfolds in a single movement, making life easy for when you're out on the road. The range-topping, multipurpose BusBox, priced at £3,340, is compatible with the Volkswagen Caravelle T5/T6/T6.1 and includes a bed and mattress, a kitchen area (with space for two-burner stove),…

Mercedes updates the Sprinter With new engines, a new transmission, and a new all-wheel drive system, Mercedes-Benz has given its Sprinter commercial vehicles a comprehensive update that promises increased driving comfort. At the heart of the change is the adoption of the 2-litre OM654 diesel engine, which is already familiar from the Mercedes passenger car portfolio and the smaller Vito van. The four-cylinder unit will be available in up to four different outputs – depending on the drive and body variant selected – 114bhp, 150bhp, 170bhp and 190bhp. All versions meet the relevant emissions standards, Euro VI-E or Euro 6d. The new power units also boast improved noise and vibration compared with the previous 2.1-litre and 3-litre engines. Smoother running characteristics and greater pulling power are claimed for the new…

Knights Custom Prestige Tourer LWB | Choosing Knights Custom Prestige Tourer LWB An ultimate, top-of-the-range, bespoke VW pop-top camper… This is a customer’s campervan constructed to his specification and, if you’re going to build the ultimate VW camper, then it’s likely to start with a fully loaded T6.1. That means a long-wheelbase in Highline trim, with the 201bhp (204PS) turbo-diesel engine sending power to all four wheels through the 4Motion all-wheel drive and DSG twin-clutch automatic transmission. There are plenty of options ticked, too – heated cab seats, a locking differential, Discover Media sat-nav, front and rear LED road lights, a reversing camera, heated windscreen, adaptive cruise control and automatic traffic sign recognition. It even has the Bilstein air suspension system with Air Lift, which not only allows the ’van…

Enjoying | Campervan community campervan community We take a look at what’s been rockin’ your weird and wonderful campervan world this month… Surprise, surprise! What a very pleasant surprise I got when I opened my March copy of Campervan and found my European tour article in it. What is funny is that I’d looked at the wording on the cover, saw there was an article on touring Europe and thought I’d better take a look, as we like doing that sort of thing and might get some good suggestions on places to go! Taking a quick flip through, I saw the photo of the wolf and thought, “I recognise that…“ followed by a big smile from me when I saw it was, in fact, my article that had been published!…

Enjoying | Southwest campsites The beautiful southwest Here’s some of the best places to pitch up in Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset… Mike Austin Unsplash 1 Whitehill Country Park, Devon Stoke Road, Paignton TQ4 7PF 01803 782338 whitehill-park.co.uk 23 March – 29 October Whether on a quiet couple’s holiday or travelling with children, this site has everything you could need to hand. That starts with the stunning outdoor pool (and a new indoor pool is due to be completed during 2022), surrounded by rolling Devon countryside. You can easily stretch the legs (whether of the two or four-legged variety) in the private woodland, follow nature trails or take part in bushcraft activities. The site has a bar, restaurant and terrace area, along with a takeaway, shop and games room. Pitches are on…

2017 Devon Sahara 3 | Your campervans ‘Appy as ALF 2 Campervan converts, Anna and Ricky Munn, wanted something easier to drive than their previous motorhome but without compromising on comfort WORDS & PHOTOS Anna Munn This is ALF 2. As the name suggests, it is our second 'van. Our first was a coachbuilt Autocruise, which we had great adventures in. However, we were novices when we bought it and came to realise the challenges of owning a large and long ‘van. When we bought ALF 1 the plan was to be travelling for long periods of time so we had a tick list. A fixed bed – we didn’t want to make it up every day Good-size washroom with shower for camping off grid Lounge area with sofa so, in…

Our campervans | 2018 Adria Twin 640 SPX Flower power adventures Penny and husband, Marc, enjoy a springtime trip to Holland to see the bulbs in bloom… I enjoy gardening and so I have always wanted to go to Holland to see the bulb fields. However, springtime weather can be a bit unpredictable, so we usually opt for warmer climes but this time we decided to visit Holland for a week. Staying at an aire in Abbenes, we were only five-and-ahalf miles away from the famous Keukenhof Gardens. Setting off on our bikes along the wonderful cycle paths that follow all the main roads in Holland, we came across many fields full of flowering hyacinths and the smell and colour were magnificent. The Keukenhof Gardens are only open for a short…

News | What’s happening in the world of campervans Thor and Winnebago reveal all-electric concepts The US parent company of the Erwin Hymer Group (EHG), Thor Industries, has revealed two all-electric concept leisure vehicles – one motorhome and one caravan. In addition, American RV manufacturer, Winnebago, has also shown its all-electric motorhome. While the models are still at concept stage, they highlight the path Thor, the world’s largest campervan and motorhome manufacturing group, and Winnebago are all taking. With Thor, this is one of developing its own all-electric models in partnership with a specialist chassis developer, rather than relying on the likes of Fiat or Ford to develop and launch an electric base vehicle for it to convert. Concepts are generally revealed to gauge the public’s reaction and to make…

Choosing | Dreamer Select D51 Just a dreamer Appropriately from the French brand, Dreamer, comes a campervan with an extra-wide bed… WORDS & PHOTOS Peter Vaughan As sure as night follows day, a continental campervan in the six-metre class will have a fixed bed at the back. But, with so many makers offering ostensibly similar models, it can be down to the details to make all the difference. Whether that’s Knaus’ rear seat that extends sideways, Malibu’s porthole windows, Pilote’s slide-away cassette toilet, or Laika’s folding table, there are multiple minutiae to help you pick one over another. Of course, Dreamer hopes its new D51, from its more premium Select range, is the one you’ll, err, select but, as if to emphasise the sheer variety in this sector, that means the…

Enjoying | Touring Scotland in an electric campervan Electric explorers Testing out a fully electric campervan on a 2,500-mile trip from Dorset to the Isle of Skye… WORDS & PHOTOS Fiona Daborn After returning from a short camping trip to Austria where nine days of hiking was squeezed in between work commitments, we began dreaming about slowing down and spending more time exploring the great outdoors. The idea of travelling in a campervan, exploring communities and supporting local businesses soon became a theme in all our conversations, but with one sticking point. At the time, we both worked for charities that campaigned on climate change and we wondered how we could combine these values with campervan life. Researching secondhand electric vans, we soon realised that, with our budget, we would…

Enjoying | England’s smallest county Yellowbelly Land Joyce and Barry set their binocular sights on England’s smallest county, Rutland, and neighbouring Lincolnshire… WORDS Joyce Hopewell PHOTOS Barry Hopewell We’d had Rutland in our sights for a while, following a day visit to one of the Birdfairs at Rutland Water Nature Reserve. We’d vowed to go back, spend time with binoculars and birds and have a look at England’s smallest county. The day was sunny, bright and clear as we drove across no less than five counties to our destination, the rolling countryside taking us through what felt like the very heart of rural England. Stopping in Melton Mowbray for a leg stretch, we parked by St Mary’s parish church. Bosworth, our Norfolk terrier, was eager for a quick run in…

In the know | Camping boxes and roof tents How to get a campervan without buying a campervan With demand for campervans at an all-time high and stock levels at an all-time low, we take a look at some alternatives… WRITTEN BY Geneve Brand It’s fair to say that none of us saw the coronavirus pandemic coming and we certainly couldn’t begin to imagine what consequences it would have on the outdoor leisure industry. My own personal experience, early doors, back in March 2020, was that I sold my own campervan for a normal price – albeit very quicky, in 24 hours! – and had expected to take delivery of my new campervan on my birthday in April, having ordered it at the end of 2019. And, although Hillside Leisure had…

Accessories | In the know Campervan Accessories Be prepared for April shower-power and get ready to enjoy some springtime flower-power adventures with all the latest camping kit… Clarke CIG 1432 X-Large Garage If you’ve got a garage, it’s a good idea to put your campervan in it in order to keep it away from the nasties of the world, such as rain and snow in winter and the pounding sun in summer. If you’ve got trees, no doubt you’re familiar with having to clean off bird mess, leaves and sap, too. However, not everyone has a garage, or one big enough to park a campervan in, and that’s where one of these temporary structures comes in. This is not just a glorified tent, as it's made from tough polythene fabric…