Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2018 i Practical Caravan

WRITE TO Letters, Practical Caravan, 1-10 Praed Mews, London W2 1QY EMAIL US AT letters@practicalcaravan.com JOIN OUR COMMUNITY AT facebook.com/ twitter.com/pcaravan instagram.com/practicalcaravan The contributors of our Star letter and Star photo each win a pair of Milenco Grand Aero towing mirrors, worth £50. They’re designed to fit all wing mirrors and offer an outstanding view. If you have a top tip, send it in for a chance to win four Milenco Stacka corner feet, worth £14. For further details…

Keeping things tidy I don’t know about you, but when I pack to go away, I am definitely an ‘everything and the kitchen sink’ person. I don’t like leaving anything to chance – you never know what you might need – and even take spares with me, just in case. So I was very interested to learn that car manufacturer SEAT has partnered with Japanese tidiness guru Marie Kondo, whose KonMari Method can show drivers how to maximise their boot space by decluttering. Apparently, it’s all about only including things that ‘spark joy’ – I’ll have to ditch the carrier bags and warning triangle, then – and dealing with one category at a time. When it comes to your clothes, they need to be folded so that they stand up…

This is a neat, open site with well-spaced grass and hardstanding pitches, surrounded by woodland and with a stand of trees near the washblock. There’s a great play area for children and behind that, a storage area for caravans. If you’re not super-confident about pitching, owner Paul will pitch your van for you; I took full advantage of this – it had been a long journey. There’s a security barrier and Wi-Fi is available. Next to the heated washblock is a café that is open at weekends in July and August and Bank Holiday weekends. In Market Rasen and all within 1.5 miles are pubs and restaurants and a Tesco superstore. And if you fancy a flutter on the horses, Lincolnshire’s only racecourse is just a seven-minute drive away. Address…

IT MIGHT NOT feature in A History of the World in 100 Objects, but there’s no denying the place of the Axminster carpet among the panoply of significant British exports. However, while the name might conjure up impressions of weaving mills in the north of England, Axminster is, in fact, a town located near the mouth of the River Ax in East Devon. It’s quite fair to say that the rest of this popular, well-visited county receives more attention than its eastern extreme, but this part of Devon is a convenient stop-off point if, like me, you’re travelling back from the far south-west to just outside London and find yourself in need of a spot of rest and relaxation. Leaving the A30 at Honiton and following the A35 for a…

It’s all about minimising noise, so the only mechanical sound you’re likely to hear is a lawnmower BATH CHEW VALLEY Caravan Park can lay claim to being one of the first adults-only sites in the UK. The original owners were quick to spot a gap in the market and have since been joined by many others. Current owners the Betton family have seen the number of adults-only sites increase over the years, with Tranquil Parks – the organisation that Bath Chew Valley is a member of – growing steadily to become 40-strong this year. There’s no anti-children agenda behind this trend, though. Instead, it’s all about ensuring peace and quiet while you’re on holiday. For this reason, Bath Chew Valley is one of relatively few sites that offer valet pitching…

Cheddar Gorge and Caves There’s plenty of parking at Cheddar Gorge and if you haven’t decided whether to visit the caves or go for a walk, or both, take a look at the map that shows the layout of the complex. Web www.cheddargorge.co.uk/visitor-info/maps Wells Cathedral The best way to explore Wells Cathedral is to take one of its free daily tours. An experienced guide will be able to give you an overview of the building’s history. The tours last approximately one hour. Web www.wellscathedral.org.uk/visit/tours/free-daily-scheduled-tours Bath There are several car parks in Bath and on-street parking (pay and display) is available, but limited to three hours. There are three park and ride sites. For locations of car parks and an idea of how busy they are, check out the…

North View Caravan Site, near Garstang, is lovely and has the bonus of a private hot tub. Plus, you might get a greeting from a very friendly cat. Sam Johnson (Facebook) Site essentials Towards the centre of the county, a few miles from the market town of Garstang with the Lancaster Canal and the River Wyre running through it, North View has a peaceful rural location. Although the site is small, it is beautifully landscaped to create a really pleasant place to pitch up. There are 20 touring pitches in total – 10 seasonals and 10 touring – and plenty of caravan storage. All pitches are hardstanding, with electric hook-up, TV aerial point and a fresh water tap. The site also has top-notch toilet and shower facilities; as well as…

Welcome to the Tourer of the Year Awards, our annual celebration of the best that the caravanning industry has to offer buyers for the coming season. Whether you tour solo, as a twosome or with a family, whatever your budget we’re confident that you’ll find your perfect touring partner within our shortlist. This year we continue with the categories we added last year, which better recognise some of the more affordable and unusual caravans on the market, as well as the most luxurious. With awnings and accessories, there are 10 awards categories in total. Our judging team has been at every tourer preview, and every major show, in order to compile a longlist of runners and riders for each category, before those selections were narrowed down to our favourite trio.…

‘The décor in the Xplore 586 would certainly not be what first-time buyers would be expecting to find’ For a caravan that is designed to attract first-time buyers, it is reassuring to see that the Xplore has stuck with rocker switches, with which newer caravanners will be familiar, rather than more complicated LCD screens. Overall, the Xplore 586 looks so modern, both inside and out, that I think adding three windows at the front of this van would actually make it look more old-fashioned, and not necessarily more luxurious. With all of that modernity in the interior, it’s also good to see that there is still a bit of a windowsill at the front of the Xplore. That’s always a great place for leaving drinks!…

‘Alde heating, the sunroof and the large rooflight make the Pastiche’s lounge a warm, bright, social space’ Comfort and social space are the main criteria for the perfect caravan for couples, and our pick of this season’s tourers deliver on both fronts, with two of our selections changing the way we think about lounges. In the Pastiche, the luxurious L-shaped seating in the lounge provides a really comfortable and relaxing environment, for couples and their guests. In contrast, the Eccles opts for the ever-popular parallel sofas, while the Brindisi’s wrap-around seating should be very adaptable. A great washroom is also absolutely essential, and all three deliver here, too. I’d be happy to spend time in all these vans.…

‘The Messina’s lounge offers the convenience of a dinette without compromising on comfort’ For some people, there’s a certain degree of overlap between a luxury tourer and one you may site on a seasonal pitch. Sure, a van costing up to £35,000 will more than do the job, but a seasonal pitch is just that – it’s a financial commitment. So we’ve cast our net across the market for this category, and three contenders priced between £24,000 and just over £31,000 make up our final shortlist. A Coachman twin-axle was last year’s winner, but Bailey has since piled into the market with an 8ft-wide Pegasus. Price, spec and weights are keen as you’d expect, but the special sauce is a lounge that uses its full eight feet well.…

First drive SsangYong Musso SSANGYONG KEEPS improving. If the latest Rexton was a big step forward over the old model, the new Musso double-cab pick-up is a giant leap. The Musso is still affordable compared with better-known pick-ups. It costs from £19,995 excluding VAT (most pick-ups are bought by businesses, so the VAT can be reclaimed). But it can stand comparison with key rivals, even ignoring the price. Most pick-ups are efficient rather than inspired inside, but the Musso is well made and solidly screwed together. There’s little sign of SsangYong being a budget brand in the cabin. It’s roomy and neatly finished. There’s plenty of space up front, along with the commanding driving position you’d expect. But what’s more surprising is the space in the second row of the…

How much? £3100-£16,000 As ever, you’ll find that there’s plenty of choice for buyers looking at the lower end of the budget spectrum, but while the Tiguan can shrug off high mileage, you would be wise to get a proper mechanical check. A budget of about £7000 will net you one of the earliest facelift Tiguans, which will be even more refined than earlier cars and come with more standard kit. The mileage will still be high, but not astronomically so. If you can stretch to £15,000, you’ll be getting an Approved Used example in superb nick, with low mileage and lots of kit. What will it tow? Kerbweight..............................1684kg85% match............................... 1431kgTowing limit .........................2200kgNoseweight limit ...................100kg How much is a towball? Witter flange towbar..........£136.31 Witter detachable towbar............... .................................................... £237.97 Fitting extra…

IF, LIKE ME, you store your caravan beside a house that is built higher than the road outside and connected to it by a steep drive, there is a risk, particularly with longer, lower outfits, of dragging the rear corner of the van on the ground when coming in and leaving. This vulnerable part of the caravan, such as the bottom of the rear plastic panel, might not easily be repaired. However, it is a simple matter to buy a pair of small, rotating, nylon wheeled castors, which can easily be mounted on the rearmost part of the rear wind-up legs. It does not matter which way the legs wind up and therefore whether the castors are fixed to the foot or to the top end of the leg. I…

Layout finder AH Traditionally caravans with fixed single beds at the back have been finished off with a rear washroom. But in recent years fixed singles with a central washroom – a layout that is still perhaps more common in a motorhome - have been making an appearance in caravans as well. Such an arrangement means the washroom is more accessible to everybody, while there is still some privacy in the rear bedroom. Pros The washroom is usually large, weighted over the axle, and everyone can access it easily Cons The centre of the caravan can feel dark and a bit hemmed in with this arrangement A Make sure the front lounge is not too squashed B There needs to be a good rooflight in the middle C You’ll need…

Layout finder S With a nearside-rear dinette as well as rear corner bunks, this layout has lots of space for the kids, while mum and dad relax in the lounge. The amidships kitchen is often short on work surface, but the side dinette provides extra room. The washroom, opposite the kitchen, is useful for night-time visits, but there is not as much elbow room in the shower. Pros Children can take over the rear while their parents relax up front. The rear dinette offers a separate play space, and can usually be shut off from the rest of the van Cons The washroom has limited space, and the kitchen is squeezed between the lounge and the main door A This area may house a wardrobe or dresser unit B Fixed…

Awnings Porch Dorema Safari porch awning, burgundy/grey, aluminium frame, 320 x 240, storm straps, excellent condition, very little use, £275. Mr Farnfield, Mere, Wiltshire (07889 743 062) Dorema porch awning, aluminium poles, pegs, mallet, storm straps, instruction book, little used, good condition, buyer collects, £170. Genuine bargain. Mr Austin, Margate (01843 297 821) Kampa Fiesta Air Pro 420 with hand pump, carry bag, 2016 model, good condition, £325 ono. Mr Sumner, Reading (07887 595 312) Apache Madrid awning, 2.50m x 2.35m, acrylic/polyester green/beige, poles, curtains, pegs, all bags, easy erect, good condition, £180. Genuine reason for sale. Mr Williams, Wilts/Glos/Oxon (01793 762 117) Awning >850cm Fiamma Caravanstore 360 roll-out sun canopy, complete with fittings and rafter pole, royal/grey, easy to operate, £135. Mr Knight, Chorley (07960 790 267) Bradcot Duchess…

1 Showcasing film Falmouth gets out the big screens for the 17th Cornwall Film Festival, focusing on the theme of resistance, with screenings, masterclasses, speakers and much more. Date 9-11 November Web cornwallfilmfestival.com Stay at Menehay Farm Touring Park Web www.menehayfarm.co.uk 2 Spinning yarns Head to Chester’s Literature Festival for readings, talks and workshops with guests including Jodi Picoult and Nigella Lawson. Date 10 November-1 December Web storyhouse.com/literature Stay at Woodside Touring Park Web www.woodsidetouringpark.com 3 New notes Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival offers a varied programme, from musical theatre and film to multimedia pieces and dance. Date 16-25 November Web www.hcmf.co.uk Stay at Holme Valley Camping and Caravan Park Web www.holmevalleycamping.com 4 Indoor adventuring Get your winter fix of outdoor adventure at Kendal Mountain Film Festival. The event will have hundreds of talks…

Pack once, then repack, throwing out half of the clothes you had packed; you will probably end up wearing the same pair of jeans for several days! Julia Edwards Keep pots and pans to a minimum by using a steamer. Trudie Smith Get a dog guard to keep everything safely contained in the boot. Debbie Dangerfield Pack your socks inside your shoes to maximise available packing space. In the caravan, keep all of your shoes in a box. Sam Waterman Use folding plastic crates to keep things neatly together in underbed storage spaces. Tony Fielding Keep all of the children’s toys in one place, in an easily accessible toybox. Sue Riley Avoid wardrobe tantrums by grouping all your hangers together with an elastic band. That way, they are less likely…

1 Bakewell This market town in the Derbyshire Dales is perhaps best known for its eponymous tart and pudding. Why not visit Chatsworth House and gardens while you are in the area? Stay at Bakewell C&CC Site Web www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk 2 Bath Bath is famous for its fine Georgian architecture and the local bun – a sweet roll with crushed sugar on top. You could work off the calories with a swim in the Thermae Bath Spa. Stay at Bath Chew Valley Caravan Park Web www.bathchewvalley.co.uk 3 Cromer Norfolk is well known for its flat landscapes and big skies, but why not head to the coast to try some Cromer crab at its source? The meat is sweet and delicious. Stay at Kelling Heath Holiday Park Web…

One of the most welcoming sites we’ve ever been to. Fantastic hospitality and great facilities, would definitely come again. Very scenic and gorgeous site. We did a charity ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats and they welcomed the riders with a cup of tea and kindly put up one of our posters in reception. Very much appreciated! The location and facilities on site are excellent. Site staff are also excellent, always available and helpful. All very well maintained. Well located for Bristol, Bath and the Levels. Good size, pitches well-shielded by hedges. Superb heated showers and loos which are kept spotlessly clean, and the owners are super friendly and helpful. Welcoming and friendly; a bit out of the ordinary with individual bathrooms and lovely gardens.…

1 Behind the ramparts Perched on its high hill, surrounded by beautiful grounds and courtyards, Hoghton Tower is a dramatic and atmospheric fortified manor from the time of Elizabeth I. Ancestral home of the de Hoghton family, this lovely house has something for everyone – panelled staterooms to admire, underground passages to explore and an extensive collection of doll’s houses. Web www.hoghtontower.co.uk 2 Walking with witches Find out all about the infamous Pendle Witch Trials of 1612 and take in some of Lancashire’s beautiful scenery by following the Pendle Witch trail, which takes you on a 45-mile journey through the Ribble Valley and the Trough of Bowland, finishing at Lancaster Castle. Whether you want to follow the trail by car or on two feet, the Visit Lancashire website has…

THE FIRST LOOK at the last of three new 8ft-wide Elegance Grande models from Swift is among the key attractions for caravanners at this October’s Motorhome and Caravan Show at the NEC. Other new caravans likely to pull in the crowds include one of the first outings for Bailey’s new Pegasus Grande range, also 8ft wide but aimed more at the mid-market. At the other end of the scale, Freedom Caravans will be unveiling one new model and a host of upgrades to its range of small ultra-lightweight caravans. The new Elegance Grande 655 promises to be something quite unusual: as well as being 8ft wide like its siblings, the 635 and 645, it is set to have an L-shaped lounge in the front, a drop-down bed over the second…

It really won’t be long before innovations like SMART-Trailer’s E-Trailer system are being widely adopted. We caravanners love our smartphones, and with one of these on your dashboard, you can see key real-time information about the state of your caravan. E-Trailer takes care of monitoring vital signs, so you don’t have to. In this category, special mention goes to BriteAngle’s warning triangle – PC saw the prototype and is delighted by the quality of the production version. It comes in a plastic case and transforms into a warning triangle in no time at all. We’d be very happy to have a BriteAngle in the boot of all our long-term tugs.…

‘Ocean Drive takes the Eriba Touring Troll proposition to the next level, riding the wave of surfer chic’ To demonstrate its suitability in this category, we’re looking for a product that offers users flexibility. We’re also after a van that will attract newcomers to the pastime, and be an ambassador for the caravanning lifestyle. Last year’s winner certainly ticked all these boxes, but didn’t do quite enough to retain its crown for 2019 – perhaps we’ll see further development of Swift’s Basecamp next year. So we’ve gone back to the future with the Eriba Ocean Drive. Sure, this nostalgia-driven makeover is a marketer’s dream, but if it tempts more people to take up caravanning, then that’s absolutely fine by us.…

‘Making the bed wider, but keeping it a good distance from the kitchen, was a plus point in the Quasar’ The extension flap on the kitchen in the Quasar is so large and sturdy, you could almost make pasta on it – or knead the dough for your bread-making, if you were that way inclined. The layout and roominess of the Quasar mean that you could invite a couple of friends for a luxury weekend break. The sizeable distance between the bed and the kitchen in the Quasar also means there is little danger of anyone leaving greasy fingermarks on the bed – which can be a problem with this layout. With a view to keeping things simple, our judges also liked the fact that the control panel on the…

For our overall winner, the judges found what they were looking for in the final range of new tourers to be revealed before the closure of our judging window. Bailey’s mid-market Pegasus range has been a steady, rather than stellar, performer for the Bristol manufacturer – it has been eclipsed by the upmarket Unicorn, of course, which can do no wrong with buyers of British caravans, and at one point accounted for two-thirds of Bailey’s tourer sales. By rights, mid-market vans should constitute the largest volume of a manufacturer’s output, so what to do when Pegasus lives in the shadow of its more upmarket sibling? Come up with a bold solution – combine the growing appetite for 8ft-wide vans with a revised line-up designed to make the most of the…

Model testedxDrive 20d M Sport Price £37,580 What Car? Target Price£37,306 Retained value after three years 43% Kerbweight 1675kg 85% of kerbweight 1424kg Gross vehicle weight 2190kg Max towing limit 2000kg Gross train weight 4270kg Towball limit 80kg Boot size 470-1355 litres Payload 515kg Test conditions Dry Engine size 1995cc Power (bhp)/rpm187@4000rpm Torque (lb ft)/rpm295@1750rpm Official combined economy 58.9mpg Towing economy 26mpg CO2 emissions 126g/km First year car tax £205 Second year car tax £140 Insurance group 31 Euro NCAP overall protection rating…

I LOVE TO explore Britain and further afield with my caravan and often find that my travels take me down remote country roads. Farmers tend to cut their hedges only in the winter months to avoid disturbing the wildlife, so come spring and summer, the roadside can be a tangle of undergrowth. This brings me to my point. We all hate that scraping sound we hear as we make contact with the bushes, while avoiding oncoming traffic, don’t we? And while I’m grumbling about pet hates, I find it frustrating when we pitch up at a site and then relax with a cup of tea or a glass of wine, looking forward to enjoying the view from the caravan window. Unfortunately, all we can see are dead bugs and road…

Yorkshire Coast’s Nigel Sutton says they have had a good season, especially with pre-owned models. “We offer plenty of choice at our dealership since we moved. We also provide a large accessory shop, an awning showroom and great service from our trained staff. We sell new Swift, Bailey, Sprite and Coachman. We check all of our pre-owned tourers and make sure they are ready to collect in first-class working order,” he adds. Address Carnaby Industrial Estate, Lancaster Road, Carnaby, Bridlington Y015 3QY Tel 01262 400 733 Web www.yorkshirecoastcaravans.co.uk…

Layout finder Y Having a second dinette right next to the kitchen makes life so much easier in a caravan when you are touring with large families, as children can often have their meal separately when the adults are still sitting in the front. These side dinettes usually transform into either a set of bunks or one double bed, and the whole area is usually partitioned off with a curtain. Pros The second dinette can also be an area for people to watch TV, leaving the front lounge free for socialising Cons The rear washroom can sometimes seem a formidably long way away from those asleep in the front A There should be a decent shelf between both dinettes B Make sure there’s enough forom for the chef to work…

Layout finder R This arrangement, with a second small dinette on the side, is useful in medium-sized caravans because it can often provide you with the option of a third bed, if you are taking an extra person along with you. Or, if it’s just two of you, particularly in the summer when you are more likely to be outside or using the awning, you can have the option of leaving the front bed made up all day and only using the side dinette for eating. Pros The second dinette can also provide usefully locate extra seaating for a party Cons At the same time, the second dinette can feel like a bit of an add-on if it’s not well inegrated A Make sure the front lounge is still big…

MY LIFE IS littered with the debris of opportunities that weren’t fully realised because of that fateful human condition ‘oh God I can’t be bothered- I’ll just have another donut’. Tickets for test matches I’ve almost bought, where record breaking scores have been achieved by under rated sides. Concerts by little known groups I almost went to, who subsequently become internationally famous and now fill stadiums.Wimbledon semi finals I nearly queued for, where unseeded players played the game of their life and knocked out a favourite… And when I look back, it wouldn’t have taken much to drag me from my cosy apathetic nonchalance to the thrills and excitement of an experience you know will live with you for the rest of your life. Now, I’m not saying that caravanning…

Eco-friendly eating Price £7.99 Web www.thefowndry.com There’s still time to enjoy a few barbecues before winter closes in, and what better way than with a handy, fuss-free disposable barbecue with impressive eco-credentials. The CasusGrill biodegradable instant barbecue uses Quick Oxylite bamboo charcoal briquettes, which heat to cooking temperature in just five minutes and retain it for up to an hour. The coals heat evenly, so you don’t have to keep rearranging your food to make sure it is cooked through. Those eco-credentials include being completely natural and disposable; made of cardboard lined with lava stone, with bamboo for the grill rack, you can simply toss it in a fire when you’re finished with it. The unique briquettes also mean it emits 50% less CO2 than traditional disposable barbecues. It’s better…

‘CLs – Certificated Locations – are small private sites holding no more than five units. They can only be used by Caravan and Motorhome Club members’ ‘CSs – Certificated Sites – are similar. These sites also hold up to five caravans or motorhomes, but are exclusively for members of the Camping & Caravanning Club’ IF YOU ARE a recent arrival in the world of caravanning, you might have been a bit puzled by articles about our pastime that mention CLs and CSs. What are they, and what benefits do they offer? A quick overview CLs, or Certificated Locations, are small private sites that hold no more than five units (caravans, motorhomes and trailer tents). They can be used only by members of the Caravan and Motorhome Club and there are…

CONTACT Ham Lane, Bishop Sutton BS39 5TZ Tel 01275 332 127 Web www.bathchewvalley.co.uk Congratulations on another win! Thank you. This is a real reflection of the popularity of the park with our guests. How long have you owned the site? I have owned the site since 2004 and the park has been in my family since 1998, making this our 20th year. What is your secret magic formula? We put a lot of emphasis on providing a unique experience for guests. As a slightly smaller park we are able to provide a level of service that isn’t possible on a large site – landscaped gardens, ‘en suite’ style facilities and valet parking for vans are all immensely popular, according to our guest feedback. How important is valet pitching to…

LightPool Festival The famous festoons of the Blackpool Illuminations (pictured above) are not to be missed, with miles of lights as well as nightly 3D projection shows on Blackpool Tower, thanks to a collaboration with LightPool. Date 25-27 October Web www.visitlancashire.com/whats-on/blackpool-illuminations Halloween Ghost Train Don your scariest costumes and take a ride to spooky destinations with the East Lancashire Railway, on a steam train trip through the county to Rawtenstall and back, joined by a gaggle of entertaining ghouls. Date 26-27 and 31 October Web www.eastlancsrailway.org.uk Light up Lancaster See the whole city light up at this fantastic illuminations festival (main image). Follow the after-dark trail for creative art and light installations, followed by a fireworks display at Lancaster Castle to bring the festival to a close in…

Prima launch boosts Bailey owner Bailey Caravans’ parent has seen its turnover sharply boosted by the launch of Bailey’s accessories arm, Prima Leisure. Keenwork’s annual turnover for 2017 was £141.8m, up from £119m the year before. But production shortfalls in the early part of the year within the caravan manufacturer itself, and a softening market in the latter part of the year, saw operating profit figures drop from £1.91m to £312,000. Caravelair line-up gets a new look Marquis is continuing with the same six models in its popular Caravelair Antarès range for the 2019 season – and freezing prices at 2018 levels, too. Only the optional pack, which includes a solar panel, TV aerial and leisure battery, will no longer be free of charge. The six caravans in the range…

The beams on the Vango Vienna porch awning come pre-angled, to provide more headroom and bracing against the wind, and we love the skylight windows, which mean that lots of extra light can be let in. Best of all, Vango has supplied the awning with a deliberately oversized bag, so you will not find yourself struggling to fit everything inside it when you come to dismantle the awning. Among our highly commended products, a feature that we particularly like in the Isabella Ambassador Dawn is the way in which you can tighten the poles on the canopy, to achieve that perfectly finished effect.…

‘Our judges were completely swept away by the very luxurious central washroom in the Elegance 635’ Swift has made very wise use of the extra space available in the 8ft-wide Elegance Grande 635, particularly in the central washroom. Our judges were especially impressed by the level of luxury provided here. We also really liked the kitchen extension in the Swift, which is about practicalities, not just style. Both outside and inside, the Swift has the sort of finish that you would expect to see at this level, but rarely get. The only thing we wouldn’t go for in the Swift is the optional leather upgrade, which didn’t impress. We also loved the spacious Buccaneer, with neat touches like the handy clothes drying rack.…

‘This is a tourer with a suite of kit that wouldn’t look out of place on a mid-market dealer special edition’ A real boon for buyers looking at this category is that you don’t necessarily have to go for a four-berth. A five- or even six-berth tourer affords extra space, so you can leave some of the multi-use spaces as single-use ones. We particularly liked that flexibility in two of the vans shortlisted here. But this year’s Venus 550/4 looked even more compelling. The spec bumps take this ‘entry-level’ van towards mid-market territory, but without the price tag to match. Families shopping on a budget will find the Venus 550/4 has a layout that will really do the job, and it offers terrific value for the money.…

‘Our overall winner is one of the most compelling vans in the six-strong Pegasus range’ Our overall winner has to offer brilliance across the board, rather than simply excelling in one or two areas. Well-resolved in every area from front to back, and with that killer G-shaped lounge, the Messina does this with aplomb. For a seasonal pitch, this van offers everything that a couple could possibly need, and the lack of Alde heating wasn’t a deal-breaker for us. With Al-Ko ATC on board, it’s perfectly towable between any kind of pitch. Our judges also felt, however, that making a bold move in today’s challenging market for new tourers should be not only applauded, but recognised, too. Who dares, wins, after all.…

Price £32,125 What Car? Target Price £30,588 Retained value after three years 44% Kerbweight 1540kg 85% of kerbweight 1309kg Gross vehicle weight 2132kg Max towing limit 1900kg Gross train weight 4032kg Towball limit 75kg Price of towball and electrics £650 Boot size min/max368/1693litres Payload 592kg Engine size 1956cc Power (bhp)/rpm 140@3750rpm Torque (lb ft)/rpm 258@1750rpm Official combined economy 54.3mpg Towing economy 24.9mpg CO2 emissions 138g/km First year car tax £515 Second year car tax £140 Insurance group 20E Euro NCAP overall protection rating…

IN PART ONE, I described the SMART-Trailer system and showed you how to install the E-Connect base unit and E-Level levelling parts of the Starter Package. Now I’ll go through the procedure for installing the Safety Package and the Comfort Package. The Safety Package The E-Level is very handy and makes levelling the caravan so convenient, but I believe the Safety Package is the most important of the add-ons. Its two features are a tyre pressure monitoring system and warnings if selected rooflights or doors come open during transit. Not only does the E-Pressure alert you to changes in tyre pressures, it also gives you real-time readouts of the pressures and tyre temperatures. You don’t need any tools, just your smartphone, to install the E-Pressure system – everything you require…