Practical Motorhome

We recently purchased a new Swift C402, with a Dometic RMS 8406 fridge/freezer. The Swift will live on our drive, which has a fall of about eight degrees. I was keen to know the working tolerance of the fridge, as we pre-chill overnight on the mains

Q Would you have any idea where I can get advice on a continuing problem with our motorhome fridge? The fridge is an automatic-energy selection unit fitted in a Fiat-based coachbuilt. The fuse on the leisure battery melts, which stops the fridge work

It’s not so very long ago that my visits to Scotland numbered just one, to the Isle of Bute. However, since my trip to Fort William in January a few years back – the journey was beautiful – and more recently, an autumn tour to Speyside and the Cairng

Shopping for a new motorhome, awning or accessory? Then head to Manchester’s EventCity Caravan and Motorhome Show 2020, and take advantage of show-only discounts from the region’s dealers. If you’re new to touring, you’ll find plenty of support and a

Swift Kon-tiki 9 days Christmas and New Year 2018 Fresh air, great scenery and good food, all you need for celebrations Finding a campsite open in winter isn’t easy in France, but there are numerous aires. My friend Raphael and I decided to spend Ch

Rimor Seal 5 17 days Spring 2019 There’s no better way to explore the scenery, history and vibrant culture of this fabulous island Walking along a main street in the historic quarter of Habana Vieja, I found myself often smiling at nobody in particu

Swift Bessacarr 3 days Autumn 2019 Remarkable vistas, gorgeous beaches, and lots of activities to keep the whole family entertained Although I must have viewed Durdle Door a thousand times in pictures, as we stroll down the gravel path towards the

● 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

Bailey Advance 76-4 4 days Winter To appreciate the joys of getting back to nature and learn new skills along the way There’s something quite magical about planning a major motorhome trip: sitting late into the night with an assortment of maps and b

Third longest A-road in Britain at 284 miles long, connecting London at Hounslow to Land’s End • Where TR9 6NA Between Bodmin and Redruth Single site at junction with B3275 • Operated by Kingsley Village Shopping Centre/Shell • Parking Plenty of spa

A new ’van conversion with a raised double bed at the rear, and a new low-profile with face-to-face seating at the front, are among launches that Italian brand Laika will be making at the CMT show in Stuttgart in January. One half of the double on th

Italian brand Mobilvetta was brought back to the UK by Marquis Leisure a few seasons ago. Initially, the only models were its Tekno Line K Yacht A-classes, until last year saw the arrival of three Kea P low-profiles. This season, the Kea Ps are back,

You really have to work to earn your spurs in the motorhome market. In the case of Murvi, consider them well and truly gained. The Devon-based independent is into its fourth decade as a producer of premium van conversions and in that time, it’s been

It rained, it poured, and for a while I thought I was going to be cut off by rising waters and stranded at Derby station in my efforts to pick up our new long-term-test motorhome. But mainly thanks to the incredibly helpful people at Geoff Cox Leisur

Your choice of clothing will depend massively on which activities you’re taking part in. If you’re climbing Mount Snowdon, even in freezing temperatures, you’re unlikely to feel cold while you’re on the move. If you’re immobile for any length of time

Book in for a service at any of Marquis Leisure’s 12 outlets this winter and you might end up coming away with more than you bargained for. It’s not too late to take advantage of the latest special offer running across its nationwide network of servi

As a motorhome dealership, the premises here on the outskirts of Warminster in Wiltshire date back to 2002. But there’s a new title up on the boards these days – that of The Motorhome Showroom. That’s the name of the dealership headed by Andy Cahill,

At five years old and looking for its third owner, this is a good, solid used buy from a company that’s really come to the fore of the campervan sector in the past decade. Proven – and clearly upmarket – fittings such as the SCA roof and RIB rear sea

These days, you’ll struggle to find an automatic Topaz, like this one, from this, the era of the T4 Transporter. This dates back to a time when Auto-Sleepers could lay claim to being the UK’s leading exponent of campers based on the VW. Using the lon

The Tribute name was first used by Trigano on a range of Fiat Ducato-based, high-top panel van conversions built in Italy and imported into the UK. In the summer of 2010, Auto-Trail (also part of the global Trigano Group) caused a major stir among fe

We see a wide variety of gas-related problems in the workshop – usually to do with specific appliances, such as fridges not cooling, cooker rings not staying lit, gas regulators clogging up with oily residue and so on – but I recently came across one

Motorhomes and campervans are set up for touring off-grid, although some people prefer the security of electric hook-up. One of the main benefits of off-grid camping is the price. Sites without hook-up and washrooms can cost as little as £6 per night

Well… we made it. Daughter Kate ‘took delivery’ of the Maxus on the promised date and the project came breathtakingly close to being on-budget. At the time of writing we have owned the Maxus for 11 months. It is occasionally used as a family car and

Did you pass your driving test before 1 January 1997? ✔ You can drive a motorhome up to 7500kg on your B+C1 licence. When you reach 70, you must submit a medical form to renew your licence to continue driving a ’van over 3500kg, and do this every thr

Things were different before the Trafic and the Master. In those days, Renault’s predominant light-commercial vehicle was the distinctively styled Estafette (1). This quaint-looking load-lugger was powered by a tiny 845cc engine that was destined for

The Omnivent (incorporating a multispeed fan) on our project ’van must be at least 18 years old. Over the years, the weather has taken its toll on the outer cover, to the point that it looks the worse for wear, and a hole has appeared on one corner b

So, does it really make that much of a difference, what the interior colour scheme of your motorhome looks like, when on holiday, you spend the majority of your time outside? We have put this question to ourselves on many occasions since we heard the

> Price From £58,499 > Sleeps 4 > Belts 4 > Base vehicle Fiat Ducato > Engine 2.3-litre 120bhp Euro 6d > Length/width/ height 7.41/2.32/2.93m (24’4”/7’7”/9’7”) > MTPLM 3500kg > Payload 469kg > Water (fresh/waste) 122/92 litres > Leisure battery 95Ah

Financing your purchase is often easier than paying one lump sum, but be careful not to spend more than you mean to. Think about your monthly income and outgoings. How much is left to pay for the motorhome? Don’t forget to budget for annual servicing