Giving out gongs
This 19th year of the Caravan Industry Awards, produced some deserving winners.
All too often in the aftermath of these competitions, the winning motorcaravan gets
a disproportionate amount of attention leaving other, equally important, category winners out in the cold. It's easy to see how this might happen, when something as good as this year's winning Auto-Trail comes along.
This month, in an attempt to ameliorate this partisanship, as well as showing you the cracking Cheyenne, I'm going to feature some of the unsung heroes of the competition. Memory fails when trying to recall who first uttered the cliché 'the devil is in the detail', but 'tis true you know.
The 2005 Whale Award for 'Innovation in Motorhomes' went to Autocruise for the design and execution of
the 'belly lockers' fitted to its prototype Mustang (see our March issue – phone 08456 777812). This range-topping Iveco-based motorhome looked sleek in silver, bristling with the latest gadgets and gizmos. But it also featured several ideas which can be placed under the heading of 'That's so simple, why didn't anybody think of it before?' And this is the case with the Mustang's belly lockers, which are more like hinged skirts. These allow access to the storage compartments and essential services such as the gas tank and genny. In addition, they should facilitate easier changing of any of the four rear wheels, if they happen to get a puncture.
Still on the Mustang, or rather 'in it', now: its 'comfort station' won the Thetford Washroom Award. The interior layout of the Mustang places this palatial facility across the rear of the motorhome where it features a loo, separate walk-in shower compartment, plenty of storage space and sufficient room for enthusiastic moggy-swingers to enjoy their pastime of taking figures of speech literally.
Apparently, the way to a significant other's heart
(note the 'PC' lingo!) is through their stomach.
So, those wishing to improve the dynamics of their personal relationships need look no further than the Avondale Seaspirit (4 series). This clever coachbuilt is only 5.3m (17ft 7in) long but contains a dream of a kitchen.
It's not just the level of equipment that matters in a motorhome galley, it's the provision of natural and artificial light, sufficient storage, plus (unusually for a motorhome) a good stretch of worktop. This baby Avondale has acres of worksurface so it's not surprising it won the Caravan Industry Kitchen Award (sponsored by Cramer).
Auto-Sleeper (A-S) has just undergone a period of change, modernisation and radical
re-thinking of its model line-up. Now, the company's range features several dazzling new designs, better attention to styling detail, and classy modern fabrics that would delight the pickiest inhabitants of Chiantishire. So, what better way to advertise its wares to the electronic generation than on a re-designed website?
A-S' web-wizards obviously thought it was worth the effort, and so did the judges of the Caravan Industry Website Award, sponsored by Oakwood Village.
Next up on the winners' podium was Bilbo's Design. Proprietors David and Moira Latham and their team have built – for more years than we care to remember – extremely well-received VW campers.
Not having the budget of some high-volume converters makes it a challenge when it comes to mounting an
eye-catching and informative stand at an indoor leisure show. However, Bilbo's has consistently achieved just that. In recognition, the Stand of the Year Award (sponsored by Truma) sits in Bilbo's South Godstone premises. My photo (below, left) shows only a small part of their stand because it was almost impossible to take a decent shot of anything other than the back of show-goers' heads, such was the level of interest the stand generated – 'nuff said.
Finally, we come to the Caravan Industry Award for the Best Motorcaravan at the show. As a regular judge at these awards, I find this category one of the most difficult to be objective about, especially when the entrants range from a compact pop-top camper, to a rolling palace of an A-class.
Many entries are equally good but in different ways. Also, they are aimed at differing target markets. Nevertheless, this year there was no doubt in the judges' minds: Auto-Trail's Cheyenne 840 was head and shoulders above the rest. Although a new model, it is an amalgam of the best features of many previously produced models, and then some.
Moving rearwards from the cab, a forward lounge gives way to an amidships kitchen. Further back is the bedroom consisting of two easily-accessible permanent single beds. Bringing up the far rear is the full-width washroom with separate walk-in shower. The 840 runs on the Maxi 4500kg version of the tag-axle Al-Ko extended Fiat Ducato.
Washer on wheels
Readers Brian and Jackie Jones, from Suffolk, have written to me with details of what they describe as “a wonderful piece of kit”. I think so too. Thanks for sending in the photos and for your kind comments about this column. Brian and Jackie take up the story:
“We were travelling through France, holidaying by the 'back-roads' in our Auto-Sleeper Talisman, and arrived at the lovely town of Soissons, about 235km from Calais. Camping Municipal du Mail, where we stayed, is a good site for motorcaravanners:
full facilities (including a laundry), level pitches and within a short, riverside, walk of the town.
“Given the high level of facilities, we were surprised
to see this trailer [pictured, opposite]. What a concept – and on alloy wheels, too!
“Visiting late in the season we had expected the odd itinerant/trader outfit as we made our way south, but even here there were quite a few, already occupying pitches. They had arranged themselves well: this unit, and a smaller version, were permanently connected to the only two mains water points; we had to disconnect one while we topped up our tank. What that did to their rinse cycle we didn't like to think.
“The principle is fine and the trailer was beautifully finished, though we reckoned feel that a Caravan Club warden might have something to say if you turned up in the UK with this behind you! [Quite right, too! – JB]
Apart from the drier and washing machine visible [right] through the rear tailgate, there was another washing machine inside. In the section forward of the door there was a sink and drainer, with cupboards both above and below.
“The machines seemed to be in continuous use during our overnight stay, which is amazing considering (that in common with many French sites) the hook-up supply was rated at five amps.
“There was ample room inside the trailer for anyone
of average height to stand upright. We supposed that the balance of the trailer and its contents must be maintained by the positioning of the auto-washers either side of the axle, and diagonally opposed. These, coupled with the other white goods and the GRP trailer shell, must amount to a considerable gross weight.
“Our limited French did allow us to ask the permission of this trailer owner to photograph his rig, but sadly he didn't share our enthusiasm for the technical merits of his unit sufficiently to discuss their origin. If anyone can enlighten us, we would welcome the information.”
Thanks very much for that entertaining story, Brian and Jackie. I wonder whether the trailer might have originally been designed to transport a racing motorcycle? Such trailers often have room for a small workshop at one end.
Ahoy, high-milers!
Although I've received lots
of responses to my request
for details of high-mileage motorhomes that readers own (or have owned in the past), I've had no pictures.
I really want to hear about your 'vans, but please send
an accompanying photograph
(or several). It doesn't matter whether it is a print, or a transparency, or in (high-res) digital format. One of my aims in doing this is to blast out of the water some preconceptions, among the trade and owners, that a motorhome has covered an excessive mileage if the odometer shows over 50,000 miles, whereas in reality it is only just run-in.
Just chequeing
Several folk approached my partner, Flora, and I while we were away in our 'van during the last New Year period, asking for further details on the campsite pre-payment cheques we used during last year's European tour. (See our January 2005 issue – phone 08456 777812.) We used Touring Cheques, issued by Eurocamp which can arrange package deals including insurance, ferry crossing (all operators) and Touring Cheques. You can also buy these services individually.
Apart from being able to pay for our overnight accommodation in advance, we also managed to save a good amount of money on
the standard site fees. A little bit of 'soft theft', we thought! Contact details are in the information box, below, and this time I have included a postal address for those who have requested it.
Happy motorcaravanning!
Gentleman Jack Bancroft |
