HANDIEST HANDBOOK
The Swift Group has won the Caravan Writers’ Guild award for the best motorcaravan handbook. The award was presented at this year’s National Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show at Birmingham’s NEC, and covers the group’s Ace, Bessacarr and Swift range hand-books. The judges were unanimous in their opinion as to the winner but Auto-Sleepers was close behind with its model-specific handbook for the Midas. As I was one of the judges, I’ll be making a few comments on the overall standard of entries next month. But for now, lets give ’em a big round of applause: it was a fine achievement for both Swift and Auto-Sleepers.
TERRIFIC TRAFIC (2)
Recently, I wrote about motorcaravan converters’ under-utilisation of the excellent Renault Trafic/Vauxhall Vivaro/Nissan Primastar van. As my column was being printed, the Toscana was being unveiled by CMC (see p121, PMH, March). The firm has chosen the traditional VW camper layout. And why not? It works so well in compact motorhomes.
CMC proprietors Alf and Hilary Shortland are keen motorcaravanners and know how to build a practical van, so take a look and see whether this layout will win you over. Elevating roof or high-top versions are both available. Price guide: from £22,650 (dCI 100) on-the-road.
As I write, other conversions, by Dreamfinder and Design Developments, are about to be launched.
RADIO GA-GA
Time is relative, I know. But to be honest, I’m struggling a bit. First off is the fact that as you get older, each year is a smaller fraction of your life, so the years seem to pass quicker than they used to.
Then, last year, two manufacturers decided to launch their 2004 range in early May 2003, with the result that we now have only three months when the chronological
year matches the manufacturing year.
Last, and most worrying of all, one second, or possibly a second-and-a-half, is regularly lost through listening to the radio. Reading the excellent review of digital radios in this magazine’s March issue reminded me of this. As comprehensive as the article was, it didn’t mention the time lag between DAB (digital radio) and good old-fashioned ‘steam’ radio. For all the hype, digital broadcast falls behind by over a second. So, are digital time checks ever accurate?… And what happened to that second? Can I ever regain it?
Another thing is that while my tinny trannie’s speaker bursts instantly into life when I switch it on, it seems to take ages for my DAB receiver to warm up. The last time I experienced anything like this was in my dad’s 1959 Bedford CA Romany Dormobile with his extremely lo-fi Echo valve radio.
Before you ask, it wasn’t the model with a box of valves under the seat: that would have been very welcome, since the Bedford’s heater (an extra-cost option in those days) was never going to be responsible for anybody suffering from heatstroke.
MAKE DO AND MEND
Years ago, when I first took up camping, much of my equipment was home-made, usually from other odds and ends – I still have a camp kitchen that I made from the sides of an old washing machine.
The same idea is often true of motorcaravans. For a while, converting ex-ambulances was in vogue. But actually, just about everything has at one time or another been used to provide a base for motorcaravans. A friend of mine even converted a Bedford TK horse box into one, but despite the use of industrial-grade cleaning fluids on the floor, warm weather always brought with it a slight whiff of gee-gee poo!
Anyway I digress. I find the whole concept of things gaining a second lease of life to be something worth adopting.
Which brings me neatly around
to my recent holiday in Cuba.
I’m a big fan of colonial urban architecture and old American cars, and Cuba has both of these in abundance. However, I’ve chosen to feature here two old British cars, (pictured, above right) both of which have been modified by their Cuban owners in order to keep them on the road. In case you are puzzling over the modifications, the red early-1970s Hillman Avenger has a 1980s Lada grille and the 1961 Ford Consul has a rather odd stance because it now sits on a Moskvich 412 chassis and has ‘Moski’ mechanics.
I’ll be featuring more of these ‘recycled’ motorcaravans in later issues, but for now take a good look at this month’s ‘Gallery’ (above). This wasn’t at all what we expected when the head of the Turkish Caravanning and Camping Club invited us to look at his Chevrolet motorhome. The front half is a 1975 Chevrolet Malibu, and the back half is a truncated touring caravan. My partner Flora and I thought it was wonderful. If your motorhome was something else in a previous life, please send a couple of photos and a brief description to me at the address on p3, and I’ll feature them in a future column.
GUIDING STARS
There are loads of good site directories out there, but I mostly tend to use those published by Alan Rogers. They cover most of Europe, and are clearly written, informative and up to date.
So what makes the Alan Rogers guides stand out from the crowd? It’s all about integrity. Unlike some commercial publications, no site can buy its way into the Alan Rogers Guide. Campsites must first pass a rigorous inspection undertaken by an experienced caravanner or motorcaravanner. It’s true, you know, they do look at things differently to those who don’t have the same inside knowledge of our pastime.
For 2004, Alan Rogers Guides has added to its range a guide which lists campsites where chalets and mobile homes are also available for hire. This is perfect for when Great Uncle Sebastian, or the kids and grandkids decide to tag along, too.
Alan Rogers Guides cost from £7.99 and are available at most good book shops and some motorhome accessory outlets. Or, alternatively, buy them online (see panel, left) and have them delivered to your door!
l Special deal: you can obtain the guides post free in the UK; just quote ‘Practical Motorhome May 04’ when you order.
NEAR MISS
This month’s ‘near miss’ is the Auto-Sleeper Montana, pictured left, in high-top format (an elevating-roof was also available, to make it more ‘garage-able’).
The Montana is based on the Mercedes Vito – a super interpretation of a car-like camper. It has four forward-facing seats, two rear passenger doors, and is well kitted-out to Auto-Sleepers’ usual high standards.
Retailing, in 1998, at £25,500 for the high-top version, it offered good value for money.
It is a practical conversion with a
three-pointed star on the bonnet and would cut it just as well in the executive car park as it would when exploring the wild blue yonder.
So why didn’t it sell? I have no idea. I thought it was brilliant. But as is often the way, although it was a slow seller as new, it’s now a much sought-after second-hand purchase. Perhaps Auto-Sleepers might consider making a new version on the super-cool new Mercedes Vito.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
It has long been a personal bête noire that so many motor vehicles don’t officially belong to anyone. Illegally parked and/or untaxed vehicles are frequently allowed to go ‘unticketed’. In the words of a local traffic warden: “They all belong to that well-known motorist, Michael Mouse esq of Beverley Hills.”
But there is some good news, because from the start of this year the DVLA is clamping down on people who use false names and addresses when buying any kind of new motor vehicle. In order to license and register your vehicle, you must now provide your DVLA photocard driving licence. And if you do not have one, you must provide at least one original document (not a photocopy) from both of the following lists:
• List 1 (documentation confirming your name): current DVLA paper licence, UK/EU passport, marriage certificate, decree nisi/absolute,
or birth certificate.
• List 2 (documentation confirming your address): utility bill (phone, electricity, gas etc) from the past three months, bank or building society statement, medical card, council tax bill for the current year.
So now you know. The DVLA are also hoping to extend the scheme to the purchasers of second-hand vehicles, which seems like a very sensible plan to me.
Happy motorcaravanning!
Gentleman Jack Bancroft |
