But if you’re pressed for time, here are my super seven top motorhomes that have impressed me most, and that I recommend you see there. And don’t forget to drop by our stand (2111) in Hall 2 and say hello!
Lunar Landstar RL
Price £49,995 (Hall 3, 3044)
Following the launch of its Vacanza
micro-camper at last February’s NEC show, Lunar has done it again with the
Landstar. The 2014 version is based on Mercedes Sprinter and sports a
UK-friendly rear-lounge layout with barn doors. There’s a nearside kitchen with
combined oven-grill and two extendable worktops, an offside washroom, and a
half-size wardrobe atop the fridge. The show ’van was finished in silver, with
black skirts to the front and rear, and black infill between the wheels.
With microwave, 4kW Truma Combi dual-fuel
water and space heating, dimmable mood lighting and tinted rear windows, Lunar
has made a decent fist of matching a luxurious feeling interior with the
prestige associated with the three-point star badge.
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Auto Camper Leisure Van
Price from £29,995 (Hall 4, 4330)
Berkshire-based Roy Wood Transits launched
a new compact camper range at the show, starting from just £29,995. Built on
the Ford Transit Custom, it features one floor plan that starts with five
full-width travel seats. Buyers have a choice of roof – lo-line, pop-top or
hi-line – and there is a range of options from which to choose for the base
vehicle and the conversion. Fit and finish, using high-quality German cabinet
work in the rear galley, is top-drawer, and little wonder: the Leisure Van is
built by conversion masters Wellhouse Leisure. When made up, the double bed
measures 1.98m x 1.68m (6ft 6in x 5ft 6in) and spans across the tops of the
kitchen unit and rear storage unit.
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Hillside Dalbury
Price from £23,995 (Hall 4, 4045)
Hillside Leisure’s latest offering is an
elevating-roof camper based on the diminutive Nissan NV 200, and I really like
it! It is offered in a choice of styling and two layouts. The first is a VW
camper-style floor plan, with driver-side kitchen unit, and a rock-and-roll
rear seat bench that converts into a double bed. The second features a
full-width rear seat, which brings to five the number of people who get belted
seats. As for kit, it’s pretty minimal, with a two ring hob and small fridge
on-board. There’s the option of a roof bed, but crucially it is a lot smaller
and cheaper by some margin than a VW Transporter-based equivalent. A genuine
daily driver and a must-see for serious downsizers.
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Volksleisure Silver
From £41,000 OTR (Hall 4, 4330)
Volksleisure is a new brand from Wellhouse,
which officially took its public bow at the show. Its camper are based on the
VW T5 base, with the roof fitting and paintwork done in Huddersfield, and the
living quarters converted in Bideford in Devon. They feature a classic side
kitchen layout, with a Reimo elevating roof and seating for five. The rear seat
slides on a rail system in the floor to make for a really flexible living space
on site, and for great loading carrying on the road, with passengers up close
to the cab seat occupants. It also has 35-litre onboard fresh and waste water
tanks, a compressor fridge and LED lighting.
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Auto-Trail V-Line 610 & 620
Price from £48,999 (Hall 3, 3020)
The V-Line 600 made a big splash at its
summer 2013 launch, and sees the addition of two new layouts at the show, also
based on Fiat Ducato. The 610 features a rear lounge which can be pressed into
use as two fixed single beds, or massive double bed. The washroom is on the
offside behind the cab seat, and the kitchen on the nearside. The 620 features
a fixed rear transverse bed and half-dinette up front. Whereas the rear doors
in the 600 open for access from the rear, the back panel to the two new models
is fixed, and has a top-hinged locker door which opens on a gas strut and the
storage space inside both models is very cleverly organised, with zippered
pockets for camping chairs, moulded plastic trays for wet shoes, dedicated
space for levelling ramps and much more.
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CMC Trekker
Price from £39,995 (Hall 4, 4430)
The CMC Trekker is aimed at the weekend
leisure enthusiast who wants a car-like daily drive. Based on the VW T5, the
five-seat Trekker features a sliding seat bench from Reimo, so you can adjust
how much space you want for lounging or luggage, or even remove it if you need
some serious load-carrying space. Kitchen pods can add a sink or gas burners,
and an extra pair of travel seats will turn the Trekker into a seven-seat
people carrier. The specced-up show ’van cost £54,727 and features
four-wheel-drive, cab air con, parking sensors, privacy glass, leather seats,
Webasto diesel heating, awning and roof bed.
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Kingston Snowdonia Curve
From £27,559 (Hall 4, 4039)
It’s the first time Kingston Campers has
appeared at an NEC show, and took three models along for its inaugural
appearance. The Hull-based converter has been producing VW campers for some
three years, and will fit new living quarters into base vehicles varying from five
years old to brand new, which Kingston will source. The Curve is perhaps the
most interesting: unusually it offers a traditional U-shaped seating lounge,
plus a side kitchen, and belted seats for three people up front, including a
double seat.
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