German manufacturer Dethleffs is focusing more on technical and spec level changes this year with relatively few new models making it onto the roster, and one range even being dropped.

But the Erwin Hymer subsidiary is now attracting an impressive international following.

Its new product launch at its home base in Isny im Allgäu in southern Germany attracted dealers from 21 countries, not counting Germany itself, and including places as far flung as South Korea and New Zealand.

The headlines

Dethleffs’ new models this year are larger overcab vehicles clearly geared at bigger families.

First, the Trend range gets extended with the A 7877-2, an 8.61m-long overcab featuring an island bed over a garage at the rear. It costs £69,990 OTR, considerably more than the next most expensive Trend.

It’s a similar layout in the A 9050-2, a new 8.86m-long model which has been added to the top-notch XXL A range, just as last season’s transverse-bed 9800-2 model has been dropped. It costs £117,990 OTR.

The Alpa range is also being extended this year, with the ‘Grand Alpa Plus’ A9820-2. But this motorhome will not be unveiled until the Caravan Salon at Düsseldorf.

In technical and spec level terms, the Trend has a new washroom and an optional design package intended to give the interior a more modern feel.

The interiors of the XLI and XXL A ranges have also been extensively redeveloped to bring them more into line.

But at the same time, the 4-travel range, with the lengthways drop-down bed, has been discontinued. And while the mid-range Advantage continues as the Advantage Edition, these models will not be available in the UK this season.

The changes

Both the Trend A-7877-2 and the XXL A 9050-2 have long side sofas in their front dinettes which can be extended around to create an L-shaped sofa facing backwards, that cuts off the cab.

In the XXL A the cab can even be shut away behind a lockable partition, while the Trend has a removable panel that reveals a step to help you get down to the cab if you need to.

These lounges can also be converted to created a third double bed.

The Trend 7877-2 includes a central kitchen with a 142-litre fridge and a 2.11m-long and 1.50m-wide island bed in the rear that sits over a large garage.

The XXL A 9050-2 includes a 190-litre fridge in its central kitchen, while its central washroom can be partitioned off on both sides to enhance the sense of space.

The motorhome retains an internal height of 2.11m throughout. That might explain why its exterior height is a massive 3.45m.

Not surprisingly, it has an MTPLM of 6700kg with a whopping payload of 1700kg, so it’s definitely only for those with the right C1 entitlement on their driving licence.

Alpa updates

The Alpa range, which was originally the brainchild of one of Dethleffs’ customers, has a layout that is intended to provide maximum space for a couple on a long-term tour. It has single beds over the cab, a large sectioned-off central washroom and a large rear lounge, a layout that Frankia also offers.

The A9820-2 will extend the space inside here even more, with a vehicle that is 8.86m long and rests on an Iveco Daily ladder frame chassis, rather than the Fiat Ducato Al-Ko chassis featured in its two sister models.

It will include the C-shaped rear lounge already featured in the Grand Alpa, that includes two backwards-facing travel seats.

All three Alpas now have a rear garage with a section that extends right under the motorhome, so you can store particularly long items. There is also a second storage area going right under the ’van in front of this. Alde heating now comes as standard in all Alpas.

The whole Trend range enters the 2018 season with a new front to the A-class models, a redesigned gas bottle locker door, a broader habitation door and a wider passageway between the two cab seats to make accessing the lounge easier.

In addition, two more mains sockets have been added. The washroom gets a new washbasin and toilet cover, an improved shower tray and additional blinds.

Customers opting for the design package can expect to find Virginia Oak furnishings instead of the standard Topaz Apple, a choice of thee upholstery finishes, white laminate surfaces on the kitchen worktop and table, a new chrome grabhandle by the habitation door, plus a new backlit panel holding the controls.

There are also upholstered fabric panels on the wardrobes with Dethleffs logo coat hooks, and a black back panel to the kitchen with chrome towel hooks.

Globetrotter models

The Globetrotter XXL A now features the same straight furniture shaping that’s used in the XLI, and in both ranges this is finished off for this season in Almeria Ash (that the company has included in its caravans), rather than last year’s Noce Padano.

As a cost option you can have Almeria Ash in high gloss. Upholstery comes in dark grey Bozen, Platinum and beige Namib, while real leather Meran is another cost option.

A flexible rail system has been added the kitchen, while there is a new tile effect to both the kitchen and washroom, and domestic-style metal taps.

Other extras in Dethleffs’ Globetrotter line-up include the possibility of having a 32-inch TV, plus an external shower operating out of the garage.

In other news

With the main changes in the Trend and XXL A/XLI ranges, there has been relatively little change in Dethleffs’ other line-ups, the Globebus, the Magic Edition and the Esprit.

The Globebus 7 has had its gas bottle locker moved further to the back, while all Globebus ’vans now come with a GRP back panel.

Across the whole of the Dethleffs portfolio, garage door handles have been redesigned to make them easier to open with just one hand.

At the launch, the company was also promoting its branded Naviceiver sat-nav system. This can be fitted flush to the dashboard, has been programmed for truck navigation, and links up with reversing cameras, where fitted.

2018-season Dethleffs motorhomes at a glance

Low profiles:

  • Dethleffs Trend T6717 – 5 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, drop-down bed, 6.96m long, 2.3 litres, Fiat Ducato, £51,490
  • Dethleffs Trend T6757 – 5 berths, 4 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 6.96m long, 2.3 litres, Fiat Ducato, £51,290
  • Dethleffs Trend T6767 – 4 berths, 4 seats, end washroom, drop-down bed, 6.96m long, 2.3 litres, Fiat Ducato, £54,490
  • Dethleffs Trend T7017 – 5 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, end washroom, drop-down bed, 7.41m long, 2.3 litres, Fiat Ducato, £54,490
  • Dethleffs Trend T7057 DBM – 5 berths, 4-5 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 7.41m long, 2.3 litres, Fiat Ducato, £52,490
  • Dethleffs Trend T7057 EB – 5 berths, 4-5 seats, fixed single beds, drop-down bed, 7.41m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £52,490
  • Dethleffs Globebus T1 – 3 berths, 4 seats, transverse bed, 5.99m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £54,490
  • Dethleffs Globebus T6 – 3 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 6.98m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £56,490
  • Dethleffs Globebus T7 – 3 berths, 4 seats, island bed, 6.98m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £57,990
  • Dethleffs Magic Edition T2EB – 3 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 7.41m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £66,490
  • Dethleffs Magic Edition T3DBM – 3 berths, 4 seats, island bed, 7.41m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £66,490
  • Dethleffs Esprit T6810-2 – 3 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 7.33m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £71,990
  • Dethleffs Esprit T7150 DBM-2 – 3 berths, 4 seats, island bed, 7.63m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £72,990
  • Dethleffs Esprit T7150 DBT-2 – 3 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, 7.63m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £72,990
  • Dethleffs Esprit T7150 EB-2 – 3 berths, 4 seats, island bed, 7.63m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £72,990
      

Overcabs:

  • Dethleffs Trend A 5887 – 6 berths, 4-6 seats, rear bunks, 6.51m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £51,490
  • Dethleffs Trend A 6977 – 6 berths, 4-6 seats, transverse bed, 7.06m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £52,990
  • NEW! Dethleffs Trend A 7877-2 – 6 berths, 4-6 seats, transverse bed, 8.60m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £69,990
  • Dethleffs Alpa A6820-2 – 4 berths, 2 seats, rear lounge, 7.33m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £77,490
  • Dethleffs Alpa A7820-2 – 4 berths, 2 seats, rear lounge, 8.58m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £89,990
  • NEW! Dethleffs Alpa A9820-2 – 4 berths, 4 seats, rear lounge, 8.86m long, Iveco Daily, 3.0 litres, price TBC
  • Dethleffs Globetrotter XXL A 9000-2 – 6 berths, 4-6 seats, fixed single beds, 8.86m long, Fiat Ducato, 3.0 litres, £117,990
  • NEW! Dethleffs Globetrotter XXL 9050-2 – 6 berths, 4-6 seats, island bed, 8.86m long, Fiat Ducato, 3.0 litres, £117,990
      

A-classes:

  • Dethleffs Trend I6717 – 4 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, drop-down bed, 6.94m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £61,490
  • Dethleffs Trend I6757 – 4 berths, 4 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 6.94m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £61,490
  • Dethleffs Trend I6767 – 4 berths, 4 seats, end washroom, drop-down bed, 6.94m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £64,790
  • Dethleffs Trend I7017 – 4 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, end washroom, drop-down bed, 7.39m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £64,790
  • Dethleffs Trend I7057 DBM – 4 berths, 4-5 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 7.39m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £62,990
  • Dethleffs Trend I7057 EB – 4 berths, 4-5 seats, fixed single beds, drop-down bed, 7.39m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £62,990
  • Dethleffs Globebus I1 – 4 berths, 4 seats, transverse bed, drop-down bed, 5.99m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £62,990
  • Dethleffs Globebus I6 – 4 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, drop-down bed, 6.95m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £64,990
  • Dethleffs Globebus I7 – 4 berths, 4 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 6.95m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £66,490
  • Dethleffs Magic Edition I2EB – 4 berths, 3 seats, fixed single beds, drop-down bed, 7.39m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £74,990
  • Dethleffs Magic Edition I3 DBM – 4 berths, 3 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 7.39m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £74,990
  • Dethleffs Esprit I7150 DBM-2 – 4 berths, 4 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 7.60m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £83,990
  • Dethleffs Esprit I7150 DBT-2 – 4 berths, 4 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 7.60m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £83,990
  • Dethleffs Esprit I7150 EB-2 – 4 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, drop-down bed, 7.60m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £83,990
  • Dethleffs Globetrotter XL I7850-2 – 4 berths, 4 seats, island bed, drop-down bed, 8.72m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £99,990
  • Dethleffs Globetrotter XL I7850-2 EB – 4 berths, 4 seats, fixed single beds, drop-down bed, 8.72m long, Fiat Ducato, 2.3 litres, £99,990