Weinsberg is an affordable motorhome brand produced by Knaus, and offers the benefits of the parent company’s design know-how and high build quality at lower price points.

It also offers Knaus a platform to take on other lower-priced German imports from the likes of Erwin Hymer Group subsidiaries Carado and Sunlight.

All Weinsberg ’vans are based on the Fiat Ducato: CaraTour and CaraBus high-tops, CaraCompact, CaraLoft and CaraSuite low-profiles, and CaraHome overcab coachbuilts.

What’s changed

Tweaks for 2018 see the entry-level CaraTour campers get LED lighting, improved slatted bed frames, and larger 110-litre fresh water tanks.

CaraBus has a new 5.99m-long model, the 601 DQ, an extra family-friendly layout that sleeps up to five. The CaraBus range also receives spec bumps.

These include higher-quality slatted bed frames, two-ring cookers with electric burners, plus colour-standardised and colour-coded switches, while a service flap with magnetic retainer makes accessing the waste-water tank easier.

A new CaraBus special edition can be specified on four models (601 K, 541 MQ, 601 MQ and 631 ME), and brings extra features including height-adjustable cab seats, 15in alloy wheels, a radio, satellite and solar preparation, an extendable lounge table, a 370cm awning, a Truma CP Plus operating panel, and the Truma iNet interface for remote control of the Truma Combi space and water heating via a smartphone or tablet app.

Five berths on 5.99m

As mentioned, the only new floor plan for Weinsberg in 2018 is the CaraBus 601 DQ, which manages to pack in up to five berths on a 5.99m body length – no mean feat.

It does this by using a longitudinal double bed above the cab, a configuration previously seen in the Knaus BoxLife 600 MQ, plus a transverse rear double and make-up single in the front dinette.

As with the rest of the CaraBus range, light-toned ‘Oregon Ash’ woods come as standard and the feeling of internal space is enhanced by white locker facings and light-grey work surfaces.

Externally, with its black and grey colourways and subtle branding, the 601 DQ looks sharp, although with an overall height of 2.82m, the high-top roof is quite pronounced.

In other news

Elsewhere, drop-down beds now feature as standard kit in CaraSuite models, with the overall and interior height boosted by 15cm to accommodate this change. Four layouts, sleeping up to six people, are available.

Staying with low-profiles, the special edition of the CaraCompact range, launched last season, has been very successful. And its specification receives a boost for 2018: new 16-inch alloy wheels, a Pioneer EVO integrated sat-nav and multimedia device, plus the Truma iNet system.

For more information, contact the UK’s sole Weinsberg dealership, Premium Motorhomes of Harworth, near Doncaster.

Prices for the 2018 Weinsberg motorhome collection are yet to be released, but at the official launch in Germany, we were told they would be “competitive”.

Attractively priced cab’n’hab option pack bundles are available, in addition to an exhaustive list of individual spec upgrades.

You can catch selected 2018 Weinsberg ’vans on stand 11.130 at October’s show at the NEC Birmingham.

2018 Weinsberg motorhomes at-a-glance

Van conversions:

  • Weinsberg CaraTour 541 MQ – 5.41m, Fiat Ducato, 2.0-litre engine, 3300kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/3 berths, rear transverse bed
  • Weinsberg CaraTour 601 MQ – 5.99m, Fiat Ducato, 2.0-litre engine, 3300kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/3 berths, rear transverse bed
  • Weinsberg CaraTour 631 ME – 6.36m, Fiat Ducato, 2.0-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/3 berths, rear fixed twin single beds
  • Weinsberg CaraBus 541 MQ – 5.41m, Fiat Ducato, 2.0-litre engine, 3300kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/3 berths, rear transverse bed
  • Weinsberg CaraBus 601 MQ – 5.99m, Fiat Ducato, 2.0-litre engine, 3300kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/3 berths, rear transverse bed
  • Weinsberg CaraBus 601 K – 5.99m, Fiat Ducato, 2.0-litre engine, 3300kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/5 berths, rear transverse bed
  • NEW! Weinsberg CaraBus 601 DQ – 5.99m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/5 berths, rear transverse bed
  • Weinsberg CaraBus 601 MQH – 5.99m, Fiat Ducato, 2.0-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/5 berths, rear transverse bed
  • Weinsberg CaraBus 631 ME – 6.36m, Fiat Ducato, 2.0-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/5 berths, rear fixed twin single beds
       

Low-profile coachbuilts:

  • Weinsberg CaraCompact 600 MEG – 6.74m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2 berths, fixed twin single beds
  • Weinsberg CaraCompact 600 MG – 6.74m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 3 berths, rear transverse bed
  • Weinsberg CaraLoft 550 MG – 5.99m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2 berths, rear transverse bed
  • Weinsberg CaraLoft 600 MF – 6.47m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2 berths, French bed
  • Weinsberg CaraLoft 650 MEG – 7.01m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2 berths, fixed twin single beds
  • Weinsberg CaraLoft 650 MF – 7.01m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 2/6 berths, French bed
  • Weinsberg CaraSuite 650 MF – 7.01m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 4/6 berths, French bed
  • Weinsberg CaraSuite 650 MG – 7.01m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 4/5 berths, transverse rear bed
  • Weinsberg CaraSuite 700 ME – 7.43m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 4/5 berths, fixed twin single beds
  • Weinsberg CaraSuite 700 MX – 7.43m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 4/5 berths, island bed
       

Overcab coachbuilts:

  • Weinsberg CaraHome 550 MG – 5.99m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 4 belts, 4 berths, transverse rear bed
  • Weinsberg CaraHome 600 DKG – 6.47m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 6 belts, 4/6 berths, rear transverse bunks
  • Weinsberg CaraHome 700 DG – 7.43m, Fiat Ducato, 2.3-litre engine, 3500kg MTPLM, 6 belts, 6 berths, transverse rear bed