October 2011 issue
HELLO AND WELCOME to Practical Caravan. The holiday season is in full flow and you can count on us to bring you the best read in the caravan press. We’ve got a jam-packed issue this month, so if you’re looking for news, travel, reviews and advice, then we’ve got it covered.
Our main travel destination this month is the North Devon coast, where Niall Hampton and family find plenty to discover in an area they’d never toured in before. Our reader Getaway is a despatch from Wharfedale in Yorkshire, and we also round up Britain’s 10 best heritage railways.
As well as holidays, the other big news for caravanners in the summer months is the unveiling of next year’s tourers. We conclude our two-part look at the best of 2012 with sneak peeks at Elddis and Buccaneer, Coachman, Adria, Lunar, Bailey and Sterling/Swift.
You’ll find it all in our Showroom section, alongside our regular Towcar test – which sees the Nissan X-Trail go head-to-head with the Toyota RAV4 – and a test of car boot liners. We also have first drives of the new VW Tiguan and the Citroën DS4.
In our 33-page Caravan Genius section, we’ve got all the help and advice you need to get more from caravanning. Highlights include how to build a caravan garage, replace a caravan fridge, and a range of technical queries answered by our DIY expert Doug “Fix-it” King. Our Caravan College feature continues with gas system basics – it’s all the information you need if you’re new to the pastime.
Our Buyer’s Guide is the only place to go for impartial advice on new tourers. This month, in addition to the lowdown on 2011 vans, we’ve got the industry’s most comprehensive list of dealer specials, and the 25 best new towcars. If you’re looking for a pre-owned caravan or towcar, then don’t miss our regulars Used caravan buyer (Ace Jubilee 2004-2008) and Used towcar buyer (Fiat Multipla 2000-2004).
There’s much more, too, including Talking Tourers, Talking Towcars, New Kit and our round-up of the Top 50 caravan accessories. And don’t miss Andy Jenkinson’s Scrapbook – a celebration of the odd and the old from the quirky world of caravans – and one page of classified ads for caravans, awnings and accessories. Enjoy the issue.
October 2011 contents in full
Here's the full list of contents for this issue:
NEWS
Noticeboard
NEC show special, plus win a gas stove and our crossword puzzle
Planner
Mark your diary and hitch up your caravan for these outstanding events
Letters
Your news and views from the sites and discussion from our Forum
Caravan bore
Your van has one plug and your towbar has two sockets? No problem
GREAT ESCAPES
North Devon
Niall Hampton and family make the most of all the north coast has to offer
Grand day out
With its bustling town centre, aquarium, museum and Tunnels Beaches, Ilfracombe offers plenty to see
Four things to see/Culture Vulture
Seals and a hydroelectric plant spice up the area. Plus the writer who made an otter his hero
Walk: Bull Point
Take the short or long route. Either way, the scenery is spectacular
Where we stayed
Easewell Farm Holiday Village is tranquil and family friendly
Cut out and keep
Save our pocket-sized guide to the great, the fun and the essential
Getaway
Mal and Les Roberts make their trip to Wharfedale a family affair
Ten great heritage railways
We get steamed up with the best vintage railways
Your postcards
What you’ve been up to, this month from Somerset and Yorkshire
Site reviews
Your views on the best touring sites
SHOWROOM
2012 Sneak peeks
It’s all change in the new model marketplace. We’ve got all the details on line-up changes from Elddis, Adria, Lunar, Coachman, Bailey and Swift/Sterling
First drives
VW changes the Tiguan inside and out, while Citroën unveils a hot coupé
Towcar test
Nissan X-Trail vs Toyota RAV4
Test bench
We compare four car-boot liners to find the best product to protect your luggage space
CARAVAN GENIUS
Genius ideas
A gadget promises to keep drivers alert, plus kit, tips and Talking Tourers
Doug’ll fix it
Have caravan queries or quandaries? Ask Doug King, our Mr Fix-it
Caravan College
NEW! Second lesson in getting to know your tourer’s gas system
in plain English
How to… Build a caravan garage
It’s the ultimate storage solution – Jenko explains how he did it
Project van
Doug King fits a new fridge and ventilators in our old Elddis Whirlwind
Our fleet: update
The latest about the Practical Caravan team’s caravans and towcars
Dealer specials
Complete guide to dealer upgrades of the most popular caravans
Subscription offer
Save 16% of the cover price and get two tickets to the upcoming NEC show, FREE
Used caravan buyer
Ace Jubilee
Talking towcars
From matches to motors, send your tug questions to David Motton
Used towcar buyer
Fiat Multipla
New kit
The bar has been raised for tourer-friendly sat-navs, and other great gear
Caravan basics
Essential touring knowledge for beginners and experts alike
Buying and selling
Used vans, awnings and accessories
Caravan scrapbook
More caravans from yesteryear, courtesy of Andrew Jenkinson
DATA
Buyer’s guide
Updated with the latest prices, this is the best listing of new vans
25 top used cars
Here’s our choice of the 25 best used towcars on the market
50 top accessories
Our pick of the essential kit for caravanners
