September 2011 issue
HELLO AND WELCOME to Practical Caravan. The schools have just broken up so summer is well and truly here. If you're taking to the roads to start your holidays soon, then don't forget to take your copy of Britain's best-selling caravan magazine with you.
In this month's bumper issue, we've got some amazing content to help get you all set for summer. Without further ado…
Great Escapes travel section
Editor Nigel Donnelly proves that caravanning doesn't have to be an expensive hobby. He travels to Croatia and back in an outfit that cost less than the awning he took along. Read his account of his 2750-mile round trip in the Great Escapes section - it's the lead feature.
Niall Hampton didn't discover Cornwall until he was an adult, but he's been making up for lost time ever since. He takes our long-term Coachman Amara for a short break in the county. Elsewhere, Doug and Brenda King visit a campsite with a theme park attached. Find out how much fun they had with grandson Elliot in their Getaway feature.
Showroom section
There's no Twin test this issue, as we're giving you an exclusive round-up of the 2012 vans we've been seeing at exclusive preview events. In the first of a two-part round up, we bring you reports on Lunar and Airstream's offerings for next season.
In our First Drives column, we see what the Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 BiTDI is like in the metal, and get behind the wheel of the Mazda 3 1.6D.
The Towcar test this month puts the Kia Sedona 2.2 CRDi 3 auto up against the Volkswagen Sharan 2.0 TDI SE in a clash of the carriers.
You've got your car and caravan, now how best to get there? We ask this question in this month's Product test, with four caravan-friendly sat navs going head to head.
Caravan Genius section
Head for this part of the magazine if you’re after advice, insights, hints, tips and reviews. With well over 40 pages, this section is essential reading for anyone interested in the practical side of caravanning, and includes step-by-step guides to popular DIY jobs, Doug King’s advice pages, and guides to the latest caravan tech.
To make caravanning more accessible for newbies, or for those who could do with a refresher, we've introduced a new element: Caravan College. The first instalment of a two-part lesson on gas begins in this issue. If you want to know your butane from your propane, or know the difference between a manifold or a pigtail, then this is one class you need to take.
Awnings are an essential part of caravan kit, but if you've got one of Bailey's Alu-tech caravans, then you can fit a Fiamma wind-out awning. We show you how it's done in this issue's step by step guide. And don't worry if you have a different caravan, as the Fiamma Caravanstore, works with standard awning rails and brings you similar benefits to the wind-out awning.
In other DIY, Doug King fits an inboard Whale space heater to our Project Van, the Elddis GT Whirlwind, as part of its ongoing makeover.
If you’re looking for a pre-owned tourer, then let our resident forecourt sniffer, Andy Jenkinson, recommend a Compass Corona built between 2001 and 2005, in Used Van Buyer. And if you're looking for a pre-owned four-berth nearside fixed-bed van for under £10,000, then don't miss this month's Second-hand Shoot-out, in which a 2007 Sterling Europa 495 goes up against a 2006 Bailey Pageant S5 Burgundy.
Referencing editor Nigel's Croatia odyssey, our used car expert Russ Smith considers the Volvo 850/S70/V70 (1993-2000). Find out what to look for if you're interested in picking up one of these bullet-proof executive-class tugs.
And make sure you don’t miss our new Data section, which this month comprises three great Buyer’s Guides: new caravans, awnings and the top 25 new towcars. There’s also a page of new accessory reviews, our accessory Top 5s and a review of the Outdoor Revolution Vermont porch awning.
Finally, don’t miss Andy Jenkinson’s Scrapbook – a celebration of the odd and the old from the quirky world of caravans – and two pages of classified ads for caravans, awnings and accessories.
September 2011 contents in full
Here's the full list of contents for this issue:
NEWS
Noticeboard
Stop here first for touring tips, deals, news and views
Planner
Mark your diary and hitch up your caravan for these outstanding events
Summer puzzles
Kick off your flip-flops and sit down for some brain-teasing fun
Letters
Your news and views from the sites, plus our Forum
Caravan bore
How much does a towcar weigh – and is that the same as kerbweight?
GREAT ESCAPES
Croatia or bust
Nigel and Helen Donnelly take our ancient Sprite and Volvo on a grand adventure
Getaway: Cornwall
Niall Hampton loves Cornwall and finds new delights each time he goes
Getaway: Gulliver's Land
Doug and Brenda King take their grandson to fun-filled… Milton Keynes
Your postcards
Readers drop us a line to tell us about their trips to Sherwood Forest and the cliffs of Dover
Independent site reviews
From Caravansitefinder and from our undercover nine-year-old
SHOWROOM
New model preview
Lunar and Airstream are ready to launch new vans with pizzazz
First drives
VW unveils its gentle giant pick-up and we assess the upgraded Mazda 3
Towcar test
Kia Sedona faces the new VW Sharan in a battle of the people carriers
Test bench
We compare four sophisticated sat-navs to find the best for caravanners
CARAVAN GENIUS
Genius ideas
A powerful and portable pressure washer, tips and Talking Tourers
Doug’ll fix it
Have caravan queries or quandaries? Ask Doug King, our Mr Fix-it
NEW! Caravan College
Find out everything you wish to know about gas cylinders – in plain English
Step by step
We watch a new roll-out canopy being fitted to a Bailey Alu-Tech tourer
Project van
Doug King swaps the old pumps in our Elddis for a new water heater
Data section
Buyer’s guide
With the latest prices, this is the best listing of new caravans in the UK
Our fleet: update
The latest on the Practical Caravan team’s caravans and towcars
Awning buyer’s guide
Confused by the variety of awnings on offer? Check our guide to make sense of the market
Used caravan buyer
A used, entry-level Compass Corona still feels upmarket
Subscription offer
Save 16% of the cover price and get a free Autoglym valet kit
Second-hand shoot-out
Two fixed-bed four-berths from Bailey and Sterling compared
Talking towcars
From matches to motors, send your questions to David Motton
Used towcar buyer
Volvo changed its image with the reliable but fun 850 and V70
25 top new cars
Here’s our choice of the 25 best new towcars on the market
50 top accessories
From levellers to 19in TVs, here is our pick of touring accessories
New kit
The latest gear tested during a fortnight of touring across the Continent
Caravan basics
Essential touring knowledge for beginners and experts alike
Buying and selling
Save cash by buying your caravanning essentials from our listing of used caravans, awnings and accessories
Caravan scrapbook
More caravans from yesteryear, courtesy of Andrew Jenkinson
