Welcome to our brand-new series of Practical Caravan TV! You can expected a series stuffed with reviews of the most important and exciting new-for-2017 tourers, plus our expert and comprehensive tow car tests, campsite reviews and more.
And as before, every week you’ll have five opportunities to watch each episode from series two of Practical Caravan TV. Tune in at 8pm on Monday 19 September, at 6pm on Wednesday 21 September, 4pm on Friday 23 September and across the weekend at 8pm on Saturday 24 and 6pm on Sunday 25 September.
You can also find Practical Caravan TV on the same channels. Look for Showcase TV on Sky 212, Freesat 161 or Freeview 254 (you will need a smart TV for the latter). In addition, every show will be streamed live online, so just click to watch – there is no excuse for missing out!
We kick off our new series with our Coachman Vision 450 review. This 2017-season model is the entry-level to the Coachman brand. Major changes to the end washroom are one of the biggest changes to this van. It has a huge, square, nearside shower cubicle and bags of storage including a wardrobe with a laundry basket. The kitchen is much as it was before, with a nearside fridge and cutlery drawer under a generous side board, with a cupboard and microwave above, while opposite is more worktop space, more cupboards, a sink, and a separate oven and grill. You also get a bright lounge that at night will benefit from the new halo effect perimeter lighting, and the sofas will work as good-sized singles or can be made up to form a generous double. Discover more about this two-berth tourer by watching our show.
Next, our tow car expert David Motton returns for series two. Falling under the spotlight this time is a heavyweight, low-cost crossover, the SsangYong Korando – but is it any good? Powered by a new 2.2-litre diesel engine with 176bhp, 295lb ft torque and improved efficiency, it has a decent turn of speed when hitched to a sensibly-matched caravan, however the engine is pretty noisy. What’s the catch? Well, you’ll have to watch Practical Caravan TV in the week beginning Monday 19 September 2016 for Motty’s full verdict.
Our second review of the show looks at another new-for-2017 model, the Lunar Quasar 544, which has a fixed nearside double bed layout. Get inside and it’s in the lounge where the updates are most apparent, with the new oatmeal and blue sofas, scatter cushions and curtains, the lounge well-illuminated by the Skyview rooflight. The kitchen is very well equipped with a separate oven and grill with a dual-fuel hob, a microwave, a fridge, a sink with a chromed tap and a smart splashback. Back in the master suite, it feels thoughtfully designed, the bed comfy and storage good, while the bathroom has a spacious feel, with a massive, fully-lined shower. See it for yourself when you watch our Lunar Quasar 544 review on Sky 212, Freesat 161, Freeview 254 or live online.
After the break we’re off to Shropshire to visit the open-all-year Ludlow Touring Park, which was a finalist in our Top 100 Sites Guide 2016. Set over 20 acres, there are 135 pitches, recycling and chemical disposal facilities, shower blocks with underfloor heating and access for wheelchair users, a well-stocked shop, a large dog walking area, an information room and a play area for kids.
Then it’s time for our Sterling Eccles 635 review. This twin-axle tourer boasts one of 2017’s hottest layouts: an island bed with a central washroom. That bathroom is thoughtfully designed, has a good-sized wardrobe, an elegant vanity unit with a backlit mirror and a circular shower. The transverse island bed is retractable, meaning you have more floorspace in the day, but a bed that’s over 6ft-long at night. This is flanked by proper, domestic-style bedside cabinets, with a trio of lockers overhead. It also has a comfy lounge, a kitchen with a dual-fuel hob, a separate oven and grill, a microwave and a tower refrigerator.
With all this to see, make sure you don’t miss the first episode in our all-new series of Practical Caravan TV. Tune in from Monday 19 September at 8pm on Freeview 254, Sky 212, Freesat 161 or watch live online – we hope you enjoy the show!
This twin-axle tourer boasts one of 2017’s hottest layouts: an island bed with a central washroom