Contents 22 SHORT TOUR: SCOTTISH BORDERS

Jeremiah Mahadevan visits this beautiful but oft-fought-over region

TALK Your letters and more Your shout, on touring Ireland, top customer service and putting us right about Jasper Carrott Ask Jack Our sage on insuring self-build ’vans, dealing with flaking paint, and towing with an A-frame Subscribe to Practical Motorhome and save Plus, get a free Muc-Off Motorhome Cleaner Kit, worth

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SHORT TOUR: PARIS Sarah Wakely enjoys a six-day tour of France’s stunning capital city

86 WEEKEND WORKSHOP Get your ’van ready for the new touring season

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CLASSIC ’VANS A s-inspired, self-build camper

LIVE IN TEST

We put the VW T -based Jerba Sanna through the full Practical Motorhome test

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TOURING Tour smarter Sarah Wakely’s travel digest: the demise of the Sea France ferry company, cycling in West Dorset and Camping Cheque’s top sites Short Tour: Scottish Borders Jeremiah Mahadevan explores one of the most historically turbulent areas of the British Isles Short Tour: Paris Sarah Wakely crosses the Channel for a six-day trip to France’s elegant and beautiful capital Your Tours: the Alps Geoff Crowther on a first-timer trip to the Continent, in his Auto-Sleeper Warwick Duo Good Sites Guide to… Aberystwyth and mid-Wales Ten great campsites in this popular area, visited, reviewed and rated by our team Tours that change lives Jack Crouch on how his wife’s illness prompted them to opt for the freedom of a motorhome

TESTED Tested column Jeremiah Mahadevan on the welcome return of Knaus, and a new camper from Danbury New-model round-up The most exciting new launches from the Manchester and Stuttgart motorhome shows First drive: Auto-Sleeper Windrush Our first test of the all-new bunkbed van conversion from British manufacturer Auto-Sleepers Live-in test: Jerba Sanna The long-wheelbase Volkswagen camper from Jerba undergoes our comprehensive live-in test

TECHNICAL Workshop Our team answers your questions. This month, preventing your cooling fan from turning off, locating Mercedes manuals, and Auto-Trail replacement lighting Preparing for the new season Follow our guide to making sure that your motorhome is ready for the upcoming season Project Peanuts Gentleman Jack fixes our project ’van’s indicators, which have taken on a life of their own Classic ’van spotlight Dave Bowers on a rare Morris Oxford-based campervan

BUY & OWN Marketplace news Nick Harding on the effects of Discover Leisure’s demise on the motorhome industry How to get started in motorcaravanning Are you new to our wonderful hobby? Follow our straightforward guide to all the basics Secondhand challenge Nick Harding hunts down a pair of starter high-tops Used-’van buyer Our guide to the Autocruise Rhythm, from to today

BUYERS GUIDE

Top ’vans of From compact campers to enormous A-classes, we round up the best motorhomes of the year

Buyer’s Guide data We round-up all the data you need to know on every new ’van currently on sale www.practicalmotorhome.com | April 2012 | 7