Contents

WIN!

5set sof Al an Ro ge rs gui de book s

PL US AT rum a Te xt Co nt ro l p20

“With many twists and turns, the River Thames is a great destination in itself” The Thames, p30

We stay on the sites We tow the vans We live the dream!

Ni

Caravan Chat 10 Letters Your shout, our say, your tips, our pick of new gear 15 Diary and basics Claudia’s top five events; Niall’s caravan basics 17 Caravan Bore Awnings are an easy way to get more living space. The Bore asks, “Easy?” 18 Talking tourers Jenko on The One Show and caravanning with Chevrolet 20 Stacie’s super savers Giveaways and deals 22 Get involved! The definitive guide to writing for your favourite magazine!

Claudia’s top

Awnings are an easy way to

Caravan Travel 28 The month in travel The top CLs, plus Pembrokeshire tips 30 Great Escape: the Thames Three caravanners explore the Jubilee river ahead of the Queen 42 Weekender Claudia Dowell loves country fairs and finds a cracker in Dunster 46 Weekender Stacie Pardoe follows the roar to Northampton’s autosport tracks 50 Top 10 sites for… Family attractions 54 Reader travels Child’s play in Vendée 58 Reader travels Go Roman in Tynedale 62 Reader travels The good life in Italy 64 Owner Satisfaction Survey Have your say! 67 Good Sites Guide Five great sites in Yorkshire: reviewed and rated by our team

Our verdict

Showroom 82 Tourer live-in test Our verdict on the plush, premium AS Caravans Westminster 91 Tourer twin test Fixed-bed, six-berth family vans: Adria Adora 612 DT vs Bailey Olympus II 620-6 101 First drives Early impressions of the improved BMW 3 Series and Ford Ranger 103 Towcar twin test Subaru’s new XV compact crossover challenges the Skoda Yeti 109 Running reports News about our fleet six-berth family vans: Adria

Adora

Canvas cleaning

Erect a porch awning

Caravan Genius 115 Doug’ll fix it Your technical caravan questions answered 119 Trade secrets Canvas cleaning company returns awnings to new 121 How to… Erect a porch awning 123 Caravan College Load your van correctly 126 Buyer’s Guide The latest prices and data for all new caravans on sale in the UK 138 Used van buyer 2003-2007 Ace Award 142 Used van twin test £8000 two-berths 149 Talking towcars Your questions answered 151 Used car buyer 2003-2008 Vauxhall Signum 163 Buying and selling Used gear for sale 173 Caravan basics Essential touring knowledge for beginners and experts alike 176 Caravan scrapbook Vans from yesteryear

5most-read stories on practicalcaravan.com

1 Caravans for cats Bailey builds a purr-fect tourer for a dealership’s wandering moggie. bit.ly/KeNvIb

2 Channel Island welcomes caravans Alderney has opened its ferry port to tourers. The crossing is complicated to arrange, but doable. bit.ly/K6w3X0

3 Be safe hooking up abroad Our readers are brushing up on what to do about reverse polarity. bit.ly/KkSxGT

4 What is your True MPG? There’s a new way to check your car’s actual fuel consumption. bit.ly/IoEAqY

5 New five-star site A lakeside, adultsonly site has opened in Leicestershire. bit.ly/L5RYj9

www.practicalcaravan.com | JULY 2012 | 7