NEWS…… BREAKING

BREAKING NEWS…… We’ve just heard that the 2012 Sprite range will be unveiled at the October NEC show. Three models will be on display – turn to page 11 for details be will range Sprite 2012 the that heard just We’ve models Three show. NEC October the at unveiled

Showroom 2012 New caravans

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We get inside some of the new season’s most exciting new tourers. Read our verdicts before deciding for yourself when these models are launched at the NEC show 64 Lunar Lexon 420 65 Coachman Pastiche 460/2 66 Elddis Crusader Shamal 67 Sterling Eccles Sport 514 68 Bailey Olympus 540-5

70 Live-in test Niall Hampton and family try the spacious 2011 Coachman Amara 570/6 75 First drives Audi’s latest A6 Avant estate and Volvo’s updated, more powerful S60 77 Towcar test The Peugeot 508 and Renault’s Laguna compete to decide which is the better mid-size family towcar

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Caravan Genius 84 Genius ideas How to teach your old TV new tricks, plus kit, tips and Talking Tourers 86 Doug’ll fix it Have caravan queries or quandaries? Ask Doug King, our Mr Fix-it 90 Project van Doug King repairs the door frame of our old Elddis Whirlwind

The Renault Laguna (left) and Peugeot 508 compete in our Towcar test p77

Issue highlight

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First look special Coachman Pastiche 460/2 p65

Coachman caravans are known for solid build quality and the most traditional of interiors. But with its new Pastiche line-up, the manufacturer takes a bold step into the forefront of contemporary decor. It’s also jam-packed with the latest touring technology

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Cover story

Cover story

93 Caravan College Take our class in hitching your van, taught in plain English 96 Advice special Bailey and the NCC solve a problem faced by three models 101 Our fleet: update The latest about the Practical Caravan team’s vans and towcars 108 Used caravan buyer ABI Award 110 Subscription offer Save 16% of the cover price and get a copy of John Wickersham’s Caravan Handbook, FREE 112 Second-hand shoot-out We compare entry-level vans under £5000 117 Talking towcars From matches to motors, send your tough tug questions to David Motton 118 Used towcar buyer The Chrysler 300C was a bargain – and is better still used 125 New kit Empty your van’s pipes of residual water, plus other touring gear 127 Caravan basics Essential touring knowledge for beginners and experts alike 137 Buying and selling Find a great deal on a used caravan, awning or accessories 145 Caravan scrapbook More vans from yesteryear, courtesy of Andrew Jenkinson

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Cover story

Buyer’s guide 98 New caravans Updated with the latest prices, this is the best listing of new vans 106 Awnings Confused by the variety of awnings on offer? Check our guide to make sense of the market 121 25 top new cars Here’s our choice of the 25 best new towcars available 122 50 top accessories Our pick of the essential kit for caravanners www.practicalcaravan.com | NOVEMBER 2011 | 7

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