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2 days ago | 
practicalmotorhome.com | Peter Baber
A couple of years ago, when EHG UK announced that it was giving its Xplore caravan brand a major upgrade, it also revealed plans to bring out the first-ever Xplore campervan. Thanks partly to the fallout from lockdown, it took a while to arrive. The four-berth, rear-lounge Xplore CV X8 was launched at the start of the 2025 season, and has now been joined by two more models, the three-berth CV X5, with more storage at the back, and the CV X9, like the X5 but with a pop-top roof like the X8.
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2 weeks ago | 
practicalcaravan.com | Peter Baber
Extra bank funding has enabled Downtide Caravans to take on a new Bailey caravan franchise and improve its premises. The Norwich-based firm stocks caravans from some of the best-known makes of caravans. Downtide has been an Adria dealer for many years, and took on Swift motorhomes six years ago.
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2 weeks ago | 
practicalmotorhome.com | Peter Baber
Swift’s Trekker is the rugged end of its campervan offering – a set of three vehicles aimed at those who take their adventures seriously, as opposed to the Monza (more of a mainstream pop-top camper) and the Carrera (van conversions for those who who aren’t so keen in going off-road). The Trekker X is one of two models in the Trekker range that features a rising-roof, the other simply named Trekker.
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3 weeks ago | 
practicalcaravan.com | Peter Baber
Knaus Tabbert is taking on some key industry figures to help it see through the stabilisation programme the firm introduced last year, which it says is already producing results. The German make of caravans, which produces Knaus, Weinsberg and T@B caravans, has already appointed Matjaž Grm, former chief sales offices at Adria Mobil, as a consultant.
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3 weeks ago | 
practicalcaravan.com | Peter Baber
The Alvor is one of two new models Bailey introduced to its luxury Alicanto Grande range this season, when it became Alicanto Grande Deluxe. I went to Wandahome Knottingley to check out the tourer that was our pick for the best caravan for seasonal pitches at the Practical Caravan Awards 2025. When it comes to a car/caravan match, you are going to need a hefty vehicle to tow the Alvor, but at least the two axles will give you plenty of payload. You also get ATC and an AKS 3004 stabiliser.
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3 weeks ago | 
practicalmotorhome.com | Peter Baber
The end-kitchen Benimar Primero 202 dropped out of the budget-oriented Primero range for a while, but it’s back for 2025. Not surprising, really, when you consider how many other manufacturers are jumping on the ‘end kitchen with drop-down bed’ bandwagon these days. But Benimar is on to something, because in its new format, the Fiat Ducato-based 202 impressed the Practical Motorhome judges enough for it to be highly commended in our ‘Best motorhome for families’ category this year.
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1 month ago | 
practicalmotorhome.com | Peter Baber
One big advantage of the best motorhomes over rather more basic forms of camping is the vehicle’s hot water supply. But how often have you found that your washing-up, or your family shower schedule, has been interrupted by the need to wait for the boiler to heat up the water again? This canbe a problem, even on those pitches where you are hooked up directly to the mains water supply. Now, blown-air heating company Truma has introduced a new heater that should be able to solve that issue.
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1 month ago | 
practicalcaravan.com | Peter Baber
In late 2023, I reviewed the Campmaster Duo, Camperlands’ first fully fledged caravan – by which I meant a solid-roof trailer you could sleep in, with a kitchen on the inside. I liked it as a budget-price caravan that could be suitable for customers with a hybrid or a totally electric tow car, who might be limited by weight. This year, the Manchester-based camping accessories brand has introduced a new model, the Campmaster Duo CE, now with a collapsible bed and extra tables.
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1 month ago | 
practicalmotorhome.com | Peter Baber
The Erwin Hymer Group (EHG) has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with family-owned Ahorn Camp, which could see the multinational start to make more vehicles based on Renaults, popular vans for converting to a camper. As part of the agreement, which lasts initially for five years, Ahorn Camp motorhomes and campervans (see: campervan vs motorhome if you’re stuck between the two) will start to be produced at EHG’s highly advanced factory in San Casciano in Italy.
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1 month ago | 
practicalmotorhome.com | Peter Baber
Volkswagen has given its Grand California model an update for the 2025 season that includes an improved touchscreen in the cab, and, for the first time, a touchscreen in the living area. If you’re looking at the options for the best VW camper vans and want one with plenty of tech, the Grand California could be worth considering. The new touchscreen in the cab is 10-inch wide as standard (upgradable to 12.9-inch), and comes with App Connect, giving easy access to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
