LONG TERM TEST AUTOTRAIL TRIBUTE: Conclusion – The Right Tool For The Job. 

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by Dan Cartwright

Sometimes in life a piece of technology changes your perspective, it changes what you can do and how you feel about doing it. From your first dishwasher to the first time you use an eclectic screwdriver to put together flatpack furniture suddenly you understand about the right tool for the right job. You start cooking more, spending more time and money in ikea, secretly loving the technology that turns chores into pleasure. Spending 6 weeks living with and in the Tribute we at CaravanTimes have had a similar awakening. To find out why, either read our detailed reports on Practicality, Driving, Long Breaks, Short Breaks, and Family reviews, each are below or if you want a brief video catch up then stay tuned for next weeks newsletter. 

One thing to bare in mind if you have followed our full review each week is I didn’t have high hopes for this class of the motorhome before the test. I knew AutoTrail make very good motorhomes but I have always seen this type as not as practical as a small campervan and not as good for holidays as caravans or bigger motorhomes. I was wrong, it is this class of motorhome, small, compact but fully equipped that surprised us with its practicality and versatility. There are other compact motorhomes from Auto-Trail (the Vline) and other manufactures but the Tribute has everything you need and is competitively priced. The Tribute is an entry level motorhome, the 670 costs £40,450 on the road…  near enough the exact same price as the cheapest VW California (£40,455)… While the VW comes in different colours, nothing quite beats an indoor toilet at 2:00am when your’e wild camping in November.

Over the past 6 weeks we have had 8 testers and we have covered 3000+ miles and spent a total of 18 nights sleeping in the Tribute.  We have wild camped, hooked up on many sites and even been to a festival. We have used it as photography base, we have foraged our own food, parked it in the square mile in the city of London and Tom Evans has even used it whilst learning to hula hoop in Peterborough.

The Tribute 670 goes back to it’s home at AutoTrail on Monday and then on to it’s new owner as that specific motorhome has been sold. It is with heavy heart that I see it go but if you are the very lucky family who have bought it congratulations you won’t be disappointed. 

Now our eyes are open to this particular class of small, compact motorhomes we are very much looking forward to exploring it more.  

Too Many Cooks? The Motorhome & Caravan Show 2017 Serve Up an All-Star Staff

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by Tom Evans

With the weather we’ve had this past week, you may be forgiven for thinking we’re already in October, we do however still have a fair few weeks before we can welcome Autumn and October’s Motorhome & Caravan Show 2017, at Birminghams NEC.

It may be 8 weeks away but it’s not too early for the organisers to whet our appetites with a first look at the celebrity line-up that will be attending the show. Celeb-chefs and the cooking arena are always a fan favourite at the NEC and have inspired us to really embrace cooking on site, rather than finding a local chippy or nearest gastropub, so we’re very excited to hear that the organisers are really making a meal of it this time round.

With no less than 7 celebrity chefs gracing the show over 6 days, foodies will be full up on tips and recipes by the time they leave. For Starters Antonio Carluccio OBE acts as Head Chef, leading the line-up of this years culinary guest. A Famed restaurateur, writer and TV presenter we can’t wait to see his take on holiday cooking.

Other guests include actress and Celebrity Masterchef winner, Lisa Faulkner. Winner of The Great British Menu’s Ellis Barrie. ITV This Morning’s regular Dean Edwards. Masterchef: The Professionals victor Steve Groves and local presenter and cookery writer Rustie Lee.

With all that on offer the CaravanTimes team will be attending the show armed with knives and forks!

Will you be attending the Motorhome & Caravan Show in October? Are you a holiday cooker or restaurant booker? What’s your favourite campsite meal? Let us know in the comments below.

Air-Streamlining at Swift Group

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by Tom Evans

Hull based Caravan and Motorhome manufacture, Swift, have some big changes in store for 2018.

Not least a shake-up of their branding and range Hierarchy. While many will see outfits like Sprite, Sterling, Bessacarr and Autocruise as brands in their own right, for 2018 Swift will be bringing these all under one roof, realigning all of these brands as ranges under the new Swift structure, they’ve even got a new logo!

And with their internal branding out of the way, let’s move on to one of the most iconic leisure industry brands that have recently made a U.K home at Swift, it’s the new 2018 Airstream. Love them or hate them you can’t deny that for many they’re the pinnacle of caravaning. Long seen as reserved for those across the pond, Swift Group are aiming to make the stylish “Silver Bullet” more accessible and appealing to the U.K market.

Back in March we heard that Swift would be the sole distributor for Airstream in the UK and as we get closer to the official launch we’re finding out that they’re doing more than just acting as a middle-man, but bringing their own stylish twist to the American Classic.

Swift Group Commercial Director Nick Page said ‘With the launch of Airstream just a few weeks away, the excitement is palpable, and the new interior schemes have created an incredible buzz with everyone who has seen them, in fact we are already receiving enquiries from prospective buyers,’

The designers at Swift are teasing 2 furnishing schemes, aptly named Manhattan and Americana, which they’ve described below

The Manhattan gives the Airstream a more contemporary, New York apartment twist. The
precise accuracy of the diamond stitching and the highly contrasting monochromatic
geometric patterns has a true luxury feel. With feature white twin stitching, luxurious full
black leather upholstery and lustre of the grey leopard print feature scatter cushions this
scheme is the pinnacle of class.

The warm brown leather of the Americana scheme has a classic vintage vibe enhanced by
the strong quality feel of the twin stitching. The scheme is further elevated by the detailed
baseball stitching on the corners of the bedding. The feature fabrics of the soft ‘cow hide’
scatter cushions and the comfortable cosy feeling of the red and black check curtains, all add
to the warm rustic feel.

We can’t wait to take a look inside and will be one of the many queuing up at this years NEC to see the final product.

What do you think of Airstream, are they worth the hefty price tag? Are they a style icon or a tin can? Let us know in the comments below

Latest news From the Caravan Salon

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by Tom Evans

A couple of weeks ago we heard that the Caravan Salon in Dusseldorf, Germany, the world’s largest caravan show, was expecting record numbers. The latest news suggests the organisers aren’t resting on their laurels and aim to make it the biggest yet.

The event, held at Dusseldorf Messe, will play host to 600 exhibitors, with over 130 Caravan and Motorhome manufacturers in attendance. To squeeze it all in this year, the event is spilling over into a 13th exhibition hall, in the past we’ve already seen it overflow into the outdoor exhibition space at the Messe too. To put that into figures, you’ll have to cover 214,000 square metres to see all of the 2100 vehicles on show.

To help anyone planning on navigating such a mammoth exhibition, the Caravan Salon team have given us a rundown of the latest trends we can expect to see on show. Here’s what they had to say.

“Caravanning as a form of holiday-making is enjoying a constant rise in
popularity. The sector is undergoing a real boom and the outlook for 2017 is
bright. We are looking to this year’s fair with lots of optimism and hope to
follow on from last year’s record results,” explains Stefan Koschke, Director
of the CARAVAN SALON. At the CARAVAN SALON recreational vehicles of
all types and sizes are on show. In Düsseldorf every caravanning enthusiast
will find their personal dream vehicle: from compact “iconic” caravans and
spacious motor homes for families to luxury mobile homes.

This year’s edition of CARAVAN SALON Düsseldorf is sure to once again
live up to its reputation and renown for presenting innovative products and
world premiers. For both motor caravans and caravans, the trend toward
greater comfort continues apace, because for people who opt to holiday in a
leisure vehicle, optimal comfort and an uncomplicated holiday experience are
paramount. Among the key factors that come into play here are the use of
ultra-modern materials in today’s leisure vehicles – and in particular the
integration of electronic devices that make using a leisure vehicle all the
more comfortable and convenient. Virtually all devices in leisure vehicles can
be operated safely via a main, intuitive control panel, where users can view
the charging status of batteries and the filling level of water tanks –
oftentimes using a smartphone app. And when it comes to parking, today’s
leisure vehicles are outfitted with extremely helpful electronic amenities such
as rear-view cameras and caravan maneuvering systems, which save a
great deal of physical effort and can be operated via remote control. “Today’s
customers are looking for leisure vehicles that feature better than ever and
high-quality equipment, and are ready and willing to pay more for greater
comfort and safety,” says Daniel Onggowinarso, Chief Executive of Caravaning Industrie Verband e.V. (CIVD).

This also holds true for driving comfort and convenience. Here, helpful
amenities that are also found in passenger cars come into play such as lane
guard systems (LGS), hill start aids, and distance warning devices. Such
features make the use of leisure vehicles not only more comfortable and
convenient, but also safer.

Individuality and independence are the elements that make leisure vehicle
holidays so special. This aspect is also reflected in leisure vehicle designs.
For example, customers are increasingly interested in obtaining
individualized equipment for their leisure vehicles – a need that leisure
vehicle manufacturers are meeting by offering an ever-growing portfolio of
products. Thus, for example, for production models there is already a
growing range of options in terms of layouts, cabin amenities, and various
equipment options. The dominant trend in terms of upholstery and furnishing
design is the interplay of brighter and lighter color schemes and darker and
more elegant looking materials.

In the interest of ensuring that leisure vehicles handle well on the road
despite the added optional equipment, leisure vehicle makers are turning to
ever lighter-weight materials. For example, paper honeycomb elements are
being used in lieu of heavier wood elements, and innovative adhesive bonds
are replacing heavier metallic bolts. At the same time, leisure vehicles are in
many cases more compact than they used to be. For a number of years now,
sales have been particularly robust in the conversion van segment. Despite
their compact dimensions, these vehicles feature a full complement of
amenities. Last year, conversion vans accounted for the lion’s share of motor
caravan production.

I think you’ll agree there’s plenty to look forward to and the CaravanTimes team cant wait to see what new Leisure-Tech is in store for us.

Le tus know in the comments what you’re looking forward to seeing at shows this year.

Long term test of AutoTrail Tribute 670 – a family affair.

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by Dan Cartwright

The Tribute range from AutoTrail is a refined and grown up range of motorhomes, that said it is also AutoTrail’s entry level motorhome. As with all entry level motorhomes these are designed to appeal to new-comers to the motorhome market as well as families. Given the Tribute’s level of specification and price point (starting at just over £40,000) AutoTrail have provided just what a new-to-motorhoming family wants and needs with few over the top extravagances.

In this week’s blog we look at how the Tribute performs for a family that is considering entering the motorhome market. We took the “Diaz” family, Mum Reina, Dad Tomas, Son Leo (11) and Daughter Sol (8) to Camp Bestival in Dorset for 4 days of family festival fun.

A quick note on CampBestival who were kind enough to provide a venue for this test. Camp Bestival is an off shoot of the Bestival festival aimed at families. A festival of music, events, entertainment and activities for kids over a long weekend in July.

If you need some inspiration for motorhome fun, watch 8 year old Sol’s video here.

Beds, Berths, Bunks… Belts and Braces.
Anyone who knows the AutoTrail Tribute range well will know that the Tribute 670 is a two berth motorhome. The large rear lounge lets down into a big double bed and on this model there is no other official sleeping area. However the 670 does have 2 belted rear seats making transporting 4 very easy and safe. The Tribute range however offers 4 compact family layouts (the 715,720, 726 and 736) all high-line versions but all with similar specification, amenities and trim level as the 670. So the Diaz’s set out to try motorhoming for the very first time in the Tribute, with some surprising results, particularly for the 670 at the end of the interview. They also made a video of their trip you can see.

Interview with Tomas, father of the Diaz family

Firstly – why are you considering owning a motorhome and what sort of thing have you considered?
We live in Brixton central London and have for lived in this area for over 10 years. We love Brixton but as the kids are a bit older we want to spend more time away as a family, visiting more of the UK and Europe. Also Leo is a keen footballer, Sol a keen dancer and we spend most weekends traveling out of London to football matches or recitals. We love the idea of being able to go in the motorhome and making these trips into holidays rather than chores. Given we are in London we can’t park a caravan and we don’t often use the car apart from weekend so we would swap the car for a motorhome. For these reasons we have been thinking about the smaller motorhomes and campervans, something we can park easily, something that’s happy in traffic! and something that we can just throw the kids and some stuff in and go.

What was your first impression of the Tribute 670?
It was a bit bigger than I expected, we had looked last year at much smaller camper vans, when you showed us round with the toilet, shower, indoor kitchen, oven and even wardrobe it made a lot of sense. When I got it home and we started loading it up I really appreciated the additional space. I always thought that we would travel light and only needed a change of clothes but even going for just 4 days we needed all the space we had. Finally carpets, kids and carpets don’t mix but when you showed me we could just remove them I was relieved.

How was the drive? Would you recommend this to people who haven’t driven a motorhome before?
Excellent – I was worried as my first drive was across Central London to pick up the family but after 10 mins I forgot I wasn’t in my car. the trip from home to Dorset was easy and the kids had plemty of room. If you have driven an estate car then you will have no problem with this.

We deliberately didn’t hold your hand or tell you what to do when you arrived so how was setting up your first motorhome.
Set up? we had read online about set up, levelling out, turning on gas and doing electric hook up… etc but our pitch was flat, we drove straight on and parked. There was no electric and the gas was internal so once the shopping was put away that was it.. did I miss anything?

Did you have everything you needed?
This was the real benefit of the Tribute, the heating worked wonderfully, the fridge was cold and the hot water was hot and plentiful. we cooked full meals every night and ate together sat around the table. I can really see now how having all of the washroom and kitchen facilities is amazing.

And what was it like overall?
We had a fantastic time, Bestival was amazing but the difference of having the motorhome over a tent was huge. It made everything a joy. It rained a lot over the 4 days and the Tribute allowed us stay out in the rain because we knew we would be “home” and comfortable in the motorhome later.

So has it changed / or made up your mind about a motorhome, and what type?
Yes – if we don’t get one now the kids will never forgive us. But I guess what you mean more is would we go for the Tribute? Yes, totally I can completely see how being that bit bigger than a campervan gives you so much more, we didn’t even miss not having electric, we could take the tribute anywhere and have a great time. All I have to do now is find a way of paying for it.

So if you are a family who want a compact motorhome or new to motorhome market the Tribute is performing well. With regards to the Tribute 670 – speaking to Tomas after, he was really taken with the 670 he loved how it opened up side and rear and he did say that not being a 4 berth was actually a bit of a bonus because once the kids went to bed he and Reina could sit outside and have a glass of wine. So if you are a family of 4 the 670 might not be for you but if you are Grandparents who want to take the grandchildren away from time to time it is more than capable.

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A VW Camper Van Transformed Into A Pub!

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by Alessi Heitman-Rice

VW have always set the bar for quality campervans and are well-known for their iconic early bay campers. That being said, what happens when you take the above statement too far and literally turn your VW camper into a rolling bar?

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The above video taken from LADbible shows exactly that and we think this is a great idea (when it’s parked up of course).

This is a seriously cool way to repurpose an old camper and it’s also not the first time this has been done. Stoke Sentinel recently covered a story on mobile cocktail business, Fancy Flutes and why they’ve been causing quite the stir at various UK events.

After spotting the van on a classic car website, the couple from Alsager decided to quit their jobs and hit the road with their new business idea.

The couple achieved their dream by investing £25,000 into the old 1969 VW early bay camper and transformed it into a mobile cocktail bar.

When they’re not popping the champagne, the pair can cater for all sorts of events and offer a wide selection of drinks from gin to prosecco.

With all the summer festivals we have lined up this summer, which you can read about here. We seriously hope that these rolling-bars will make an appearance and on that note, let’s have a drink to that!

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Top Tip for Newbies to the Leisure Industry: Try Before You Buy

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by Dan Cartwright

As we approach the summer and all the caravan and motorhome manufacturers release there 2018 models this sparks a flurry of activity around October with people buying new units and releasing second hand units to the market.

Much of flurry is thanks the huge Motorhome and Caravan show 2017 (October 17th through 23rd at the NEC) where nearly 100,000 people come to peruse and buy new caravans, motorhomes, accessories or just find out more and motorhomes and caravans.

We at CaravanTimes are always there at the show and online at any point to offer help and advice but there is something that we need to say – choose your leisure vehicle based on what you want to do with your holiday, not how you get there.

So many times we have spoken to couples, families and individuals who are trying to decide on a set up and when you ask them what factors they are considering, high on the list is always driving. People say things like “I could never drive a big motorhome” or “I just can’t tow.” These preconceptions are often based on what people have been told, past bad experiences from many moons ago or just silly stigmas.

Modern motorhomes of any size and correctly paired modern caravans and tow cars are easy to manoeuvre, park, reverse and drive.

So if you are in market for a caravan or motorhome try them first – a new caravan and tow car set-up or a new motorhome will set you back £30,000 to £50,000 so make the right choice and try before you buy.

We would recommend going on both a towing and motorhome manoeuvring course. we would recommend renting each unit before you take that step. If before purchased a caravan or motorhome you took a course in both and rented each unit for a weekend this would cost you less than £1,000 and make sure you getting the right set-up for you. It could save you thousands in the long run.

Towing courses and motorhome manoeuvring course are offered as tasters at most shows and both the big clubs offer them. Renting is available from big companies to ebay.

Get out, try it and make the right decision

Elddis and CAMC Give Away a `worldie` of Prize

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by Tom Evans

Elddis and CAMC Give Away a “Worldie” of Prize

The Caravan & Motorhome Club have teamed up with Avanté manufacturer, Elddis to give away what we think may be one of the best leisure industry prizes yet.

It wasn’t too long ago your very own CaravanTimes, teamed up with Elddis to give away a fantastic hamper to a lucky contestant, in one of our Facebook Live Giveaways. It seems like the County Durham team have caught the gifting bug and this time round the prize is a corker.

The lucky winners, Jane Neary and Steve Carter, a retired couple from Huddersfield, are about to go on a trip of a lifetime. CAMC and Elddis are providing the un-expecting adventurers with;

One year-long loan of a brand new Elddis Avanté 462 two-berth caravan
One year’s membership of the Caravan and Motorhome Club
Free pitches at a selection of Club Sites across the UK
30 Caravan and Motorhome Club overseas site night vouchers
A Christmas Markets Tour with The Caravan and Motorhome Club
European annual multi trip Motoring and Personal Red Pennant Insurance policy
DFDS Ferry crossing (Dover to Dunkirk/Calais)

When asked about their prize it became clear that the couple were true caravaners who, we at CaravanTimes think, are perfectly placed to make the most of the grand giveaway. Steve said to The Club “When my children were young we spent many happy years caravanning in the UK. I had not been abroad for 14 years until I met Jane and I now have a new zest for life and would love to share her caravanning experiences. We both see this as a lifetime opportunity!” While Jane told them where she plans to take her new outfit “I have been caravanning all my life. I would love to share with Steve the caravan sites and places I have been to over the last 40 years including sites in Switzerland, Italy, France and Austria.”

The CaravanTimes team have spent enough time in the new Avanté to know that Steve and Jane are almost guaranteed a great time and I’m sure we’re not the only ones who are more than a little jealous, however it sounds like both CAMC and Elddis are happy with their pick of the winners. Rachel Moncrieff of Elddis said “We and the Caravan and Motorhome Club think Jane and Steve’s story is truly heart-warming. We believe they will relish every moment of their year-long Elddis caravan adventure, growing together and making some incredible memories. What better way to kick-off your retirement than this?!” Whilst Brian Morgan, Head of Communications at the Caravan and Motorhome Club, says: “We’re delighted to be working with Elddis to offer this exciting and inspiring trip. Steve and Jane are a lovely couple with a real passion for caravanning. We’re sure they’re going to enjoy our sites in the UK and abroad and we can’t wait to hear all about their adventures.”

We can’t wait to hear about their adventures either and we’ll keep you all up to date with where they end up!

If you have any suggestions for sites, locations or activities you’d like us to share with Jane and Steve leave them in the comments below.

Cumbrian Residents Seeing Red

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by Tom Evans

Cumbrian Residents Seeing Red

Any of our older readers will remember fondly the site of Red Squirrels in our countryside.

Once abundant, the Forestry Commission estimate their numbers to be 140,000, only around 5% of squirrel populations when taking into account over 2.5million grey squirrels introduced from America.

South Cumbria was once a hotspot for the native species and holidaymakers and residents there are organising efforts to boost their populations.

Silverdale Holiday park and Westmorland Red Squirrels, a local charity, are asking locals and guests to the area to help determine the locations of squirrel populations.

Bob Cartwright of the charity said “If people on holiday can help pinpoint where they regularly spot grey squirrels, it might be possible to see colonies of reds back within a few years.”

Meanwhile the Holiday Park has pledged £5,000 to fund the project, owner Michael says he had many treasured memories of spotting red squirrels nesting, feeding and playing in the park’s woodland. but grey squirrels have since invaded the Silverdale area and robbed the reds of their habitats and food resources. He suggests that “As well as reporting grey sightings to the charity, there are other practical measures people can take, such as using squirrel-proof bird feeders, and trapping greys in their gardens”. He added “our hundred-plus park staff have all been enrolled as red champions to help with the task, and together I believe we could soon see these lovely native creatures back with us”

Silverdale Holiday Park are no strangers to nature and are bonified stewards of the local area, as part of the Holgate group of parkes they were recently awarded the David Bellamy Gold Conservation Award for their efforts to protect the natural environment.

To find out more about their efforts you can visit their website.

The CaravanTimes team are always keen to see the resurgence of a native U.K species but wonder whether it should be at the detriment of a innocent, if prolific species brought here by the British public. Tell us what you think we as a nation can do to protect our Native species, if indeed you think we should?

TRIBUTE TESTING BLOG WEEK 4: The perfect holiday companion?

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by Dan Cartwright

As part of our long term test, we have tested and written about the AutoTrail Tribute 670’s practicality, how it performs for short breaks and how it drives.. in this weeks blog I look at the holiday. The long breaks, the big summer holiday trip or even the couple of months getaway of a lifetime that you have always wanted to do. As in the other review, we will compare the tribute to other types of leisure vehicles for those of you who are trying to choose between a big or small van conversion, a van conversion or a coach built motorhome and those comparing between a caravan and a motorhome.

As part of our long term test, we have tested and written about the AutoTrail Tribute 670’s practicality, how it performs for short breaks and how it drives.. in this weeks blog I look at the holiday. The long breaicles for those of you who are trying to choose between a big or small van conversion, a van conversion or a coach built motorhome and those comparing between a caravan and a motorhome.

Before comparing the tribute to any other leisure vehicle the biggest factor affecting how it will perform for you on your holiday is understanding how you holiday. If your big trip is indeed a journey, visiting different places and trying different things and having the freedom to go anywhere including being off grid or “wild camping” then you should read more. Tribute could be your perfect companion. On the other hand if your big break is spending two weeks in the same spot on your favourite campsite then there are other leisure vehicles that will suit your holiday better. The Tribute is a touring vehicle and it would be a shame not to utilise these capabilities.

The Tourer.
Being a tourer simply means moving around, for example if your two weeks in Cornwall involve travelling the North Cornish coast. Perhaps you like walking, hiking, bird watching, fishing, foraging, surfing, paragliding or sampling different cream teas or local ales from an area. For this type of trip the Tribute 670 is, in my book, a class leader compared to other leisure vehicles. Being so manoeuvrable and easy to drive means you can go to those remote spots or park in little towns and villages very easily especially compared to a big coach built motorhome. Being a motorhome means wherever you go the Tribute is with you, so if you are going to different locations to walk or surf, you still have all the home from home comforts with you compared to caravanning and the Tribute’s level of specification, Truma heating, full wet room and big fridge make it much more suited to the longer getaways than the smaller van conversions.

Specification, Luxury and the van conversion.
Many people who like to tour, who like to get out and about when they first enter the leisure vehicle market see the smaller van conversions like the VW T5/6 conversions and think, yes it has a bed, yes it looks a bit like a car, it has cooking facilities – lets go for that one. They often regret this, especially on long holidays, as their small van conversion ends up being little more than a weekend getaway vehicle. With the Tribute, you can have both. Looking purely at the specification and level of accessories of the Tribute it has everything you would expect in a big motorhome or caravan. The newbie or the experienced “outdoorsperson” may think this is all unnecessary for their extreme outlook on life but they are wrong.. this level of specification actually makes it possible to do more, go further, be more remote and be happier in your motorhome for longer.

Let me give you a real life example. I was in the Cantabrian Mountains in north Spain in May a few years ago with a small van conversion and a friend while we did some mountain biking and hiking. The temperature on the coast was 25 degrees but at 2500 meters above sea level (nearly double Ben Nevis) the temperature dropped dramatically at night and changed quickly. The first afternoon the temperature dropped, the rain set in and the mist came so much so that we could barley see, so we started to head back to the van to call it a day. When we arrived at the van we were forced to empty all our kit in the rain just to get room to make the beds, we had to stand outside showering the mud off and trying to make a cup of tea out of the back pull out kitchen with the wind constantly blowing the flame out was impossible, never mind cooking food. In the end I’m ashamed to say we abandoned it. Freezing, we attached the bikes to the rack and headed on a treacherous route down the mountain to warmer climates. Had we been in the Tribute, we would have simply headed back to the van, switched on the heating running through the internal LPG gas store, had a nice warm shower, switched on some mood LED lighting, got our food out of the huge fridge, swivelled the captains chairs and spent the evening and night in total comfort. The point is that the specification of the Tribute isn’t a luxury. When you need it to continue your adventure, it’s a necessity.

So is the Tribute a giant slayer?
As mentioned earlier, if you look at the specification of what is included, you have most of the specification of the bigger coach built motorhomes only in a more practical and accessible vehicle… But.. the Tribute, whilst being luxury by other standards is still an entry level model from AutoTrail and it is still a van conversion. The large rear bed takes about 30 seconds to turn from lounge into bed but it still isn’t a fixed bed. People won’t gasp at your decadence as you cruise around town or pull up onsite. What I’m trying to say is, if drive a range rover around town that has never seen a muddy field because you want people to know you have range rover then the Tribute probably won’t suit you.

Compromises
When considering any leisure vehicle you will have to compromise on something, space, access, driving, manoeuvrability, price, quality of finish etc etc… For me the Tribute 670 has three compromises, particularly over bigger and more expensive motorhomes. One – The storage is limited, ample for you and your things for a holiday but not a canoe, surfboard and full rattan furniture set. Two – The access around the habitation area is limited, with a narrow main gangway through from the kitchen to the rear lounge/bed area. Actually this isn’t a problem due to the huge sliding side door and rear doors, it just takes a bit of getting used to, and it might be easier to go the outside way if your partner is cooking. Three – The lack of a slide sunshade / side awning. On a nice day with the side door open and the rear doors open the Tribute is amazing, it feels like you have taken your kitchen and lounge outside. My wife and I take an inflatable sofa and one will sit just outside the door while the other cooks looking out over them. When the inevitable shower or strong sunlight comes. there is no protection. AutoTrail don’t do a factory specification sun visor for the Tribute, but dealers will supply and fit them and this is something I would strongly consider.

Overall
The Tribute is like one of those children in school, the one that’s good at everything, the one that’s on every sports team, in the top sets and is still a really nice kid, the one thats good at everything except sitting still! I personally have spent 8 nights in the Tribute in different circumstances and places, each time it impresses me with its capability. One huge surprise for me has been its ability to go off grid. The integrated LPG tank is a real strength of the Tribute. Not only is it cheap, easy to fill and light but it has a real fuel level so you know how much you have. Couple this with low energy LED lighting and you can go for days off grid knowing that you will be warm, have cold fresh food and lighting in your motorhome. It’s not that I have stopped staying on-site, it is just that sometimes if I just want to pull over (somewhere legal) and change my plans to spend the night where I am, there are little drawbacks to being onsite.

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First look at the 2018 AutoTrail Imala 732

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by Dan Cartwright

‘<' . strtolower('Array')>AutoTrail Imala 732 First look.’<' . strtolower('Array')>

The 2018 Autotrail Imala is so new the brochure hasn’t been made yet but on a recent trip to Autotrail for our long term Tribute test, we got to have a look around, take it out and tell you what we think. We will be doing a full video review in the coming weeks but for now here is your first look.

Overview
The Imala 732 is a completely new Imala layout for 2018. The one we saw was the lowline without the bunk above cab. This new layout is based on the very popular AutoTrail Tracker RB layout but now in the more affordable Imala range. The layout features a huge front lounge, central kitchen and washroom and rear transverse island fixed double bed.

Highlights
Before talking about each section, the quality of the finish, attention to detail, three sunroofs and the spacious layout make you wonder what AutoTrail are keeping back for their more expensive Tracker, Apache and even top of line Frontier Ranges. This is every part a luxury motorhome.

Lounge
With the two captain chairs swivelled around, you can easily seat six around the lounge. The huge bench behind the driver is nearly single bed length and the shorter one behind the passenger can easily seat two. This is a wide motorhome and leg room is no problem. There is a free standing collapsible table which some people don’t like but personally I like the options it gives. Strip LED under cupboard lighting, spotlights and three sun roofs add to the open feeling.

Storage
The height of the Imala 732 allows for so many over head lockers that these combined with a big wardrobe, kitchen drawers and under bed outside access garage means you will spend longer looking for things to take with you than working out what to leave at home. If, like me, you can’t find your rear with both hands then expect to spend a long time looking for things in all this storage.

Kitchen
As you would expect, the kitchen has everything you would expect and more. Separate oven and grill, three gas burners with one electric hotplate, big fridge with freezer compartment and microwave. The real highlight of the kitchen though is the amount of cooking space to move around in and plenty of work surface, even with the sink cover and cooker up.

Bathroom
A large, well lit shower and swivel bowl toilet, LED lighting and again lots of cupboard space and room for towels. More than adequate.

Bedroom
This is the Imala 732’s real showpiece. You don’t see many transverse island beds in motorhomes and having seen it, I can’t work out why. The head of the bed raises during the day to give even more access around the foot of the bed but this is a full bedroom. With the divider closed this could be a hotel bedroom. Again lots of storage, spot and mood overhead LED lighting and a skylight.

Access
There is so much space in the 732 that it feels decadent, the height and the transverse island means everything is on the same level and you still have lots of headroom, even for tall people. No up and down steps or squeezing past other people in the Imala.

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UK launch of the 2018 Hymer Exsis I and T at the Travel World motorhomes 40th anniversary open weekend.

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by Tom Evans

‘<' . strtolower('Array')>Travel World motorhomes in Telford is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary with a three day open weekend on the 28th, 29th and 30th of July (this weekend)’<' . strtolower('Array')/>

There is such a lot going on over the weekend for the whole family but the event will also be the official UK launch of the Hymer Exis I and Exis T motorhomes.

The Exis T is Hymers mid size and mid level coach built motorhome. The Exsis I is the smallest of Hymers fully integrated or A class ranges. Both of these ranges are popular in the UK and it is easy to see why. This is the genuine UK launch and I have had no behind the scenes look for more information but expect both to come in with some serious upgrades and maintaining to their up to 5 birth family appeal.

As well as a German hog roast all weekend, attendees will be able to try an F1 simulator, sample German beer and wine, listen to live music but more importantly see the largest selection of Erwin Hymer Group motorhome models in the UK.

Travel World is also home to some of the most luxurious motorhomes on the planet, including a huge range of Hymer groups super luxury Niesmann and Bischoff so there is something for everyone.

A top tip – The Caravan and Motorhome Club malvern hills site is nearby, so if you fancy making a weekend of it then the CAMC site is well worth a visit.

The address for the event is
Travelworld Motorhomes
Halesfield 14
Telford
Shropshire, England TF7 4QR
UK

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filed under: News