I’ve been coming to the Motorhome and Caravan Show (or its predecessor) for far more years than I care to remember, but I’m pleased to say I learn something new every time. As a brief respite from the caravans, motorhomes, awnings, et al in the 11 halls (and nearly 400 exhibitors) I’ve taken a moment to jot down a few things I’ve discovered this year.
1 – You won’t find a Mercedes V-class motorhome with the door on the ‘correct’ side
The latest UK version of the Mercedes Marco Polo campervan has its sliding door on the driver’s side, meaning rear passengers have to disembark into the road. Rumour has it this is because the manufacturing robots in the Mercedes plant work through this door. You can see a Mercedes day van, with the only other option – a sliding door on each side – in hall 12, stand 149.
2 - Sven Hedin was a Swedish explorer
Converter Westfalia has launched a new campervan on the VW Crafter called the Sven Hedin (hall 12, stand 150). It is named after the Swedish explorer whose expeditions led to the mapping of Central Asia, among other things. These achievements were combined with an interesting political career, when he seems to have had a knack for backing the wrong side in major conflicts.
3 – Toilet fluid is 50
Thetford’s Aqua Kem toilet fluid celebrates its half century this year. It originates from the US and was designed to accompany the original Porta Potti, which was launched a few years before.
The company is celebrating by introducing a new range of Aqua Kem concentrated toilet fluids, developed in the Netherlands. If you’re interested, you can find all the details in hall 20, stand 52.
4 – The market for motorhomes on the Continent is booming
Francis Velten from Knaus Tabbert says his company has already written to dealers to explain its 2018-season models are sold out so new orders will be fulfilled after spring 2018. He says: “More and more people who weren’t campers are now renting motorhomes and then becoming motorhome owners themselves.”
5 – Electric motorhomes just aren’t ready yet.
Much though the Government might like us to believe diesel is the enemy, today’s Euro 6 diesel engines are clean, practical and great for motorhome base vehicles. And realistically, electric vehicle technology isn’t ready for a substantial vehicle such as a motorhome yet.
Hillside Leisure brought its fully-electric campervan, the Dalbury E on the Nissan e-NV200, to Birmingham’s NEC in October 2014 and the company will still make you one. However, the Dalbury E has very limited range so it isn’t on company’s stand this year (hall 11, stand 10). Nevertheless, it’s hoped the next generation of electric vehicles might be more practical.