The
Motorhome & Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC is the premier launch event for the new season’s caravans, motorhomes, accessories, awnings and trailer tents.
The show organisers, and magazines and websites like ours, do their best to promote the exciting things visitors can see there.
However, often manufacturers are unable to share information in advance, so our magazine team has spent a few days scouring the many halls, the hundreds of exhibitors and thousands of products to discover and share what’s exciting and worth checking out.
Here’s my pick of gear that’s well worth a gander:
Bailey Alliance
Bailey launched a new mid-level range of coachbuilt motorhomes featuring six models that replicate layouts in the entry-level Advance range. They all come with a B-licence friendly maximum weight of 3500kg and get a good bit more kit than the Advance versions, including a wind out awning, a 100-watt solar panel, and the cab comes with satnav as standard.
Summit Campervans
Built by
Wellhouse exclusively for Lowdhams, with a few additional styling touches by the
Club Preferred Dealer, this is an alternative to the Ford Terrier campers Wellhouse also builds. Starting at a little under £48,000, they’re not cheap but they’re superbly converted, and I’ve always been a fan of the flexibility that a sliding rear seat bench offers on road and on site.
McLouis Fusion
It’s been several years since the Italian brand
McLouis was last imported to the UK. It’s now back for the 2019 season, with a five-model range of low-profile coachbuilts brought into the UK by fellow Trigano family-member Auto-Sleeper, and available through Marquis and a handful of independent dealers. Starting at £49,995 OTR, they’re attractively styled with cream leather-effect upholstery, pale furniture veneers and white locker doors, with electrically operated drop down beds over the front lounge. And while you’re in the vicinity of the Marquis stand, take a peek at the budget Benimar Benivan too.
Lippert Components
For me, one of the stars of the show was a concept vehicle, exhibited by American component manufacturer
Lippert. As well as slide out sidewalls, beds and washrooms, it showcase electrically operated glass sliding doors and roof, a pet tent that utilises an open external locker door, one-touch electric levelling and a TV lift. It’s the future!
Swift Elegance Grande 655
This family layout in the new 8ft-wide bodied flagship range from
Swift Group wasn’t available at its trade launch in the summer, so this was the first opportunity to see it. It has an L-shaped front lounge and L-kitchen, plus a wrap around mid-dinette, and rear lengthways bunks. But most interestingly, it also features a large double bed that drops down from the offside wall, an interesting space-saving idea within a touring caravan.
WildAx Triton
Based on the Ford Transit Custom, this
WildAx conversion features an end washroom that features just a toilet and shower. There’s a lower lounge bed or upper bed in the raising roof, and it can be accessed from both sides with twin sliding doors.
RP Motorhomes
RP Motorhomes has shifted its production to the new Mercedes Sprinter base for its Rebel, Explorer and Phantom conversions.
Dream outfit
If money’s no object for you, then check out the dream car and caravan outfit – a
Lamborghini Urus towing an
Airstream caravan in hall 12. Total price just £300,000.