CANDY EVANS discovers a few more things she’d love to see in UK, but will they make it over the Channel?
Caravan Salon is a great place to see the best of European caravan and motorhome culture, including several UK manufacturers such as Swift and Auto-Sleepers. But there are also some oddities that haven’t crossed the Channel yet.
Here are a few that caught my eye:
1 – The Dog-Liner T730 and TW 738 from 4pfoten-Mobile
I’m not currently a dog owner, but I grew up with a canine companion in the days when children were allowed to travel in cars without wearing seatbelts. Our dog therefore simply sat in the footwell by my mother’s feet.
Things have moved on in 40 years, though, and now the Vehicle To Be Seen In, if you’re a dog, must surely be the Dog-Liner. It’s a purpose-built motorhome with room for humans, but mainly aimed at the canine fraternity. It boasts hot and cold dog-shower facilities, comfortable padded flooring, non-spill water bowl for use in transit and secure spaces that allow dogs and their owners to communicate while they are on the road.
2 – The Eriba Living 560
If you need more than one hand to count the number of children in your caravan, this Eriba may be for you. We’re more used to the compact pop-top Eriba Touring range in the UK, but on the Continent this substantial Living 560 is available with up to nine berths. Sadly at 8.15m long it’s not likely to be available here soon as caravan bodies must not exceed 7m if they are to be towed by a car in the UK.
3 – Tabbert Cellini 750 HTD 2,5 Slide Out
Again this Tabbert is too long for the UK, but its luxurious interior is to die for. And for just over 70,000 euro you even get a good-sized German washing machine thrown in.
It was only one of many enormous caravans on display at Caravan Salon this year.
4 – iCamp by Udo Camp
Dutch trailer tents are beginning to make inroads in the UK with models like the Lazy Jack, but this iCamp is a little different. With its solid roof and slide-out kitchen there’s plenty of space in the trailer for lounging or sleeping. And the remote-controlled roof is raised in less than 30 seconds. Wondering about storage space? There’s plenty of it, some of which is suspended from the ceiling.
5 – Cinderella
It took a while for the name to make sense, but eventually the penny dropped (pun intended). Meet Cinderella – the incinerating toilet.
Again, we have the Netherlands to thank for this interesting innovation – a convenience that burns its waste using power from an electric hook-up or gas bottle rather than needing water or chemical additives. Since my return I’ve been pleased to discover the Cinderella Incinerating Toilet is already available in the UK. Though I’m not entirely sure the name ‘Cinderella Motion’ for the caravan and motorhome version works in translation. Nevertheless, please form an orderly queue...