Expert Q&A
Caravanning problem? Our panel can help!
DOES A 4X4 MAKE A BETTER TOW CAR? Q
I’ve decided to buy a new Volkswagen Tiguan as my next tow car. I’m in two minds whether to buy the two-wheel-drive version or the 4x4. The 4x4 weighs more and has better traction, but the two-wheel drive is more fuel-efficient. Which would you recommend?
D Craig
David Motton replies… Judged purely as tow cars, the 4x4 versions of SUVS will usually perform better. As you point out, the 4x4 will weigh more, making for a more favourable car-to-caravan matching ratio and better stability.
You also mention the second key advantage, the additional traction that is gained by sending power to four wheels, rather than two.
However, not many of us will have the luxury of a vehicle kept simply for towing. In everyday driving, two-wheel-drive cars will be more fuel-efficient.
They are also cheaper to buy.
In the case of the VW Tiguan, the price difference is at least £1600, depending on the exact specification level that you are considering. That will pay a lot of pitch fees!
Assuming that both versions make sensible matches for your caravan, the decision largely comes down to the particular type of touring that you do.
If you caravan all-year-round or regularly stay on farm sites, I recommend the all-weather, all-surface capabilities of a 4x4. If you tour in summer, pitching
on hardstandings, the saving from choosing the two-wheel drive is hard to ignore.
CAN WE REPLACE OUR TRIO AWNING? Q
I have a Trio awning, and the last time I used it ( before the lockdowns), I cracked the middle plastic pole connector. I asked a local dealer if they could supply a replacement, but they didn’t want to know. Can you help? Colin (surname withheld)
Peter Baber replies... Unfortunately, the Trio brand has long since disappeared.
It was swallowed up by Eurovent, which later became Trigano. However, Trigano awnings are now distributed in the UK by Manchester-based Grove Products. We have also managed to identify the Corner for Steel Frame spare part (code QQ901066), which is still listed on the firm’s website (www.groveproducts.co.uk).
HOW DO WE SET UP OUR VAN AWNINGS? Q
We recently purchased a secondhand caravan and it came with both a full-size awning and a porch awning, which we are delighted about.
However, we had no awning on our previous caravan, so we’re not sure how it’s best to put one up. Can you advise this couple of newbies, please? Carol and David Pearce
Sarah Wakely replies… Absolutely, and you’re right to ask for advice – awnings are nicknamed ‘divorce in a bag’ for very good reason! Even experienced caravanners can find them frustrating and a faff to erect, but it is worth the effort, given the amount of additional living space that this affords you.
We have a couple of excellent guides to putting up awnings – both porch and full – on our website; both were written by the late, great caravan journalist Doug King and are definitely worth a look. You’ll find them at practicalcaravan.com/advice/ how-to-put-up-a-full-awning and practicalcaravan.com/advice/ how-to-put-up-a-porch-awning.
WHAT ARE OUR WINE ALLOWANCES NOW? Q
If pandemic rules allow, we are hoping to get away to Europe in our caravan in late autumn, in search of some winter sun before returning to Britain, hopefully with some nice wine for Christmas.
Could you please tell us what our allowance would now be? Trevor Pike
Claudia Dowell replies... Restrictions on what you can bring back from your holiday abroad could be viewed as one of the downsides of Brexit.
The rules are that alcohol, tobacco and items of value should be transported by you, for your personal use or to be given away as a gift. You cannot combine your allowance with that of another person.
You can actually exceed the allowance, but you must declare all of your goods and pay tax and duty on all goods of the same type in that category, so that includes what was otherwise allowed – expensive!
It can be even more costly if you don’t declare those items (at www.gov.uk/duty-freegoods/declaring-goods) before you arrive back in the UK – your goods could be seized.
The allowances for alcohol depend on the type of drink. You can bring in 42 litres of beer and two cases of 12 x
75cl bottles of still wine (not sparkling). You can also bring in either four litres of spirits and other liquors over 22% alcohol, or nine litres ( 12 x 75cl bottles) of fortified wine (for example port, sherry), sparkling wine and alcoholic drinks up to 22% alcohol. This last allowance can be split; for example, you could bring 4.5 litres of fortified wine and two litres of spirits (both half of your allowance).
For the tobacco allowance, choose one from the following: 200 cigarettes, 100 cigarillos, 50 cigars, 250g tobacco, 200 sticks of tobacco for electronic heated tobacco devices.
Alternatively, you can split this allowance – for example, 100 cigarettes and 25 cigars (both half of your allowance).
The allowance for other goods is up to the value of £390. If the value is more, tax and duty are paid on the total value of the goods, not just the value above the allowance.
Teenagers under 17 have no personal allowance and must pay tax and duty on alcohol and tobacco for their own use before arriving in the UK.
For more information, go to the government website at www.gov.uk/duty-free-goods.
WHY ARE SOME VAN LAYOUTS SO RARE? Q
The other day, we were dreaming about where we might go abroad when lockdown is finally over.
That got us reminiscing about many of the weird and wonderful layouts we have seen in other caravans when we have been to Europe in the past – caravans with beds and sometimes even kitchens in the front. Why do those kinds of tourers never seem to make it over to UK dealerships? Jenny Davidson
Peter Baber replies...
The simple answer is popularity. Continental manufacturers are only ever going to bring over the most popular of their models to the UK, particularly when it comes to caravans.
In addition, while Adria, Knaus, Hobby and Eriba are really the only Continental manufacturers selling caravans in the UK, the list of motorhome suppliers is much longer.
Brexit is likely to make this situation more acute. And while you (and many of us on the magazine) like caravans with the kind of layouts you describe, they just do not seem to sell as well in the UK.
Such caravans have been sold in the past – you can tell this from the variety of layouts we include in our Buyer’s Guide.
But it does seem that we Brits just prefer more conventional floorplans, with a front lounge and parallel settees.
Perhaps it’s because with our rather unreliable weather, we know we are likely to be spending more time indoors, and so want to be able to look out of large windows. That might explain why L-shaped front lounges are still popular!
‘Alcohol, tobacco and items of value should be transported by you, solely for your personal use or to be given as a gift’