Author: Tim Lemon

Hello to all our old customers and a warm welcome to all you new ones. I am Tim Lemon sales director here at Derby motorhomes in the centre of Derby in the UK. We specialise in selling brand new and second home Auto Sleeper motorhomes and campervans. For a personal appointment please contact me on +44 (0) 1322 360222 option one. Kind regards Tim.

Owning a motorhome gives you the freedom of the open road. And if that open road begins with the short hop across the Channel to France, the open road has practically no end.

France is our closest neighbour. That’s why so many Britons visit the country – principally for holidays. They totalled more than 10.3 million in 2019, according to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Though it might be just a short cross-Channel journey away, however, remember that France is a foreign country, with rules of the road, laws and customs that may differ substantially to those you are used to at home.

So, if you are planning on exploring France in your motorhome, there is the little matter of getting across the stretch of water known as the English Channel.

So, how do you get to France, what are the routes, and how long does it take?

With all that in mind, the following advice is offered about taking your motorhome to France.

Ways to get to France in your motorhome

Le Shuttle

By far the quickest and probably the most convenient way to get your motorhome across the Channel is through the Euro Tunnel on the train service known as Le Shuttle.

That means first driving to Folkestone on England’s south coast – the route is well signposted from the M20, where you simply drive your motorhome onto the train. The journey lasts just 35 minutes until you disembark in Calais.

When using the tunnel, you may keep onboard any LPG tanks you use for your cooker, refrigerator or for heating provided the cylinders have a capacity of no more than 47kg and that they are less than 80% full.

The Camping and Caravanning Club currently offers its members a 10% discount when tickets for Le Shuttle are bought directly through the club.

Overground

Part of your adventure, though, might be the chance to wave a temporary goodbye to the white cliffs of Dover from the deck of a ship. In that case, you have a number of options – largely determined by where your destination in France will be:

Dover to Calais

  • the shortest – 22 miles or so – and most familiar, is likely to be the Dover to Calais ferry, operated by two companies, DFDS Seaways and P&O Ferries;
  • sea crossings with either company – who together offer a combined total of 39 sailings a day – take around an hour and a half between Dover and Calais;
  • prices are calculated according to the exact dimensions of your motorhome – which you must provide at the time of booking – and larger vehicles are typically loaded first;

Dover to Dunkirk

  • if you want to arrive a little further along the north coast of France, Dover to Dunkirk may be your choice – Dunkirk is a much less busy port than Calais, the tickets tend to be cheaper, and the journey time is still only around 2 hours;

Newhaven to Dieppe

  • DFDS Seaways also operates the ferry service between Newhaven and Dieppe;
  • this might prove an even more relaxing crossing since both Newhaven and Dieppe are quieter ports than either Dover or Calais and the four-hour crossing gives you time to enjoy the cruise and enjoy a meal onboard;

Portsmouth to Normandy and Brittany

  • if your destination is Normandy, Brittany or other points west in France, Brittany Ferries offers several routes, all starting from the port of Portsmouth;
  • the route to Le Havre is billed as a “no frills” economy passage and takes around four and a half hours;
  • sailings to the historic port of Caen in Normandy prove to be some of Brittany Ferries’ most popular crossings – though you might also want to book a cabin for the seven-hour crossing;
  • Portsmouth to Cherbourg takes just three hours on Brittany Ferries’ Normandie Express;
  • since the crossing takes 10 hours, sailings from Portsmouth to St Malo are overnight – a good time to enjoy a relaxing onboard meal as you watch the sea slip quietly by.

Whether you opt for the speed and convenience of the Channel Tunnel or choose a mini cruise across to France, therefore, our closest neighbour has never been easier to reach for your next motorhome tour.

But, so much for getting there – what are you likely to make of the driving in France and what should you know about taking your motorhome?

The driving

One of the main dangers may be the lure of the open road itself. Especially if you are chasing the sun, you might be tempted to drive much further in your motorhome in France than you are used to at home.

As a detailed study by the European E-Survey of Road Users’ Attitudes (ESRA) warned, it is essential to avoid driving fatigue, so plan your route well, and take regular breaks.

Documents

You need to remember your UK driving licence, but at the time of writing (September 2020), you do not need an international driving permit for France. Do note that this could change due to Brexit, so check with the Government website for clarification.

You must also have evidence of insurance for your motorhome since a minimum of third party cover is obligatory in France – as it is throughout the rest of Europe.

Check that your insurance covers driving in Europe and ask your insurer for a “green card” that confirms you are adequately insured for driving in France. The need for a green card is almost certain to increase once the UK has completed its departure from the EU as from the 1st of January 2021.

Also carry your registration and MOT documents too.

Kit

When driving in France, you must have onboard a warning triangle and a reflective jacket to wear in case of roadside emergencies together with a first-aid kit.

While it is no longer a legal requirement, it has been in the past and is, therefore, a good idea to continue to carry a breathalyser device.

Speed limits

Speed limits may vary, especially in rural areas, are likely to catch out the unwary and are frequently policed – with on the spot fines which vary according to the degree to which you have exceeded the limit.

That means up to €68 for a minor infraction (less than 12mph) but up to €3750 and three months in prison if you are caught for the second time speeding by more than 31mph.

Emissions

The RAC warns that in some French cities you also need to display a “clean air sticker” – a Crit’Air.

This costs £3.60 and you may face an on the spot fine of nearly £120 if you fail to do so.

Please note that this information is correct at the time of writing – September 2020 – so it is advisable to check routes, the documentation needed etc. from official sources when planning your trip, as they may change.

Whether you are looking or a campervan or the luxury of a fully fitted and furnished motorhome, Auto-Sleeper has long been a peerless marque. Its factory in the Cotswolds has been turning out motorhomes that are the envy of existing and prospective owners alike.

The company’s reputation has gone from strength to strength through successive releases of improvements to its existing range and the launch of new models. So, what’s to look out for in the 2020 Auto-Sleepers range?

Campervans

Fairford Plus

One of the hottest additions to the 2020 Auto-Sleeper range comes in the shape of the Fairford Plus.

The Fairford itself was launched a few years back in 2016 and the “Plus” in the New Year’s model is thanks to the development of a new Fairford that is now based on the extra-long wheel-base Peugeot Boxer van.

That additional length makes it one of the few campervans that manage to squeeze in comfortable sleeping for four people, including two in the double transverse bed at the rear of the motorhome. In the lounge area to the front of the van, a dining table drops down to convert the benches either side into another double bed.

Peugeot coachbuilts

Also built on the extra-length Boxer van is an ever-popular Broadway FB.

The clever, coachbuilt design allows not only for a fixed double bed at the rear but also a separate shower and washroom to the side, a fully equipped kitchen in the middle of the motorhome and a spacious lounge area at the front.

All in all, it remains amazing just how much has been fitted into this handsomely proportioned coachbuilt Peugeot.

AL-KO Peugeot coachbuilts

The lighter weight of the AL-KO coachbuilt motorhome allows a still higher degree of finish for the same level of performance and manoeuvrability.

With the choice of two Corinium models, the FB version delivers an extremely spacious lounge area and well-equipped kitchen. The real delight – and impressive for a motorhome of these overall dimensions – is the enclosed bedroom to the rear with its own ensuite shower and bathroom.

Mercedes coachbuilt

Maintaining its position in the height of luxury and comfort is Auto-Sleeper’s range of Mercedes-powered coachbuilt motorhomes.

And top of that range, the superlative Burford Duo offers two fixed single beds in a spacious room at the back, where there is also a fully equipped shower and bathroom.

2020’s new look

Exterior detailing across the whole range of Auto-Sleepers makes it crystal clear that these are the latest models for 2020.

Inside, you have limewash furniture as standard, the choice of five different fabric options, chrome fixtures and fittings and LED lighting.

In their latest incarnation, all Auto-Sleepers now also come with Whale heating and hot water systems, Sargent EC700 electrical systems, Dometic microwave ovens, in-built Wi-Fi routers, Cat 6 Trackers – which are said to provide the highest levels of security for any vehicles – and further security chipping and window etching with your CRiS registration and membership (the Caravan Registration and Identification Scheme established by the National Caravan Council in 1992).

Although the best of the season for outings may be coming to an end, motorhome news never sleeps – there is always something to whet the appetite for next Spring’s adventures.

Here are some of the key events and news we’ve gathered:

Motorhome and Caravan Show

If there’s one event in the year you simply cannot afford to miss, it’s the Motorhome and Caravan Show held at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC) from the 15th until the 20th of October.

It’s the place to go for an early preview of new motorhome launches for 2020 and, of course, for any advice you may need on buying your first motorhome or upgrading to your next one.

As the website Out and About Live also points out, you can even get help here in planning your next motorhome holiday – in this country or abroad.

Cannot make it?

If you cannot make it to the Motorhome and Caravan Show, there are two Caravan and Motorhome Shows at opposite ends of the country just around the corner in the New Year.

The first is held from the 16th to the 19th of January at Manchester’s EventCity, where you can view all the latest models, motorhome accessories and enjoy the day out test-driving your model of choice or even letting children as young as 3 to 10 get behind the wheel of a towing vehicle.

Just a week later, another Caravan and Motorhome Show opens from the 24th until the 26th of January at Westpoint Exeter.

Owner Satisfaction Survey 2020

It’s become one of the most important yardsticks for manufacturers and dealers – and a measure likely to feature prominently in any buyer’s decision – so Practical Motorhome’s Owner Satisfaction Survey has rightly earned its place in the market for sellers and buyers alike.

Visit Practical Motorhome’s website and complete the 10-minute survey to let the rest of the world know just how happy – or otherwise – you’ve been with the motorhome you own.

Pick a reputable dealer

It really does pay to pick a reputable and well-established dealer if you’re in the business of buying a new motorhome.

On the 8th of September 2019, the BBC relayed the misfortune of a young woman who had paid over £10,000 for a motorhome which simply failed to materialise when the company All Classics UK Ltd went into liquidation.

The Leicester-based company specialised in restoring campervans in South Africa and shipping them to hopeful buyers in different parts of the world. When it went bankrupt, it left owing many thousands of pounds to its customers.

Motorhome road tax increased by 705%

From 1st September 2019, the tax payable on first registration of a new motorhome with a WLTP Euro 6D/2 engine was increased from £265 up to £2,135. Due to legislative changes, WLTP Euro 6D/2 engines are no longer subject to a commercial vehicle tax band – Private/Light Goods (PLG/PHG) – when they are first registered.

Instead, they are, for the purposes of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), now taxed as a car. This reclassification means the registration tax for a new motorhome with a WLTP Euro 6D/2 engine has increased from £265 (PLG rate) up to £2,135 – a 705% increase – plus there is significant higher ongoing yearly tax costs for a further five years.

The UK motorhome industry is asking for an urgent minor amendment to the Finance Bill to reclassify motorhomes as commercial vehicles for VED. You can join the campaign and have your say here: http://fairmotorhometax.org/

Have you been enjoying your summer out and about in your motorhome? Weather-wise it’s had its ups and downs – depending on where you happen to have been, of course.

In all the excitement of outings in your motorhome, you might have fallen behind with some of the upcoming motorhome news and events. To refresh your mind and curiosity, here are some details of a new motorhome site opening and forthcoming shows …

A new site for your motorhome in Sherwood Forest

  • called Sherwood Pines, the extensive site covers some 20 acres and will offer around 150 pitches for motorhomes, caravans, other leisure vehicles, and tents on all-weather, fully serviced plots, with electric hook-ups;
  • it is intended to keep the site open throughout the year;

The South West Motorhome Show

  • time to get your skates on if you are planning to visit the major motorhome show for this year at the Bath and West Showground, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, from the 6th to the 8th of September;

The Motorhome Show Season Finale, Lincoln

  • the historic city of Lincoln is host to the Motorhome Show Season Finale, for one of your last chances to view the pick of 2019’s models, pick up some great bargains on motorhomes and accessories, or simply exchange tales with your fellow motorhome owners;
  • the event is held from the 20th to the 22nd of September and is expected to draw around 5,500 visitors a day;

South Coast Caravan and Motorhome Show, New Forest

  • incorporated into the New Forest Show from the 27th to the 29th of September, the South Coast Caravan and Motorhome Show lets you view some of the latest makes and models of motorhome while giving you the chance to meet and grill their manufacturers and dealers;

Malvern Caravan Show, Malvern

  • held from the 4th to the 6th of October, the Malvern Caravan Show is a must not only for owners and would-be owners of motorhomes but for anyone interested in holidays outdoors – not to mention the urge to enjoy a whole weekend of fun and entertainment;
  • the show is held at the Three Counties Showground in Malvern;

The Motorhome and Caravan Show, NEC, Birmingham

  • the jewel in the crown of motorhome shows in this as in any year is likely to be the Motorhome and Caravan Show held at the spacious National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham, from the 15th to the 20th of October;

Caravan and Motorhome Show, Manchester

  • with more than 200 exhibitors and a full range of the new year’s motorhome models to view up close and personal, the event is sure to attract its usual huge crowds.

So, enjoy the Indian summer that invariably wrings out the last golden days of outings in your motorhome this year while visiting the many shows and events heralding all that next year might bring.

Bank holiday weekend opening hours

Saturday 25th May 2019 normal  10.00am to 4.00pm

Sunday 26th May 2019 normal 10.00am to 4.00pm

Bank Holiday Monday 27th May 2019 10.00am to 4.00pm for sales – service and aftersales closed.

If this is the year you’re looking to buy your first motorhome or upgrade to a new one, you might be looking for the best that money can buy – and the best is almost certain to come from the 2019 Auto-Sleepers range.

Don’t take our word for it, or listen to the natural sales hype of the manufacturers, just turn instead to the opinion of thousands of Camping and Caravanning Club members and readers of Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome magazines who voted Auto-Sleepers outright favourites in the Tent, Caravan and Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards.

Auto-Sleeper Symbol Plus 2019

Auto-Sleeper clearly listen to what their existing and potential customers have to say about what they want in a motorhome.

It has all come together in this year’s launch of the Auto-Sleeper Symbol Plus.

The Symbol Plus is based on an ever-popular sub-6metre van chassis – prized for its manoeuvrability in urban congestion or narrow country lanes – but manages to enclose a surprisingly spacious and well laid out interior.

According to What Motorhome, it combines the best of both worlds from two previous incarnations – a medium length (5.41m) van conversion that still offers the option of both double or single beds, a fully-equipped L-shaped galley, and spacious lounge.

Auto-Sleeper Corinium Duo motorhome

If you are looking for a larger Peugeot-based motorhome, a further addition to the 2019 Auto-Sleepers range is the Corinium Duo.

This has 4 full berths, with its two single beds in a separate bedroom at the rear, where there is a full-width, en suite bathroom too.

Powered by a 160bhp Peugeot Euro VI turbo-diesel engine, the Corinium Duo is equipped to the highest of standards with air-conditioning for the cab, integrated GPS, cruise control, and touch-screen radio, USB ports, mains sockets, and external BBQ.

Auto-Sleeper Broadway EB motorhome

In the medium wheelbase range once again is the Broadway EB, which combines practical manoeuvrability with clever interior layout to create 2 full berths and seating for up to 8 people (with the cab seats swivelled round).

The separate washroom is at the back of the vehicle and the galley in the middle.

Auto-Sleeper Bourton motorhome

The 2019 Auto-Sleepers range continues its choice of Peugeot (and Fiat Ducato) and Mercedes powertrains.

If you are after the engineering excellence and reliability of the 163bhp Mercedes models, this year’s re-working of the popular Bourton might be your choice of motorhome.

It, too, is a well-appointed, yet manoeuvrable 2-berth (converting between a double bed or two singles), a large sky view window that winds up from the lounge, with kitchen and bathroom to the rear. Out and About Live describes its level of luxury as “quintessential”.

Auto-Sleeper Sprinter Chassis

If your heart is set on the luxury of a coach built, Mercedes-based motorhome, you’ll welcome the introduction of the new Sprinter 2019 Auto-Sleeper range – with five different models to choose from.

Each comes with an exceptional specification and a superlative driving experience that offers more economical, more flexible, more advanced, and even safer performance than previous models in this range.

The winners of this year’s Tent, Caravan and Motorhome Owner Satisfaction Awards have been revealed, and Auto-Sleepers have been awarded Best Motorhome Manufacturer (UK New and Used)!

Club President Julia Bradbury was on hand to present the awards at The Midland Hotel in Manchester on the evening of 17 January.

As in previous years, winners were crowned based entirely on the feedback given by the thousands of Club members, Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome readers who completed the 2019 Owner Satisfaction Survey, which ran from February to November 2018.

“This year we introduced a new category – that for Best Motorhome Manufacturer (UK New and Used volume sales). This recognises the British manufacturer that impressed across the board.” It was in this category that Auto-Sleepers took home the award, having been voted the Best Motorhome Manufacturer of 2019!

About the Awards

A total of 24 awards were presented at the ceremony, which is run by The Camping and Caravanning Club in partnership with Practical Caravan and Practical Motorhome magazines.

Robert Louden MBE, Director General at The Camping and Caravanning Club, said: “We are pleased to continue our annual celebration into the best products on the market at the 2019 Owner Satisfaction Awards.

“Over the three year’s we’ve been running these awards jointly with Practical Motorhome and Practical Caravan magazines, we’ve collected invaluable feedback from tent, trailer tent, caravan and motorhome owners. This is then shared with manufacturers where appropriate to help to improve the quality and overall reliability of their products. Ultimately, this then helps consumers and our members to spend their money wisely.”

Alastair Lewis, Managing Director (Hobbies) at Future Publishing, the publisher of both Practical magazine titles, said: “We’re delighted to team up with The Camping and Caravanning Club once again to deliver this important survey of caravan and motorhome owners – our brands are all about helping people get the most out of their passion for caravan or motorhome travel and to buy the best kit to help them do that.

“This survey is an invaluable tool both for readers keen to get insight from other owners and for the industry to help them continue to deliver great ‘vans and motorhomes and the highest levels of service for their customers. It’s testament to the strength of our brands and their position in the market that this year we received more responses than ever before, and we continue to develop the survey and our presentation of it to best reflect the changing markets we operate in.”

The caravan and motorhome awards both feature new categories for 2019, Best Motorhome Manufacturer and Best Caravan Manufacturer, awarded to the brands which score highest across both new and pre-owned categories based on UK new and used volume sales. Meanwhile, there was an increase in the number of 31-50 year olds who completed this year’s Tent Owner Satisfaction Survey, with more people paying less than £100 for their tent.

The full results from the surveys, and detailed analysis, will be published in the February issues of Camping & Caravanning and Practical Caravan and the April issue of Practical Motorhome. To view the full list of gold and silver award winners in this year’s awards visit: www.practicalcaravan.com, www.practicalmotorhome.com or www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/owner-satisfaction-awards.

2019 is now on the horizon and it’s time to start thinking about those New Year expeditions!

As you may know, here at Derby Motorhomes we are devotees of Auto-Sleepers’ vehicles and for that reason, we thought we’d give you a preview of what is coming up in terms of the 2019 Auto-Sleepers – specifically the incredible Symbol Plus.

The Symbol Plus

The Symbol is one of the most familiar and longest-running of Auto-Sleepers van conversions.

It has always been immensely popular and its design goes back to an earlier generation of the Peugeot Boxer. It’s a fact that it’s the only van conversion of this range based upon the medium wheelbase window-van.

Now, the ever-popular Stanway is undoubtedly longer at 5.99 metres and has a pretty luxurious ‘L’ shaped kitchen. However, its diner-lounge can’t convert into single beds and it’s not perhaps quite as flexible for lazy lounging as is the case with the Symbol.

Having two immensely popular vehicles is great but wouldn’t it be a good idea if you could combine the best of both together into one model?

Well, no prizes for guessing that is what Auto-Sleepers has done with the new Symbol Plus. Essentially, you can consider this to be a Symbol at the front end and a Stanway at the rear – but all combined onto a long wheelbase Boxer.

It’s a triumph, as you will see if you contact us for further information!

Auto-Sleepers commitment

There are also the now almost taken-for-granted quality configurations available on Auto-Sleepers’ vehicles including things such as (variations by model):

  • Grade III insulated;
  • 25-litre underfloor-mounted LPG gas tank;
  • 160bhp Peugeot Euro VI engines;
  • flush-fitting, stylish and insulating athermically-treated privacy glass;
  • Al-Ko Air Top & twin leaf rear suspension;
  • Optional Fiat Ducato 150bhp engine;
  • Comfort-Matic engine available.

Why we love Auto-Sleepers’ vehicles

When speaking about the Symbol Plus above, we are obviously talking about design innovation and revolutionary thinking. Those characteristics have always existed in the Auto-Sleepers range but there are many other factors that explain why we think so highly of them.

It wouldn’t be appropriate to talk about this subject without mentioning build quality.

Auto-Sleepers vehicles simply do not skimp on quality fixtures, finishing and materials. It’s difficult to illustrate this other than by inviting you to try some of their fixtures and fittings within the accommodation unit. Your sense of touch will tell you in an instant that the builders here wanted to get everything absolutely right.

That almost inevitably leads into the subject of robustness.

If you read motorhome reviews, you’ll occasionally see that some motorhomes don’t always get rated very highly in terms of things going wrong with internal equipment or bits falling off etc. Those sorts of things simply don’t happen on Auto-Sleepers vehicles and that’s another reason why we are confident when putting them forward to our customers for consideration.

Finally, it’s important to conclude with the recognition of the stylish design that has gone into their interiors. An individual customer can obviously configure this to some extent to their own requirements but the choices available are all almost boutique-like in their quality.

Why not contact us and come and see these incredible vehicles for yourself?

Service Department

Closing 1.00pm Friday 21st December 2018

Reopening Wednesday 2nd January 2019 – normal business hours

Sales Department

Closed Sunday 23rd    

Closed Monday 24th

Closed Tuesday25th

Closed Wednesday 26th

Closed Thursday 27th

Open Friday 28th 11.00am to 3.00pm

Open Saturday 29th 11.00am to 3.00pm

Open Sunday 30th 11.00am to 3.00pm

Closed Monday 31st

Closed Tuesday 1st

Open as normal Wednesday 2nd January 2019

Just been to the Auto-Sleepers factory for 2019 model updates prior to the NEC Show next week.



Managed to sneak a few photographs to give everyone a bit of a preview of the new Mercedes range cabs and dash and the latest wood-finish for the Mercedes range too.

The furniture finish is called Santana and is lighter than the current Valencia finish, which is still available to order.

The dash is very car-like, a huge improvement and there’s also paddle change for the “enthusiastic” drivers; still rear wheel drive and automatic too!

New Sargent control panels are very clever, updating them regularly with vital system data bursts.

Working on the Auto-Sleepers stand at the Nec next week so hopefully see some you there.

Tim – Derby Motorhomes