A dozen or so days ago I had the opportunity to test a Caravans International camper in the version with an alcove. The Elliot 98 model was made available for testing by Camper Planet from Bielsko Biała, a dealer of vehicles of this Italian brand. We described the entire Elliot series more generally in the CI Elliot article - Ford Transit for your holidays . Since the new Ford Transit was created and companies building campers started using its chassis in the production of new models, I heard only about the advantages of this solution, so I wanted to test it even more. I must also add that I like the silhouette of the Ford Transit and its large grill much more than the common Fiat Ducato. Below I described my impressions from using this vehicle for several days.

Motorhome test: Caravans International Elliot 98

Wingamm is an experienced manufacturer of motorhomes and caravans, which stands out from other manufacturers. And this is because the camping part in each vehicle is made of fiberglass, in addition to one cast. So there are no joints between the roof and the walls. The first look at any Wingamm motorhome is enough to see that it is not a touring vehicle like any other. Rounded lines and a slightly swollen living area, protruding beyond the outline of the cabin, are the characteristic features of these vehicles being built in Italy.

Wingamm - a motorhome like a turtle with a shell

Marketing at the highest level - this is how you can briefly define the envelope built for years by Carthago, a manufacturer that puts its products in competition with representatives of premium brands (or at least the upper middle class). Sizable stands at major fairs, first places in the polls for the best camping vehicles of the most widely read German magazines - all of this is to make the user's heart beat faster at the sight of a cream colossus with a red stamp. Are the advantages widely advertised by the brand, such as high level of workmanship and attention to detail, really confirmed? We invite you to the report, or rather the conclusions of the six-month test, mainly in autumn, winter and early spring conditions, which the Carthago CHIC C-LINE generation II was subjected to, namely version 4.8 from 2016. The test covered a dozen or so trips, including a long foreign route, which allowed to reach a total distance of 4,500 km.

A motorhome for half a million - an investment in quality or an excess of form over content? Carthago C-Line test

Adria - a manufacturer of caravans and motorhomes from Slovenia, currently offers as many as 23 models of tourist vehicles. The icing on the cake are the fully integrated Sonic models, but just below them, like a crème de la crème, the manufacturer has placed the semi-integrated Matrix models. All the others are lower in this hierarchy. All Matrix series motorhomes are low-roof models - i.e. they do not have an alcove, but have a pull-down bed in the front part of the cabin. The distinguishing features of this model are also a large dining room and an L-shaped kitchen (although the manufacturer insists on marking this shape with the letter V). Also noteworthy is the relatively large bathroom space and - apparently - comfortable beds.

Three cars - one Matrix

The Caravans International brand, more and more often recognized also under the abbreviation CI, is the most popular manufacturer of motorhomes from Italy. What can a company that has been operating on the market for over 35 years offer us today?. Certainly, an important distinguishing feature of CI is the wide range of available vehicles - currently it includes 60 models , including camper-vans, semi-integrated low-roof vehicles, campers with alcoves and the most luxurious models - fully integrated.

CI Elliot - Ford Transit for vacation

Three halls devoted entirely to motorhomes, caravans and tourist accessories as part of the Caravanning Salon are not all! The growing popularity of motorhomes in Poland is evidenced by the fact that such vehicles also appeared in the main part of the Motor Show, at the stands of brands such as Mercedes Benz and Volkswagen. The world's leading manufacturers increasingly want to show how versatile vehicles they produce. Models such as Mercedes Marco Polo or Volkswagen T6 California are to prove that there are cars that are comfortable in everyday use, and at the same time practical also during holiday trips.

Caravanning accents at the Motor Show 2017

The top of luxury presented by the Morelo brand was definitely the biggest hit of this year's edition of the Caravanning Salon. At the 2N-Everpol stand, you could see two tourist vehicles of this brand. Recently, Polish customers can also order vehicles of the German Morelo brand, famous primarily for the production of integrated premium motorhomes. High quality and large sizes go hand in hand with exorbitant prices, so for now models such as Palace or Empire Liner are primarily a curiosity. They show how luxurious conditions we can travel if we have an amount of not less than ... a million zlotys.

Apricot dizziness

Caretta caravans are an interesting alternative to the more typical types of caravans. Models of the "teardrops" are the most popular in the United States, while in our country they are a kind of exotic, and even a novelty. It is even more worth looking at the most popular version of the Caretta caravan - the 1500 model. We have already described the Caretta Off Road model, recommended primarily to owners of off-road vehicles. However, we do not have to have an off-road vehicle or SUV to decide on a trailer from the Turkish company Basoglu Caravan . Recall - this company has been producing caravans since 1976 , so we are dealing here with a very experienced company.

Caretta 1500 - caravanning without load

When in 2016 I had the honor of sitting in the Motor Show Awards chapter and presenting the award to Jacek Jaskot (chief designer and constructor of the Globe-Traveler brand) for the Voyager XS motorhome model, I knew this car only from the fair and from conversations with users. Nevertheless, I awarded the award not only because of the high quality and applied solutions, but also for the work that Jacek put into creating a Polish brand, now more and more recognizable and appreciated throughout Europe.

Winter camper test: Globe-Traveler Pathfinder XS

It turns out not for the first time that people who want their camper to look ultra-modern inside should look towards Italian manufacturers. Caravans International has just launched a new model with an intelligent energy-saving system, remote communication, and yes - with furniture straight from interior design magazines. Caravans International (the brand is also known as CI ) is the largest Italian manufacturer of motorhomes. His daughter brand - Roller Team - is better known in Poland. Moreover, it is worth noting that the name Triaca was initially reserved for the prototype of the latter brand.

CI Triaca - a smart home on wheels

The Eriba brand belongs to the Hymer group, which is just celebrating its 60th anniversary. On this occasion, we can count on special models, prepared especially to celebrate this jubilee. Eriba Exciting 60 Edition is such a unique trailer. Eriba Exciting has been designed as a family caravan - so families will be the best testers of this model. The manufacturer, praising this model, emphasizes its modern design , a large number of various compartments and equipment that allows you to use the trailer also in winter.

Eriba Exciting 60 Edition - anniversary promotion

You have certainly heard about electric cars more than once. But have you come across a motorhome powered by fuel from an outlet? The German company Zooom now offers a camper van with several engines to choose from - one of them is fully electric. The Zooom company has been building motorhomes since 1998. The manufacturer declares that its vehicles meet individual needs while maintaining reasonable prices and careful workmanship. Vehicles based on Citroen Jumper or Peugeot Partner were already on sale. Currently, however, the manufacturer uses only the Nissan NV200 as the basis for its touring cars, and these cars have received a new name: Zooom Stadtindianer . The car is 4.56 meters long and 1.75 meters wide. Its height (with the roof folded down) is 1.98 m.

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Motorhome test: Caravans International Elliot 98