Full review

With the luxury of space and a huge wardrobe in the shower-dressing room, Alde heating and a light weight, the 520 ticks a lot of boxes

The 520 is one of three new layouts unveiled for 2020 across several ranges made by Erwin Hymer Group in County Durham.

It’s a classic two-berth layout with parallel settees, an offside kitchen, nearside dresser and rear shower room. But this two-berth is different from the norm. It has the luxury of an exceptionally large shower room and enormous wardrobe accommodation within the shower room.

This shower-dressing room is of an unusual layout, with the shower positioned in the offside corner, the toilet beside it and the basin in the centre at the rear.

A suite of wardrobes, drawers and shelves occupies the whole wall on the nearside. One of the two wardrobes has a double hanging space, with one rail above another. The table is stored in this sector. The central cabinet contains jacket-length hanging space, plus three deep drawers, and the third sector has five open shelf spaces.

There’s a heated towel warmer, part of the Alde system which heats all models in the Affinity range.

The 520’s other notable features include a long, slender skylight stretching the whole length of the lounge.

The kitchen sink is large, steel and rectangular, and has a cover which sits flush with the surrounding surface.

All of the five side lockers have tilt-action catches set behind the handles; a new feature for 2020. The top kitchen lockers have a subtle herringbone pattern finish to distinguish the kitchen from the rest of the cabinetry.

A long mirror by the door is bordered by a white panel of the same herringbone pattern as

the finish on the kitchen lockers.

Kitchen storage

Kitchen storage consists of two drawers and a cupboard beneath and, opposite, a dresser with a large double-doored cabinet and two drawers. There’s also a locker above the microwave.

The seating fabric is treated to resist stains; the treatment system is called ActivCare.

New neat exterior covers

Affinitys have external barbecue points; a change for 2020 is that the covers to these open vertically, close to the caravan side, so they’re very neat. Features also include a light for the gas bottle compartment, and reinforced step sections on the drawbar, so that you can stand on it to clean the windows and also when you wash the whole front of the caravan.

Alde Load Monitor

This range also has the Alde Load Monitor unit, which enables the Alde heating system to be set to the maximum electrical capacity of your caravan site pitch, to prevent you from exceeding it and tripping out the supply.

If you switch on the microwave or other high-powered device, the load monitor automatically switches off the heating while you are using it, so that the caravan is using no more than the pitch’s power supply allows.

Stability control system

The Al-Ko hitch-head stabiliser is standard Affinity equipment, too, as is Al-Ko’s ATC (active trailer control) system which enhances stability by electronic, automatic application of the caravan brakes when the system detects the first signs of a snaking movement.

Affinity is the middle range in the Elddis portfolio. The models are all on single axles and with Alde heating. The 520 layout also appears in the middle range in this manufacturer’s Compass brand line-up, as the Capiro 520. Both 520s have the same spec and are the same size, weight and price. The difference is in the fabrics and woodwork shade.

Verdict

The new 520 will appeal to couples for whom the luxury of a spacious shower-dressing room is a priority – and who like to really get organised with lots of space for clothes. The 520’s clothing provision is up there with the best in any caravan of any size. This makes the 520 a caravan to consider if you plan on going on lengthy holidays when you need plenty of clothes.

At only 1,345kg MTPLM, this new model makes a good companion for many midweight cars and, with the all-enveloping warmth of Alde heating, it’s definitely one for your shortlist if winter caravanning is on your agenda.