FIRST LOOK – Elddis Crusader Shamal caravan

Not only has Elddis reintroduced Whirlwind, a name from the distant past, for the range that takes over from Avante, another name from the Elddis heritage comes back for 2026. That’s Shamal, for a model in the Crusader range.

This is a twin-bed layout with the shower and toilet rooms centrally located.

The instant impression as you step inside is of an exceptionally light and airy caravan. That’s down to delightfully pale cabinetry and equally pale grey almost white upholstery. Seat back top sections are clothed in grey velvet. The detail is in the four cushions that use pale grey and almost white and are edged in the darker grey of the backrest tops. Four armrests ensure comfort.

The Alde-heated Shamal’s kitchen has a hinged area to augment surface space. The sink is large and rectangular. A full-height cabinet plus four drawers and a double-doored top locker alongside the microwave create enough storage space. Two top lockers are above the sofas, and two generously sized shelves are at the front two corners.

The position of the (large) wardrobe is unusual, above the fridge.

Six top lockers surround the bedroom, and there’s a chest of four drawers between the twin beds In total, this model has more than enough storage provision.

Lifting the bases of the twin beds to access the storage space beneath required little effort, thanks to wide curved apertures in the woodwork of the bed bases, easy to get your hand in and raise the bed base.

The bedheads are square, clad in velvet in a four geometric section design; simple and quite stunning.

The shower cubicle has a hinge-down towel rail and two shelves for shampoos, one built into the plastic corner base of the tap and riser bar and one attached to the riser bar. This one can be swivelled to any position. In the wash and toilet compartment, five shelves and a double-doored cabinet are provided. A snake-style towel warmer, part of the Alde heating system, is on the forward wall.