AS Westminster

One of the best-equipped caravans in Britain.

AS caravans are the only caravans in Britain to come with a motor mover as standard. It’s the AL-KO Mammut model, which does not protrude below the level of the chassis, so you won’t encounter any risk of grounding on severe speedbumps.

The jockey wheel incorporates a noseweight gauge. As you’d expect on a caravan of this price, there’s also the stability enhancing ATC (active trailer control) system. It’s especially valuable here, on a caravan that’s heavy considering it rides on only one axle.

The majority of caravans with MTPLM of around 1800kg are longer and have two axles; twin-axle caravans are much less prone to developing sway than single-axle models.

The Westminster has a U-shaped dining area opposite the kitchen; this makes into a double bed, using the table as part of the base. A second double bed makes up across the lounge. The base pulls out from under the settees, to meet in the centre of the caravan.

Impressively, a television rises electronically from a cabinet on the front end of the kitchen. A second, smaller television is mounted on a bracket on the dining area wall.

Having two televisions as part of the standard equipment list sets AS models apart from all other caravans. And there’s more, much more, in terms of spec.

There are two extractor fans. One is above the (dual fuel) hob and there’s another in the shower; it switches on automatically when you put the shower area light on.

There’s a 700-watt hairdryer mounted on the wall alongside the mirror in the shower room; it, too starts automatically, when you pick up the nozzle.

A vacuum cleaner is part of the standard kit – and there’s a set of Melamine tableware for four, in a cool bag. Four cutglass wine glasses come as standard; they fit into clips in a cabinet above the kitchen.

A well-equipped caravan

The Westminster is an extraordinarily well-equipped caravan – one with a lovely cosy feel. The upholstery has sections which look, at a glance, like faux-suede but when you touch it, these sections feel furry.

All edges have piping that’s half a centimetre in diameter, and striped, picking up all the fawn shades in used in the various sections of the upholstery. Two front corner lights in the lounge have semi-circular glass shades; the bulbs are halogen.

Strips of white light are above all the side lockers. The heating is the Whale blown air system. The unit is under a seating area so doesn’t have to impose itself upon the layout.

Compared with the Truma blown air system, in which a large brown unit has to be accommodated within the furniture, the Whale system creates more storage space. Two outlets in the living area and one in the shower room push warmed air around the caravan.

On test, with an outside temperature of five degrees C, the Westminster warmed to a comfortable temperature within 15 minutes. That’s far more speedy than the hot water-based Alde system, but Alde heating is silent, and the Whale system involves the constant hum of a fan.

The Westminster’s kitchen provides three large lower cupboards plus another three at head height. The microwave is at chest height, following the current trend for lower microwave positioning. The surface, to the right of the sink, is 76cm long; we think that’s enough to make the food preparation task easy.

Storage for fold-up clothes is excellent. Three drawers and a cupboard containing five deep shelves form part of a wardrobe suite.

The wardrobe itself, though, is less impressive. The rail is only 33cm long, and runs transversely, which means that items hanging at the rear of the rail are harder to access than those at the front. It’s not only the hairdryer and extractor fan that makes the shower room worthy of note.

The washbasin is grey-tinted clear plastic, with a springloaded plug. You depress the metal dome on top of the plug to open or close it. 

On its test tow, the caravan felt well balanced.

With a level of equipment higher than any other caravan in Britain, the Westminster is exceptional and it has quality fittings and furniture to match – truly impressive stuff.