Elddis Crusader Shamal

Ideal for couples who caravan.

THE gas bottle housing door distinguishes this year’s Crusaders. It’s pale grey, made of robust acrylic and 1.7m wide. There is, though, more than looks to take your attention here.

You release two locks and give the door a slight upward flick and it rises smoothly on two gas-filled struts. So easy! Crusaders are on BPW chassis. They are fitted with BPW’s stability system, iDC (Intelligent Drive Control) which detects early signs of a sway. Light pressure on the caravan’s brakes is electronically applied to correct the sway before the driver has become aware of it.

It’s an enhancement to safety that is recognised by caravan insurance companies, as is the AL-KO system, ATC; some offer a discount to buyers of caravans fitted with these systems. Crusaders have tinted side windows – but if these are not for you, you can choose clear windows and it won’t cost you any more.

STORAGE

Storage throughout the Shamal excels and at 67cm, the twin beds are higher than most, which means that there is more space beneath them for storage. Both bed storage areas have external access hatches. Lockers line each side of the bedroom; four of them have shelves and all are of a generous size. More lockers surround the lounge. All the top locker doors have push-fit catches on the left side of the handles; perfect if you’re right-handed but for left-handed caravanners they could be a little awkward.

KITCHEN

The Shamal’s sink is an ingenious design, with a small drainer area alongside the tap. It’s covered with a metal-look plastic grille; you can place mugs or glasses here to drain, or you can remove the grille and use the recess for your bottle of washing-up liquid.

The sink cover doubles as a drainer. When you turn it over, you see grooves on the underside. Water will run along these into the sink when you sit the drainer onto two ridges on the side of the sink, raising the drainer slightly.

It’s a simple and very clever design. Considering the length of the caravan, many will say the kitchen lacks storage space; there is only a small cupboard containing two wire basket shelves, to the right of the oven. The microwave is at head height, which people of short stature will find difficult to use.

There’s a luxury touch in the kitchen, at the back of the cabinet that forms the dividing wall between the bed areas and the kitchen. Here you’ll find recesses for four wine bottles, but they are hidden away almost out of sight.

LOUNGE

The lounge makes into a double bed but isn’t long enough to create singles. Unusually, although the bed slats roll out from the front central chest of drawers, there are four drawers here, which is more than any other caravan with this style of bed construction. Plain upholstery will suit most tastes; it’s teamed with pale green and cream. White light streams across the ceiling from tubes hidden above the lockers – lovely!

SHOWERING

The Shamal’s shower room gives you both style and practicality. The shower area is large, at 80cm wide and 62 cm deep, and with a 60cm x 50cm recessed shower tray, so you can put shampoo bottles on the 27cm-wide area alongside it. It's a lovely shower room that occupies the whole of the rear segment with two good-sized cabinets and a basin that looks like black granite – very stylish!

SLEEPING

Sleeping is very good with deep mattresses, a cosy space and a bracket for your TV. You can make a double bed in the lounge, though the sofas aren’t long enough to create single beds.

DINING

The table is stored in a cabinet alongside the wardrobe; alternatively, two can dine at the pull-out section above the chest of drawers.

HEATING

Crusaders have the Alde central heating system which heats the caravan by circulating hot water, rather like a domestic system.

TOWING

The Shamal is equipped with the iDC stability programme that detects and corrects the first signs of sway. Out on the road it felt secure and predictable.

You get what you pay for – that’s high spec, loads of comfort and bags of style, too.