Full review

Words: Val Chapman  Photography: Richard Chapman

The Freedom Carpento 310

We’re accustomed to caravans made in Germany, Slovenia and Poland, as well as in Britain. But Turkey?  That’s something to get your attention! A range of three caravans made just outside Istanbul is now available in Britain, imported to the UK exclusively by Freedom Caravans of Stafford.

Instantly impressive is the build quality of the Carpentos. Every component feels solid. All of the furniture edges are refined and curved. And the simple styling is accentuated by a superbly cool and modern lighting design, involving strips of light running around the rooflines, along the edges of the kitchen work surface and on shelves in the kitchens.

All three models have panoramic front windows that wrap around the sides. The sleek body shape is emphasised by stylish graphics that run all of the way around the sides.

The spec

The UK Carpentos have been specifically designed for the British market, with doors on the nearside, and rooflights over the lounge that are considerably larger than those in models made for sale in other countries. They also have gas bottle lockers mounted on the front, large enough to accommodate two 6kg or 7kg cylinders.

In Carpentos made for Britain, these compartments have a very useful function, as exterior lockers ideal for toilet chemicals, wheel chocks, welly boots and the like. Carpentos have all of the facilities that basic touring demands – a two-burner hob, a fridge, a battery charger, a Thetford cassette toilet – and something you wouldn’t expect: a 50-litre water tank (mounted behind the fridge).

Heating and water heating systems are optional. Buyers can opt for a Malaga 5 water heating system, at £1,595, and a Propex blown-air heating system at £1,895. Both are operational on gas or electricity.

The layout

The model reviewed here is a prototype. Some changes will be made to production models.

The 310 is so-called because its body length is a mere 3.1m. Its MTPLM is 750kg, its overall length is 4.1m, its width is 1.98m and its headroom is 1.85m.

It sleeps two; the lounge transforms into a double bed. The kitchen is at the rear. In the offside corner is a toilet/washbasin/shower room that is surprisingly large, given the diminutive size of what might be termed the baby of the bunch.

The washroom

Styling in the little room is impressive. Concealed lighting is above and below the mirror. There’s a wall cabinet with attractive, rounded lines, and the shiny steel circular sink is set into a curved wood-effect surface that runs the length of the room to provide a shelf area.

The tap lifts up to double as the shower rose.

The kitchen

Just forward of the wash zone is the fridge. Open the door and you even find style elements here; a brilliant blue light comes on automatically, and the three shelves in the door are edged with bright turquoise, the same colour as the curtains and two of the four cushions.

Above the fridge is a wardrobe. Again, there’s an automatic light, running along the edge of the rail; very neat!

And storage? A cupboard under the fridge; space under the seating (the seat bases are supported by springs); cupboards – one with a double door and one with a single door – running the length of the kitchen; a drawer for cutlery... and there’s more. To the left of the door as you step inside is a two-shelf cupboard with a surprise: the shelf has four recesses for bottles. Nice!

Two burners and a sink hide under black glass tops. You can leave the one over the sink in place while you are using the burners, to give you more work surface, and when the sink is in use but the burners aren’t, you reverse the process; simple.

Outside, the 310 has a really clever storage trick up its sleeve; a cupboard, at the rear, large enough for at least two folding chairs and possibly a table, too.