Elddis probably kicked off the recent trend among British caravan manufacturers for producing 8ft-wide vans. Its upmarket Buccaneers were always that wide, but the market clearly noticed when the County Durham manufacturer brought out a couple of 8ft models in its more budget-minded Avanté range. Since then, almost everyone has followed suit.

The company’s penchant for a bigger van hasn’t abated now that it is fully within the Erwin Hymer stable, because among models unveiled for this season was the Avanté 868, an eight-footer with an unusual layout.

We visited Kenmore Caravans in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, to take a look.

Exterior

With three front windows and a mid-grey gas bottle locker in an off-white body, the 868 hides its entry-level credentials well.

You don’t get any extras outside, such as a barbecue point, and the only external access is to the area under the corner bed. You might have to look for dealer specials for both of these.