Weinsberg CaraOne 400 LK 2021

Practical Caravan reviews the Weinsberg CaraOne 400 LK:

Back in the 1980s, the standard layout for a family-sized caravan usually provided you with a front lounge, a central kitchen and washroom, and a rear single dinette with a fold-up bunk for night-time use.

That floorpan, used by many caravan manufacturers, was popular with buyers, too. Now, it might not be so fashionable, but for new caravaners, it’s a layout that still works very well.

Enter Weinsberg, a German brand under the Knaus umbrella. Its family-orientated CaraOne 400 LK comes with two (or three) fixed bunks at the rear. We went to Preston Caravans & Motorhomes to see more.

Pitch and set-up

The Weinsberg is on an Al-Ko chassis with heavy-duty corner steadies. The profile is quite plain, although this model does have smooth aluminium sides.

The van that we viewed was fitted with an AKS stabiliser hitch and alloy wheels. The large front gas locker houses a spare wheel, with room for other kit. On the nearside at the front is a side locker, allowing access to the onboard battery.

The mains socket is fitted above the wheel arch on the offside. The cassette hatch is located here, too.

In styling terms, the exterior is quite plain, with four well-placed grab handles and a one-piece entrance door.

Lounge

The lounge is dinette-style, with two facing settees and a sizeable clip-on table – four could sit here in comfort to dine, although five might find it a bit of a squeeze.

There are a couple of corner spotlights, and a mains socket above the offside window – which might have been better near the front window shelf. A curtain is provided to partition off this area at night.

The large overhead locker here is very deep and provides loads of storage, but you do need to mind your head!

The front window isn’t very big and, apart from restricting vision, does cut down on natural light; although the side windows are a good size to make up for it. A ceiling light adds more night-time illumination.

Kitchen

The compact side kitchen is neatly planned. You won’t find a microwave, but there is a combined oven and grill, set low down.

The fridge is a Dometic unit, while the hob has three gas burners and there’s a large sink with a reasonable amount of worktop. For storage, there’s a cutlery drawer and a cupboard below the oven.

Two overhead lockers can house crockery and other kitchen supplies. At night, the area ia well0lit by twin LED downlight in the ceiling, and a handy LED striplight running below the overhead locker.

There’s no roof vent above the kitchen area, although you do get a mini Heki over the entrance door, where you will also find the control panel.

Beds

The front double is made up using the adjustable table, not slats. The base cushions flatten down, with a filler cushion to complete the bed, which is quite a good size. Unusually, the seat bases are plywood, an idea that generally became less popular a while ago. The twin vents for the blown-air heating system are also located here.

The rear bunks are solidly built, with a sturdy ladder for access. The model we viewed was the five-berth version, with triple bunks. In the four-berth, you get a side locker and only two bunks.

The bunks are wide and comfortable, with plenty of room for smaller children, and two of them have their own window. The top bunk also has a safety rail.

Washroom

For an entry-level tourer, the overall finish in the washroom is very good. Although its size is again limited (no separate shower cubicle), the design is excellent. There’s a large window, a mirror, a Dometic toilet, and plenty of storage. Lighting is good and the corner handbasin is sizeable. There’s definitely an upmarket look to the area.

Storage

Storage is reasonable, especially in the lounge, with that huge overhead locker. Shelves on either side of the dinette offer more options, while the wardrobe is capacious, considering the size of the van. In the kitchen, there’s slightly more limited capacity, but the washroom storage is great.

Verdict

We think the Weinsberg offers good value. Well built and with a family-friendly layout, it is also lightweight and compact – useful if you have a smaller tow car.

The profile may look a little dated and that front window is a bit small, but the build quality more than makes up for it.

As an entry-level model, the Weinsberg comes with gas-only heating, from a fire housed in front of the wardrobe. There’s no microwave, and you don’t get a TV aerial. But if you want a light tourer for your family, which should store on your driveway, this could be the one for you.

• Thumbs up: Excellent washroom, front gas locker, good wardrobe, comfortable bunks
• Thumbs down: No TV aerial, small front window, no roof vent over the kitchen

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