W.While caravans used to be the first choice for camping enthusiasts who wanted more than just a tent, mobile homes have long since gained the upper hand. 90,245 recreational vehicles were newly registered in Germany in the first three quarters of 2021, of which only 21,705 were caravans, i.e. just under a quarter.
The house on the hook has a couple of big advantages: It is considerably cheaper than a mobile home, also in terms of running costs, and once you have reached your destination, you are much more flexible and can use the car for excursions. In comparison, a caravan offers more space on the same footprint, simply because it has no engine. You have to accept that driving, maneuvering, parking and parking can be more difficult.
In our case, a Volvo S60 B5 motorized the combination. Classic notchback sedans are rather unusual in this role, but as a standing 4.76-meter car with a two-liter turbo engine, 250 hp and above all a torque of 350 Newton meters, the Volvo is well suited for this task. The possible vertical load of 100 kilograms is also very high. The high consumption was less good. Although we barely used the possible 100 km / h that the caravan allows and usually lined up in the lines of the trucks at 90 km / h, it amounted to almost 12 liters of super per 100 kilometers in trailer operation.
The single-axle Knaus Sport Silver Selection 540 UE was pulled, which measures 7.55 meters with the drawbar. Thus, the driver moves a combination of more than 12 meters in length, he should treat the circumstance with a little respect. The length of the usable space in the Knaus is 5.52 meters, and something can be done with that. The UE stands for U-shaped seating area in the front and single beds in the rear. Anyone who goes inside the Knaus immediately notices how bright it is through the many windows, we were particularly impressed by the large front window. The family can sit lightly by the window in the large seating area without feeling cramped. A large, flat bed can be built in no time by lowering the table and adding the side seat cushions.
If you are only traveling with two people, you can save yourself the conversion and use the two single beds in the rear lengthways to the direction of travel, which, however, can be converted into a double bed by pulling out an additional slatted frame in the middle, which uses the entire width of the car. The only problem is that there is no light switch in the bed area, and the socket and USB port are covered by the additional cushion when the middle section is extended and are difficult to reach. During the day, the middle slatted frame should be retracted, not only to improve the feeling of space, but also to make better use of the upper cupboards.
One can hardly complain about too little storage space, something can be stowed almost everywhere, below the seating area in the front, in the wardrobe with cloakroom next to the small bathroom, plus there is a floor-to-ceiling linen cupboard and the wall cupboards virtually running around. Ultimately, there is storage space underneath the beds, which can also be accessed from the outside. There is enough luggage on board even for a long vacation. The underbody of the Knaus also houses the 45-liter fresh water tank and the thermal bath for heating.
The Knaus Sport is impressive both inside and out with its clear and simple design, but it is weak in the kitchen area. The refrigerator has a volume of 95 liters including a freezer compartment that can be removed when not in use. And as usual, the refrigerator runs on external electricity, on the car battery or on gas. But the kitchen unit is narrow at around 1.15 meters and there are only two drawers, one of which is for the cutlery. Due to the three-burner hob (without igniter) and the large sink, almost all storage options in the kitchen are exhausted, so when the food was prepared, people usually snipped at the large table in the seating area.
The electrical equipment is good: We counted eight 230-volt sockets and two USB sockets in the interior. Important for users of awnings: In addition to the TV connection for outside, there is another socket. The shower room is small, but functionally furnished, everything you need is there: towel rails, various cupboards and coat hooks. Thanks to the skylight and vent window, it is pleasantly bright. The toilet can be turned.
Sufficient for two people
Anyone who has already traveled with large mobile homes will miss a dirty water tank. From time to time, you not only have to make a pilgrimage to the campsite with the remains of the toilet for disposal, but also with the waste water tank, which is to be placed under the caravan on the drainage pipe. And the tank also costs extra. For a surcharge, there is also a separate battery for the caravan, which our test vehicle did not have.
There are 15 different layouts of the Knaus Sport series. With the 540 you are in the middle of the field in terms of size, it is always sufficient for two people and certainly also for the young family. The 540 has a starting price of 23,090 euros, our copy was a special model as a Silver Selection that is no longer produced, but is still available in stores as a new vehicle.
The Knaus Silver Selection includes, among other things, a TV package, an awning and a load capacity of 1700 kilograms. 180 kilograms permitted regular load are actually meager. So there are 480. The final price of a Silver Selection is a good 25,000 euros. The financial gap to a motorhome with a similar amount of space is huge. Here the prices start at around 50,000 euros and more. So there really is a lot to be said for a caravan, the monetary argument is perhaps the strongest for some.
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