a new direction - kenwood-electronics.co.uk

June 2016 Camping & Caravanning 79

Built-in satnavs

We’ve been hearing of considerable

concern from some users about their

factory-fit satnav not having any

form of touring features. This applies

to larger motorhomes as well as tow

cars because it just wasn’t an option,

until recently.

Kenwood, the long-established

audio manufacturer, has been

supplying satnav multi-media head

units for some years. The built-in

navigation features are by Garmin and

in some models there’s now an option

to buy a campervan version.

The core market for this product is

motorhomes and Kenwood supplies

all the necessary fascia adaptors and

electrical interfaces (for steering

wheel controls) for a range of

base vehicles. These units can be

retrofitted or ordered with a new

tourer from some dealers.

I have been testing one in my

tow car. It’s integrated seamlessly

with the car’s controls and trim,

so when I’m towing I use the truck

mode. I have programmed in my

overall dimensions and weights

– as you would with a freestanding

Garmin campervan satnav – and

there are plenty of useful points of

interest already loaded.

Other features include DAB, DVD,

CD and MP3 file play. A reversing

camera can be integrated and you can

pair it with your phone via Bluetooth

for hands-free use. And it actually

sounds really good too, one thing that

seems to be overlooked these days.

The installation needed a huge

amount of the dashboard and trim

removed so unless you’ve had some

training in this area it is best left to

a professional.

Though it may seem expensive

(it retails for about £1,100), when you

factor in all it has and the amount of

other accessories you’ll no longer

need, it’s quite compelling. You’ll find it

as a standard item in some higher–end

motorhomes already.

We’re also testing some other

satnav products including one that

updates directly through wifi and

another that’s a phone app. We’ll report

on these in due course.

www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk

A new directionIAIN GEDDES answers your questions on caravan windows, sticking zips and more

Head

online to

www.myccc.co.uk/QandA

for more answers to

your technical

questions

TECH

TALK

Iain has been testing a Kenwood multimedia satnav kit

A

A

Q

Q

I get condensation spots within my

tourer’s windows after it rains. They’re

not leaking so how do I stop this?

This is not uncommon. The acrylic

windows are waterproof however

the plastic is gas-permeable so in certain

atmospheric conditions it is possible for tiny

amounts of water vapour to pass through

and condense out on the inner side of the

outer pane. This should evaporate away quite

quickly on a sunny day.

My tent zips are stiff. What can I do to free

them up?

Good camping and caravanning accessory

shops will have awning channel and zip

lubricant, usually in a spray can. This is very

effective but check the product details to make

sure it is compatible with the textile and other

fabric of your tent or awning before you use it.

Why is there no off-road testing in the

Tow Car Awards?

This is something we

would like to do but

when we’ve considered

it before we’ve felt any

such test would be

unrepeatable.

Every time the ground is

driven over it would be changed, affecting

the next test and making re-runs impossible.

We do a very harsh hill-start test and this

offers a good indicator of general traction.

A

Q

The Club’s Technical Team offers help and advice on a

variety of camping and caravanning issues. Head online to

www.myccc.co.uk/technicalhelp to find out more. You can

also find details of the following:

n Towing match service: www.myccc.co.uk/towingmatch

n Tow car reviews and comparisons:

www.myccc.co.uk/ towcarawards

n Datasheets on a range of subjects:

www.myccc.co.uk/ datasheets

See next month’s magazine for the

results of the 2016 Tow Car

Awards