a new direction - kenwood-electronics.co.uk
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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
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