S&L APOLLO

Step inside this well-planned two-berth and you immediately see the attention to detail that makes it so impressive, says Peter Baber

S&L Motorhomes is based in the same M62 corridor as a large number of van converters. You wouldn’t think so, however, arriving at its isolated workshop in open country, just outside Selby.

Although the firm makes a range of layouts, it says far and away its most popular models are rear-lounges.

We were here to take a look at the Apollo, a rear-lounge ’van based on the 6.36m-long Fiat Ducato.

Outside, it looks fairly standard, although black alloys give it a lift. The Ducato cab includes air conditioning, cruise control and a Bluetooth music system as standard.

Step inside and things start to look different as you move back. Although this two-berth is a rear-lounge model, there is space and a slot up front for a small circular table, which is handily located near the kitchen.

Not only that, once you swivel the driver’s seat, you’ll find it’s perfectly positioned for a neat desk, complete with USB, 12V and mains sockets. This area is well lit, too, thanks to an extra window the designers have managed to fit in behind the main cab window.

You have to step down and up again to reach the lounge, which is slightly irritating, especially as headroom here is a little restrictive. But this enables all water piping and hot air ducting from the Truma Combi 4E boiler to be placed within the ’van itself: you don’t have to worry about exposed pipes.