Price From £16,995 OTR Berths 2 MiRO 650kg MTPLM 750kg
This clever little caravan provides comfortable touring and contemporary style, all at a very competitive price
Words and photos Peter Baber
TURKEY IS ESTABLISHING itself as a caravan-producing country, although so far, vans that have made it to the UK market have tended to be quite basic. That could be about to change, with the arrival at Leeds Caravan Centre of the Capsule Mini, made by Umarsan, a firm based near Istanbul.
Pitch and set-up
This caravan – currently only available as a two-berth with a front lounge and rear-corner washroom – sits on a fully braked Al-Ko chassis with a shock absorber.
It has a monocoque shell with 50mm of polyurethane insulation, yet with an MTPLM of only 750kg, it should be towable by even quite modest vehicles.
What will probably attract most buyers is the eye-catching design, particularly if you go for a higher-spec Capsule Mini R.
Here, instead of the standard Glacier White or Stone Grey exteriors, you can have Burnt Orange or Olive Grey, with shell hubcabs and white wall tyre bands.
Leeds Caravan Centre says the inclusion of a plinth in the roof means the van could be adapted to fit a rail for a caravan or a camper awning. A poled canopy and fitted awning canopy are available as extras.
The front gas locker is top-opening for easy access. The hook-up and water points have been positioned higher than normal, so you don’t have to bend down to them.
Lounge
The interior differs, depending on whether you go for the standard Capsule Mini or the Mini R. While the standard interior might be more basic, you still get blinds and flyscreens on all opening windows. They fasten with magnets, not annoying clips.
You also get LED lighting, wood-effect vinyl flooring and varnished pine worktops.
Go for Mini R and you have a curtain on the central front window, and very fetching rattan locker doors. So 1960s!
There’s a small sideboard to the left of the door that could make an ideal perching point for a battery-operated radio – there are currently no sockets nearby.
The U-shaped front lounge is big enough for four. The pedestal table swings around for easier access. The windows aren’t huge, but let in lots of daylight, while two LEDs down the aisle and two under each locker keep things bright at night. A mains socket and USB port are fitted under the settee.
Capsule Minis don’t come with heating as standard, but dual-fue
