Mercedes MAGIC

Our first tour in Coachman’s impressive Travel Master TM 565

- Peter Baber

It was only when I pulled out of Coachman’s premises in northern Hull and negotiated my way through the city’s streets that I realised just how long its Travel Master motorhome is.

In these days of manufacturers trying to make even their coachbuilts narrower and shorter, it is boldly innovative for Coachman to enter the market for the first time with two motorhomes that are well over 8m long.

There was no real issue, however. The vehicle I was driving – the TM 565, with fixed single beds in the back – comes equipped with a reversing camera integrated into the infotainment system that gives you a wide view of the road behind.

It certainly didn’t feel as though it was more than 8m long when we were on the road, probably because the Travel Master is based on a Mercedes Sprinter and Coachman has included the Sprinter’s 170bhp engine as standard. Oh, and it has thrown in the nine-speed automatic gearbox as well. It clearly believes in piling on the luxury.

After one night with the ’van parked outside the house (not ideal, but I live on a wide, straight cul de sac), I decided to take the 565 for a short spin in the Yorkshire Dales, to test its mettle.