Dethleffs Trend T7057EB - our test. Let's focus on ALDE heating
Chassis package, and besides Family, Design. And the one that is the most important advantage of the tested motorhome, because the arctic ALDE package ... It's time to introduce the parking heating system, which works like central heating in our homes.
Below, our more impressions from the long-distance test of the Arctic version of the semi-integrated model, which is one of the longest in the Dethleffs Trend family. We picked up the Dethleffs Trend T7057EB motorhome at the Kraków branch of Wadowscy Campery (in Gaj, ul. Myślenicka 7). More about the offer of Wadowscy motorhome and caravan rental in Warsaw and Krakow at: http://kampery.wadowscy.pl/pl/wyjem
After 2 weeks, we increased the mileage of the vehicle by over 2.5 thousand. kilometers. Half of the test was spent traveling and staying in Austria, where we experienced light frosts only at night. The Arctic package did not have much to do, but it greatly increased our satisfaction during winter caravanning.
Additional equipment packages
Dethleffs Trend T7057EB, apart from the standard equipment, we received with a few additional packages.
Entrance door mosquito net - these are otherwise of an above-standard width, so 70 cm in the light of the door perfectly improves communication with the camping facilities. After crossing the threshold, the attention is drawn to the LED interior lighting and the large glazing area of the roof. The Family package is also a central locking of the body door.
The driver will be pleased with the Chassis Package, i.e. LED daytime running lights, as well as electrically adjustable and heated exterior mirrors, for example. Virginia Eiche furniture décor with Chaleur upholstery, chrome hooks for towels and clothes in the bathroom, chrome sockets and switches, as well as a handrail at the entrance ... Long to list the accessories from the Design Pack. More words about the biggest advantage of the tested motorhome.
Alde Compact 3020
The Arctic ALDE package consists of the Alde Compact 3020 HE heating unit (weighing 14 kg - not including approx. 3.5 liters of liquid mixture) and an integrated hot water boiler. The device offers a heating power of 3kW, which is distributed by a system of rigid pipes and flexible hoses to aluminum heat sinks. These run along the walls of the building - at the bottom of the mattresses in the rear part, and also in the floor in the rest of the building. An additional heater can be found in the toilet room and in a spacious garage. The uniform heating of the entire vehicle is achieved thanks to heat exchangers located also in the camper's cab. In addition to the aluminum pipes in the area of the front wheel arches of the Citroen Dethleffs Trend T7057EB also has a water mat on the floor in the cabin. The "water mat" is a simplification, because seriously, the gravitational circulation of warm air works thanks to a liquid heated (up to 85 ° C) in a closed system, which is a mixture of concentrated glycol and distilled water in the proportion: 40% to 60%.
The prime advantage of the tested motorhome
This heating is undoubtedly the primary advantage of the tested motorhome. It is efficient, quiet, and at the same time has a negligible demand for electricity necessary to power a high-efficiency pump. The power consumption in the 12 V DC mode is a maximum of 1.9 A.
Unlike air systems, we will not experience any sounds of heating in here! What's more, the efficiency of such a system beats the head of standard car heating. As long as the engine reaches the temperature that guarantees additional heating of the cabin, we can enjoy the heat that comes from gas cylinders. Demand for LPG? For us, an 11-kilogram cylinder was enough for ... 6 days and 6 nights in Austria. How it's possible?
One cylinder lasted much longer, because we also used a 230V connection for the stay at the campsite. In this way, during every 24 hours, the Arctic ALDE package was supported by electricity of 1000 Watt for approx. 9 hours. This operating mode - priority 230V - was set on the touch control panel. And let's mention that there are three electric support modes to choose from: 1kW, 2kW, 3kW.
Touch control panel
It is very extensive. Suffice it to say that numerous functions have been "packed" on as many as four screens. Scrolling (up / down) the screen, we can go deeper and deeper into specific settings. Even such a seemingly prosaic choice as temperature measurement can be realized in three ways and it is only up to us to choose the temperature sensor that will be active (sensor in the living room, sensor in the bedroom or in the panel). The heating boiler can start working according to the last selected setting or you can program its activity for each day of the week. As if that was not enough, setting the desired temperature during the day (from… to some time) and different for the night time. The temperature can be set between + 5 ° C and + 30 ° C in steps of 0.5 ° C. Hot water? There are three different adjustment options. There is also, for example, a high altitude mode. Use this function when the heating system is supplied with gas at altitudes above 1000 meters above sea level
Application? A short training in the use of the ALDE system in the Krakow branch of Wadowscy Campery was very useful for us. It must be admitted that the heating system turns out to be very, very extensive. It took a while before delving into the menu, we discovered a very desirable mode of ... screen dimming. After all, the panel is located at such a height that, after lowering the bed from the soffit, it could effectively offend the users of this double bedroom.
Pictograms informing about possible faults constitute a separate catalog. We were most interested in the "Low battery" pictogram. Fortunately, the battery charge level never turned out to be too low (below 10.8V). We were lucky that winter in Austria turned out to be mild in the valleys where we used to camp.
Where's the snow? Where the sun and Ankogel are!
We were not only guaranteed snow by the Mölltaler Glacier. By getting the Gopass card, we secured a visit to the neighboring ski resort. You will receive the Gopass card with the first purchase of your ski pass. After registering on the website (www.gopass.sk/PL) you can count on attractive discounts.
Just 12 kilometers from the small village of Flattach, in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, we take the Dethleffs Trend T7057EB motorhome along a winding road to the small alpine resort of Ankogel. It's even warmer on the sunny side of the Alps! On this day, at an altitude of 2 636 m above sea level, the sun tells us to give up warmer jackets. After all, at noon we ski at a temperature of + 7 ° C. When we leave the slope at 4.30 p.m., the car temperature sensor warns of the temperature of -6 ° C. We left the motorhome in the gas consumption minimization mode, because we set the expected temperature to + 7 ° C. High enough to avoid an emergency water discharge. About 20 minutes pass and the buildings enjoy the room temperature.
The joint Gopass lift pass
The Ankogel Mallnitz ski area (20 km from the Mölltaler Gletscher ski area) is the perfect diversion for Carinthian skiing enthusiasts thanks to its excellent terrain, mostly above the tree line. While Mölltaler is associated with ultra-modern infrastructure solutions, tradition and alpine views, uninterrupted by human interference, prevail here. The winter season here usually starts in the second half of December and lasts until spring. The Ankogel is especially popular because of the easily accessible freeride zones.
In Ankogel there are a total of 2 cable cars, 3 ski lifts and 17.8 km of ski slopes. The elevation is 1,349 m, and there is snow up to the last meters of the free car park. What pleased us the most? Absolute silence. Skiers and snowboarders are like a medicine here. The Ankogel area is absolutely not crowded with people! It is here that we will find ideal conditions to organize joint family outings. Here is another opportunity to make our stay in Austria cheaper. More information about interesting bonuses on the website: https://tmr.sk/o-nas-/orodki/ankogel/
