2023 Compass Camino 668 caravan

This is a big caravan and it merits a big towcar – although it also has appeal for those who prefer seasonal pitching.

A friend of the family

But it has a particular family-friendliness to it, thanks to a caravan floorplan you’re either going to love or dismiss. And that’s because of the sleeping arrangement at the back. Here, a French (i.e. cutaway) double bed is directly next to a couple of bunks. It’s easy to see the thinking – if you have a couple of youngsters you really want to keep an eye on, at all times, here’s the perfect solution.

How has it come about? Simple, really. Compass has merely lifted the floorplan from the 868 in its Casita line-up and made it that bit more upmarket in Camino 668 guise. Don’t forget, also, this is also badged as the Tempest from the Elddis Crusader sister range, with different colourings inside and out.

If you think it all sounds very cosy, well do consider the overall dimensions here – the Camino 668 caravan is some 7m long and boasts a 2.45m wide body. That translates into lots of space to live in as well as keep warm – luckily, the Alde central heating system is more than up to the job here.

In this walkthrough video we take a look at the all-new Compass Camino 668 caravan:

As well as the bedroom for four at the back, there are more sleeping berths – it doesn’t take much time to convert the lounge into a double bed. Easier still, you could have two singles if you’re happy with lengths of 1.80m (5ft 11in).

In daytime mode, it’s a standard issue twin settee front lounge with central chest of drawers that also provides a pull-out tabletop. The main table, a free-standing unit, has its own storage locker. With both tables up you should easily be catering for six.

With its focus fully on the family, it’s great to see plenty of thought has gone into the kitchen. The Thetford cooker offers three gas rings, a single electric hotplate and separate grill and oven, while a Russell Hobbs 800Watt microwave oven is at a convenient enough height over the 153-litre Dometic fridge-freezer, across the corridor.

Other kitchen facilities include a good-capacity rectangular sink with swan neck tap, a very handy flip-up handy worktop extension, splash panel, twin 230V sockets, electric roof vent and more. Storage is well catered for thanks to a quartet of drawers, two upper lockers and a large shelved locker under the main expanse of worktop.

Elsewhere in the Compass Camino 668 caravan, it’s hard to see how you’ll struggle for storage, with everything from the full-height wardrobe on the back wall to upper-level lockers throughout. A second wardrobe, with low-level drawers and floor locker, is between the fridge and the bedroom. Plus there are four exterior-access hatches as well as the full-width front locker.

A toilet room and shower cubicle are en-suite to the bedroom. The latter is fully plastic-lined and has a water-saving Ecocamel showerhead on a riser bar plus a pull-down rail for hanging wet clothing etc.

The toilet room is particularly spacious (again, no doubt with family use in mind), boasting plenty of room around the swivel-bowl toilet, a countertop handbasin, locker and shelf storage a-plenty, radiator-cum-heated towel rail, and a rooflight for ventilation.

Like all products coming out of the Compass/Elddis manufacturing plant in County Durham these days, bodywork is fully bonded (it’s a screw-free construction, designed to prevent leaks) and comes with a 10-year water ingress and body integrity warranty.

Details range from the stand-on drawbar section to full-length opening sunroof, ledges in each corner over the French bed, spare wheel and carrier, chrome-finished grab handles all round etc. Even the family dog has been thought of when caravanning – with upholstery designated as being pet-friendly.

Arguably, the 668’s only direct rivals are “in-house”. Sure, other wide-bodied, twin axled six-berths are available. None offers sleeping arrangements like this, though.

Plus, the 2023 Compass Camino 668 is packed full of safety and security features as standard, ranging from Al-KO ATC trailer control, AL-KO Secure wheel locks to a Thatcham S7 approved tracking system and more. So you can expect some great savings on your caravan insurance premium.

To find out more about insuring a Compass Camino or your current caravan visit our caravan insurance discounts page.

Verdict: Your starter for six

Plus: Big on beds, lots of living and storage room, twin axle stability

Minus: Toilet room lacks a window, a few more USBs wouldn’t go amiss

In-a-nutshell: Family planning

Alternatives: Bailey Pegasus Grande SE Turin/Palermo, Coachman Acadia 660 Xtra (five-berth), Swift Sprite Quattro FB/EW