Has PCv lost the plot?

[Dustydog]

Like some of the missing Members I too subscribe to a number of other caravan related Forums

The following statistics from one Forum makes interesting reading

Forum StatisticsMore than...​

71,000 Members

1,400,000 Posts

371,000 Monthly Visitors

1,000,000 Monthly Pages

Can anything be done by PCv to encourage Forum growth🤔

 

[otherclive]

Like some of the missing Members I too subscribe to a number of other caravan related Forums

The following statistics from one Forum makes interesting reading

Forum StatisticsMore than...​

71,000 Members

1,400,000 Posts

371,000 Monthly Visitors

1,000,000 Monthly Pages

Can anything be done by PCv to encourage Forum growth🤔

A while back I commented on PCV low numbers and activity level compared to other forums and wondered if it was cost effective, plus PCV has Facebook but its structure is non existent compared to proper forums.

 

[Dustydog]

A while back I commented on PCV low numbers and activity level compared to other forums and wondered if it was cost effective, plus PCV has Facebook but its structure is non existent compared to proper forums.

I agree. Is it a dead man walking do you think🙉

 

[Jcloughie]

I am only a member of this one caravan forum. (Well I am also a member of the Bailey Alicanto FB group, but I don’t count that as a proper forum). I do wish there was more activity. I was once a member of another forum, but got kicked off about the same time a Durbanite was. Never worked out why. I do try to not be argumentative.

Perhaps the magazine could do an article on how friendly and indispensable the forum is.

John

 

[Mel]

It is not against forum rules to mention other forums. Do the folks who go on other forums have any observations as to why they are more popular. Is there anything constructive we could learn.?

Mel

 

[Sam Vimes]

Those stats don't really mean much without some qualification.

How many of those members are registered but not active?

What period is the number of posts measured over? Could be many years.

Monthly visits...like here a good many could be AI and other Bots, scrapping information.

Not sure what monthly pages means

 

[Sam Vimes]

Just out of interest I looked at the current visitor list. It goes on for 101 pages and there are 20 visitors per page. Most are bots

 

[Hutch]

When you do a Google search for a problem with caravan related items, 8 times out of 10, the search comes up with a lead to PCf.
A lot of people with a problem ask a question, they get a lot of help then the thread diverts, or an argument starts. Then then person doesn't re appear.

 

[RogerL]

Like some of the missing Members I too subscribe to a number of other caravan related Forums

The following statistics from one Forum makes interesting reading

Forum StatisticsMore than...​

71,000 Members

1,400,000 Posts

371,000 Monthly Visitors

1,000,000 Monthly Pages

Can anything be done by PCv to encourage Forum growth🤔

How many of those 71,000 members are active?

A forum with over 80,000 members has just 2 members on their forum right now

 

[RogerL]

I am only a member of this one caravan forum. (Well I am also a member of the Bailey Alicanto FB group, but I don’t count that as a proper forum). I do wish there was more activity. I was once a member of another forum, but got kicked off about the same time a Durbanite was. Never worked out why. I do try to not be argumentative.

Perhaps the magazine could do an article on how friendly and indispensable the forum is.

John

I think quite of lot of us got kicked off about the same time, no reasons given

 

[Dustydog]

How many of those 71,000 members are active?

A forum with over 80,000 members has just 2 members on their forum right now

No idea. Their statistic. We could dig deeper next week. Maybe our Editor could help, being in the trade🤔

 

[birdman101]

It is not against forum rules to mention other forums. Do the folks who go on other forums have any observations as to why they are more popular. Is there anything constructive we could learn.?

Mel

A poster posted problem on here and also another forum. The poster got their answer on this forum. But a week later members on the other forum were all asking why the poster had not returned. I posted that they had solved their problem on this forum, I then had my fingers wrapped for mentioning Practical Caravan. But why this attitude would make them more popular I havnt a clue as they are not with me.

 

[Mel]

In the interests of research and general improvement I have just had a look at two other offerings . Yes, I have been seeing other forums ☺️
CAMC Talk together: Have tried this before and find it incredibly difficult to navigate, just had another look and it seems that it is updated but still difficult to navigate. Does seem well populated but they could be trading on CAMC loyalty?
Caravan Talk: Much easier to navigate but a plethora of categories. Looking at the most recent post date wise, there is a bit more more frequent posting across all the categories compared to on here but not massively so. There were lots of ads that I don’t get on here as well.

Any other observation of other forums. Again no problem with mentioning them so long as we remain constructive.
Mel

 

[birdman101]

In the interests of research and general improvement I have just had a look at two other offerings . Yes, I have been seeing other forums ☺️
CAMC Talk together: Have tried this before and find it incredibly difficult to navigate, just had another look and it seems that it is updated but still difficult to navigate. Does seem well populated but they could be trading on CAMC loyalty?
Caravan Talk: Much easier to navigate but a plethora of categories. Looking at the most recent post date wise, there is a bit more more frequent posting across all the categories compared to on here but not massively so. There were lots of ads that I don’t get on here as well.

Any other observation of other forums. Again no problem with mentioning them so long as we remain constructive.
Mel

The one referred to was CT. And yes also to many Ads. The other forum I have a look on is UK Campsite forum and this is near dead to what it was years ago

 

[Hutch]

The one referred to was CT. And yes also to many Ads. The other forum I have a look on is UK Campsite forum and this is near dead to what it was years ago

I use this forum , Caravan talk and UK campsites, this I find being the easiest to work with, the formulates do end up at times arguing with each other but mostly it's an easy going forum that help each other.

I also find that most regular posters are on the other sites as well , maybe under other names,

 

[Sam Vimes]

In my opinion the use of AI, especially for the average consumer, needs to be used with caution.

It's little more than predictive text on steroids. The response you get will be curated from many websites, from which the data is stolen, and then weighted according to certain invisible rules to give you a reply that may well be biased.

Ask the same question in a different way and you may well get a different reply. There's also increasing evidence that AI machines are being compromised.

Again in my opinion it's better to source your own information where you can verify the provenance.

What better way to get advice...about caravaning in this instance...than from folk who've been there and done that.

Just my 2p worth

 

[otherclive]

I’ve looked at CT and pro ratae the number of posts per registered member isn’t that high. There are some experienced PCV Forum members on CT either using their Username or another username, but they are able to answer technical or touring questions on either forum. So if an inexperienced OP asks their question on CT they could have it answered quickly and accurately without having to visit PCV, and vice versa.

On the topic of OPs not returning I am guilty of that on both the Kia and Toyota forums. I recently posted my first query on the Kia Rio forum having had the car nine years. Yes, it’s developed its second fault and no longer in warranty!!! Similarly on the Toyota forum I’ve posted two queries and on both there was some discourse. I thanked those who posted and posted when I had resolved the issue. I then cancelled the “watch thread” so won’t be posting on either forum again unless I have a query that I can’t resolve by just searching internet, which would also include searching the Kia or Toyota forums.

 

[Dustydog]

I’ve looked at CT and pro ratae the number of posts per registered member isn’t that high. There are some experienced PCV Forum members on CT either using their Username or another username, but they are able to answer technical or touring questions on either forum. So if an inexperienced OP asks their question on CT they could have it answered quickly and accurately without having to visit PCV, and vice versa.

On the topic of OPs not returning I am guilty of that on both the Kia and Toyota forums. I recently posted my first query on the Kia Rio forum having had the car nine years. Yes, it’s developed its second fault and no longer in warranty!!! Similarly on the Toyota forum I’ve posted two queries and on both there was some discourse. I thanked those who posted and posted when I had resolved the issue. I then cancelled the “watch thread” so won’t be posting on either forum again unless I have a query that I can’t resolve by just searching internet, which would also include searching the Kia or Toyota forums.

Clive , don’t forget Kia’s customer service dept is very good😎

I use the Bailey Caravan Owners forum, the Bailey Senator Owners Forum, mytreg - VW Touareg Forum, U.K. Campsite and Caravan Talk, occasionally CAMC, But none on a daily basis

 

[Len W]

In my opinion the use of AI, especially for the average consumer, needs to be used with caution.

It's little more than predictive text on steroids. The response you get will be curated from many websites, from which the data is stolen, and then weighted according to certain invisible rules to give you a reply that may well be biased.

Ask the same question in a different way and you may well get a different reply. There's also increasing evidence that AI machines are being compromised.

Again in my opinion it's better to source your own information where you can verify the provenance.

What better way to get advice...about caravaning in this instance...than from folk who've been there and done that.

Just my 2p worth

most of the information freely available via AI is information collated from members replies to the same questions from this and similar forums. Usually there is a small icon to the side of answers, given the source of the information. Credit where credit due.

 

[otherclive]

Clive , don’t forget Kia’s customer service dept is very good😎

I use the Bailey Caravan Owners forum, the Bailey Senator Owners Forum, mytreg - VW Touareg Forum, U.K. Campsite and Caravan Talk, occasionally CAMC, But none on a daily basis

Dusty,

It’s only a tailgate release switch where the rubber diaphragm has perished and allowed water in to the mechanism stopping it working. YouTube showed it a 15-20 minute job, but when I started it became apparent that most websites show the car to be different to what it actually is. So one switch from Estonia via Amazon has been refunded, and I bit the bullet and bought one from the local Kia dealership which does have 6 channel electrics cf 2 channel as shown by most websites. I’m going to fit it this morning. £62 …….ouch.

 

[RogerL]

I think one of the issues for conventional internet forums is that many youngsters prefer to use Facebook, What'sApp, etc - I don't and won't.

 

[otherclive]

I think one of the issues for conventional internet forums is that many youngsters prefer to use Facebook, What'sApp, etc - I don't and won't.

There’s also the facet that not only has the demographics changed but younger families theses days proportionately have higher demands on their incomes. When our kids were young camping or caravanning were not only enjoyable but cheap. Not any longer, plus you can’t hitch any old car up to a caravan and head off to the countryside. A lot of modern cars have low or nil towing specifications. Times have changed since I joined the Forum, and will undoubtedly continue to do so.

 

[Beachball]

I use this forum and a member with Swift Caravan owner club , Ford Kuga Owners club , and occasionally CT but it not all the time .

 

[Dustydog]

There’s also the facet that not only has the demographics changed but younger families theses days proportionately have higher demands on their incomes. When our kids were young camping or caravanning were not only enjoyable but cheap. Not any longer, plus you can’t hitch any old car up to a caravan and head off to the countryside. A lot of modern cars have low or nil towing specifications. Times have changed since I joined the Forum, and will undoubtedly continue to do so.

Anyone remember the 17% mortgage rate? We too had it tough hence way back in the 70s a caravan gave me annual holidays and weekends away with the family.

I accept costs have risen but to take a family of four abroad is a kings ransom today.

I suspect you are correct Clive.

There are probably fewer younger caravanners now . Yet during the school holidays sites are rammed with young families. Plus families like my son uses his FiL caravan and tug for some trips🙉 Good old bank of mum and dad.
But the family mini, Puma etc is not a real tug.
Thinking back to the halcyon days of the PCv rallies at Stowford Farm Meadows there were quite a few youngsters even amongst the Woosies . All gone .

We’re doomed🙉🙀

 

[Gafferbill]

......the forum used to be far more connected to the magazine. There was a clear sense of purpose and leadership from the editorial staff who often used to frequent the forum and contribute. The likes of Nigel Donelly and Doug King new their stuff and were enthusiasts.
The yearly caravan rally
for all held at Stowford Farm Meadows connected readers, forumites and staff and faces could be put to names.
The forum now seems to be adrift, only to be found in the ether held together only by contributers....... presumably the way things are now.