We are retired, well almost. My other half is a nurse and is talking about making herself available as emergency cover for the Minor Injuries Unit she has been working at for the last 20yrs. However. We have bought a Compass Mendip Magnum 2003 505 and I have a 2007 BMW X3 to tow it. I have experience of towing through my work and in a earlier life we had a 12ft caravan when the children were young. That would look unbelievably primitive compared to today's vans. We live in Cornwall, just,, and are looking forward to exploring the UK. At the moment we do not have plans to go abroad. We have not been to a 'meet' and don't quite understand the form for this. We are wondering which caravan club to join. I have car recovery with the AA which they tell me covers the car and the caravan. Any helpful thoughts/ tip will be appreciated. We are walkers and cyclists with two dogs. i have lots of questions going round in my head! Haha!
New member.
- Thread starter graemelee
- Start date
- Aug 23, 2009
- 3,167
- 4
- 20,685
Welcome to the forum, ask away and search previous threads.
Always much discussion over which club, personally we're in both. We do not use the main sites or commercial ones, again all down to personal choices. We do however make good use of the CL's and CS's, many of which are very suitable for your pastimes.
If you're in either clubs when breakdown cover is due check and see what the clubs are offering, again horses for courses and we're with Mayday (Green flag through CC). Ditto club deals on your van insurance. At the moment there is a useful thread on the subject. We're with CCC at the moment.
As far as meets/rallies and temporary holiday sites are concerned, some will have a theme and activities listed which you can or cannot join in with whilst others will be free and easy with nothing planned formally. Book on, turn up and above all enjoy, it really is that simple in many ways. You may want to ask further questions about going away without EHU if you decide to go down that route which many of us can offer advice on.
Just remember above all else enjoy your trips and take it easy.
Always much discussion over which club, personally we're in both. We do not use the main sites or commercial ones, again all down to personal choices. We do however make good use of the CL's and CS's, many of which are very suitable for your pastimes.
If you're in either clubs when breakdown cover is due check and see what the clubs are offering, again horses for courses and we're with Mayday (Green flag through CC). Ditto club deals on your van insurance. At the moment there is a useful thread on the subject. We're with CCC at the moment.
As far as meets/rallies and temporary holiday sites are concerned, some will have a theme and activities listed which you can or cannot join in with whilst others will be free and easy with nothing planned formally. Book on, turn up and above all enjoy, it really is that simple in many ways. You may want to ask further questions about going away without EHU if you decide to go down that route which many of us can offer advice on.
Just remember above all else enjoy your trips and take it easy.
- Jun 20, 2005
- 19,597
- 5,002
- 50,935
Welcome to the Forum Graeme.
I can only echo Martin's pearls.
O have been with CC Insurance and Mayday CC breakdown service for years. Both have very good reputations and wise covers.
Eg Mayday Green Flag will take you to your holiday destination then at the end collect you and take you home.
The detail is in the small print as they say.
Don't forget to tell your own motor Insurers you will be towing a caravan.
Enjoy your trips.
I can only echo Martin's pearls.
O have been with CC Insurance and Mayday CC breakdown service for years. Both have very good reputations and wise covers.
Eg Mayday Green Flag will take you to your holiday destination then at the end collect you and take you home.
The detail is in the small print as they say.
Don't forget to tell your own motor Insurers you will be towing a caravan.
Enjoy your trips.
Welcome to the forum Graemelee
It sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun, (hopefully a whale of a time) and with a bit of luck and a little more free time coming to you both fairly soon, (and some decent weather) things are set fair for you both.
Yes you are spot on, things have moved on in the caravan world over the last 20 years or so, but it's a little like riding a bike.... you never forget!
Some of the more modern vans (last 20 years or so) are wonderful compared with yesteryear, and push button heating, running water, (hot and cold) plastic double glazing, multi burner stoves with integral ovens/grills, not to mention the fridge and all the rest are a far cry from the old Primus stoves, damp cloths (for cooling) and kettle for warm water, that many of us grew up with.
Why... even with my old van (nearly 20 years old now) its got a loo that is flushed at the push of a button, with an electric motor doing all the "hard work" .... I have no idea what caravan designers/manufacturers are thinking when they go to the trouble of specifying an electric motor, switch gear, and it's attendant wiring. fuses etc., and all the rest, to reduce the "drudgery" of flushing it manually! Unless a caravanner or guests are suffering from physical problems that make the task difficult, it seems to be going to a lot of expense and trouble to fit something that often is just not needed anyway!
( paws now dons his tin helmet and awaits the flak from all quarters!)
We are members of the CC (Caravan Club) and use their sites 2 or 3 times a year only, but find there are plenty of other sites, catering for practically every sort of taste and some of these are quite inexpensive and have good clean facilities. As always its horses for courses.
There's lots of very knowledgeable folks ( there's some who are actually quite nice as well ! :lol: ) on the forum here, and many are more than happy to give guidance from their own experience, knowledge of caravanning or their business/professional/educational experiences, so don't hesitate to ask if you need any information.
Don't be put off either by asking "simple" questions... in my experience they are often quite good ones!
As always regards to all and
Happy Caravanning
paws
It sounds like you are going to have a lot of fun, (hopefully a whale of a time) and with a bit of luck and a little more free time coming to you both fairly soon, (and some decent weather) things are set fair for you both.
Yes you are spot on, things have moved on in the caravan world over the last 20 years or so, but it's a little like riding a bike.... you never forget!
Some of the more modern vans (last 20 years or so) are wonderful compared with yesteryear, and push button heating, running water, (hot and cold) plastic double glazing, multi burner stoves with integral ovens/grills, not to mention the fridge and all the rest are a far cry from the old Primus stoves, damp cloths (for cooling) and kettle for warm water, that many of us grew up with.
Why... even with my old van (nearly 20 years old now) its got a loo that is flushed at the push of a button, with an electric motor doing all the "hard work" .... I have no idea what caravan designers/manufacturers are thinking when they go to the trouble of specifying an electric motor, switch gear, and it's attendant wiring. fuses etc., and all the rest, to reduce the "drudgery" of flushing it manually! Unless a caravanner or guests are suffering from physical problems that make the task difficult, it seems to be going to a lot of expense and trouble to fit something that often is just not needed anyway!
( paws now dons his tin helmet and awaits the flak from all quarters!)
We are members of the CC (Caravan Club) and use their sites 2 or 3 times a year only, but find there are plenty of other sites, catering for practically every sort of taste and some of these are quite inexpensive and have good clean facilities. As always its horses for courses.
There's lots of very knowledgeable folks ( there's some who are actually quite nice as well ! :lol: ) on the forum here, and many are more than happy to give guidance from their own experience, knowledge of caravanning or their business/professional/educational experiences, so don't hesitate to ask if you need any information.
Don't be put off either by asking "simple" questions... in my experience they are often quite good ones!
As always regards to all and
Happy Caravanning
paws
- Nov 16, 2015
- 12,114
- 4,285
- 40,935
As an add on, we joined both clubs just for the sites, and have only used their main sites a few times, we like to use cl's and cs sites, the smaller ones, normally nearer, (walking) distance to pubs for lunch time or evening meals. And we use
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk
For searching around. Also the PC search is good.
Hutch..
http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk
For searching around. Also the PC search is good.
Hutch..
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