no hobbys

[susan_374371737]

just read letter on readers page in pc mag. as to why practical caravan has not reviewed the hobby range,are we not all aware that many campsites will not accept hobbys, bucanneers e.t.c because they are associated with travellers? our local dealership will not accept these models for repair or service because of this association, is this something we should not talk about? travellers are not going to pitch up and pay £20+ per night, yet still sites refuse to take certain makes of van. come clean practical caravan when you answer your readers!

 

[weejock]

Susan I can't ever recall someone posting that they had been refused admission to a site with a Bucanneer.

Before you have a go at the mag maybe it is the case that other company's make a more determined effort to make sure that their product's are being featured. How readily does Hobby make model's available for test?

My only gripe with PC about reviews on some Hobby type vans is that they do not make it extremley clear that a lot of these van's are illegal when towed by car's in the UK.

 

[susan_374371737]

Susan I can't ever recall someone posting that they had been refused admission to a site with a Bucanneer.

Before you have a go at the mag maybe it is the case that other company's make a more determined effort to make sure that their product's are being featured. How readily does Hobby make model's available for test?

My only gripe with PC about reviews on some Hobby type vans is that they do not make it extremley clear that a lot of these van's are illegal when towed by car's in the UK.

Hi slowcoach, yeah when i rang flamingo land in malton re touring i was told no hobby, bucanneer and some other make i cant recall were not accepted.

 

[Surfer]

It is NOT illegal to tow a Hobby caravan in the UK however if it is over 2.3m in width then an appropriate vehicle of over 3500 kgs is required. Many Hobbys can be towed by ordinary cars no problem.

 

[weejock]

Susan the reason that I am surprise about the inclusion of Buccaneer caravans is that they are considered to be a top UK caravan of the likes of Bessecarr and Vanmaster. I would not see these as typical traveler type vans.

 

[weejock]

It is NOT illegal to tow a Hobby caravan in the UK however if it is over 2.3m in width then an appropriate vehicle of over 3500 kgs is required. Many Hobbys can be towed by ordinary cars no problem.

Ian as I posted Some Hobby type van's

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Susan,

You state that 'many' sites will refuse pitches to certain makes of caravan.

I wonder how many actually state this, and what percentage it represents of all UK touring parks

 

[glake]

i've read about this problem a few times, but in my years of touring i have never been asked the make of my van whilst making a booking, is this a problem that really exists? When you see some of the idiots that are on sites it doesn't matter what make of van they reside their holidays in just their attitudes to others. We use Best of British sites a lot and frequently see Hobbies on those! you do pay quite a lot for your pitch, but you get what you pay for i.e. respectful fellow holidayers!

 

[yvonne6]

Susan we spent Easter near Blair Drummond safari park and there were several hobbies all travellers and i can tell you what a mess they made, rubbish left lying everywhere but the worst was them using the grey water waste to empty their loos which was a grey bucket!

 

[Oldfogey]

I have never been asked the make of my van, only the length (it isn't a Hobby or similar)

On a site in Galloway we were in a trailer tent, and a couple of large Hobbies, pulled by long-wheelbase Transits pulled in. The occupants appeared to be Irish Travellers

Frankly, they were the best neighbours you could ask for, clean, quite and pleasant.

The women seemed to spend all their time cleaning, the men were mostly away in the vans, which seemed to be full of welding and similar gear. But when one of them saw me with my bonnet up, he cam over to see if I had a problem and needed a hand.

On the other hand, the middle aged couple on the other side of us, in a "conventional" van, had their TV on full blast all evening, and were generally surly and unpleasant.

Just goes to show that you can't judge a book by it's cover.

 

[Icemaker]

i think i would have rang the police oldfogy, "the men were mostly away in the vans, which seemed to be full of welding and similar gear." remember not too long ago when i reported that some losers had tried to steal my van ?, they had a transit van and had cut off my wheel clamp and hitch lock with oxy acetylene cutting gear and would have got the van away if not disturbed by my neighbour.

i might be a very un trusting person since this insident but i would have seen theire politness as a distraction from reality.

 

[lee_374355239]

sorry been to a site where they did pay the 22pounds per night paid for one night stayed two weeks kept saying they were going so the site thought it best to just let them leave than them wreck the site by calling the police

 

[Chaps]

Susan is right about Flamingo Land. Just checked the brochure and it states 'Commercial, transit or flat back vehicles, Hobby, Bucaneer or Tabbert caravans are not permitted onsite.'

 

[IonaCaravan]

Yvonne

Was that the site adjacent to Dobbies Garden centre on the outskirts of Stirling? If it was this is a designated travellers site and not indicative of sites in the area.

 

[IonaCaravan]

Yvonne

Was that the site adjacent to Dobbies Garden centre on the outskirts of Stirling? If it was this is a designated travellers site and not indicative of sites in the area.

I think Hobby vans are built to a very high standard and it is a shame their reputation is tarnished in this way.

 

[bradley_374368550]

we had a hobby and never had the trouble the only probolem we had was the door being on the wrong side