Why is caravan age important ??

[gary]

I've never been asked for age of van, ours was an 81, I decided it was an embarrassment outside and swapped it for a 96, still miss the far better inside though.

I doubt they just dream up rules which would lead to making less money, the problem is owners passed experiences, our site owner can spot a pikie at the end of the road, the dogs then out waiting if they try and turn in. As it happens he would not allow you, it says so on the gate, one of the reasons he told me was early starts waking the rest up.

As you've found though, once they meet 'you' then the rules don't necessarily apply.

What will always apply is the law regarding reselling electric, this simply states not a penny profit on what they pay, any infrastructure costs for meters etc must be added to the pitch fee.

 

[Steve L]

Well Gary me old mate, I'm not a pikey by any means.

Furthermore, as my work yard is only 2.5 miles away I ride my bike to work to avoid annoying any fellow caravanners.

The site we thought of going to is 20 miles away, bit far for a 50 yearold biker, but I wouldn't object to parking the car in the visitor car park at the entrance of the site to keep the peace.

You see genuine folk like us who just want to melt into the back ground, usually go out of our way to be seen and not heard.

All the best.

Steve L.

 

[hgv dave]

i think sites that have this policy should be named and shamed and avoided by the decent members of this forum

this is just about site owners being snobs,i can understand being asked how long your van is because of pitch sizes but being asked what age your van is so that the owner can put you out of sight in a corner when you are paying just the same fees as owners of new vans.so if you have a new van you have a better choice of pitch close to the facilities just so anyone looking in can see a site with "new" vans on show

we should avoid "snob" sites and see how long it will be untill they change there ideas when they start to loose revenue

hgv dave

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi steve

I understand your indignance at been asked how old your van was or the purpose of having a longstay contract with a site regarding the use of EHU's, how people choose to live and work is up to them and them alone. however surely anyone who has or runs a site has the right to ask, if they are to deter the travelers or people that could potentionally cause them problems. it may be a sad fact but in truth completely understandable, using a site for residential use is a long way from the usual recreational short stay that their site is/was designed for.

we only use the van for our annual holidays and tour round a lot using commercial sites both big and small (usually small) and are not members of any club or assocation and also tend to go to a diferent area each time we go so don't often use the same site more than once.

the only times we have had a problem on a site is when there is a residential element on the site "sorry all" but it is true, including the retirees that setup for months on end, and seasonal pitches, a guy on one site tried to tell me I could not use a paticular shower "because it was his and had to be left empty incase he wanted to use it" and on another site in devon a "resident" had put a fence up around his van encompassing the only water/waste point at that end of the field that he used like a service pitch the next water/waste point was 200 yards away at the other end of the field near the toilets. ok so this may not be typical of the normal club site I do not know??, but it is the sort of thing we have come across when a site opens it gates to long stay occupancy.

colin

 

[LMH]

'the only times we have had a problem on a site is when there is a residential element on the site "sorry all" but it is true, including the retirees that setup for months on end, and seasonal pitches, a guy on one site tried to tell me I could not use a paticular shower "because it was his and had to be left empty incase he wanted to use it" and on another site in devon a "resident" had put a fence up around his van encompassing the only water/waste point at that end of the field that he used like a service pitch the next water/waste point was 200 yards away at the other end of the field near the toilets. ok so this may not be typical of the normal club site I do not know??, but it is the sort of thing we have come across when a site opens it gates to long stay occupancy.

colin '

-----

Blimey Colin that is disgraceful, who do these people think they are?

And they say 'our' worst nightmare is to stumble upon a site where travellers may be occupying a pitch.

Dear dear.

Lisa

 

[Steve L]

Well I can see why some people might be concerned after visiting a site on the A49 at Moreton on Lugg.

I is a small unpretentious site and last year was on the market for 650K and sold.

However as we drove down the drive we went past the caravan club patch which didn't seem too bad and then found the touring patch. It had a fairly new twin axle van at the start with a realy shabby awning and then another tourer obviously there for the duration as it was filthy dirty. The toilet and shower blocks were 20 yearold portakabins that resembled the leaning tower if Piza and stunk of damp like a muddy harbour at low tide.

We beat a hasty retreat and crossed that one off the list for good!!

It wasn't so much the condition of the caravans as they could be tidy'd up in a day with a broom and bucket, it was the squaller they expected us to put up with and actually pay for!!

You wouldn't find a piky there, as they have standards way above that.

Steve L.

 

[emmerson2]

Steve, I've often wondered about that site, as I pass it quite often.It's always looked not quite wholesome to me, and you've just confirmed it. It's called ....... Corner, I believe.

One to cross off, as you say.

 

[Steve L]

Steve, I've often wondered about that site, as I pass it quite often.It's always looked not quite wholesome to me, and you've just confirmed it. It's called ....... Corner, I believe.

One to cross off, as you say.

Quite right there.

When the corner was up for sale I had it valued at far less than 650K. Doesn't seem to do the trade to comand that value.

Definately on the pass on by list. I'm suprised the council inspectors haven't issued prohibition orders.

Steve L.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi all

Lisa quote "Blimey Colin that is disgraceful, who do these people think they are?"

The answer Lisa is a resident, like it is some sort of privliliged position it gives them on a site. We only use commercial sites so perhaps are more likley we come across this type of attitude than someone who uses only club sites.

since writing my first post I have had time to dwell on some of the occurances that we have come across that at first were not in the memory bank, like the van that was on a seasonal pitch next to us, and on turning up at 8.30pm on a friday night this moron pulled out our EHU from the socket because there was none free (busy w/end) with the statment "tough I have paid for electric one year up front so I am having it, you short term visitors can (--------) do without it" it was only after I threatend to tear off his head and mount it on his tv pole (and yes I could have done it) he put ours back in and took the one out of a old couple futher down the site, being too frightend to answer back they started to pack up and leave, I went down to the office and told the owner what had happend, he arrived with a "t" piece that was inserted into the EHU so they could have thier electic back on. next morning they came over and thanked us for interviening saying the owner had apologised and given them a refund for the rest of their stay.

oh and the guy in the next pitch?? he dissapeared saturday morning a older man came on sunday morning with a landrover packed up and towed the van off site without saying a word, (sorted).

colin.

BTW. on a lighter note I have only ever been asked the age of a van once and that was at ganavan sands in OBAN. on arriving in the old VW motorhome I asked for a pitch for 3 nights with EHU yes that ok the bloke on reception said "what's the registration no" when I told him he said " how old it that then". being a bit put out by this I replied ""what!! well as a matter of fact it is 18years old, done 124,000 perfectly road worthy and never failed an MOT, we have had it 10years and it has never broken down or given one ounce of bother not like some sites we have been to. WHY do you ask not that it is any concern of yours"" his answer left me with huge ammounts of egg on my face.

he said "well I only enquired because we had a mini bus that year and I wondered if it was the same model; the one with the 3 litre engine and 5 speed box.

OUCH!!!

 

[craigmurray]

hi steve i like your point, i always thought from an early age of caravanning with my parents that it was a classless leisure activity? It didnt matter what you drove or towed that everyone was equal? when in a caravan we all pee in the same pot as next door and other ablutions, i did notice though when we had our old van a 1987 award nightstar that people would chat freely then when we up graded to a 2001 sterling elite trekker people would stay away, we are the same people but different van. we now make a concerted effort to be the first to speak just in case there is a class issue???

 

[Thorpedo]

I offer the below as a flip side of the discussion and not to be argumentative.

I'm surprised that people are so concerned about this apparent descrimination, I can't see a problem because generally it must be very rare.

My last van was 23 years old and my car was 10 years and no one batted an eyelid. Well actually my neighbour stopped talking to me on the occasions it was on the drive, but then he's a Truck driver and biased against Caravans anyway.

Some sites don't take Dogs.

Some Sites are Adult only.

Some Sites don't take single sex groups.

Many sites try to avoid taking travelers.

If a site owner wants to attempt to maintain his perception of 'a standard' to presumably protect the future of his business I guess we have to accept his decision even if we disagree with the criteria used to make that decision.

How many times have I read topics on this site where people complain that X caravan site (even C.C sites) had a load of Gypsy's or travelers. My guess is that the sites in question were not selective enough in these cases.

 

[Allen774]

Hi the c&cc hertford club a few years ago had about 8 caravans that had been dumped after a nights stay.Food for thought

 

[caravanchris1]

hi steve we experianced a ur not quite good enough for us a few yrs ago when we owned a ci europa van again in excelent cond,t we went to a cc club site in leek the warden asked us size of van when i told him size an make he said we mite not be able to fit us in ,we had booked in ad, and where members ccc. he said i have a look he walked out side looked at spotless van and said i mite be able to squeez u in he did fit us in behide a hedge out of site after passing empty pitches around site we felt like we were not welcome, we have never returned to that site even now we own a 2006 challenger 540 they not getting my money. ur welcome next to us, we all have to work and rest

 

[Steve L]

Yes chris, i too have voted with my tow hitch and have found a site behind a pub that's much more hospitable.

It has NO HARDSTANDINGS, NO SHOWERS, NO WASHING MACHINE and NO HEATED TOILET BLOCK.

What it does have is a welcoming landlord who will put your van on pitch with his 4x4. He appears only too willing to help. His approach to my enquirey was, come and have a look, we have two vans on now feel free to chat with them.

I did just that and they were very complementary of him.

Guess what?

He is a tourer owner himself, not a venture capitalist!

Steve L.

 

[Richard_374360763]

Oh dear, having started 'vanning only last year I do hope we don't come up against this sort of snobbish behaviour this year. You see, being on a tight budget and it being our first 'van, we are the happy owners of a 1976 ABI Target. It has just what we need, didn't skint us, and has already given us several wonderful holidays. The fact that we tow it with a brand new car may look a little odd but so what? I am hoping that the caravanning community is as friendly and welcoming as the camping community were.

 

[Surfer]

Yes chris, i too have voted with my tow hitch and have found a site behind a pub that's much more hospitable.

It has NO HARDSTANDINGS, NO SHOWERS, NO WASHING MACHINE and NO HEATED TOILET BLOCK.

What it does have is a welcoming landlord who will put your van on pitch with his 4x4. He appears only too willing to help. His approach to my enquirey was, come and have a look, we have two vans on now feel free to chat with them.

I did just that and they were very complementary of him.

Guess what?

He is a tourer owner himself, not a venture capitalist!

Steve L.

Sounds like the type of place we look for as long as it has electric we are happy. Pity you can't name the site but if you wish, I give the moderator my permission for you to email me. May be nice to chat with you off line anyway.

 

[ANDREW_374368566]

Oh dear, having started 'vanning only last year I do hope we don't come up against this sort of snobbish behaviour this year. You see, being on a tight budget and it being our first 'van, we are the happy owners of a 1976 ABI Target. It has just what we need, didn't skint us, and has already given us several wonderful holidays. The fact that we tow it with a brand new car may look a little odd but so what? I am hoping that the caravanning community is as friendly and welcoming as the camping community were.

Well hi - I hate all this talk of old vans being rubbished! I am a new caravan owner but to be honest if I see an old tourer I cant help but pay it the attention it deserves. The days when caravans were diffrent and not cloned and makers were easy to spot.

I review lots of new and used caravans, but as I always say - if your getting pleasure from your 20 plus year old tourer, its safe and dry - the guy with the new van I can tell you wont be gaining any extra caravanning pleasure. I recently saw a nice 89 Cotswold on site, a brill caravan it looked so distinctive, and commanded respect. Yes I love my new tourer - but dont look down at a van thats years old. if the van was sited and never visited and left to decompose, then yes but otherwise, well lets see more classic tourers on site!

Andrew

 

[Steve L]

Hi Richard.

As you can see by my start of the thread, I used to own a 1982 vintage caravan myself. Most folks couldn't believe it was so old as it was very tidy indeed.

I must admit I was most put out when asked about the age of my caravan.

The site that asked me this has now won several awards of best site and a gold for conservation etc.

Looks to me like they were more interested in fancey stickers and trophy's than catering for the caravanning public.

I don't see people with older vans as being any different to me at all. In fact most of the time those folk have languished of love and DIY into their vans to make them a home. Some of our new van owners just use their vans and not realy care that much as they trade theirs in before any work is needed.

I've already added 4 extra power points to our 2005 van and a couple of corner shelves to make it a better van for us.

Keep on vanning old or new.

Steve L.