Camper van parking etiquette

2

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  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #32

    I think good order, neatness and symmetry should be maintained. It always was so on Club sites in the past and it's a sign of the times that standards have fallen. 

    PS I am over on the mainland where no one gives a damn what you guys on the island choose to do. 

    of course there are those folks amongst us who prefer informal, non regimental, random and even asymmetric 'organisation'. Some sites even benefit from the likes, in my opinion of course!

  • InaD
    InaD Club Member Posts: 1,701 ✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #33

    Dare I say it - but "over there" it is quite common not to park nose in, nor nose out, but nose sideways, ie side (awning) facing outwards from the pitch.  I personally quite like that, but of course it means that everyone can see you when they walk past,
    and some may not like it of course.

  • dunernin
    dunernin Forum Participant Posts: 19
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    edited July 2016 #34

    We should adopt the French method whereby there are no rules and you park according to your likes be it diagonally nose in or nose out, just as long as you park within your boundary and at a safe distance. In that way you can park for the best view, the evening sun etc. Much better than ranks of caravans and motorhomes lined up to Major Site Wardens wishes! After all we are on holiday, not army manouvres.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #35

    I have found that except on sites with "awkward" pitches most wardens are quite laid back about the way you pitch,as long as you have the req spacing 

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited July 2016 #36

    I know that Club sites have excellent facilities and lovely even grass, hard standings etc. but they are regimented and spacing is quite tight. In fact, we stayed at Cirencester Park before going to France and they didn't even have level pitches. Contrast that with many French sites that have hedged pitches, much more space and all at half the price. Plus, of course, no silly rules about lining up to a peg (what's all that about for heavens sake!) and it's no wonder that those able to travel abroad favour the continent against the UK.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #37

    It does only seem to be France that has they larger pitches and of course when many of use go they are usually only half full. We have been on quite a few sites in Austria and Germany where we would have quite liked to have eight feet between our awning
    and our neighbours awning. 

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #38

    When we last went to Italy we had a boat cruise on a lake and as we were aproaching a couple of the lakeside villages, it took us close to some campsites and the space between the units was to say the least a bit tight,6ft at the most i would think 

    ps 2014 By train first class on all journeysCool

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #39

    It does only seem to be France that has they larger pitches and of course when many of use go they are usually only half full. We have been on quite a few sites in Austria and Germany where we would have quite liked to have eight feet between our awning
    and our neighbours awning. 

    David

    Mmm, nose to tail is not uncommon.  Even in some cases with the tow hitch removed to squeeze the van in.

    And vans in adjacent rows so close that both could not open side windows at the same time!

  • black caviar
    black caviar Forum Participant Posts: 242
    edited July 2016 #40

    Our hymer caravan has its door on the "other" side and i have asked wardens if they want us to reverse on ? But they werent bothered which way as long as we parked at the peg , but i always try and find an end or a corner pitch so as not to annoy others,
    cheers mrs bc , that was at west ayton , cherry hinton, clumber , and scotch corner(a66) 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #41

    It does only seem to be France that has they larger pitches and of course when many of use go they are usually only half full. We have been on quite a few sites in Austria and Germany where we would have quite liked to have eight feet between our awning
    and our neighbours awning. 

    David

    Mmm, nose to tail is not uncommon.  Even in some cases with the tow hitch removed to squeeze the van in.

    And vans in adjacent rows so close that both could not open side windows at the same time!

    ..We were in Spain (Santa Susanna) and there was a camp site we some times walked past that stretched about 400yds or so on the beach side and all the vehicles both c/vans&m/vans on the front row were pitched nose to tail with no space between them

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited July 2016 #42

    I think good order, neatness and symmetry should be maintained. It always was so on Club sites in the past and it's a sign of the times that standards have fallen. 

    PS I am over on the mainland where no one gives a damn what you guys on the island choose to do. 

    ...Thats what i keep telling my brother when he complains how hard done by they areWink

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #43

    In answer to the op's question......the leaflet that you are given on arrival at every CC site makes it all very clear.

    This shows that you have to pitch in the following order - Car / Caravan (or motorhome) / Awning (just omit any of these components you don't have) and keep the caravan / motorhome just to the right of the marker peg.

    All this is as viewed from the front of the pitch.

    Keeps everyone happy and complies with the rules.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #44

    The OPs question has already been answered correctly, vans can be placed forwards or rear facing.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #45

    But, in the case of caravans or motorcaravans with cars on non-awning pitches which side does the car go on? The habitation door side or the other?

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited July 2016 #46

    The site instructions are very clear - car / van / awning......whichever of those components you have with you or your pitch allows.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #47

    Ian, there are sites where cars have to go in front of vans but the vans can still face in or out. There are sites,eg Hillhead where you can park your van sideways on some pitches. Smile

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #48

    But, in the case of caravans or motorcaravans with cars on non-awning pitches which side does the car go on? The habitation door side or the other?

    It depends where the peg is, some pitches have corner pegs, others have central pegs. Some pitches are long and narrow.

    edit, to be honest I've never seen a "standard" pitch except on the very new or refurbished sites.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited July 2016 #49

    Sounds a daft system to me. You have to go round the back of the van to get something from the car when it's raining? I would never park up like that unless told to. The sensible arrangement surely is van/awning/car or if no space, car across the front of
    the van and awning.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #50

    No doubt there are sites where most want to look at the view, Bunree for instance...customer choice and all that. I'm quite pleased to able to face which way I want. I don't mind anything really as long as it's a decent pitch or site.Wink

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #51

    But, in the case of caravans or motorcaravans with cars on non-awning pitches which side does the car go on? The habitation door side or the other?

    It depends where the peg is, some pitches have corner pegs, others have central pegs. Some pitches are long and narrow.

    edit, to be honest I've never seen a "standard" pitch except on the very new or refurbished sites.

    As far as I know centre pegs are long gone, aren't they are all corner to peg pitches on CC sites these days?

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #52

    Micky, there's still quite a mixture out there!

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #53

    Micky, there's still quite a mixture out there!

    Really? Then we do need to pay attention, every site leaflet I've seen in recent years have corner to peg, can't find a centre one anywhere these days!

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #54

    You'll have to try harder, they're definitely out there, been on a few this year already! Wink

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #55

    Are they affiliated ones?

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #56

    No. I think Brecon was one, nice new well spaced pitches....

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #57
  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #58

    I think you'll find the pegs are central Micky and you could have your van either way round.

    edit...thinks do not dig yourself in any further Mrs Brue...Happy

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #59
  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #60

    I think you 2 are at cross-purposes.

    Surely Brue means the peg is towards the centre of the pitch, not the centre of the van.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2016 #61

    Whereas, on some sites the pegs are in the LH corner as pitches are narrow, so car across the front.

    On those, if you go nose in with a UK van,  your door would open onto the grass.