Site Motorhome Service Points

peedee
peedee Club Member Posts: 9,387 ✭✭✭
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edited September 2020 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Why are the clubs motorhome service points so difficult to use in particular the grey waste disposal point. I realise the site’s topography might influence access but why is the grey waste disposal point so difficult to use? Without exception they are covered by a heavy manhole cover which only a fit person can lift. Even so you may find this is under the motorhome by the time you have manoeuvred into position which also makes removal of the cover difficult. If you remove the cover prior to positioning your outlet you then run the risk of dropping a wheel into the hole. 

The easiest disposal points to use are those which provide a trench across the road covered by a grid. The trench slopes into a manhole at one side whose cover can be removed if you need to dump black waste. Both sides might have water points, one being for rinsing the other for drinking water. I know of no motrhomes or RVs which could not easily use this configuration with the minimum of effort.

What is the reason for not adopting this easy to use design? If there are none could it be phased in on sites as and when they are redeveloped/established.

peedee

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #2

    Yes I know it's an old thread. I did a search for the topic and this is all I can find although I know there have been more recent ones 

    PD got his wish and the club have installed drive over grids at numerous locations. However, the positioning of several we have used has not been that good. The latest culprit was that at Clumber park, sited alongside a brick wall with the taps on. It's width is such that with the position of our outlet on the passenger side, I would have been scraping the paint off on the drivers side and still been lucky to get the contents into the grid. There would of course have been the option to go round the wrong way but it's a very busy area and it wouldn't  have been particularly safe. So I had to use some lengths of my collapz drainage pipes I bought for service pitches. A totally ridiculous situation which could have been avoided by making it one element longer.

    Our van isn't as wide as some. Any 8 footers, with drainage on the same side as us, wouldn't even get close.

    This and some of the other issues we have come across does make one wonder who is responsible for there design and wether they have ever used such a disposal.

     

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #3

    The Warwick shuffle is a spectator sport at that site. You want to see what happens at YRP and Barnard Castle as well😂 Certain pitches at BC you have to drive off the site, and back into the Site to get to dump point. York is queue up across pitches and block off the rear access gate. Woe betide if there is a caravanner manoeuvring to unhook or  hook up, takes forever to leave Site.

    All good fun🤣

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2020 #4

    But most RVs have a proper waste disposal system with a connecting pipe so there is no need for the dance to line up as the pathetic waste outlets on most motor caravans built? this side of the atlantic surprised

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #5

    Perhaps I'm expecting a bit much JVB, but I thought the whole idea of a drive over disposal was that it did away with connecting pipes.😉 Ours has a wide diameter high discharge pipe and does not take long to empty. We don't tie it up for more than a few minutes if I can get it over the drain.  Perhaps the club just want to discourage continental vans, which more typically have there outlets on the opposite side to U.K. ones. Although I think it's more a case of lack of any thought. OK I will except the poor positioning in a busy traffic area outside the toilet block as a low cost solution, as the plumbing is existing. However, they could be so much better designed. 

  • LLM
    LLM Forum Participant Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #7

    John, I think you have been ill "advised". 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #8

    The three I have used more recently have been wide enough to access either side. When we were last at Clumber in 2017 the service point had not been converted.

    David

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #9

    I've seen the one at Cirencester but didnt use it as we were on a service pitch, we haven't visited the other two sites. They all look OK. There are two at Clumber, one at each block, both constructed in the same manner. I would estimate the width the same as those in your photos, however the grid is tight up against the kerb. A 5 foot high wall with the taps on is present a kerb stone width in. Sorry, I should have taken a photo.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited September 2020 #10

    Brighton is another with a "proper" grey waste setup. Still far too many with manhole covers though. Perhaps those of us of advancing years should ask the wardens to come and lift it for us. wink. Maybe then, it might prompt the CAMC to give the conversion of them a bit more priority.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2020 #11

    should have kept your wastemasterwink with the huge hole in the clubs finances (as many touring sites) the chances of much upgrade work on sites for some time is on the back burner unless it would be for all members not just one sectionsurprised

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #12

    I am surprised it's not considered a Heath and Safety issue on sites. In most cases its difficult to even to get a decent purchase to lift them. A bit of chain or knotted rope would help.

    David

  • LLM
    LLM Forum Participant Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #13

    John, it would appear that you are saying that you have first hand experience of the drainage systems on all makes and models of all motorhomes produced in Europe including the UK.  That is seriously impressive 👍.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2020 #14

    why would i need "the knowledge" when one of the great time passes on  sites is watching  t the different dance rituals when near a motor caravan point even the later  modified ones (Hawes has a great view)cool

    ps i have had two motor caravanswink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2020 #15

    Why be "jealous?" of motor caravans, i have had two  before i realised it was too much hassle having to think whether we could get to the places we did before,we had them  and and now can again go out any where any time,

    Ps all the other site facilities you mention are for All members usewink

  • LLM
    LLM Forum Participant Posts: 1,555 ✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #16

    Well, I have heard of twitchers and train spotters but motor caravan waste pipe spotting is something entirely new to me.  

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #17

    Surely as the Caravan and MOTORHOME club, we should be catering for ALL members?

    Motorhomes have a few different requirements, they should be equally catered for, after all, they do pay the same membership fee .

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #18

    No, just enlightened and socially aware. But why are you talking of political correctness when the thread is about MHSPs?

    I must say the refurbed points are a vast improvement no matter which side the drain tap is fixed. They remove the need to be strong, fit and able in order to use them, something which many of us are not. 👍🏻

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2020 #19

    My apologies to all, but I have completely lost the plot of this conversation, which as far as I could see was a gentle bit of banter🤷‍♀️

    I cant even recall what I actually posted, but if it upset someone, many apologies. I do remain baffled though. If it’s the thought crime of deviating from waste dump points, heaven help is all I can add. Bloody barking at times this forum🤷‍♀️🤪