Storage: muddy field or dedicated site?
We're going to get our first caravan in March and are trying to decide where to keep it. There is no chance of getting it to our house so it will have to be stored and loaded and everything, at the storage site.
There are two good local options but we're having trouble deciding.
1) A muddy farmer's field very close to our house. Features are:
Close (3 min drive) via a rough farm lane.
access any time with key
Fenced and gated with key
slightly sloping
no facilities (electric,water, whatever)
some trees (I wouldn't accept a pitch under a tree)
could be difficult to get it out because of ground conditions when wet, but it's on a working farm and apparently there would always be someone there with a farm vehicle to get it out. We're planning to use the caravan all year round so that's an issue in wet wintery weather.
a bit more space between caravans than the other site
half the price of the dedicated site
a friend of a friend has kept his caravan there for years and is apparently happy with it.
2) A dedicated storage site:
About a 20 min drive away
level hard standing
Self parking.
access for vehicles or pedestrians.
caravans and motor homes tightly packed (I.e. Might have to move it out to open the door to get in.)
fenced and gated with video cameras and lighting
Water and electric point available
access limited to 09:00 to 17:00, (in winter 10:00 to 16:00) They prefer you to give them 24 hrs notice.
twice the cost of the farmer's field.
Cassoa gold rated
I like the idea of the field being very close to the house, and access at any time, but not so keen on the mud. We're going to go caravanning on muddy fields though so I think that might be a daft objection.
We're probably going to insure with the caravan club, who I think would accept either.
What do you'd think?
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First question I'd ask the insurance company on cost of insurance for each site. We have to store ours, moved storage when our original brilliant storage sold and new owners introductory letter wasn't friendly they removed water tap and wanted you to cut grass around your plot! That had hardstanding roads but if you wanted to make your plot hardstanding it was at your own expense, most times there was someone with a tractor to assist - we had to use the offer on our first outing! New site is vast, both gold storage sites, new site has cameras and dogs plus hardstandings so if anything that is better than last and 24 hour access and night security person too. Whilst the vans appear closely parked we have never had to move it to open the door or load up. Personally I'd check the hardstanding one again especially for this point.
We keep everything in our van bedding, toiletries, pots pans, crockery etc etc even tinned and dried food in proper containers as well. Thus all we need to take on our trips are clothes cannister of water for a brew on the way and toilet flush 😃 fresh food fridge goods any extras and ourselves.
Ours is about 20 minutes away but we combine checking it with a visit in that direction or treat ourselves to a day out. Our biggest issue is washing and a good vac through we can park outside for that but lots of planning involved and the weather cooperating etc. Plus it's a double journey or at the start or end of a trip.
I hope you can sort, you'll only commit to 12 months possible less so you could change your mind! I'm sure you'll enjoy your new hobby.
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Difficult because of your only two options, I use a small 'Garden Centre' that is 5 minutes away, hardcore road, harcore standing, CCTV, locked gate, freedom within daylight hours to come and go and owner lives adjacent to entrance, but it is not rated. Also I am lucky in that I can bring my 'van' home and park it on the driveway for washing/readiness for any trip.
The Club insurance have not penalised me so I'm happy, but I would think again if it was a muddy field. Shame there is not a third option along the lines of my storage for you nearby.
I think with your two options I would choose the Cassoa site as you cannot ready your van at home, and the other would be hell on a rainy, muddy day. Meantime something else may turn up during the year.
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Is your caravan a new one?
Insurers give a discount for CASSOA Gold so that will recoup some cost, also they may not insure it on the farmers field but obviously your friend does.
Personally I would go for Gold for the peace of mind. If you get bogged down in field you will have to wait till the farmer can come and tug you out where as on the storage site you have no such issues, maybe a place to wash the van. Once it has the basics in when you go away you only have to load clothes and fresh food so not an issue.
Bring it home the night before a major holiday if you can or go to site day before and put fridge on gas so its all cold before loading food.
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Depends if you are working or retired I think. A muddy field for me would be a no. A well drained field wit ha stoned field access would be a minimum.
If I was working being limited time wise I am not sure how the opening times of 09:00 to 17:00, (in winter 10:00 to 16:00) would suit. They would not have suited me when working with children as in the summer we would often pay for the Sunday night and leave around 8.30pm or, if we were closer to home on the Monday morning early often from a CL. Now I am retired and we tour in blocks between 4 and 7 weeks the hard standing one would be fine.
You do not give the prices or a general location (nearest town perhaps) so it is unlikely that amyone can suggest an alternative.
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The CAMC does give us a bit of discount for a Gold site but not much, so this really would not be a factor. Do you know anything of the history of the two, thefts or break ins. If a site has gold status it should in theory not have much if any.
Personally I would go with the gold site. Like the one you mention, ours is all hard standing and no trees, and even blades of grass are exterminated by regular weed killing patrols. Never had any problems with damp in the winter months, which I would think much more likely in a wet muddy and occasionally grass covered field.
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Storage it's a personal choice , we don't have any other choice but storage it's 20 minutes away , Cassoa gold site 24 hours manned 365 days a year with patrols & CCTV .
Tarmac roads & hard standing around 600 to 700 units
Open 0700 till 2000 for exit /entry , closed Christmas day & New year's day it gives us complete peace of mind knowing that it's 99.9% safe , we even have it serviced on site by an excellent swift approved mobile engineer.
It suits us & certainly protects our valuable asset for £400 per year .👍
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