Motorhome canopies on non-awning pitches

lanerideruk
lanerideruk Forum Participant Posts: 5
edited January 2020 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

I have been given 2 versions of how I may use my motorhome canopy when sited on a Non-awning pitch, both of the versions were given me by different wardens on different sites. Could anybody, who knows the club's stand on this please detail on here or tell me where I can find the information, I have not found any referance under the site rules section of the handbook. Thanks

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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #2

    There has to be a 3m gap between outfits (an outfit consists of a MH, or a car +caravan+ awning) Therefore on most non awning pitch there should be enough space for a car+caravan pitched side by side and still have 3m gap to the next outfit. If you MH and canopy is within the 'footprint' of a car+caravan and still leaves the 3m gap then you can use a canopy. This is what has been posted on here by a serving warden. Some pitches do have a car and caravan parked in a row and therefore you can't have a canopy as it would breach the 3m rule.

    I would email the club direct. Hope this helps

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #3

    Posted by a staff member when previously discussed:

    "Standard Pitch Without Awning

    Members cannot use awnings of any shape or size (including porch awnings) on this pitch type.

    Motorhomes can use a wind-out sun shade as long as a 3 metre fire separation is maintained.

    Members may be asked to wind the canopy in sufficiently to achieve the 3 metre gap."

    There'd be no problem with your sun canopy on a 'Standard Pitch with Awning'.

    Hope this helpsSmile

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited February 2016 #4

    Presumably a caravan could also use a wind-out canopy provided the car went under it. Wink

  • ErnieJH
    ErnieJH Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited February 2016 #5

    I suppose you could also put your car in the visitors car park while the caravan awning is wound out!

  • MotorHomer2
    MotorHomer2 Forum Participant Posts: 41
    edited February 2016 #6

    Most sites I've used say the wind out is OK as long as you don't have sides on it.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #7

    I suppose you could also put your car in the visitors car park while the caravan awning is wound out!

    Don't think that would be acceptable. 'Visitor' parking is at a premium and non existent on one or two sites! Same with motorhomes with wind out  on non awning pitch and a car (Left on Visitor Parking) That too would not be acceptable in my eyes.

  • mbee1
    mbee1 Forum Participant Posts: 557
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    edited February 2016 #8

    To me a wind out canopy is an awning without walls!  No awning pitch no canopy.

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
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    edited February 2016 #9

    To me a wind out canopy is an awning without walls!  No awning pitch no canopy.

    Write your comments here...that's why I usually book an awning pitch, in case I want to deploy my canopy, it may deprive someone who wants a full awning ? But rules are rules.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited February 2016 #10

    To me a wind out canopy is an awning without walls!  No awning pitch no canopy.

    fortunately, to the club, they are different (which they are....)....

    a wind out sun canopy is a temporary adjustable/retractable  'shade' from sun or rain....

    an awning is a much more permanent structure which provides caravanners with extra living space on site....

    'chalk and chicken' AMOBUTSWink

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
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    edited February 2016 #11

    non awning means no awning, how hard is it to understand.

  • rayjsj
    rayjsj Forum Participant Posts: 930
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    edited February 2016 #12

    That just leaves it down to the definition of an Awning, an enclosed structure, or a sheet wound out from the side ?

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited February 2016 #13

    non awning means no awning, how hard is it to understand.

    youre right, obviously harder for some than for others....

    still, the Club has helped all those finding this difficult, by spelling out what can and cant be done on an 'awning pitch', which includes the winding out of MH canopies provided they dont impact on the spacing regs....

    so, no awnings (caravan or MH) on non-awning pitches (as you would expect), but MH sun canopies (which the club rightly does not view as awnings) are permitted subject to.....

    fairly easy really....Wink

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #14

    To me a wind out canopy is an awning without walls!  No awning pitch no canopy.

    I guess the crucial thing is to look at the reasons behind the rule. If a car, caravan and awning do not fit within the spacing then it does not, simple. Now the non awning pitch is all about spacing, so if just a motorcaravan and a canopy fit within this spacing then that is clearly and logically okay. 

    Thankfully this is how it is!Smile

    i

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited February 2016 #15

    Perhaps it should be viewed in width slots. A non-awning pitch has two slots, an awning one has three. Provided the occupant only utilises the relevant number of "slots", does it matter. i.e. a caravanner with a small van and a porch awning could pitch with
    his car and awning in a fore and aft configuration, only utilising two "slots".

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #16

    The one thing that seems illogical to me, if wind outs are permitted for motor homes on non awning pitches, why not full awnings. I know very few MH's use them, but what is the logical reason for prohibiting them. If the spacing is maintained by parking
    a car alongside a caravan, on a non awning pitch, then surely it will with an awning alongside a motorhome. Personally I think it would be more logical to say non awning means just that, no ifs or buts.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #17

    Perhaps it should be viewed in width slots. A non-awning pitch has two slots, an awning one has three. Provided the occupant only utilises the relevant number of "slots",
    does it matter. i.e. a caravanner with a small van and a porch awning could pitch with his car and awning in a fore and aft configuration, only utilising two "slots".

    In reality, that's as it is!Smile

    When I ordered my new van! I ordered a canopy, nothing else. Just that, no sides, no front, nothing, just a canopy! Manufactures classify these things as canopies, so do the club from what we witness.

    Of course, one option could be is to book an awning pitch then on arrivial ask to swap to a non awning once clarification is given. As many non awning pitches were 'prime' awning pitches in the past and as many of us, including wardens possibly, would appreciate
    freeing up an awning pitch for them to have or book out then that is a win win situation.. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2016 #18

    The one thing that seems illogical to me, if wind outs are permitted for motor homes on non awning pitches, why not full awnings. I know very few MH's use them, but what is the logical reason for prohibiting them. If the spacing is maintained by parking a car alongside a caravan, on a non awning pitch, then surely it will with an awning alongside a motorhome. Personally I think it would be more logical to say non awning means just that, no ifs or buts.

    ..I think it boils down to the fact that a wind out canopy without sides can be retracted quickly in the case of an "incident" and vehicle moved, against the time it takes to get anything else out of the way,

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
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    edited February 2016 #19

    Plus if it is a non awning pitch then something that is so evidently an awning, if allowed for one person could lead to untold issues where others are refused their awning.

    Better by far have a black and white rule equally applied, anything else will only invite problems.

    Just a shame the CC never took onboard earlier the widely adopted inter unit spacing, doing its own thing and placing pitches too close together for safety.

  • TimJim
    TimJim Forum Participant Posts: 162
    edited February 2016 #20

    You rent the pitch. I have often gone pitch no awning and put a caravanstore up. Never had an issue. As long as everything is within the pitch boundary.

    Let's sort speeding and dogs and such like before we start moaning about which wardens allow what on what sites.

    Tj

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2016 #21

    The one thing that seems illogical to me, if wind outs are permitted for motor homes on non awning pitches, why not full awnings. I know very few MH's use them, but what is the logical reason for prohibiting them. If the spacing is maintained by parking
    a car alongside a caravan, on a non awning pitch, then surely it will with an awning alongside a motorhome. Personally I think it would be more logical to say non awning means just that, no ifs or buts.

    ..I think it boils down to the fact that a wind out canopy without sides can be retracted quickly in the case of an "incident" and vehicle moved, against the time it takes to get anything else out of the way,

    ...Ps and a wind out canopy can also be only part openedWink

    PPs when did number  two purple appearSurprised

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,056 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #22

    The first two responses to your question give the definitive answer laneride. So long as the required gap relating to fire safety is maintained, you won't have a problem, especially where pitches are clearly defined HS pitches. We use our wind out all the
    time on both awning and no awning pitches. No sides in though.

  • C Williams
    C Williams Forum Participant Posts: 78
    edited February 2016 #23

    Leaving safety issues aside for a moment, how would you feel about  a wind-out canopy, with sides, being used on a lochside, non-awning pitch? I felt that was unfair.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2016 #24

    Leaving safety issues aside for a moment, how would you feel about  a wind-out canopy, with sides, being used on a lochside, non-awning pitch? I felt that was unfair.

    ...And was the warden aware of the situation and did nothing about it,I take it you did say something at the time,

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
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    edited February 2016 #25

    Leaving safety issues aside for a moment, how would you feel about  a wind-out canopy, with sides, being used on a lochside, non-awning pitch? I felt that was unfair.

    Write your comments here...he probably arrives before 12 and wants to leave at 16.00 as well

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited February 2016 #26

    Leaving safety issues aside for a moment, how would you feel about  a wind-out canopy, with sides, being used on a lochside, non-awning pitch? I felt that was unfair.

    Wricomments here...he probably arrives before 12 and wants to leave at 16.00 as well

    Write your comments here...Thats not so bad, but why go to all that trouble just for a day unless he was trying it outWink

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #27

    Perhaps it should be viewed in width slots. A non-awning pitch has two slots, an awning one has three. Provided the occupant only utilises the relevant number of "slots", does it matter. i.e. a caravanner with a small van and a porch awning could pitch with his car and awning in a fore and aft configuration, only utilising two "slots".

    Width slots, now that's a good idea, those small campervans with rear of vehicle awnings which when together are shorter than a twin axel caravan could also have a canopy out or a car. Afterall they would still occupy just two width slots.

    However, I'm happy as it is at present with the canopy (not an awning) being allowed with just a motorcaravan on a non awning pitch.

  • HogshawRabbit
    HogshawRabbit Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited January 2020 #28

    Yes I am with you I will use my sun shade on ANY pitch.

     

  • HogshawRabbit
    HogshawRabbit Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited January 2020 #29

    Yes I agree a sun shade is NOT an awning. Its a temp sun shade and as long as the gap is 3m I will wind mine out on ANY pitch

  • HogshawRabbit
    HogshawRabbit Forum Participant Posts: 9
    edited January 2020 #30

    Rubbish I disagree I wind out is a temp shade. It is not an awning.

    An awning is a TENT

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2020 #31

    Bit late with your comments as thread is four years old ,surprised