Does Caravanning have an image problem
Comments
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I think you've hit the nail on the head there AD. Before I bailed & sold the LV I got nothing but stick, it wasn't nasty but it certainly let me know the general consensus of opinion of folk generally. I doubt if it can be changed now, or ever. It's ingrained
into the psyche of folk.0 -
We are a family of "first generation caravaners". I used to go camping with my parents when younger (the Eurocamp type thing in France etc). As a family we got into caravanning because camping took too much effort!! We go to a Christian festival each year
on the Royal Bath and West Showground... I was finding that it would take me most of the day at the end to pack everything away (my wife likes some creature comforts!). I decided I had had enough of that, and as a result we got into caravanning. The things
that attracted me to caravaning were the ability to get away more often with out having a huge amount of work to do to set everything up and take it down etc We also like being able to do our own thing... getting up when we want etc. Caravanning gives us the
best flexibility for our needs. We have done Gites/cottages in the past, but that is just a week a year, whereas it is relatively cheap to pop away for a weekend in the caravan etc.We have only ever stayed on commerical sites or CLs... I might try a CC site at some point. But the impression I get is that there are a lot of rules and regulations.... Which of course may not be true, but it is the impression I get (parking to the peg
etc....).We are in our early 40s and kids are 10, 9 and 7.
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I think the older generation in general are getting pretty negative comments lately, not helped by the media. When we were young we could not afford many things the young have now, we didn't have a house phone, let alone a mobile and, with young children,
we could never afford holidays, let alone holidays abroad. After a lifetime of us both working yes now we can afford a nice caravan and car. So frankly I'm not really bothered what people think now. Also caravanners, on the whole, spend money in this country,
helping our economy along, so there is one of many positives.0 -
imthink Davids OP hits the nail on the head when he asks about the perception of those with no first hand experience, through either family or friends....
before we got our first van, eight years ago, i had tented once (awful weather, vowed never again....) and thats it....
my perception of vanning then would have probably benn similar to most of the 'cliched' comments we hear regularly....
then we helped our pals get to John O Groats for their charity cycle ride using their MH. As they set of on their bikes (using B&Bs) we set off south in their van....totally loved it....
perspective changed......
recently, our daughter and SIL spent two nights with us on site for a family gathering....never been in a MH before, totally loved it....no image issues there.....
so, in a way, its ignorance of the great times that can be had which might cause some of the angst....
OK, caravans are slow....we want to be careful, dont we?
but as said above, who cares, we love what we do....
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I was bought up caravaning so I don't see it has got an image problem , however to some the Club may come over as favouring the older (sorry) members and not having much time for young familys
Is this image thing just with the UK folk ,and do people living in Europe have this image problem with caravaning, or do they get on with life ,as we should ....
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The image of any activity is determined by the type of people who do that activity. Then you get the steroetype view developing. Trainspotters become anoraks, football fans become mindless chanting yobs and caravanners become old fuddy duddies who cause
traffic problems. There's a grain of truth which then gets built up into a general view and is fostered by any comedian or reporter looking for a cheap hit. I'll be blocking the A11, the A14 and the M4 in a day or two. Then I might chant a few footie slogans
at passing trains. Happy days!0 -
Good point HD, I think family members that have been brought up within the fraternity of LV'ing will have a more positive attitude to LV's but the general perception with the majority I fear is as AD points out.
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We were very young, mid twenties when we first started touring, although my OH came with a caravanning history! We had a small camper van, then tented, then caravanned, now got small MH as well. Have to admit that if CC sites out of school holidays are all
most folks see, then I can quite understand the somewhat biased opinions some folks may have of those who caravan. Usually all largish, super shiny new vans, usually full to the brim with lots of paraphenalia, and equipment, taking quite a long time to sort
out. But this is only a tiny snap shot of the millions who do tour, all sorts and all ages are out their doing their own thing, enjoying being out and about in different touring outfits. We have noticed things vary greatly as well on different types of Club
Sites. Club does perpetuate a certain image though, sadly not helped much by last years COTY debacle!0 -
As a member of over 25 years I feel that there is an image issue! You only have to look at the magazine and it promotes mostly new caravans over "£25,000 and 4x4's that cost in excess of £40,000. There is very little for people like me who cannot afford
these prices. So, the image promoted is of wealthy ex company owners who do not have any financial worries and can go out every other year and buy new cars and new caravans.Poorer members and younger members are therefore alienated, not just because of the above but the cost of inclusive holidays now being promoted. The cost of which are way out of reach to a lot of members.
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Sorry Ian I just dont agree with you, take me I have a 2007 Bailey, I tow it with a 2007 car am retired Ive just come back from a great 28 days around Franc paying around 15 euro's a night and the diesel is cheaper, I'd like to think one day I could buy
an all singing all dancing 20 grand caravan but it aint going to happen so I enjoy what Ive got..0 -
That's just the Club though. There are a lot of savvy younger owners happy to buy a decent second hand van and car to pull it with, in fact my Mum and Dad have neighbours either side who fit this bill. Young familys, happy just to get away each weekend and
few times in school holidays. Neither have any interest in Clubs though, prefer commercial sites.Thinking back 30 years ago, we never felt that welcome on Club Sites and spent much more time on small private sites. They were, indeed still are more relaxed and less rule bound, with all the precise pitching to post required, although I can appreciate
and understand why and how this has come about. The other plus side to the small private sites we loved was the mix of nationalities you got, we always got on well with Dutch, German and French visitors, they loved the outdoors, happy to come over and chat,
ask about best places to visit and what else to see and do.0 -
We came to caravanning after tenting (four wet Augusts in a row and too much kit). OH never caravanned previously, I'm from a carvanning family. 'Eddie the Old Buccaneer' has achieved a cult status among my (much younger) work colleagues, who ask after him
and post messages to him on Facebook! Our car and caravan combo cost less than £5000, which, realistically, is only 5 weeks in a static during school hols... We are now spending upwards of 40 nights away in Eddie each year. Never worried about the 'cool' aspects
of it as I have always loved caravans and never been cool! Happy, though.
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We are not bothered or worried by any image thing, we just enjoy caravanning.
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The image is often down to ignorance, not necessarily an individuals ignorance but ignorance of the subject matter. The same can be said of many hobbies people have like trainspotting, birdwatching or even Morris Dancing. In most cases this ignorance is
matched by a degree of curiosity but that does not seem to apply to caravanning. One way the Club could over come this would be to have events around the country where people could come and look at caravanning up close and talk to genuine caravanners. It wouldn't
change everyones minds but it might change enough? Perhaps events like the Festival of Speed where most of the hard cases are!!!David
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One argument that C/vans hold other traffic up was completly disproved the other year on the M5 after complaints about severe hold ups,so a trial was implemented on a Known stretch of congestion whereby C/vans were restricted to the nearside lane,and it
was proven to be completly wrong and the trial was terminated,There was very little on the media, but before the trial the media were all over about holdups by c/vans like a rash
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When we had a caravan, our friends and neighbours had a negative perception of the past time. Our children rarely told their friends that we were going caravanning. When we switched to motorhoming, friends and neighbours became envious whilst our children
were happy to tell friends they were off motohoming. We never saw the difference between the two activities.Perception is important. It is unlikely the CC can change that. It has to be changed by the members themselves.
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One argument that C/vans hold other traffic up was completly disproved the other year on the M5 after complaints about severe hold ups,so a trial was implemented on a Known stretch of congestion whereby C/vans were restricted to the nearside lane,and it
was proven to be completly wrong and the trial was terminated,There was very little on the media, but before the trial the media were all over about holdups by c/vans like a rash
It was all vehicles towing trailers of any sort that were restricted, JVB, but the media being what it is only mentioned caravans. That in itself demonstrates an area where the image is poor.
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It's like socks and sandals. Keep wearing them and ignore the image gurus.
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Socks & Sandals?, soooooo CC/DSB
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I am happy being thought of as a bit odd with a caravan and always being asked 'why am I not going abroad'....imagine how crowded it would be if it was super-cool and popular with everyone. All those hidden away CL's, all those tranquil weekends away will
be discovered and spoiled.Who wants caravans? Hah! Slow old tin boxes towed by old farts in Rover 213's, and of course everyone wee's in buckets.
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You need quirky to be really cool. We are working on it. Anyone know where I can get one of those tropical sun umbrellas?
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Here are some rules for cool caravanning from that bastion of hipster chic, The Telegraph
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/camping-holidays/The-rise-of-the-glamavan/
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I dont think it is caravaning that has the problem, they tend to end up cluster in a field somwhere. Some fields are better than others and have toilet blocks, showers, play areas.
I think it is more m/homes that wild camp saving themselves a site fee. after spending quite a bit of cash on the m/home
I inwardly groan when I see m/homes parked up, and obviously bring used as freeby o/night accomodation.
Living near a seaside town, I see quite a few regulars parked up using the facilities.
That said our m/home nests next to caravans and m/homes in a well appointed field.
Rgds
Apologies if I have ruffled a few feathers
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