Rv owners

Hi DIJ.  SO FAR ,,,I've not had problems with my "Concord" which is just over 9m.But it does have a very good turning circle too.Sites that i've used including C.C ,would prefer to accommodate us & take the fee's .But as said ,a little up front investigation does help.Good luck & enjoy !!.

I don't think you will have much of a problem provided your vehicle is not one of the huge RV's. My current motorhome is a Niesmann Bischoff Flair with a length of 9.5m and I never have a problem. Most Caravan Club sites have pitches with grass at the rear to allow you to overhang. The Wardens just seem to get concerned that the self levelling rams do not go onto the grass at the rear,

Sometimes if I know the site my van can shrink to 8.5m as I know I will fit on any of the pitches.

A number of years ago I visited the Lochside Site in Forfar with an 8.7m Burstner Elegance, granted it looked a long vehicle. The max length for the site was 8.5m and the Warden and his wife actually measured the van. I have never know such a song and dance over 20cm. The pitch we selected and many many more had more than enough space without the need to overhang

Many sites were laid out when such vehicles were even less common and probably not a major consideration. 

We had an A-class RV for a good few years.  (Can't beat the sound of an 8.1 litre V8 motor!) 

Quickly found that phoning the intended club site in advance and explaining what size you are, rear overhang without jacks etc., nearly always produced a satisfactory result.

Ok, that generally meant you had a pitch pre-allocated to you but that was never a problem.

Just a word of warning; Durham Grange falls into one of the sites where you DO need to call and inform them of length in the summer months. This is due to the set up of the majority of the hard standing pitches  which sit on the circle around the central grass area. In the summer when the grass pitches are open you have no room for overhand as you would be too close to the units on the grass pitches. There are suitable pitches and they will reserve but you need to ensure they are aware.

We have been stuck in the enclave behind the entrance carpark a few times which has 6 pitches but surrounded in very high trees. We feel it very dark and oppressive and no way of getting satellite. But always found another pitch where the overhang has been possible, but in peak periods I would always call first.

I think there is a fundamental difference here. Those with nonstandard units would have that pitch allocated to meet their needs. In many cases they would get no choice whatsoever, like it or lump it comes to mind. I have no truck with this management of pitches, I also enjoy choosing from all that are available to me so that odd allocated one is justified in my opinion.

Although lots may disagree I'm strongly against management of units. First come first served regardless of the size or type of unit until pitch choice becomes available. We all pay the same membership and pitch fees so, in my opinion, if you can't fit on the pitch - tough. Yes some may see this as harsh but why should a large unit get a potentially larger pitch or a particular hardstanding because of their choice of unit?

I would think this would be very difficult on those rather informal sites where pitches are of different sizes and configurations. The only way would be to determine the maximum size of unit that would fit on every single pitch on site. In reality that may elimate many of us completely from using the site even though we would fit on probably a good number of the pitches. Best thing to do is what currently happens, manage the situation. If that means for the largest units they have no choice (allocated) on arrival at least, even if they are last to arrive, they will have a pitch to fit!

Srewart, you really can't have it both ways. You don't want to turn up and find small vans on big pitches and nothing big enough left for you but, on the other hand, you object if the warden's taken the trouble to reserve a big pitch for you. 

Perhaps it's as well you tend to go elsewhere to avoid your problem.

Perhaps I was a little unclear in my post. The first paragraph was intended as a very general comment concerning large van users per se and the second paragraph was around our personal preference.

If a site needs to be informed of our arrival and a pitch booked specifically for us we personally do not use that site and book sites which we know we shall have freedom of choice.

However, some other members who do not share the same opinion may need a pitch booked and to say its first come first served is still in my opinion a harsh approach. We are all members of the club and pay the same membership and fees as the OP has said, but we all need to accept our needs are all different depending on unit type and personal preference. I do not want to start a discussion around prices as I think it is very fair as it is. I very rarely use water when on site unlike caravan members who are continually filling containers. I arrive with my tank full and very rarely fill it, but have no issue paying the same as everyone else. Some people do not use the facilities but pay the same.

As for Europe IMHO the UK could learn a great deal from the way they work and treat the camping community

If you are finding difficulty in gaining access to CC sites, you will find many sites available through RVOC, or indeed C&CC.

With the CC It may depend on the availability of a suitable pitch but unfortunately the staff at particular site may have changed and will no longer permit your visit.

Sites visited in the past sometimes become unavailable when the Warden changes.

Yes we own a large American RV & we always phone before arrival, if the answer is "No" then we spend our site money elsewhere - see above.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion of what they like, if we were all the same there would only be one type of product & no choice.

We have had some great times with people on sites, surely this past time is about friendship & not about what sort of place you are sleeping in.

Regards

Arthur