Not happy at all!!!

LiamNMiranda
LiamNMiranda Forum Participant Posts: 14
edited May 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Afternoon all,

I hope you are all enjoying the weather, I currently in Poland with the army all is well the weathers amazing and I'm getting paid to play soldiers laughing what else does a man need!!! well after spending the last 2 weeks planning my trip emailing sites for details and sending information back about my home on wheels I've started to get annoyed. now I own a 44ft 5th wheel well the trailer is 34ft but the other 10ft is the cab. I understand I should of thought about this before I bought it, which I did for some time and didn't see an issue. yes I have a smaller piece of the cake on which I can park my truck but I'm happy and was wiling to accept that. what I don't like is sites advertised of the 5th wheel friendly data base which is free by the way on google for me to then search the sites online call them and be told different. now I understand it may of been added by mistake but they advertise on their own website up to 12m in length. I'm 10.3m now the only reason I can think they would say  know is they may think my truck will make their pretty little sites like a gypsy camp. now I thought the whole point of having these sites was to allow families to experience and enjoy the nautaural beauty of these locations and explore them.  whats your opinions on this am I wrong ?

 

as you can see from the picture my truck is the same height as the MH next to it, so no one should find it overbearing. 

 

many thanks 

LnL

 

 

 

Comments

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
    500 Comments
    edited May 2017 #2

    Your outfit is an interesting one and not commonly seen in the UK. I notice that in the photo it's about the same height as the outfit next door to it. The overall length is less than many car/caravan outfits. So in overall dimensions it would not be a problem as a neighbour for us. 

    There are increasing numbers of large motorhomes using sites in the UK, and although we are sometimes unhappy if they are very high and shut out the sun and light from us next door, they are within the rules of most sites and we accept that.

    Are the sites which are resisting your use CAMC sites?

     

  • RoyandBev
    RoyandBev Forum Participant Posts: 84
    edited May 2017 #3

    Hi there, that is some outfit you have their, I suspect it is the cab causing problems for you rather than the trailer, not what you normally expect to see on a camp site.

    Just a thought for you to contact if you want to try the area Stanford hall near Loughborough (it is an ex caravan club site), we had 1 night there last year.

    It has some massive American type RVs pitched up there and some massive 5th wheel jobbies like yours, I think most of them are on seasonal pitches though.

    There was a leaflet on site which mentioned they can accommodate units of all sizes and I seem to remember you can park up away from site and the wardens will help you guide you in to the site.

    They can go to each end of the road and call on a radio when there are no cars coming and stop any once you are on the way to allow you to get to the site if needed.

    I don’t know if you can take something like your rig there for a few days as I didn’t look into it to closely just something from the back of my memory

    There website isn’t very informative and don’t take my word for it give them a ring or email

    Roy

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #4

    I had a 22' C/van & an 18' pickup-40' all in. Your Semi is only 4' bigger than that, I had no issues. Is it just the actual trailer unit that is causing the probs LNL?

  • statusMoty1
    statusMoty1 Forum Participant Posts: 225
    edited May 2017 #5

    When we were on Uttoxeter racecourse site last year an outfit just like yours arrived. They had reserved the corner pitch ( which wasn't a problem) and surprisingly the 'van and lorry cab towing it both fit perfectly on their bit of pitch. I could see problems getting into some sites but equally I could probably name more than less that you would get on comfortably. Good luck, we love seeing these big outfits on site and how the other half live wink

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,146 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2017 #6

    Isn't this something you really need to take up with the sites concerned LnL? Or if it's club sites, then directly with the club.

    Without wishing to appear to say "I told you so", this was a concern I had from the first time you posted here. I'm sorry I can't offer you anything more constructive but wish you good luck.

  • RoyandBev
    RoyandBev Forum Participant Posts: 84
    edited June 2017 #7

    Just reading statusMoty1's comment and i have seen big rigs at any racecourse site when the racecourse is having a race day, big coach size RVs etc. at Gt Yarmouth there were even helecopters landing nearby bringing in top riders and owners from all over so might be worth an enquiry there.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #8

    I've seen plenty of 5th wheeler on all sorts of sites, there was one on the commercial site in Wales we left yesterday.  However apart from one in the Wardens compound at Thetford I haven't seen one towed by an essentially HGV 1 cab, and perhaps that's where the problem lies?

    Is it more about weight rather than size?

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
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    edited June 2017 #9
    I think there is a special area for the extra long at Chapel Lane. I remember trying to book a pitch in Scotland, Brora I think and they could only just manage me with a 21' caravan anything bigger wouldn't have fitted and the site was packed. I am sure larger pitches were there just not available. I doubt sites would turn you away if they have long enough pitches I booked? Looks like you need some luck and some forward planning. I have also seen long outfits on C&CC sites.
  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,060 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #10

    That is a very big outfit, and it may be that some sites, both none CC and CC are just unable to accommodate you due to pitch sizing. This will be more so if the sites have been open a long time dating from the days when a thirteen ft caravan was more the norm.

    Racecourse Sites are a good way forward, see plenty of 5th wheelers on these. Some are affiliated to CC, some run independently.

    Hope you get sorted ok.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2017 #11

    It appears that you have bought a unit tgat is just too big. It totally dominates that caravan next to you in the picture.

    I suspect that you know this really and that, having bought something inappropriate to most sites, you are just having a poke at sites with reasonable rules / restrictions.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #12

    More and more I'm seeing units similar to yours being used by wardens on CC and C&CC sites, so they may be more understanding of the problem, if there is a problem at all. I know it will be more manageable than similar sized rigid motor caravans, and probably no heavier.

    I assume there is some rear overhang that could project over grass should a hard standing pitch be too short.

    There used to be a "rule" in the Club that members with unusual outfits had to contact Head Office with sizes and photographs to get them approved. They were then accepted on any site on the network.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,146 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #13

    All the 5th wheel units I've seen on site detach the towing vehicle when pitched. (Even the warden at Thetford.)

    Is this what you do LnL as obviously to leave the truck unit attached make the whole thing extremely long? I assume you have the usual jacking arrangement to allow separation.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited June 2017 #14

    At 10.4m long there are fewer sites that can accommodate I would think.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #15

    I assumed that, too, TW.

    of course, this also gives the OP a convenient vehicle for popping out to Tescowink

    ive seen a few 5th wheelers on sites with most using a 'pick up' type tow car, but this particlular set up looks very much like the vehicles used by a local major trans Continental hauliersmile

    i guess it must be the cab/truck that makes this set up so 'distinctive'.

    a typical (modern) Volvo truck/tractor is 2.5m wide (plus mirrors) which is as wide as the widest caravans and well over half a metre more than a Range Rover or Merc G class, or typical 5th wheeler pick up, so does this have an effect of pitch safety spacing 'rules'?

  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2017 #16

    Hello LiamNLizi,

    I'm sorry to hear you are having issues booking a site. I have spoken to our UK Sites team and hope the below information will help you when booking Club Sites. 

    The Sites Directory/web page for each Club Site shows the maximum length of outfit that can be accommodated on that site. Whilst The Club is aware of the growth in demand for larger pitches across the network, along with the width of access roads and the entrance on some sites, there is also the restriction of pitch types, i.e. a site may have a handful of pitches that will accommodate a larger outfit, but not all pitches on site would be able to.   The majority of sites can accommodate one or two large outfits, these bookings would have to be made with the Sites themselves.  The Site Staff will know how many other large outfits are due on site at that time and will therefore know if they can accommodate your outfit.  For this reason, if your outfit is larger than the maximum stated, you would be unable to make these bookings through the call centre or web.

    A small number of caravans incorporate ‘slide out’ elements (e.g. Eterniti caravans, and some imported American models). These can add up to a metre on one or both sides to the caravan width on site.  Our pitch sizes vary from 9 x 9, 11 x 11 and 12 x 12 metre centres.

    The Club would usually hope to accommodate any vehicle which meets the legal requirements for use on UK roads. However, practical limitations on the design of entrances, internal access roads, pitch access and pitches themselves may limit the maximum size of outfit which can be accepted, and where necessary this is indicated in the Sites Directory & Handbook and on the Club website as stated above.

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited June 2017 #17

    Common sense, really.

    As opposed to buying the biggest unit you can find and then expecting every site to accommodate you.