Help setting up on club sites
Hi first post on here, my husband and I have been caravanners for 30 years and been members for most of that time but due to ill health at the moment it looks like we might have to give up our beloved hobby. I drive but never towed so wonder if going on the towing course would be a way forward but don’t really like the idea . If my husband managed to tow then he would not be fit to do the setting up when we got there, I can do most things but wondered if any help by wardens on club sites was available. Dread the thought that we might have to sell up otherwise. Thank you 😊
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Have you thought about going for a seasonal pitch, Shelley? I believe there are companies who would tow your van for you and you might then be able to store it at the same site? I'm not sure about club sites - I guess there might be some restrictions on what wardens are permitted to do - but I know some commercial sites will tow your van on and off pitch if you store with them, and might even do the basic setting up.
Good luck, hope you find a solution.
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Shelley
I have moved your post to the discussion area as I think you will get more replies here.
Sorry to hear about your dilemma. I would have thought that a towing course would be useful from the confidence point of view. Have you thought about swapping for a small motorhome which would have the minimum of setting up and probably no more difficult to drive than a large car. There are lots of sites near to habitation and within walking distance or at least a bus ride away but it would depend on the medical restrictions that you face. Depending on how small the motorhome was it could be used as a car for getting out and about. Whilst I am sure a warden would be able to assist on occasions, as would other members, it's not something that can be guaranteed so I am not sure you could rely on getting help every time you arrive on site.
David
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Hi Shelley, We kept the Caravan but down sized it, and cut right back on the "setting up" .
For us arrival on a site means unhitch, wind down steadies and connect up electric cable. But awnings, groundsheets, awning furniture, pegs and guy lines, aquaroll, fresh water and waste water pipes, wheelclamps, satellite dishes and other apparatus don't figure at all. Simplification of the "setting up" rituals which we watch unfold around us gave us quite a few more years.
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again sorry to hear about your problems and ill health. I think a towing course would be a good idea if you want to carry on using your van.
Regarding setting up, what aspects could you not do? If you haven't got one get a motor mover and it will be a must have for you both. We are both thankfully fit but we let the mover do all the work, we un-hitch on the road and use the mover to get the caravan into position and again at the other end use the mover to hitch up, our mover allow for pin point accuracy - as many do.
Also do you use a battery electric drill to lower the steadies? again less effort (and we do). You could get by without using or getting out the aquaroll and wastermaster by using service pitches, use the special attachment straight into your caravan rather than into your aquaroll.
I hope you can still carry on.
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I agree with the two posts so far, I'd add that I know an elderly couple who get the in-laws to tow their caravan to a site for them and help set up. Are there family members who can help you?
Some people who are struggling with caravanning, turn to motorhoming because they consider it easier - it is having done both. A small Panel Van Conversion, say 6m long, is a popular choice. There are coachbuilt motorhomes 6m or so long if you don't fancy the idea of a PVC. Small motorhomes are surprisingly easy to drive. With a rear view camera fitted and the large wing mirrors, the all around visibility is good. The high driving position helps and in PVCs, there is little overhang. I wouldn't recommend an A-Class [I have one - my third] because they can be more difficult to live with.
Whether a small motorhome would suit you is debatable but it is an option worth considering.
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Hello shelley, and welcome. I think you have had some interesting advice from members above. Only you know which aspects of touring are becoming more difficult for you, and how much you are willing to adapt to keep touring. A small MH would be a lot easier, all round, particularly if you are both happy driving, but of course it will depend if you want to change, and if the finances are there.
No idea what size of van you have, but smaller is a lot easier. We have always been quite minimal tourers, and like Eurotraveller, carry little in the way of stuff once we reach sites. Using serviced pitches would help a lot, and there are quite a few sites and CLs that offer such pitches.
We have both a small MH, and a small caravan, so can compare ease of use with both. The MH is by a long way easier to use, but if you like to get to a site and just stay on or close by the site, I would possibly try and make a small caravan work. All the best, hope things work out for you!
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Both my husband and I have taken the CC towing course and found it invaluable. I would recommend this as I can tow now with confidence. Although hubby had been towing for a number of years he went with me for moral support and came away having learnt a few things. So my advice is go for a course - you will not regret it!
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Sorry to hear of your situation. The following suggestion may of course be of little value dependant on dates and distances, and then only if you decide to tow.
I live just round the corner from Ferry Meadows C&MC site in Peterborough, and with pre-planned mutually acceptable dates, I would be quite happy to pop over to set up for you every so often. I guess you have the towing issue to consider first. But see how you go.
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Fantastic offer there Ian
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Would it be feasible for members in need of a little help to mention their needs to the warden on arrival. Able bodied members could also volunteer their assistance upon arrival. In this world of easy communication by mobile phone the needy and able bodied could easily be joined up. I would always help someone in need of it, as I am an able bodied 73 year young person. Do you think some people perfectly capable of doing their own chores would “Lord it” whilst other members do things for them?
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As Obbernockle mentions, i’m sure plenty of people would be willing to help you set up. Maybe if a notice was put up on the wardens board along the lines of ‘Mr & Mrs X will be arriving at approx 14.00 and would be grateful for some help to set up their van’ the offers would overwhelm you.
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Shelley, I seem to remember that at certain C&CC sites which have storage facilities the wardens would take the van out of storage and place it on a pitch, for a charge, when they knew a member was coming. There are certainly CLs too where that is the case. Would you be happy with just using a single site or would you prefer the option of using a variety of sites?
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The hardest thing to set up is an awning so it would be worth investigating fitting some kind of wind-out canopy, either permanently fixed or temporary like a Fiamma Caravanstore.
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Although the OP didn’t specifically say so, I got the impression that they just needed a hand to get sited.
Perhaps the OP will read the responses here and try asking the warden to organise some help when booking.
I would be pleased to help Mr & Mrs Shelley 75.
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I would second Philheller comment.
I for one would be more than happy to give anyone a hand.
I always think you never know when you could be in a difficult situation yourself,
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That makes 3 of us. If we get enough volunteers we could actually start a trend. Members helping one and other!
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Sounds great! If you don’t use an Aquaroll, do you just make more water trips with a smaller container?
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How much water do tent campers drag to and fro? We do the same as them.
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Three things you could do Shelley, if money isn't too tight:
- go for fully serviced pitches
- get hydraulic levellers fitted
- get a mover fitted if you don't have one already
As regards getting there, I'd certainly say do a towing course. Apart from anything else, if your husband was still doing the driving and then took a turn for the worse you'd be stuck if you couldn't tow ... and as others have said, it's not as difficult as you might think. Just plan where you're going to go to avoid tight roads, entrances etc and take it slow
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