Using tent with campervan

Grandad Golfer
Grandad Golfer Forum Participant Posts: 43
edited April 2018 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Do any of you with VW size campervan use a tent with it? If so do you find any restrictions/difficulties on sites and do you have to go in the camping area?

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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2018 #2

    A pup tent can be used on normal pitches as add accommodation 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #3

    If talking a free standing tent it would depend on size. On a weekend away a group were staying in a hotel. We stayed on nearby CC site and another friend with MH also stayed on the site. She had another of our friends travelling with her who slept in a small 2 man tent on the pitch (cost covered in original pitch fee)

  • Unknown
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    edited April 2018 #4
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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #5

    5. Using awnings or tents
    a. On pitches with awning space you can erect an awning. You may also put up a tent for extra sleeping accommodation, or a specially designed toilet or cooking tent, provided the main outfit is occupied, but please keep them within your pitch area.

    b. Please protect the pitch grass by lifting your groundsheets and side flaps of awnings, tents or annexes at frequent intervals or as required to by site staff.

  • Unknown
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    edited April 2018 #6
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  • OnlyJen
    OnlyJen Forum Participant Posts: 146
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    edited April 2018 #7

    A bit of a paradox here in the club rules. I asked could I put my camper on the same pitch as my Sisters Caravan. After all our tow vehicle is no larger than many even if it is a camper and her eriba is smaller than most.

     

    The answer was "No. You cannot sleep in the tow vehicle: Fire risk:

    Well, I would have though a purpose built camper with all sorts of high tech equipment was a bit safer than a tent to sleep in which meant we now have to have two pitches for the one outfit.

     

    It also get's a little bit more absurd.  As you cannot make two reservations on the same membership then my Sister would also have to have separate membership. So two memberships and two pitch fees for a caravan and tow vehicle.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #8

    Sounds correct to me Jen

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited April 2018 #9

    Jen totally daft, but that's CC for you....I guess it's because your 'sleeping vehicle' wouldn't not be 6m from your sisters caravan?

    however, it's OK (is it not) for kids to sleep in an awning just a few feet from same caravan?

    ......could you 'get around the rules' by both sleeping in the caravan?....and still use your van for days out...?

     

  • OnlyJen
    OnlyJen Forum Participant Posts: 146
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    edited April 2018 #10

    To me it is and the rules, when you can find them, are quite clear. I have always stated that the conditions of membership are a choice, accept them or not, so no grumbles from me.

     

    However it does seem odd that someone can erect an an awning, sleep in it, some even cook in it, run separate electrical hook-up to it but parking up something with a footprint much the same as a range rover is prohibited.

     

    What it does mean is that I no longer use club sites, which is fair enough, their choice and mine, but I would rather not pay £20 more per night than I could get down the road laughing

  • OnlyJen
    OnlyJen Forum Participant Posts: 146
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    edited April 2018 #11

    Good morning BB

    I refuse to call myself Eriba Girl as I would be addressed as EG and I'm never an example for anyone frown

    I used to smile at some of the eccentricities of club rules but then the club sites offered a predictable commodity, well run, generally great wardens reasonable prices so quite happy to accept those eccentricities.

     

    However I am now priced out expect for small occasions. One such small occasion was a few days ago in Bury where we paid £40 per night plus a proportion of a separate membership fee, then found just down the road an excellent facility, really lovely, £18 per night. "You are only occupying one pitch, one hook up and no awning so why should you pay more?"

     

    My Sister and I love each other to bits, share our dogs, holidays, house, food and most of our lives together but the two of us sharing a small space as a bedroom each would lead to death of one, or possibly both of us, why we bought the caravan. laughing

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2018 #12

    I take it that what you are saying has come from East Grinstead and not a wardens interpretation of the rules?

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #13

    You have my sympathies Jen. I can see the double standards and absurdity of your situation. Fortunately, there are some very nice small private sites out there, willing and able to accommodate you and your sister. Sounds a great set up, certainly one my Sister and I can empathise with! 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #14

    I suspect that it is from EG and also that many commercial sites would act the same 

  • OnlyJen
    OnlyJen Forum Participant Posts: 146
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    edited April 2018 #15

    Actually ET I have found the opposite.  AS I quote in my message the response from everywhere else is "One pitch, one hook-up, no awning ...why should you pay more?"...

     

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #16

    I recall a similar outfit to yours taking part in the Club's once only Caravanners of the year competition, camper van plus eriba I think? Wonder how many pitches they had to use at Ferry Meadows?

    I shall Google...........

  • OnlyJen
    OnlyJen Forum Participant Posts: 146
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    edited April 2018 #17

    We were met with stupefaction and total confusion at our last visit to a club site laughing

     

    "I have here two bookings with the same vehicle registration number..... so who does this one belong to and what is the registration number of the other one?"....

     

    "They are both the same".....

     

    Blank look,  Repeated in a "Now, watch my lips" tone.

     

    It took quite a few minutes for the penny to drop. The caravan and tow vehicle, total train length just over 10 metres, were two separate bookings on two separate membership cards.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #18

    Ho ho ho........double standards indeed Jen! Take a look at this, not only did a camper and eriba take part, they were allowed an awning as well! This is a Ferry Meadows pitch, where the programme was filmed. Photograph is a still from the programme, I had to crop it to get it to fit! 

     

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2018 #19

    I think i would contact East Grinstead as i know that a camper towing a caravan can use the same pitch as long as the camper has the gas supply turned off,as for sleeping in it ,i would question the refusal as it is safer than a tent which is allowed,as your situation is "unusual?"i would say a "talk " with someone at EGH would maybe get a more positive response?wink

    Its like most things these days if it is not in black and white "the computer he say no"undecided

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #20

    Wow that is a large pitch!

    I have seen years ago where a small motorvan has been used in conjunction with a caravan and a small awning to house a mobility scooter. The caravan was used in the day and had been converted to suit a wheel chair user and the motorhome was used for days out and sleeping. Nice couple.

    One problem these days though is the seperation from other units. On most sites with the campervan tow behicle being used as habitation there are few pitches providing adequate 6m separation between camper van and a caravan on and caravan on adjoining pitch. 

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #21

    I seem to remember Jens situation being raised on CT before and I think I am correct in saying that the club's stance is 

    They may both share a pitch but only 1 can use hook up, the gas has to be turned 'off' in the camper vehicle and there was to be no 'sleeping' in said vehicle.

    It does seem a very strange request but those I believe are the rules.

    Jen I love my sister to bits but could never share sleeping in a van with her she snores likes crazy winklaughing

    What site was it at Bury you used would be interested as we often stay at Burrs, would be good to have an alternative.

  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant Posts: 17,046 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #22

    Actually, I don't think the pitch is that large in truth, it's just that the VDub and Eriba are so tiny. When we bought our 13 foot Cotswold Windrush, it looked huge compared with van it replaced. But nowadays looks absolutely tiny compared with most vans. Caravans have grown immensely in size last couple of decades. Our little MH barely uses a third of most Club "with awning" hardstandings. laughing

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #23

    It does seem a very strange request but those I believe are the rules.

    As I said earlier TG: On most sites with the campervan tow vehicle being used as habitation there are few pitches providing adequate 6m separation between camper van and a caravan on the adjoining pitch. 

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2018 #24

    And that is where a lot of space on site"problems" have come to light over the years as some sites on the Network are decades old and are now having to cater for the size of modern "lightweight" larger vehicles compared to then, where we have stored our leisure vehicles C/vans and M/vs they have a waiting list of c/vans because when built a big van was 15ft,there are quite a few empty pitches that are now too small 

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited April 2018 #25

    I agree, the outfit a few pitches up from us (Audi A7, Bailey TA caravan and awning....) would dwarf the Dub/Eriba set up....

    ...and like you, we only take a third of a pitch....not bad for £32+ a nightundecided....perhaps the 'large set up' should be charged £66 a night?wink

    still, the train ride into Cheltenham (with a couple of stops for walkabouts) was a good day out.... 

    Off topic (sorry) but the photo angle below caught my eye on the way back on to site.....

    imitation is the sincerest......etc, etc....

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2018 #26

     When we were there last week the signs were not in that position then,  they were uprightwink,or were you crawling backcool

  • OnlyJen
    OnlyJen Forum Participant Posts: 146
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    edited April 2018 #27

    Actually my problem is quite easy to solve.

    I pull in with my Camper towing my Eriba. I use my camper for cooking in, extra habitation, all sorts of things.  However I also carry an awning which I can make comfortable,  use one of those 3 gang hook-ups to run electric to, have an electric heater running instead of my camper's diesel heater, ....

    So I use more electric, take up more space, have an additional and even more combustible habitation unit on the same pitch, but can save myself £20 a night and an annual membership fee of £51.

     

    How daft is that? 

    I am not complaining.  As anyone remembering me from the past may know I have had a long, loyal and loving/hating relationship with the CC and will always be loyal to them after the enormous assistance they provided to me between 1990 and 1994 when I walked Lands End-John O'Groats a few times to raise money for a charity dear to my family's heart.

    However, someone mentioned "commercial" sites, indeed they are commercial, where possible they will have my business when it is both of us travelling (always loyal to the CC when on my own)  as a saving of £20 a night cannot be sneezed at.

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited April 2018 #28

    have you been on the sauce, JVB?undecided or are you well overdue for Spacsavers?

    in case you can't see (perhaps you're on your back?) the sign in front is upright (it's an ice cream sign) and the sign behind is on the wall behind...it's the CAMC logo.....

    cant help with much else, that's all thats in the picture....

    strewth....you'd declare white was black....AMOBUTSfrown

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2018 #29

    The picture that comes up on the thread is laying on lts side or was it the way you were "laying"wink

    ps have you only just "noticed" that the new club sign has been copied from the site ice cream sales signssurprised

  • OnlyJen
    OnlyJen Forum Participant Posts: 146
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    edited April 2018 #30

    Hi Tammy,

    I actually stopped at Burrs park. I visit the area because Mum is in a nursing home in Saddleworth.  I often stop at Marsden Summit, lovely pub with restaurant, camping field behind, nice washrooms etc...  £15 a night for the two of us.

    Saturday, visiting Sister number 4 near Northwich,  we stopped at Belmont Camping, near Antrobus, £18 a night for the two of us.

    Burrs park?  £40 a night for the two of us.  A bit of a no-brainer really not to avoid the CC when two of us

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,195 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #31

    It's sideways on for me too 😲