Van position on pitch

PJ Buddie
PJ Buddie Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited May 2018 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Hi

We pick up our first van, a second hand Bailey pursuit 430, on Friday.  As we are picking it up from Manchester and we live in Glasgow have decided to spend three nights at a local site; Burrs country park..

This might be an odd question but are there rules for the position of the van in relation to the car on pitches; also must the van always face outward towards the road?

 

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  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #2

    Either offside rear corner to peg or nearside front corner. On awning pitch car can go on either side. On non awning pitch it depends on peg position as to where there is space for car

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,647 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #3

    I'm sure that the wardens will instruct you of the correct way to pitch your van, they usually do especially when they know that you are new caravanners. It's as ET says above, anyway.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2018 #4

    The usual layout is (when looking from the road) is car, caravan - reversed in & then awning, & that is the order the warden will show you. However the caravan CAN be parked the other way round.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,432 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #5

    As above, have you reversed a caravan? or do you have a motor mover?

    Don't be shy in asking for help from wardens and even your neighbours, all will be glad to help in my experience. Have a great time.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #6

    Absolutely as above.

    I'd suggest you definitely let the wardens know you’re new to vanning as you’ll likely need to ask questions, PJB.

     

    We cross posted, Corners, and saying pretty much the same thing.

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #7

    Good site.  Pub at entrance does very good, very big, meals.  And a ride on the train is an essential.  Why, you can even go into Bury to shop on it!

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2018 #8

     Or go the other way on the train to Rammy  (Ramsbottom) or Rawtenstall ☺

    If you want a meal other than pub grub, the Garsdale is a bit further down the road.

  • BrianJosie
    BrianJosie Forum Participant Posts: 391
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    edited April 2018 #9

    Well we have never had a problem pitch parking in the 22 yrs we have been camping.We have a N&B Motorhome so the entrance door is on the drivers side .We always reverse onto the pitch and have never been told off or asked to turn it around .I wouldn’t worry about it.Just enjoy.

    Brian & Jo

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #10

    Why would you be asked to turn it? You're allowed to park it either way as long as either the O/S rear or the N/S front corner is to the peg as has been described.

    I don’t think anyone has suggested turning a van with the door on the 'wrong' side as it doesn't matter which side your door is. 

     

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #11

    with some of the smaller pitches, a 'foreign' van might benefit from being driven in as it might give a little more space in the door side. also depends which side the sun is as we don't have a car or an awning to block it out...

    however, of little interest to the OP as it's likely to be a UK caravan.wink

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #12

    The peg and instructions are provided to help you get the fire break positioning right. If you do get it wrong, expect, quite rightly in my opinion, to be asked to reposition. I reckon it's best to check if you wish to do things differently, saves the hassle as sometimes some of your hardstanding constitutes some of the firebreak.

  • BrianJosie
    BrianJosie Forum Participant Posts: 391
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    edited April 2018 #13

    Hi TW,I was just assuming that maybe they wouldn’t like it if awnings were facing each other,obviously I’m wrong.

    Brian & Jo

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2018 #14

    It appears from this forum that some do object  but I could sit in my caravan & peer into next doors awning ....

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #15

    There’s new rule about awning to awning or car to car, BJNB. 

    The only rule is the oft repeated 6m between cvans/MHs and 3m between awnings/cars. That’s why the pegs are positioned as they are. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #16

    Correction, it should read "no rule about awning...."

    Flaming predictive text!

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,432 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #17

    there is no need for that sort of abusive language on this forumundecided

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2018 #18

    Reportedundecided

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,432 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #19

    I have too

  • RowenaBCAMC
    RowenaBCAMC Forum Participant Posts: 1,732 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #20

    Hi everyone,

    Thanks for reporting the posts on this discussion. Offensive language and arguments are not welcome on Club Together. Please can people be mindful of the guidelines at all times and report any posts if you're not happy with the content.

    Apologies to the OP and contributors for the disruption of the conversation. Please can we keep this discussion on topic and thank you to those who have helped answer the question. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #21

    I do hate it when I see 'content removed' and miss what was said smile

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited April 2018 #22

    Me too, was it juicy?wink

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #23

    Thanks, Rowena.

    My apology, PJB, for the part I played in the disruption of your thread.

  • papgeno
    papgeno Forum Participant Posts: 2,158
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    edited April 2018 #24

    A page and a half of content removed, must have been some argument.

    Mind you this subject generated a lot of pages last time around

  • KeefySher
    KeefySher Forum Participant Posts: 1,128
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    edited April 2018 #25

    There is clearly a condition of 'withdrawal from caravanning / motor homing' that seems to effect folk cool

    A simple remedy would be to get out there and enjoy cool

    Just had a super trip to Black Knowl, complete with baking sun and thunderstorms.

    Next one is a day at the races, a first for us, and on a pitch in the middle of the course, magic. laughing

  • PJ Buddie
    PJ Buddie Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited April 2018 #26

    Thanks you all for your advise. Very much appreciated.  I will let the warden know that I'm new to this.

    Don't have an awning yet but it's next on our list.

    To answer a previous post; we don't have a motor mover and I have never reversed with a van on tow.

    My plan is to give it a bash and if all else fails to unhitch and push it into possition.  My dad's advise was "son I used to drive a HGV and I'd rather reverse one of those over the caravan any day" great advise dad really put my mind at ease 

    Thanks again can't wait to get started i have lots of great memories from going to caravan club sites when I was a kid.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,150 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #27

    Good luck, PJB. Hope your trip goes well.

    It sounds like you’ll be practicing reversing. Even if you decide to get a mover (and they are very useful) being able to reverse is a necessary skill.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,432 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #28

    Have a good time, just in case you have not done any research yet there are plenty of videos on youtube here

    probably best to reverse it half way or better there then push, but pushing a caravan is easier than it looks depending on the surface (grass or HS) and conditions.

    either way, as Kevin Bridges says, it'll be a laugh

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited April 2018 #29

    When reversing the caravan ontp a pitch it is made easier if the stabiliser is first released I find. The reason is that the caravan takes longer to respond to a turning movement with hitch engaged. The other point is that if your first attempt does not get the caravan where wanted don't faff about trying to finesse. Better to pull completely forwards and start again

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2018 #30

    "Don't have an awning yet but it's next on our list."

    as you haven't used your van yet, I suggest you spend a little time with it before diving in and purchasing an awning...

    I don't know if you've 'evaluated' the pros/cons of having one.....why, specifically, do you need one, how many of you are there, is it for storage or for sitting in, the time taken (and learning curve/hassle) re erecting it and putting it away (often wet)...the space it takes up and weight it is when transporting, the specific benefits you'll get etc, etc....

    we don't have one....in simplistic terms, if we are on site and its sunny, we sit outside, if it's colder or damper, we sit in the mh....not interested in sitting in tent attached to the van...

    i know when getting a new van, we all look around and see the kit that everyone else has, and for caravaners, it seems it's virtually impossible to exist without an awning...but, this is not the reason to buy one...

     

    each to their own, but have a good think and, if you choose to buy one, do it for the right reasons (your reasons) not just because everyone else thinks they need one....wink

    good luck, and enjoy your new vansmile

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2018 #31

    i know when getting a new van, we all look around and see the kit that everyone else has, and for caravaners, it seems it's virtually impossible to exist without an awning...but, this is not the reason to buy one...

    I usually see most caravans without awning on sites

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