Motorhomes & grey waste

AlastairH
AlastairH Forum Participant Posts: 30
edited September 2018 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

Having toured all over Europe, I have to say that the standard grey waste disposal arrangements on club sites must be the most difficult I have encountered.

Everywhere else in Europe there is usually a grating to drive over, dump the grey waste and a hose to rinse down any spillage.

On club sites you have to manoeuvre the motorhome dump tap over a two foot square drain cover, remove the cover while crouching down and twisting your body to get two hands on the handle to remove the drain cover.  As anyone with a bad back will testify that is not a good idea.  You then have to repeat the process in reverse to replace the drain cover after the grey waste has been dumped.

Can I suggest the the club fits gratings over the open drains so that the covers can be removed before manoeuvring the van in to place please?  Many a sore back will be avoided!

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Comments

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 23,343
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    edited September 2018 #2

    Seems you’re not aware that the club has an upgrade program in place for MHSPs and gradually the manhole covers will be replaced by gratings that we simply drive over. 

    We encountered a new one at Chester Fairoaks last week and it was much easier. It even has a black waste dump point for black tanks which some people used for grey waste! Then one guy missed the grating entirely and discharged his grey waste onto the concrete surround!

  • Unknown
    edited September 2018 #3
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  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 23,343
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    edited September 2018 #4

    I’ve not seen the Minehead one, BB, but the one at Fairoaks was good. How that guy managed to miss it, I’ll never know. 😁

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited September 2018 #5

    A few months back a motorhome at Southport managed to empty most of his/her grey waster over the road despite the site having one of the new MHSPs ... 🙄

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,769
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    edited September 2018 #6

    New one seen at Buxton a couple of weeks ago. Did see, presumably a new member, looking at it with his toilet cassette in hand. Fortunately a passing member pointed him in the right directionsurprised

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,853
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    edited September 2018 #7

    Almost all the grids I see in foreign countries are festooned with caked on toilet paper. Innocently I thought that's what the waste grids were for. Is that not the case? 

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,068
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    edited September 2018 #8

    BB

    Is this the motorhome point you used at Minehead? 

    David

  • clarinetman
    clarinetman Club Member Posts: 270
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    edited September 2018 #9

    We were pitched up on a service pitch at Hebden Bridge opposite the new motorhome waste disposal set up very few either didn’t know the new wide grid was the motorhome waste disposal point or preferred the challenge of positioning over the grate, perhaps as with the pitching on the offside of the peg instructions when checking in motorhomers need to have the new wide grate system explained.

    mind you not that many people observe the pitching Instuctions so perhaps it is a pointless exercise 

  • Unknown
    edited September 2018 #10
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2018 #11

    That is not a waste disposal drain it is to assist with diverting rainwater 

  • Unknown
    edited September 2018 #12
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2018 #13

    Theory ? is the site on mains drainage? If not then has there been a problem  with the tanks filling with rain water that runs down the hill? It has been a problem at other sites since the raised surrounds were removed from service point, 

    Things are not always as first noticed

  • Unknown
    edited September 2018 #14
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  • Takethedogalong
    Takethedogalong Forum Participant, Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 17,310
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    edited September 2018 #15

    We have seen a few improved grey waste points on Club Sites. Rowntree Park is an interesting one, itrequires a complete drive around Site to get to it, but decent when you get there. Perhaps part of issue for Club is placing and siting something into very old sites, not originally designed with such dumps in mind. At least Club is trying, and a bit quicker than we were originally informed things would be. Luckily we don't choose our sites based upon grey waste dump point!

    Looks a nice Aire BB.

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited September 2018 #16

    Your last sentence is pretty spot on BBwink

  • Unknown
    edited September 2018 #17
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  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited September 2018 #18

    The upgraded Hillhead service point has been moved away from the facilities block and is now at the top of the site near the recreation area. Unfortunately it requires a long drive around for some users and is very close to the entrance to the play area. Another reason for parents to supervise children and for drivers to take extra care.

  • Unknown
    edited September 2018 #19
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  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 14,068
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    edited September 2018 #20

    I can't comment on the vagaries of CMC site work organisation but if the Minehead waste disposal point is the same as the photo it most certainly has not been upgraded. The long gully drain is, I imagine just for disposal of rain water not motorhome waste. Those sites than have been upgraded are really excellent and certainly the equal any I have seen elsewhere. 

    The positioning of MWP's on some Club sites leaves a lot to be desired. Two sites we have been to recently, Lady Margaret's Park and Barnard Castle require you to do a complete circuit of the site usually involving barriers depending on where you are pitched. However I am sure that more thought will be given to this in the future.

    David

  • Unknown
    edited September 2018 #21
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2018 #22

    It has if what I said in my post is correct surprised or in your "opinion?" It could not be correct ?as to put a rainwater galley would not involve large cost compared to a complete remodel of the service pointwink but a shoe seller would know thatcool

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2018 #23

    And that is from site staff ,surprised

  • Philnffc
    Philnffc Forum Participant Posts: 317
    edited September 2018 #24

    We were at Minehead two weeks ago and because of the slope had to turn my Motorhome around and face up the slope to empty my grey waste, another site we have been to is the newly refurbished site at Buxton were the MSHP is in front of the toilet block but you have to turn back on site and when finished have to drive round the site again to exit.

    Both were blank canvas's and they took the cheap option, did they ask any wardens with Motorhome the best place to site MHSP probably not.

    BB is certainly right about Minehead

    P

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2018 #25

    Are MV service points nearly always positioned near where there is already water and waste ,to keep down some of the high costs of installing them for only only one se tion of the club at no add cost to themcool

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited September 2018 #26

    Hymer offer the option of an electric valve with cab mounted remote control plus a camera to check that the waste valve is aligned with the drain point. I always thought that was truly over the top but perhaps not!

  • nelliethehooker
    nelliethehooker Club Member Posts: 13,945
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    edited September 2018 #27

    was truly over the top but perhaps not!

    Surely that the whole point of it!!wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2018 #28

    But then being a 7 year owner of motor caravans ,when we and  others did not need to get any organisation to spend thousands of pounds modifying MVSPs to cater for poor motor caravan  design and used our own brains to modify our vehicles, to cater for that, whereas it seems there is not the capability of most out there to do the samesurprised

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited September 2018 #29

    I presume JVB that you opted to give up your motorhome and return to caravanning because you found aspects of it didn't suit you? Likewise you would expect caravan facilities to be reasonably easy to use and I think it would be fair to say that those with motorhomes would like to enjoy a similar ease of use. Lifting heavy grids to dispose of grey waste can be difficult for many and improvements to site facilities will be welcomed by all. smile

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited September 2018 #30

    We returned to tugging, as we found as a large amount now seem to finding out , that as we got older and only one of us drives ,and my wife can no longer cycle ,that a motor caravan was not as user friendly ,as having transport that can go almost anywhere a couple of steps away from the much more room of a c/van for the length ,as far as site facilities are concerned, as we have noticed  with what seems a very large majority of motor caravans are being used as caravans(stay on sites)and only use the mhsp on arrival and on departure , the rest of the stay water and waste is being done the same as c/vans,and when "It pays to talk" several on our latest trip are admitting that they have 

    Bought it because they do not want or worried about towing now

    Have not "camped"before but were not   or partner scared of towing,and want to see the UK more ,very few have said they are going "over there "

     

     

     

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited September 2018 #31

    My reasoning JVB, is that access to facilities should be as good as possible for all site users, whatever their choice of leisure vehicle. It's got nothing to do with their ability to tow or drive a vehicle or their age, it's just an access issue that can be improved upon. Personal opinions about the whys and wherefores of other users is irrelevant but ease of access is important to all and I think that's a fair and reasonable outlook on the present situation. smile