Tent or awning
this year have noticed an increase in stand alone shelter equipment particularly with small campervans but not necessarily pointing the finger just at them as motorhomes have drive away awnings too left not attached to their vehicle during the day. Want to raise awareness of the damage such shelter type of equipment which is not attached to rail on the owners main vehicle/caravan can cause should it take flight particularly at night. We were in the unfortunate position of having suffered several thousand pounds worth of damage by such an incident and want to warn others of the risks and what is a tricky situation with insurance as the thing causing damage is an accessory. I mentioned my concern recently at a site whereby a campervans had an unattached shelter without any guy ropes,lashing secured and was told by warden you can have what you want on a pitch and his job wasn't to ensure the safety of the property of others!! The six meter rule was for safety of life, between sleeping units Not for protection of property.
Comments
-
I have witnessed awnings causing considerable damage to caravans too. Awning poles scratching and denting side panels and going through sky lights. With us we just look at the approaching weather and make that risk assessment whether to put up or take down.
0 -
The club does not allow gazebos on site so it’s not a case of having whatever you want and it has been confirmed in the past on this forum.
Drive away awnings can close and are substantial. They can be pegged and guyed to give far more stability than gazebos/shelters which are light and flimsy and have little in the way of pegs and guy ropes.
0 -
You make a very good point justjn. We have seen some very dubious stand alone structures, that don't look as though they would survive a mild blow, whilst others have been well anchored and secure.
It is difficult to know what the club can do about it, other than perhaps raise awareness of the potential risks if they break free.
However, surely the club have a duty of care. In the example you gave, as you had brought it to their attention, I would have thought a more appropriate response would have been for the warden to have a word with the owner of the unsafe structure. If it broke loose in a wind it could also injure someone, as well as causing damage to property.
2 -
At Bladon Chains club site late August there was a motorhome with a gazebo ( 12ft square ) erected alongside and it was also enclosed with privacy mesh on at least 3 sides
0 -
I can only repeat what Rowena posted on here, after seeking clarification from the appropriate department, which was that gazebos are not permitted on club sites.
0 -
Having known a case where a "gazebo-ish" structure tumbled-weeded across a rally field damaging a car and a caravan the claims were finally settled by the meet organiser's insurance.
I suspect the realisation that would be the claimants ultimate route for redress plays a large part in the CMC not allowing them on site.
0 -
What as happened to the sign on entrance, "no tents"
0 -
In our insurance case it took 13 months for this claim to get sorted and recorded as non fault on our part. The other party were in fact rally marshallers .So not quite as straight forward as you would have expected bearing in mind we are all members. I very much doubt if we will go on another rally again after this experience.
0 -
Hi guys, I was recently camping down in Newquay...a bit windy on the best of days.
My neighbour told me a story of when they went out for the day. Wind picked up so they rushed home to check their awning only to find 4 4x4s surrounding the awning and each tied to a corner of the awning. If these lovely people hadn't done that the awning and the van would have been seriously damaged.
I suppose my point is that... you can't always predict the weather accurately, but a common sense approach is good. Also, fellow campers usually have yr back which is great.
Finally try to park upwind of a dodgy looking tent/gazebo/awning ha ha
0 -
After what could have turned out to be a very nasty experience involving a gazebo on a club site in Dorset this August, I wrote a lengthy letter to the club and I am now awaiting their response. Many of the structure we now see erected on sites by the admission of there own instruction are not designed or constructed for permanent pitching or leaving unattended rendering them not fit for what they are being used for. Yes awnings can cause damage to the side of a caravan but usually only to the caravan they are attached to so we do have the option to take it down if windy weather is forecast to protect our own property, gazebos on the other hand go wherever the wind takes them damaging anything in there path. The excellent site warden who assisted me back in August had himself had £3000 worth of damage caused to his car and his awning written off over the winter period on a site abroad all caused by a gazebo. I feel our club urgently needs to clarify the rules on what is and more to the point what is not acceptable to be pitched on club site and an odd page in the clubs magazine on the subject to ensure member are fully aware.
0 -
I still believe the notice saying no tents should mean "no tents" calling them cooking/smoking/ gazebos or whatever other name they wish to call them are not allowed, if they are allowed by wardens discretion then "tents" should be allowed because I cannot see any difference.no tents should me no tents simple.
0 -
I thought you were in favour of the club taking tents?
1 -
In the summer months we either take a 2 m sq. utility tent or a small popup tent. This is instead of a drive away awning and used to store our chairs BBQ etc whilst on ( and off ) site. I really don't see a difference between a small tent, securely pegged and guyed and used for storage and an awning. Notices referring to no tents, I have always assumed, refer to tent campers and used for sleeping in rather than tents of any kind. I understand why a gazebo could be a problem as they are flimsy and not built for foul weather, but in my experience, a small pop up tent can cope with far worse weather than any gazebo and at least as bad as any awning can. Perhaps it would be useful for the club to clarify.
0 -
We use a utility tent. We’ve had one broken pole and one damaged tent in about 10 years. It’s always pegged down well and with guy ropes so the worst it does is sway.
Nora
0 -
I quite agree, that's why we only use a pop up or a utility tent in the summer, but some are taking the " No Tents " signage to mean no tents of any description which I don't believe is the case at all. After all, an awning is just a tent with one side missing....
Of course if they do say no tents at all,of any description, well that's another matter, we just won't use this clubs sites from May till October..
0 -
I am make no mistake, but they do not allow tents, unless it called something else, .if the club says no tents it should mean no tents, but what are allowed to pitch makes it a mockery, they should allow free standing tents and embrace all campers.
0 -
I personally have no problems with other members using popup or utility tents on site as long as they are purpose made and designed for the job, plus they need to be pitched in accordance with manufactures instructions (ie - use all the pegs and guy ropes supplied) . Can you buy a caravan awning for under £40.00 at Aldi. No, but you can buy a gazebo intended for occasional use in your back garden in nice hot sunny weather and then packed away at the end of each day and this is in my opinion is the problem. Members using equipment for purposes for which they were not designed or intended. I have also seen on many occasions members throw up a caravan awning with an odd peg in each corner (job done) then sit back drinking prosecco watching as I drive home the 40 pegs required to pitch my awning correctly. We as members all need to take responsibility for the equipment we use on site and ensure it is fit for purpose and anchored down properly regardless of the weather conditions at the time of pitching. As I said in my last post I do think that the club needs to clarify their rules on this subject as the rule book is rather open to interpretation and as I suggested before an odd page feature in the clubs magazine will then hopefully ensure all member are aware what is or is not acceptable.
1
