Off-Grid “reference” article in the Club Magazine
It was good to see an article in our Clubs August Magazine on Off-Grid Touring.
However it was very disappointing that from 398 Off-Grid sites to choose from, they stayed on a EHU one! There is an off-grid CL site 2.84 miles from this location.
What a half-hearted attempt to offer advice on touring without electric, they missed the chance to ask members staying on an Off-Grid site for their views, what a missed opportunity.
Not really surprised as members that use off-grid sites can not even search for one on our Clubs website!
Comments
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So you noticed it too did you Johnny?? I thought it was a total waste of not only everybody’s time but good paper too. What’s the point of an article that covers ground that thousands of caravanners do every year?
It was pathetic. What should have been done is to do some diligent searching to find what the modern technologies can do and how they have changed the perspective of off grid camping. As a lithium battery owner, I can tell you it’s phenomenal. It’s another world! The article was 10 yrs out of date and the fact that they did it on an EHU site shows the mental process behind it. ‘If we fail, we’ve always got the EHU’ !! I’ve been away for 11 weeks this year, used the toaster virtually every day and sometimes twice, heated meals and drinks in the microwave, used a hoover when needed, a blender for prep, watched DVDs on wet evenings- and there were plenty of those in Wales- for 3 or 4 hours and I wasn’t worried about what was in the battery- I knew I had loads! It was to be a proper, in depth, article, but I guess the club are protecting their EHU’s. A real shame because even if folk are not interested in going down the off grid route , it would have been far more interesting that the same old same old. We have one thing to be thankful for though- they didn’t call it ‘Back to Basics!!’
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But does it really surprise you, Johnny. Those at Ho don't know their a**e from their toupee!!
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I suppose members with a good knowledge of off grid camping could actually submit their own article for consideration by the magazine?
David
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What makes you think that it hasn’t Dave?. If they won’t keep a promise to run an article with my van open to full inspection, what makes you think they would run a well written and informative article when they have failed so spectacularly on doing it themselves. And I thought that a magazine was a method of getting new and interesting copy to people! There are publications that will actually run it and funnily enough, they are organisations with no EHU’s to protect!! They simply are not bothered about off gridders - simples.
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Don't get Merve started on that on David. He's been in touch with them and they were supposed to be interviewing him for an article but then went back on their word. No surprise there either!!
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In those circumstances I would write to the Editor, especially if they have reneged on an understanding. Perhaps worth considering that his main objective might be the style of article rather than whether it is purist enough. Given that we know the magazine seems not to publish anything in that much detail perhaps suggests that style over detailed content was the driving force!!! Unless one could see the two articles side by side its difficult to make a judgement.
David
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Thank you David but It’s not worth the effort. I have done all I could reasonably do. I’m not trying to convert people from the EHU, just give them food for thought! I met with Sammy at the Roadpro stand in February, swopped phone numbers and arranged to be interviewed, photographs taken and the article prepared and released in September. Yes, it would have been detailed (why wouldn’t it be) but I’m sure not to the point of boredom- I would have, because of the odd complexity and addition of the system, wanted a qualified person to check the text to make sure it made sense but that only makes sense for the reader- we are not morons, and the style of the article would have been left to them - the editorial dept- Anyway, it’s done. No point going on about it. All I really wanted to do was prove there was an excellent alternative to the status quo. I’ve proved it to myself but unfortunately the one organ that could have informed its public failed to engage. “I completely forgot about it” just doesn’t cut the mustard especially when a supposed reporter also has it in her diary. No, it’s time to back off and enjoy what I have without sharing it which is all I ever wanted to do. I have the measure of them.
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Ref the article - On a positive note the CL photo showed a relaxed approach to spending time away in that the family were able to use a fair amount of space which could possibly encourage more members to try CL’s.
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Merve, you have my sympathies.
Like you, I contacted the Editor of the magazine some time ago via email, to see whether he would be interested in caravan related articles I'd written, which in my opinion, would have 'brightened up' a somewhat dull publication (also on the recommendation of a few members) I received a snotogram back, basically saying they were not interested as they had the next 12 months already planned.
After contacting a well known publication, I was welcomed with some interest. Four published articles later, I still receive the same old dreary Club magazine each month and note nothing has changed, with very little content which I find interesting, or indeed of much substance.
In this month's issue, it appears the Editor is advertising a new light-weight two-berth caravan - which is designed to be towed by a hybrid, or plug-in and is aimed at the 'Off Grid' camper!! (page 3) It's amusing to me that turn a couple of pages (page 7) and the DG is advocating the appeal of an American Camper - completely at the other end of the spectrum!!
No doubt they'll say it is showing how diverse they are - however, what ever they say, the front cover of August magazine (as defined on page 3) is most definitely NOT Blackpool Pleasure Beach!
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No doubt they'll say it is showing how diverse they are - however, what ever they say, the front cover of August magazine (as defined on page 3) is most definitely NOT Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Thanks jonray for your comments. I appreciate them. I had noticed the Blackpool’s pleasure beach as I stared at Urquhart Castle! It would be nice to think they would welcome the input of there customers- what a wealth of knowledge! But, I have now checked my giveashitometer- not a flicker!
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The one thing Merve should console himself with is the very fact that anyone connected with this forum would look to his thread and his contributors first in the event of needing any advice about going off-grid. The article merely proved that.
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I do wherenext and thanks. Every cloud has a silver lining though! The other good thing that that has come out of this, is, when read by a friend who came to virtually the same conclusion as DD has, I have been invited to the Roadpro stand for all six days in October. They get many customers who are interested in Lithium and off- grid caravanning and Motorhoming. If you are going to the show, come and introduce yourselves. I’d be chuffed to meet you. Come and chat about my favourite subject - caravanning- and find out what my experience is with living off-grid with Lithium. See you there!
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How will things go in future ? Electric cars ? towing ? All you could do is go round the corner for youre holiday , Love cls .but wife likes computer .so electric . And the price of gas means leccy is cheaper .
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Dc, we use our iPads all the time when away. Perfectly easy to recharge when on the move. Or carry a back up pack. Most cafes, buses, trains will allow you to top up power.
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Read merve's thread. He has a toaster and vacuum cleaner plus lots of other electrics. Really interesting. Will take you much longer than the magazine bit, I wont dignify it by calling it an article. He's only recently bought lithium batteries so was offgrid with 'normal' habitation battery. You'll learn a lot even if you don't use the information.
I'll try to find it and post a link.
Edit it is HERE
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Price of gas means leccy is cheaper? Well that’s true. My electric is free and my gas costs me a quarter of what it used to. We charge pads, phones, toothbrush use all the kit on board and not an orange lead in sight. Perfectly possible- that would have been proved in the article but hey! You’re a threat to our income Merve!! Let me say here that my journey to offgrid has been very interesting- and not faultless- Lead Acid Batteries cannot provide large amperage without damage- and my batteries started to fail- you can’t make an omelette without breaking a few eggs and so my arrival at lithium- a totally different experience- you have to experience it to believe it.
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Having remembered that they had a "Did you Know?" circle at top right of this article about practical advice and a wealth of expert information. I had a look, I could find nothing on solar panels, off-grid or non ehu. Are they having a laugh! or is it just me Mr Thicky who can not find any useful info because I'm not an "expert"
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/advice-and-training/1 -
If their ‘experts’ show as much enthusiasm for new and innovative ideas as the editorial department, there won’t be any expertise John simply because the subject has not been explored- or perhaps they can’t imagine anyone living off grid-? it simply isn’t done old man! How does one cool ones champagne? - perhaps they should employ me as an expert on Off Grid living? Pigs might fly!!
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You don’t need EHU for a computer (I guess you mean laptop). We’ve just spent three weeks off grid perfectly able to charge laptop, phones & tablets and use a hot brush.
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...and if you buy your gas at the right place it's 60p (or less) a litre at the pump instead of £2+ a litre (£25 for a 6kg (12 litre) Calor) for bottled gas.
with cheap gas powering your heating/cooling/hot water needs, and solar energy charging you computer, running your lights, TV, water pump etc, you can do as Merve and others do and plump for small non-EHU sites which give a substantial saving allowing those upfront costs to be quickly recouped......
...of course, it also gives you a much wider choice of sites, THS and other rally type events.
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Both clubs do the same every year . just something to fill the mags .
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Just looked at another post ,this months magazine . Did they press wrong buttons ?
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Good post BB. As you say, this is exactly what I do and now with the lithium it’s raised the bar not just a bit. 300w on the roof, now able to use all the kit on board (microwave, toaster, vacuum etc) without damaging the battery. Well worth having when you do what I do. I have owned my lithium for just over a year and already recouped £600+ in not having to use EHU sites. At least I’m doing my bit to try to save CLs from closing!! They would have had such an interesting article- you can lead a horse to water........🤣🤣
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Merve, According to a BBC programme, graphine is going to be the next wonder substance used for battery construction. Check out the last 10 minutes of BBC4's programme "Revolution" the ideas that changed the world shown last week. If it proves so, it will be amazing
peedee
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