Maximum vehicle length restrictions at club sites

Wandering dog
Wandering dog Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited April 2021 in UK Campsites & Touring #1

As a “newbie” and having just purchased our van, I was surprised by the amount of club site with a 8.5 metre length restriction. Our van is 9 metres so oversized for many sites. My question is, is there anyway of filtering sites by van lengths on the club website’s as I am currently having to go into each site’s detail to check for size restrictions. Any help greatly appreciated 

Moderator Comment - As you seem (?) to be referring to main Club sites I have moved this to UK Sites, rather than leaving it in the CL Section.

 

Comments

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2021 #2

    Not that I am aware off. I suspect there would not be many that use it, so might be a low priority on the to do list. Currently, except for late availability, there isn’t a filter for service pitches, which has been regularly requested for years.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2021 #3

    If you mean Club sites you could perhaps ask Club head office for a print out giving a short list of their sites where motorhomes of 9 metres can be accommodated.

    But if you mean CLs, which is the section of this forum where you have placed this enquiry, they may not be able to give you an immediate answer, 

  • RedKite
    RedKite Club Member Posts: 1,717 ✭✭
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    edited April 2021 #4

    Hi If you have received your site directory look at page 32 where a list of the club sites and towards the end of the columns heading max length in metres, hopefully this will help.

    Welcome to the club.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited April 2021 #5

    There is also a small amount of information listed under "how to book a site" where the club mentions larger outfits and the possibility that two pitches may need to be booked etc. see HERE

    The main request is to phone an individual site to make a booking and discuss with the warden rather than attempt an on line booking and be disappointed.

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited April 2021 #6

    Good Afternoon and Welcome

    Some good advice with previous posts. I'm a Site Manager with the club and have worked on around 12 sites. A tip you might find useful is to phone the site you're interested in. Some have one or two pitches to fit large outfits and the staff could advise on suitability and availability etc. The site I'm running this year states max length as 8 meters but I've already taken bookings for larger outfits including a 12 meter RV. Hope this is of help.

    JK

  • Wandering dog
    Wandering dog Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited April 2021 #7

    Thank you for your help and thank you for reposting, my I.T. Skills are somewhat less than competent.

     

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,195 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2021 #8

    Hello and welcome.

    You're not alone in having limited IT skills - certainly not helped by this unintuitive forum 🤐🤐.

    There's plenty of knowledge and help from folks on CT, just ask away. Even seasoned users who know there's a thread on a subject have to use an external search to find it 🤣🤣. You'll soon get helpful advise. Maybe some leg pulling, watch for the emjois 😉

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited April 2021 #9

    9 metres? Isn't that longer than legally permitted? I though 8 metres (as with my T/A Bailey) was the longest. Quote:

    The maximum body length of caravan that may be towed on British roads by a motor car (vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight of 3,500kg or more) is 7 metres (22 ft 11½ in). The maximum width is 2.3 metres (7 ft 6½ in).

    Note "body length" - you can then have 1 metre of A bar.

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited April 2021 #10

    I guess you mean a motorhome, not a 'van (caravan) ?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2021 #11

    A motorcaravan. 👍

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited April 2021 #12

    laughing

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2021 #13

    Nutsy wrote "The maximum body length of caravan that may be towed on British roads by a motor car (vehicle with a Gross Vehicle Weight of 3,500kg or more) is 7 metres (22 ft 11½ in). The maximum width is 2.3 metres (7 ft 6½ in)."

    What about all these new 8ft wide caravans then? Also do you not mean 3500Kg or LESS?

  • NutsyH
    NutsyH Forum Participant Posts: 534
    edited April 2021 #14

    Cyberyacht

    I don't mean anything - quote was from a google search and I did wonder about the 3500kg thing, clearly wrong but it was the length that was the point. Regarding width, law changed recently - from Gov.uk:

    Width and length
    The maximum trailer width for any towing vehicle is 2.55 metres.

    The maximum length for a trailer towed by a vehicle weighing up to 3,500kg is 7 metres. This length does not include the A-frame.

  • dunelm
    dunelm Forum Participant Posts: 373
    edited May 2021 #15

    As RedKite posted, all the information  for Club sites is in the Club Handbook and Site Directory so, if Wandering Dog has the handbook there is no need to ask head office for a print out. 

     It is a very useful book. Please don't take this personally but there seem to be a number of even experienced members who don't seem to use the handbook or know what it contains.

    For any newcomers, I would recommend if they require any information about  using Club sites, details of sites or directions to them they look in the book as their first action.

    However, one aspect of the handbook which has deteriorated in recent years is that it no longer gives prices for each season. Until a few years ago the handbook had a full breakdown of pitch fee, price per adult and per child for each price band throughout the year. Although that only applied to the calendar year for the book, I found it very useful. A price supplement was then issued the following year as the handbook was only issued every two years.

    I know that information is available on the website but not everyone chooses to have a smart phone or take a laptop/tablet with them when touring. I believe there are still some people who do not actually own such  items.

    Having all relevant information in a book was very helpful.

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2021 #16

    So the handbook says 8 metres max length but the warden says he accepts 12 metres. Handbook not much use ?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited May 2021 #17

    The max is for the sites normal size of pitch ,he may have one or two that will take longer LVs but they would not be kept aside in case one turns up,hence the request to contact a site if you are over the specified size as advised for the siteundecided

    Where we are staying it states  9mtrs max length but there are two RVs on that are above that

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited May 2021 #18

    Exactly that jv, and what I responded to the op. The majority of club sites have a pitch or two that can accommodate a large outfit but it has to be managed. That's done by contacting the site.

    Nothing wrong with the handbook in my opinion.

    JK

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2021 #19

    But the handbook is not telling the truth if it says max.length 8 metres at some sites when a phone call produces them longer than that. I think the OP wanted to know which sites are worth phoning for a long pitch and which aren’t . Can you give him the list ?

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2021 #20

    Thinking about the sites we have stayed at I would imagine the majority would have the odd pitch suitable for an oversize RV. It would depend on availability though, hence the advice to phone.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2021 #21

    The Handbook is a general guide to what the site offers. If it says the maximum length is 8 metres which clearly means that for most pitches that is the length of unit accepted. I think anyone with an overlong unit should be expected to clarify that direct with the site as JK suggests. The OP clearly states he is a newby to all this but now knows what he needs to do in order the check if a longer pitch is available. 

    David

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited May 2021 #22

    Motorcaravan👍🏻😱, how good is that-a caravan with a motor, that makes so much more sense, no more Moho now it’s a MC. Nice one Tinny👏🏻👏🏻

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited May 2021 #23

    The question is whether that 8m refers to the bodyshell length or total length including drawbar. I know that generally bodyshell length is limited to 7m for most purposes and therefore one might reasonably deduce that the 8m limit refers to overall length. If not then one could perhaps expect that a 9m fifth wheeler could be accommodated as the drawbar connection is within the overall length. Don't you just love grey areas.

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited May 2021 #24

    Thank You DK.

    JK

  • JollyKernow
    JollyKernow Forum Participant Posts: 2,629
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    edited May 2021 #25

    Nothing grey cyber, it's always been the shipping length, well at least the last twenty years I've been a member

    JK

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited May 2021 #26

    Not when it is to do with age alsocool