Campsite costs
Comments
-
As did we, but we paid for it for different reasons and just happened to find we enjoyed using the off grid capability while in France. We don’t have an inverter as we have no need for one, we can manage without 240 volts during our off grid stops. The actual reason for splashing out for the solar was to keep the batteries charged whilst in storage and the Gaslow system to save my back lifting cylinders. So in our case the off grid was a sort of free bonus.
2 -
Fair enough, Steve. At least you’re realistic and not claiming to be able to camp off grid for next to no outlay👍🏻.
1 -
My experience too. The only extra facility my current van came with which you would not see in any standard production coachbuilt or A class was the inverter which is only 750w. That is plenty for what I need. I have just checked and the cost at todays price is about £280,. So for a little over £500 you could easily equip any standard van to be quite capable of going off grid.
peedee
1 -
We have solar and one ordinary battery and compressor fridge. All standard for the van. To do more than one night off grid we would need lithium. That would cost at least £500. So that would be about 50 off grid nights to pay for it. We don’t go abroad. We largely use CLs. So with a mix of sites it would take several years to pay back the investment.
2 -
some really good points here everyone. We have been to a site in Stratford-Upon- Avon that was £9 with no facilities, just peace and quiet. This weekend we went to a site near Devizes and it was £15 without hook up.
There are cheaper sites out there as suggested but then the price of fuel drives everything up!
Enjoy your touring.
0 -
I would concede that an off-grid setup will cost but even that will vary depending on the amount of sophistication/duration that is required. My setup permits indefinite off grid with full use of kettle/toaster/microwave. TV is 12v anyway. Initial outlay was around £1300 although I have recently added another lithium battery for greater resilience, although not strictly necessary. Have just completed 30 days in France, of which 13 were off-grid. Nightly costs averaged under £11. Thirty days on club sites will set you back somewhere in the order of £900, possibly a bit more. So that month could be said to have saved me £600. It doesn't take long to recoup the capital cost and you get to pick where you want to go rather than be constrained by the regimentation of sites.
1 -
Thank you👍🏻
0 -
Good summary CY👍 Couple more trips and your costs are recouped, and you are travelling/living how you want.
We are off to a lovely CL this week, been before but not for a while. The owner apologised to us as the price has gone up slightly. Individual landscaped pitches amongst colourful shrubs, EHU, free wifi, grass but underpinned with plastic grid. Brilliant location that is on edge of Woodland Trust wood, lovely walks, cycle rides, pubs, places to visit. £17 per night. We might have to walk 5 metres to dump grey waste and to CDP point. These gems are still out there👍
1 -
I don’t think that is really a realistic comparison CY. You would have to compare against CL type sites with EHU, rather than the more expensive club offerings. As we all know sites of all types are much cheaper in France out of season. We have completed 26 nights so far, only 3 off which were off grid. Two of the sites have had pools and even so our nightly average is only £12.88. However, I’m not about to compare that to CAMC sites at home.
2 -
I don't understand that, PD. Isn't that exactly what Steve was saying - to make a fair comparison CY would need to compare the sites he uses "over there" with the sites he'd use "over here" - i e CLs or THS etc.
Otherwise one could compare with the likes of Concierge Camping and claim to recoup the whole outlay in a month or so!
5 -
one of the only ways to go off grid is to use certified locations
Apart from one of the only ways... doesn't make sense, what Steve is saying is that CY shouldn't compare the savings against club site prices, if one has off grid capability then one wouldn't use a club site in the first place for any occasional one night stop? They might and can but why? A bit of luxury?
1 -
CAMC model is rarely found elsewhere... Hillhead
There are plenty of sites like Hillhead in the UK, both with the club or not?
0 -
For some reason you're bringing in abroad prices again which is pointless (as well as this being a thread in the CL section) for comparing them with UK club sites?
...So that month could be said to have saved me £600...
You're using site prices in France and compare that to a club sites, how can that be justified in any meaning full way?
So your comparison is invalid in my view, perhaps do the same comparison with UK sites and/or on a UK based off grid tour?
Btw what is the cost of that extra lithium battery?
4 -
and CLs dont exist outside the UK.
I would say an Aire, of which there are many, is very similar. Typically we have been using Camping Car Park ones, which have all had EHU and cost about €12. The non EHU ones were free. Really as he was in France CY’s best comparison would be between the non EHU Aires and the CCP type, rather than try and compare with the price of CAMC sites in the UK.
On the proper sites we’ve stopped on Non EHU was an option but would have only have saved typically €4 a night.
3 -
+1, CY has stated in the past that C&MC sites are not for him, he uses alternatives as stopovers👍🏻
2 -
As I don't know any off grid certificate sites and know nothing of their prices it is hard to make a valid comparison.
CY has given prices abroad to base his sums on, what we need is an 'off gridder' who tours in the UK.
1 -
So by reading the above CY has spent £1300 to equip his MH for off grid plus an undisclosed as yet lithium battery. A quick check is that they cost anywhere from £500 to over £1500 so that brings the total to say about £1800+.
So even at his figure of £11 nightly costs for abroad he will have to stay off grid for about 163 nights, or over five months before it starts to pay for itself.
I'm not saying anyone shouldn't do that of course or it's not worth it, I've spent £1000+s on bikes and cameras over the years and one can't put a price on the enjoyment these things bring, and I'm sure CY thinks it's worth every penny and rightly so for him. I'm just showing that off grid isn't as 'free' as some like to make out.
1 -
Why do you feel you would need lithium batteries to do more than one night off grid? Your solar panel is going to keep your battery topped up as are your journeys out and about.
0 -
In thirty years of caravanning we’ve never been mains power dependant. Our 60w solar panel was +-£120 a few years ago. A 300w inverter was +- £25. For years we used croc clips connected to the car 😱 So there you have it approximately £145.
1 -
Excellent V6👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻, that’s how to do it, you got in before the systems cost silly money & are reaping the benefit.
0 -
Investment in 'off-grid' kit isn't entirely about cost saving. It's also about flexibility. If EHU is a 'must have' then it can restrict your options on where you can stay. Also in this time of covid-influenced demand, there is more chance of finding a pitch in a non-EHU location, particularly if you are averse to booking months in advance.
1
