[MicknPat]

I have just read on one of my other forums of a couple of fifth wheel owners........




who have been denied access to a couple of camp grounds because they own 5th wheel out-fits like the above.

One reason given is that the CG owner didn't just like the 'look' of the outfit claiming it looked like a fairground / gypsy vehicle whereas the other claimed that damage was caused by the tow vehicle in either the positioning or removal of the trailer.

Now I know that there are several camp ground owners on Touring & Tenting but would you be prepared to voice your opinions on such outfits, good or bad?

I would also like to hear the views of any Touring & Tenting members on either such outfits or of sites not allowing them access.

Thanks

Mick

[klyne]

Mick

Its not a question of whether I approve or disapprove but such outfits are extremely large, not only in length but also in height and I suspect a lot of campsites would have trouble accommodating something as large.

David

[chatterdog]

Haven will charge you for 2 pitches or at least the one i tried would but they did say that applied to any van over 20' last year when the kids were on holiday and the other day i enquired at a site a friend had posted about which is not too far from us for when the grankids are on holiday, he didnt know what one was and when he asked what i had said he didnt think he wanted to allow one on, when i described it. That is the only times i have had difficulties in as much as booking a site in over 4 years. Mind i wouldnt like to try booking a tripple axle like your pic in anywhere. A lot of sites can accomodate around 28' without problems

My 5ver is to european specs it is only 7'6" wide rather than the 8' wide true american

[andy macdonald]

I have been to many sites that you would just not get round the corners on the site with a large vehicle like that let alone be able to reverse it onto a pitch with out damaging the surrounding grass or flower beds

That said
I still want one but only after I win the lotto

Andy

[MicknPat]

Mick

Its not a question of whether I approve or disapprove but such outfits are extremely large, not only in length but also in height and I suspect a lot of campsites would have trouble accommodating something as large.

David

David and Andy,

From what I have read the sites could accommodate this size of outfit and the American RVs, no it is just the reasons given for the ban, bit like if you decide to buy a Hobby Prestige or Tabbert Comtesse how welcome you will be made by the CC or C&CC Errrrrrrrr NOT.

[klyne]

Mick

Its not a question of whether I approve or disapprove but such outfits are extremely large, not only in length but also in height and I suspect a lot of campsites would have trouble accommodating something as large.

David

David and Andy,

From what I have read the sites could accommodate this size of outfit and the American RVs, no it is just the reasons given for the ban, bit like if you decide to buy a Hobby Prestige or Tabbert Comtesse how welcome you will be made by the CC or C&CC Errrrrrrrr NOT.

Mick

I have seen large American RV's (the size of a Shearings coach) on several Caravan Club sites and as far as I am aware the only restriction is based of the physical length of the outfit not the badge!

David

[andy macdonald]

Well though I like the look of them I find I have to point out something that was in your post


American RVs

This alone tells a story
The Yankee sites have a half-acre to a pitch (or the yanks would never be able to reverse onto one)
Drive on and off in one simple arc for them

And the UK sites ........ Well many are built for a reasonably small car and a 16 ft caravan

The one I went to a few weeks ago Lomond woods nr Glasgow

It was fairly tight for my VW caravelle and a 13 ft trailer I could not reverse on the pitch I was allocated with out driving over the grass on the pitch opposite
And I am not a novice driver with a trailer 15 years of HGV1 has given me a clue or two

Looking at the pic of the trailer I would have said it would not have be able to get round the site without hitting something
It is just too big

But on the other hand I have been to sites that would be able to cope with the size easily
So the moral of the story is
Ring ahead and ask if size really does matter

If a bloke answers you will be ok

Andy

[JanB]

Mike - I think your comment about German vans and the CC C&CC reaction to them is wrong - both clubs will happily insure German caravans and accept them on their sites.
We have travelled with an RV in America quite a lot - large 5th wheelers are very popular on sites over there = however they have "pull through" pitches because the 5th wheelers are so difficult to manoeuvre. In fact there is a problem nowadays with the number of slide outs on RVs, the space between vehicles is becoming smaller and smaller as 2 and 3 slide outs are becoming so common.
As a previous poster has said UK spec RVs, ie up to 7' 6" wide are fine on UK sites, the wider and higher vehicles not only take up a large amount of space but also tower above normal UK vans.
I don't think it is anything to do with prejudice but common sense!!!!

[Brecon]

The CC and CCC will happily take any size Hobby, and the CC (maybe the CCC as well) will insure any Hobby up to the 540 range.

I have a Hobby Prestige 540 and have never had a problem with sites yet.

[Parklands]

We have not been asked to have yet to find out, If someone wanted to bring an RV or fith wheeler we would only take a provisional booking and have to make a decision when they arrived, Our pitches are 10m x 10m so a 30ft trailer would fit, its the slide outs that could be a problem, our pitches are seperated by hedges so you could not straddle two pitches, If we have the space we would leave the pitch either side vacant and only make a nominal charge, at busy times we would have to consider charging full price for any pitches we had to leave vacant to ensure adequate space.(fire breaks)

[keithmcc]

Mick says:- like if you decide to buy a Hobby Prestige or Tabbert Comtesse how welcome you will be made by the CC or C&CC Errrrrrrrr NOT

But that's wrong.

Yes Brecon, you are spot on. Like you I too have a Hobby Prestige 540. In the 6 years that I have owned and toured with it I have never been refused entry anywhere. We are members of both clubs. We insure through the Caravan Club - no problem!! We mainly use CC Sites and C&CC Sites. In fact several of their Wardens use Hobby caravans as their own on-site caravans too.




But back to the main question.....5th-wheelers. (....and we might as well add those gargantuan Yankee RVs while we are at it!!!)
I have no problem with them sharing camping/caravanning sites. If they can get on site, and there is an area with enough space for them - fine.

But I really wouldn't want to be parked between two of them on standard pitches. That's my personal view anyway.

[Tanya Wheeler]

Hi Mick & Pat

I know that here in SW France it is very difficult to get twin axels and RV type vans on campsites - we do allow them and twin axels - my recommendation to you is to look at the big pitch guide website run by Dick and Mo who list sites that take extra large vans.

We are also in there - Camping la Plage, St. Suerin de Prats 24230 Dordogne France.


Tanya

[MicknPat]

Well though I like the look of them I find I have to point out something that was in your post


American RVs

This alone tells a story
The Yankee sites have a half-acre to a pitch (or the yanks would never be able to reverse onto one)
Drive on and off in one simple arc for them

And the UK sites ........ Well many are built for a reasonably small car and a 16 ft caravan

Andy

Andy,

Okay, forget American RV's, what about European namely German motor homes made by Niessmann + Bischof and their Clou Liner at 11.5 meters length?


What sites are these motor homes built for?






Mick

[MicknPat]

Hi Mick & Pat

I know that here in SW France it is very difficult to get twin axels and RV type vans on campsites - we do allow them and twin axels - my recommendation to you is to look at the big pitch guide website run by Dick and Mo who list sites that take extra large vans.

We are also in there - Camping la Plage, St. Suerin de Prats 24230 Dordogne France.


Tanya

Hi Tanya,

Thanks for you information, but already aquired BOTH Big Pitch Guides UK & European, we hope to visit you site on route to Spain in the not to distant future.

Mick & Pat

[MicknPat]

We have not been asked to have yet to find out, If someone wanted to bring an RV or fith wheeler we would only take a provisional booking and have to make a decision when they arrived, Our pitches are 10m x 10m so a 30ft trailer would fit, its the slide outs that could be a problem, our pitches are seperated by hedges so you could not straddle two pitches, If we have the space we would leave the pitch either side vacant and only make a nominal charge, at busy times we would have to consider charging full price for any pitches we had to leave vacant to ensure adequate space.(fire breaks)

Tim, Your reply is very interesting, now is your 10mx10m pitches grass, concrete or gravel?

If the hedges are the absolute limit it would be the length of the motor home that would be the problem not the width, the slide-outs even if on both sides only add about 4 foot to a vehicle measuring 8ft- 6 inch or 2.5 mtrs.

Now if your pitches were say open on concrete being 10mx10m even a maximum length motor home of 12mtrs would possibly fit as there is a very large over hang on these vehicles.



Take our motor home and see how large the rear over hang is, the back is just off the picture, the levelling jacks are also just behind the rear and front wheels.

Mick