Servicing calls at CLs for Motorcaravans

Biggarmac replied on 18/01/2021 17:08

Posted on 18/01/2021 17:08

In 2020 when lockdown was lifted in July there was a surge of members desperate to get out in their units.  Sites were swamped and in some areas it was impossible to find a site.  Many motorcaravanners who had not previously gone off grid (I refuse to use the term wildcamp) found they had no choice.  I was lucky to get three nights on a CL at Blairgowrie during a 10 night tour. and one night on a commercial campsite in the Great Glen.  On other nights I stayed in Pub carparks where I was able to enjoy a meal, in forestry carparks, on coastal carparks and on friends drives.

The big problem was disposing of wastes and filling with water.  Friends with drives were very helpful, but the problem of lack of the type facilities such as there is on the continent was very evident.

On the continent many campsites allow non residents on to service their units, for a fee.  It could be an additional revenue stream for CL owners to allow passing trade to use their service points.  This would be particularly useful for CLs who are full to supplement their income and to reduce the problems which were seem in many popular tourist hotspots last year.  The owners would need to look at what extra costs they would have for this service and what services they would be able to provide.  For instance how much does 100 litres of water cost on a metered supply?  How much each toilet emptying would add to the cost of sewerage?  How much for emptying a greywater supply of say 80 litres?  For comparison the CCC, on some sites, allow members to use site facilities, empty wastes and fill water for £7.30 (last years price).  That also allows for the use of showers.

This would stop the complaint that one night stopovers to dump and fill are blocking longer bookings.  A drop in facility could be a bonus for both CL owners and Motorcaravanners.

DavidKlyne replied on 20/01/2021 12:19

Posted on 20/01/2021 10:47 by JVB66

I think all cc sites where possible, are being modified to cater for the use of motor caravans in the majorityundecided

The next "moan?from motor caravaners will be wanting  several more large emptying/filling points on club site to save as we have  seen ,the queues of vehicles waiting for their turn to dance on the service points (even the  later big ones) trying to line up the  usually inadequately positioned waste oulets ,wink 

Posted on 20/01/2021 12:19

JVB

I have never quite understood your fixation with motorhome waste water disposal systems? As far as I can tell the exit point of motorhome wastes are either on either side of the van or underneath centrally situated. Maybe occasionally at the rear. The newly installed waste points are perfectly capable of easily coping with this combination of exit points. 

The Club seem to be making good progress with the installation of the new type of open grill, this is from the AGM:-

"As you can appreciate, we are unable to upgrade all of our existing MVWP across the network in one year, however we do already have a rolling programme of upgrading these facilities. So far we have upgraded MVWP at 104 sites, with 14 sites left to deliver over the coming few years. There are 42 sites which are still under consideration due to existing land ownership and lease length matters." 

replied on 20/01/2021 12:20

Posted on 20/01/2021 12:10 by Wherenext

Without wishing to drag "What they do Overthere" into this debate what you are suggesting is seen on at a number of sites we've used in France. Sometimes the Motohomers stay just outside the campsite itself but have access to water and a toilet emptying point.

It can be done if the will is there.

Posted on 20/01/2021 12:20

The user and all related content has been Deleted User

brue replied on 20/01/2021 12:34

Posted on 20/01/2021 12:10 by Wherenext

Without wishing to drag "What they do Overthere" into this debate what you are suggesting is seen on at a number of sites we've used in France. Sometimes the Motohomers stay just outside the campsite itself but have access to water and a toilet emptying point.

It can be done if the will is there.

Posted on 20/01/2021 12:34

I suppose much depends on the size of the site and space available at the entrance and it's approaches. The same might be considered for the CL owners which the OP is suggesting so it's a limited proposal not a universal one for any type of site?

 

Wherenext replied on 20/01/2021 12:44

Posted on 20/01/2021 12:44

I agree with that Brue.

As a regular user of CLs I wouldn't want to see the site receiving frequent visitors. One of the main attractions of CLs is often the sense of being on a quiet out of the way place.

I remember being on a CL where they had Caravan storage facility. The entrance to the CL looked secure as it had a coded entrance but over the course of the our, admittedly short, stay there were far too many coming and goings for any sort of peace and rest.

replied on 20/01/2021 13:17

Posted on 20/01/2021 12:10 by Wherenext

Without wishing to drag "What they do Overthere" into this debate what you are suggesting is seen on at a number of sites we've used in France. Sometimes the Motohomers stay just outside the campsite itself but have access to water and a toilet emptying point.

It can be done if the will is there.

Posted on 20/01/2021 13:17

It can be done if the will is there.

It would appear that there is little will in that case.

Takethedogalong replied on 20/01/2021 13:30

Posted on 20/01/2021 13:30

Anyone recall these?
http://camperclean.co/

Apparently, three Sites on the Club network have them fitted (North Ledaig, Love2Stay, and there’s supposedly one at Park Coppice)

Any feedback from folks that have used them, ease, cost, etc..... would be useful. The biggest drawback as far as I can see, would be siting. It would need to be outside the Site itself to avoid tourers having to enter the site, it obviously needs a water and Cess pit connection, and you have the ever present risk of vandalism, given that money is taken. Unless it could take cards.

Would work on touring routes at say petrol stations perhaps, if price to dump covers installation costs. (We have seen mobile dog wash/dry stations at petrol stations in some places, similar idea)

Tinwheeler replied on 20/01/2021 13:38

Posted on 20/01/2021 13:38

I've seen the one at NL. It's been out of order each time we visited but it's handily sited by the MHSP.

Takethedogalong replied on 20/01/2021 13:43

Posted on 20/01/2021 13:43

Yes, that’s the other issue, maintenance.👍 We fell foul of almost every LPG pump being out of order down in SW one year. Apparently they only got fixed when enough requiring repairs made it viable to send down someone to sort the area out! ☹️

Tinwheeler replied on 20/01/2021 13:48

Posted on 20/01/2021 13:43 by Takethedogalong

Yes, that’s the other issue, maintenance.👍 We fell foul of almost every LPG pump being out of order down in SW one year. Apparently they only got fixed when enough requiring repairs made it viable to send down someone to sort the area out! ☹️

Posted on 20/01/2021 13:48

These days you do well just to find a pump, working or not🙁

replied on 20/01/2021 14:06

Posted on 20/01/2021 13:30 by Takethedogalong

Anyone recall these?
http://camperclean.co/

Apparently, three Sites on the Club network have them fitted (North Ledaig, Love2Stay, and there’s supposedly one at Park Coppice)

Any feedback from folks that have used them, ease, cost, etc..... would be useful. The biggest drawback as far as I can see, would be siting. It would need to be outside the Site itself to avoid tourers having to enter the site, it obviously needs a water and Cess pit connection, and you have the ever present risk of vandalism, given that money is taken. Unless it could take cards.

Would work on touring routes at say petrol stations perhaps, if price to dump covers installation costs. (We have seen mobile dog wash/dry stations at petrol stations in some places, similar idea)

Posted on 20/01/2021 14:06

 Did they ever catch-on?

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