When is an awning not an awning?

[daventess]

Just stayed at a camp site on a non-awning pitch. The paper rules they gave us said that if you are on a non-awning pitch, then only wind out awnings can be used.

So my question is - is that normal? Are awning pitches always just for the massive conservatories that I see on the sides? Can I go to a non-awning pitch and wind out my awning (or press a button as it's electric) ?

Or is it just case by case?

 

[L' Hobo]

ooo - what a lot of activity Thank you all for joining in, it's been most enlightening ...

Thule describe what I have as an awning, so I have (erroneously though not unreasonably in my opinion) been paying extra for an awning pitch.

As daveclare said, every day is a school day

In my experience, awning pitches are larger. This is why, I have always assumed, is why they are more expensive?

 

[Wingingit#1]

CAMC charge the same for both awning and non awning pitches some are much less 'snug' so make your own mind up which suits .

 

[L' Hobo]

So we're all snookered then, as if you book an awning site but don't actually own a electable canvas awning you pay £1+ extra per night
Or you can say sod it and don't bother booking/paying for it, but then wind out your sun/rain canopy if it starts howling down, then you're in the lap of the God's with how strict the site's are.
Having said that they're easy enough to retract so woth testing the water as they say I know Tewkesbury CAMC are sticklers for the distance rules, having storm straps removed if at front and not sides
They don't compensate you when the sites flooded and your van get's water ingress, as that happen's quite often there !

View attachment 767141 View attachment 767142

On most sites I have been involved in that are liable to flooding, numerous warning on the website and welcome pack are given but most do not read the warnings.
Common sense tells me, that IF I am on a site, near to a river that has a reputation for flooding ( the Severn & Gt. Ouse for example) if it starts raining hard, especially when the ground is already wet I should move my van or, at the very least, have a word with the warden?
(you can also register with the Flood Line which will send text to your phone.)

PS Most Club & other campsites require you to have insurance, they will not cover, even in storage.

 

[RV72 SAM 🏴]

We have actually booked a site for 7 days where we were charged an extra £7 but had no choice as all that was left. But do agree for some reason it's not across-the-board.
Luck of the draw on most occasions in busy summertime I suppose, and yes the extra space is nice for a £1 a night

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[robnchris]

No. In the real world an awning is as shown in the attached screenshot..... It therefore appears that Thule and Fiamma do understand their own products and the English language!
In the real, real world however they are a PITA!

View attachment 767123

You can disagree all you want but I I will go with the Makers own description from their website.

Tents for motorhomes | Thule | United Kingdom

Motorhome tents from Thule give the perfect outdoor living space plus they’re versatile and easy to put up too! Find your ideal motorhome awning tent here.

www.thule.com

 

[L' Hobo]

CAMC charge the same for both awning and non awning pitches some are much less 'snug' so make your own mind up which suits .

I rarely, in fact it has been some years, use CAMC sites so, IF they are the same price, why would anyone book a non-awning pitch unless they had too??

 

[dawsey]

We have never stayed on any UK site run by clubs such as CAMC. We’ve only ever stayed on sites on the continent.

I often read these threads out of curiosity, as the quoted camping costs in UK sometimes seem a little excessive. To a point, I can understand high prices, UK has high land values and services costs. I sometimes also come away with the impression that there appear to be loads of very petty rules coupled with an over keenness to enforce.

Camping on continental sites we’ve never heard of any stuff about parking pointing this way or that and not being allowed to put up tents or awnings etc. The approach to camping just seems to be much more laid back. You declare number of people/dogs, agree cost, then within reason you can do what you like on your pitch. The only strict rule/restriction we’ve ever seen is bans on BBQs in places with fire risk, this tends to be imposed by local authorities.

 

[Langtoftlad]

I rarely, in fact it has been some years, use CAMC sites so, IF they are the same price, why would anyone book a non-awning pitch unless they had too??

There was a story that I was told by a warden that people complained if they saw someone not using an awning on an awning pitch but confirmed there was no obligation to use one.

It was my experience that awning pitches often had more availability than non awning ones despite being the same price - perhaps members assumed they were cheaper .

But that was before the super duper IT upgrade, and no longer a member so don't know now.

C&CC have different prices for different types of pitches - grass, EHU, hardstanding, jumbo etc - but no awning/non awning choice [although thinking on, you do specify at the early stages of booking, along with unit, size, and date]

 

[daventess]

CAMC charge the same for both awning and non awning pitches some are much less 'snug' so make your own mind up which suits .

It's not so much the cost to be fair, as it's often not too much (if anything) more. We recently couldn't get an awning pitch on our preferred site, so we ended up at one further out than we would have liked that did.

If my "awning" doesn't count, then it means I'm not restricted like that.

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[ChrisL]

I have stayed on a few CAMC club sites over the last couple of years and am booked back in at Littlehampton next week for a couple of weeks, they've always told me to park in any direction I like but stay between the white markers, I usually book a non awning pitch but have been told the wind out is okay just not a full awning. At Littlehampton next week they didn't have a non awning pitch available for the whole two weeks so I booked an awning pitch, it was the same price £22.30/night.

 

[Gellyneck]

The location of a specific pitch type on a specific site determines whether we book awning \ non-awning.
Not the first time I've heard a member complaining vociferously to the warden that they wanted a "waters edge pitch" but they were all non-awning and they had booked an awning pitch!
Now I wonder why you can view the pitch type layout when making a booking?

 

[L' Hobo]

We have never stayed on any UK site run by clubs such as CAMC. We’ve only ever stayed on sites on the continent.

I often read these threads out of curiosity, as the quoted camping costs in UK sometimes seem a little excessive. To a point, I can understand high prices, UK has high land values and services costs. I sometimes also come away with the impression that there appear to be loads of very petty rules coupled with an over keenness to enforce.

Camping on continental sites we’ve never heard of any stuff about parking pointing this way or that and not being allowed to put up tents or awnings etc. The approach to camping just seems to be much more laid back. You declare number of people/dogs, agree cost, then within reason you can do what you like on your pitch. The only strict rule/restriction we’ve ever seen is bans on BBQs in places with fire risk, this tends to be imposed by local authorities.

I think you are comparing apples with carrots.

Abroad, they have to compete with Free Aires, there is more space,(in most countries), for the same population and less (or perhaps, different) regulation.
In most countries, there are a lot of rules because people can be selfish & stupid, most are not but, for the selfish & stupid few, rules are needed otherwise it would quickly become chaos. Usually, these rules are not invoked because they do not have to be.

(Some rules are outdated and stupid so, hopefully, ignored but if you are just starting to work on site, or are of that sort of disposition, all rules must be adhered too. In which case, complain to Head Office and insist on getting it in writing because doing it on a Forum (any Forum) achieves little.

 

[CAB96]

The location of a specific pitch type on a specific site determines whether we book awning \ non-awning.
Not the first time I've heard a member complaining vociferously to the warden that they wanted a "waters edge pitch" but they were all non-awning and they had booked an awning pitch!
Now I wonder why you can view the pitch type layout when making a booking?

You can, but you would have to download the site map from the site description page, so not at all obvious.

 

[Gellyneck]

Seems quite obvious to me but ..........
We always download a soft copy of the site map and info to save on paper copies.

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[Tea Bag]

Just out of curiosity, why don't we ever see wind out sun canopies (did you see what I did there...) on caravans? Is it because we'll think they're burger vans in the lay by's of our green & pleasant land?

Hi.
It is because they are heavy and with a c/van there is usually only a bit of wood running along the side roofline inside. Hit a good Pot hole whatever and it could drag the side off..." Weight distribution ? " Could be another factor. .PLUS. A c/van awning takes an Hour ? ( Joking some a lot less,been there,done that ) To erect and can be in place come rain,shine or gusty winds,whereas a M/ho " Would be awning " ...IS.. sometimes put out and retracted every day/night at Total 10 mins? I have had to take my shoes off counting on my toes as well to work this next bit out. So lets just say.. 1. 7 days stay with m/ho awning in and out 70 mins. 2. 14 days stay 140 mins. Makes the 1hr proper awing on a c/van a better bet.... Time wise. Happy c/van awning erection ?. . watching..... WATCHING !! DOH....
Tea Bag

 

[rex parkinson]

I have a 5th wheel trailer that has 4 sliders each with their own awning that extends and retracts with the slider. They are fitted to protect the slider from the rain. Why do I have to declare them?

 

[dawsey]

I think you are comparing apples with carrots.

Abroad, they have to compete with Free Aires, there is more space…

How am I comparing apples and carrots? A campsite is a campsite, N’est-ce pas?

Campsites on the continent can not and do not compete with free aires. How would any business compete with something that’s free…?

Maybe, for for the small potential proportion of customers who are (mainly) retired senior citizens, no kids to entertain, and in huge, luxurious self contained motorhomes, campsites might be said to be competing with paid aires, but not so much, as the value proposition is quite different.

Whether the above cohort (when minded to pay something for a little better position or security) stay on a campsite or a paid aire is down to customer choice, a choice, in general, between paying a bit more to have more space, more security, more services, on-site pool, cafe, bar etc, but with the downside, in season of loads of noise and kids. Horses for courses. I understand better than most the line of thinking that goes like this…”I have spent £0000s on my luxo-mobile with full kitchen, bathroom etc, I don’t need to be paying for facilities like cafes, shower blocks etc which I don’t need to use”….

btw, I did say I understood the UK costs because of land pressure.

Apologies if offence was taken at my suggestion, from an impression gained just by reading the comments of others on this forum, that in UK, on these sites run by clubs, the ‘expensive option’ campsite appear to be much more pedantically run, all those petty rules and regulations just don’t look like much ‘fun’ from where I’m standing

 

[prenteye]

That’s answered a Q

Didn’t think it fair to pay for an awning that isn’t an awning. Motorhome wind outs don’t damage the grass in the way that using a caravan awning does.

Unless I guess you put a large plastic mat down.

Oo err - may have just set off another sub thread

 

[poppycamper]

That’s answered a Q

Didn’t think it fair to pay for an awning that isn’t an awning. Motorhome wind outs don’t damage the grass in the way that using a caravan awning does.

Unless I guess you put a large plastic mat down.

Oo err - may have just set off another sub thread

Don't need too.. frenchie 79 has just started a thread on this very subject.

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[2low4zero]

Just out of curiosity, why don't we ever see wind out sun canopies (did you see what I did there...) on caravans? Is it because we'll think they're burger vans in the lay by's of our green & pleasant land?

We had a factory-fitted wind-out sun canopy (called an awning) on our last Hobby caravan. I was wanting an easy life, so this seemed the best way to do it.

 

[nicholsong]

Reading this thread it occurs to me that members of the clubs (we are not,) should ask them to define 'awning' in T&C's.

That should clarify
.
The whole thread confirms several reasons for our preference for non-site parking.

We are currently on a hillside picnic area in Provence. The MH is parked on gravel in the shade, being only vehicle here. We have our table and chairs set under a mulberry tree and ouri view is down across a typical provencal valley.

Pah! To sites and rules.

 

[nickq]

To the CAMC they aren't known as awnings, they are "camping tax"
Car + Caravan + Awning needs quite a large pitch to keep the 6m spacing to the next pitch. Call this 3.
Motorhome + Awning = 2
Motorhome + Car = 2
Motorhome + Car + Awning = 3

Now if you book a size 3 pitch then fine you pay whether you have the extra units or not.

But if you book a size 2 (which is the smallest as all caravans come with a car) why do you get treated as a 3?
Because they can charge you more and they do.
Also there will be some busybodies complaining that you have an awning on a non-awning pitch.

IMO they should either supply some size 1 pitches for motorhomes without awnings or visitor car, or they should allow full awning with sides etc on a normal 2 size pitch when it is just a motorhome.
They won't do this as they lose their camping tax.

But remember it's a motorhome club too

 

[ChrisL]

To the CAMC they aren't known as awnings, they are "camping tax"
Car + Caravan + Awning needs quite a large pitch to keep the 6m spacing to the next pitch. Call this 3.
Motorhome + Awning = 2
Motorhome + Car = 2
Motorhome + Car + Awning = 3

Now if you book a size 3 pitch then fine you pay whether you have the extra units or not.

But if you book a size 2 (which is the smallest as all caravans come with a car) why do you get treated as a 3?
Because they can charge you more and they do.
Also there will be some busybodies complaining that you have an awning on a non-awning pitch.

IMO they should either supply some size 1 pitches for motorhomes without awnings or visitor car, or they should allow full awning with sides etc on a normal 2 size pitch when it is just a motorhome.
They won't do this as they lose their camping tax.

But remember it's a motorhome club too

At the CAMC sites i've stayed at the pitch price is the same whether you have an awning pitch or not, they ask you to book a non awning pitch if you don't have an awning but if there are none available it's okay to book an awning pitch and not erect an awning, it's about providing the right safety space not charging more.

 

[jess12]

I have been on CAMC sites where the warden (camping police) will insist it is an awning and tell you that you cannot use on a 'non awning' pitch !!!
We ignored once at our peril, and were told in no uncertain terms to wind it in - or leave !!

Never had that problem but I have had them throw their toys out of the pram about which way I park re hab door usually just smile and remove my hearing aids

I have been on CAMC sites where the warden (camping police) will insist it is an awning and tell you that you cannot use on a 'non awning' pitch !!!
We ignored once at our peril, and were told in no uncertain terms to wind it in - or leave !!

Not had that problem but I have had afew conversations about which way to park re hab door

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[autorouter]

The site gave you the answer "only wind out awnings can be used" just don't attach any curtains/panels.

But if you attach a curtain or panel, you are still using a wind-out awning, surely?

 

[dawsey]

Why on earth would the position of a hab door be a) of interest or b) any sort of issue ??

 

[L' Hobo]

Campsites on the continent can not and do not compete with free aires. How would any business compete with something that’s free…?

I

How am I comparing apples and carrots? A campsite is a campsite, N’est-ce pas?

Campsites on the continent can not and do not compete with free aires. How would any business compete with something that’s free…?

Maybe, for for the small potential proportion of customers who are (mainly) retired senior citizens, no kids to entertain, and in huge, luxurious self contained motorhomes, campsites might be said to be competing with paid aires, but not so much, as the value proposition is quite different.

Whether the above cohort (when minded to pay something for a little better position or security) stay on a campsite or a paid aire is down to customer choice, a choice, in general, between paying a bit more to have more space, more security, more services, on-site pool, cafe, bar etc, but with the downside, in season of loads of noise and kids. Horses for courses. I understand better than most the line of thinking that goes like this…”I have spent £0000s on my luxo-mobile with full kitchen, bathroom etc, I don’t need to be paying for facilities like cafes, shower blocks etc which I don’t need to use”….

btw, I did say I understood the UK costs because of land pressure.

Apologies if offence was taken at my suggestion, from an impression gained just by reading the comments of others on this forum, that in UK, on these sites run by clubs, the ‘expensive option’ campsite appear to be much more pedantically run, all those petty rules and regulations just don’t look like much ‘fun’ from where I’m standing

I am sorry if you think any offence was taken, it wasn't by me but I do honestly think you have got, through some posts (but we all know that unsatisfied customers post more than the thousands of satisfied ones) the wrong impression.

I am used to dealing with the general public and I would like to say that in 50yrs of camping all over the UK & Europe, that I have only twice met the pedantic attitude of which you speak (I have to admit my experience on CAMC sites is VERY limited) and, because I find that people, usually, treat you as you treat them, I always try to have a 'bit of banter' with wardens who are helping me enjoy my holiday and I find, in most cases, this attitude is reciprocated.

Keep an open mind and I'm sure it will be rewarded!

 

[cyberyacht]

There was guy who used to post on the CAMC forum who became quite exercised about 'facing doors'. If you want privacy, a campsite is not for you.

 

[Petroleumblownapart]

The location of a specific pitch type on a specific site determines whether we book awning \ non-awning.
Not the first time I've heard a member complaining vociferously to the warden that they wanted a "waters edge pitch" but they were all non-awning and they had booked an awning pitch!
Now I wonder why you can view the pitch type layout when making a booking?

We can't even book sometimes when using the new system on CAMC. I suspect that because the so called 'Grown-ups' at the so called management (should that be Mis-management?) office, continue to cause booking problems by not fixing the system. Many of the grumbles are magnified by the frustration members are FORCED endure. Wardens are fed up, members are fed up too.

You can disagree all you want but I I will go with the Makers own description from their website.

Tents for motorhomes | Thule | United Kingdom

Motorhome tents from Thule give the perfect outdoor living space plus they’re versatile and easy to put up too! Find your ideal motorhome awning tent here.

www.thule.com

View attachment 767154

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[ChrisL]

We can't even book sometimes when using the new system on CAMC.

Is that using the app or the website? I've not experienced any difficulties booking a pitch from the website.