Do you drive around in your van when you are away? (1 Viewer)

[Ja63]

We are about to set off on our second trip in our new motorhome....2 nights in Llanidloes at a riverside park

Apparently it is a 20 minute walk into the town which we will do (although we may need to get a taxi back as we are taking our two dogs and one of them is a rescued old dog who has pretty mangled feet from living in a cage for years...so she can't walk very far).

Generally though, wherever we go, we will probably prefer to use the motorhome as transport to go offsite returning to the site each afternoon/evening.

So, 2 questions...firstly, does anyone else do this or is it a pain having to pack everything away each day and then set it all back up on return. Secondly, should we/can we reserve our pitch or should we just return and accept that someone else might've nicked our nice spot in our absence? The site we stayed on last time gave us a numbered pitch so presumably no-one else would set up there because they wouldn't be given that number......do all sites have numbered/allocated pitches, in which case this won't be a problem for us?

Just wondering what you all do?

 

[pappajohn]

The site we stayed on last time gave us a numbered pitch so presumably no-one else would set up there because they wouldn't be given that number

Please don't rely on that logic....if it's a better pitch they may still pitch there and take a chance

 

[BreweryDave]

Bus, Taxi, Train, Bike, Walk, Stagger - Never take the MH - have far too much to drink

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[peter marshall]

Hi
Yes put something on it to reserve, some sites sell these or make one with Reg No , going off site in the MH is ok BUT it depends if there is ample parking in the towns you visit sometimes difficult. Pete

Ps it also depends on the size of your MH.

 

[funflair]

If you are on a campsite and paid for the pitch you should be able to leave your chairs or something to mark your pitch, lots of people have a sign "motorhome using this pitch".

If you think you can park OK driving off is fine, if you know that is what you are going to do you will keep it all tidy and put stuff away after you have used it.

After saying that we NEVER drive off for the day but we are 8.5 metres and would struggle to find parking, and we ride bikes and walk OK so no problem for us.

Martin

 

[Armytwowheels]

We tend not to unless we need a big grocery shop, but we try to do that when moving onto another area. If we cannot buy from a local shop we will take the bus or cycle. Now we are over 8 metres long we will have to do more research if we want to use the van to go out for the day, either ask a local where you might park or us google earth, we have found this very handy when looking for somewhere to take the kayaks out.

As for keeping your pitch, not all sites give out pitch numbers so it is wise to mark your pitch in some way - a sign with your reg number on, or an old bucket. This doesn't always work though but generally it does.

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[Deleted member 29692]

We never take the MH. Walk or public transport or very occasionally hire a car.

 

[sdc77]

We don't take the van off its pitch

 

[grumps147]

We do both, it largely depends on parking facilities at the day trip destination. Where we cannot get good day visit site parking, we choose sites/cl's that have convenient public transport.
Probably never take it off site at meets, as has been said, a drink or two prohibits that.

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[hilldweller]

>> Do you drive around in your van when you are away?

Almost never, too much to tie down. And for that matter the van is not the best in towns where we often want to go. We use our ebikes.

 

[Easyliving]

We don't tend to take our van off site. If we need supplies we stop en route to the site and stock up. We have an old dog who is happy enough but really doesn't want to walk too far these days. She is happy to stay in the van and sleep for a few hours while we go for a walk,we make sure she is not too hot of course.

Paul

 

[champers]

I suppose it is where you have camped really - on either a aire or a campsite, mostly on aires you cant save your pitch like you would on a campsite , I think the only place we have used our's and other funsters vans ( thanx JJ and The only Sue ) to travel about and saved our pitch is whilst sitting on square wheels in Portimao , it is an Aire but it is like a campsite, hard to explain ... fab is all I can say !

Normally we just walk to where we want to go or use the cycles - well i try to cycle lolol

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[St Piran]

Public transport, walk or push bike.

 

[DiggerJon]

This summer:- Van 1500 miles, small motorbike (towed on trailer) 1000 miles. Van 26 mpg; scooter 150 mpg and less than £100 pa in fixed costs. Not for everyone, but for me it's easy and free to park almost anywhere. Downsides? Rain and no alcohol.

 

[Brian and Jo]

We always tow Jo,s Panda with us so that we have a run around
Brian & Jo

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[Puddleduck]

Generally though, wherever we go, we will probably prefer to use the motorhome as transport to go offsite returning to the site each afternoon/evening.

So, 2 questions...firstly, does anyone else do this or is it a pain having to pack everything away each day and then set it all back up on return.

Do both depending on where we are, how far we want to go and what for. I prefer to cycle or walk or use public transport but sometimes it just isn't possible.

Secondly, should we/can we reserve our pitch or should we just return and accept that someone else might've nicked our nice spot in our absence? The site we stayed on last time gave us a numbered pitch so presumably no-one else would set up there because they wouldn't be given that number......do all sites have numbered/allocated pitches, in which case this won't be a problem for us?

Just wondering what you all do?

I just accept that we might not be on the same pitch. At least there is a different view if you move. Martin isn't as laid back and would be more likely to make a fuss.

 

[mjltigger]

We rarely stop anywhere more than 1 night anyway so our camper is our vehicle. We run ship shape all the time.. everything has the same home whether we are moving or parking so we can be off within a few minutes if we need to

 

[Puddleduck]

We rarely stop anywhere more than 1 night anyway so our camper is our vehicle. We run ship shape all the time.. everything has the same home whether we are moving or parking so we can be off within a few minutes if we need to

As our van is less than 6m long and has a fixed bed it makes sense to keep things tidy. I'm far more houseproud / tidy when in the van than at home. The more space you have the more junk you collect.

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[yellabellyex]

We rarely take our van offsite once parked. We might if it was the only way to visit local "attractions" like we'd not have visited cemeteries around Ypres, and would have regretted it. We were only staying for a couple of nights so didn't get everything out and it was poor weather so didn't expect to get the chairs and tables etc out.
If we plan to stay more than a couple of nights we'd not plan to use the van for transport.
Key word.........plan
enjoy,
alan b

 

[magicsurfbus]

On aires we keep the MH parked and find other ways to get around.

On campsites or CLs we play it by ear, as we have a reserved pitch to come back to. Getting road ready only takes us about 10 minutes.

 

[mjltigger]

As our van is less than 6m long and has a fixed bed it makes sense to keep things tidy. I'm far more houseproud / tidy when in the van than at home. The more space you have the more junk you collect.

We are just under 6m as well.. we have spare space in our overhead lockers

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[Derbyshire wanderer]

We usually leave the van on site. If we know we are wanting to explore locally we walk or use public transport if available but often tow the motorbike or the wifes car to have more options especially with taking the dog.

 

[Ethle the wondervan]

Can't abide being 'stuck' on a pitch unless it is to sleep. Love to explore and take the 'van everywhere. If a delivery van can get through and turn round, so can I!!

 

[1_man_and_his_dob(lo)]

I always use the van if walking is not feasible. I tend to leave a bucket on my pitch when I drive off, or even better my utility tent.

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[Wildman]

always use the van don't carry bikes and cannot walk far.

 

[Allanm]

We use the van to travel daily from place to place, rarely stopping more than one night and very rarely stopping on a campsite. We can get to most places in the van, so, yes.

 

[Glandwr]

We tend to use our bikes. As far as Llanidloes is concerned campers are welcome to stay overnight free in the council owned car park in town. It is quiet, spacious and you can park overlooking the Severn. It's council policy thoughout Powys and I see it taken advantage of regularly in Welshpool, Newtown, Llanidloes, and Builth Wells where the car park goes down to the banks of the Wye.

The actual signs say "campers can stay free 1 out of 7 nights" although you won't have any trouble staying 2. The caveat is to stop travellers and those that take advantage.

Dick

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[Gorse Hill]

Don't stress about it take your van and unless your over 8 meters usually find somewhere to park no probs
Just leave your hook up cable plugged in and leave it on your pitch, never seen anyone stupid enough to unplug a lead on a pitch and park up in your space if they do they deserve a slap for being an idiot
Don't worry about it enjoy the freedom nearly all people who use sites are intelligent enough to see someone is occupying the pitch unless there Stevie wonder

 

[Gorse Hill]

We are about to set off on our second trip in our new motorhome....2 nights in Llanidloes at a riverside park

Apparently it is a 20 minute walk into the town which we will do (although we may need to get a taxi back as we are taking our two dogs and one of them is a rescued old dog who has pretty mangled feet from living in a cage for years...so she can't walk very far).

Generally though, wherever we go, we will probably prefer to use the motorhome as transport to go offsite returning to the site each afternoon/evening.

So, 2 questions...firstly, does anyone else do this or is it a pain having to pack everything away each day and then set it all back up on return. Secondly, should we/can we reserve our pitch or should we just return and accept that someone else might've nicked our nice spot in our absence? The site we stayed on last time gave us a numbered pitch so presumably no-one else would set up there because they wouldn't be given that number......do all sites have numbered/allocated pitches, in which case this won't be a problem for us?

Just wondering what you all do?

 

[Lenny HB]

We tend to drive to where we want to be stay the night then move on the next day. When we do stay more than one night we walk or cycle can't be bothered to take the van into towns.
Don't use sites much and avoiding the UK makes motorhoming much more pleasurable.