Booking a pitch

Boris7

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We pick up our new MH on Friday and have booked a pitch for Saturday night as a first try out.

When looking for a site we found a couple of issues.

1. Pitch size. We’ve bought a Auto-Sleeper Burford Duo which is 8m long and has a rear mounted storage box bringing it up to near 9m.
many sites seem to only take 7or 8m MHs.
Is there an easy way to search campsites based on HM size?

2. Awning, we have a wind out awning, the site we’ve booked gives us an 8x8m pitch, when booking they ask if we are using a awning, there’s a charge for an awning, but since the pitch is more than big enough do we have to book and pay for the awning?

3. The MH uses a Whale system for water intake, the dealer assures me we will be given training and will have a Whale adaptor, but eveything I’ve seen suggests it uses an external pump from a container, is it possible to connect to a simple hose pipe?
Im sure we can sort this out following picking the MH up, but we are going away the next day for our first outing and I’d like to avoid taking an external tank.

This is particularly important as we intend to use the MH mainly off sites, and I’d like to run the water down, use the on board toilet till full etc to asses how long we can survive off site while touring.

4. The leisure battery is under the front passenger seat, I’d like to connect a second leisure battery and an inverter, it seems any leisure battery needs to be vented to the outside, but I’m thinking the second battery will go under the near side bench seat, which will make venting an issue, but I don’t see how the existing battery is vented anyway.
 
1) Your truck is 8 meters. Forget the box! Its of no concern 2) Yes you can connect a simple hose 3) You do not need an awning size unless its really sunny and you are there for a couple of days or more? 4) Its the wife! She will determine the water use ! 5) Second battery fitting is only an issue if you do not use common sense! You will be fine do not stress. We have all been there before...All will be well

Kev
 
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2. Awning use costs.
I find these confusing too. Have we to pay to wind out our roof only awning?
3. You’ll be able to fill the driving water tank via a hose or bucket & funnel.
We’ve a 12vDC socket for an external whale pump and we use one of those with a 20lt flexible bucket.

NB We’ve yet to remember to fill up on arrival and always take on water on the pitch.
edit: typo
 
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Normally the awning relates to an additional room attached to the side of the vehicle (common on caravans) and not to wind out awnings. I wouldn't expect to pay extra for that.
 
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The pull out 'awning' you have is actually just a retcangular piece of material aka a canopy and that's how we all avoid paying awning supplements - awnings are large oblong room like tenty structures.

I second the 'all will be well' :LOL:

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Run your rear wheels to the end of the gravel and let the arse end and box hang over the grass. We’re 9 mtrs plus a scooter rack and do this.
You have a wind out canopy not an awning.
Buy a watering can to fill water then you don’t have to move moho to fill up.
When using the toilet open the flap first and don’t flush with too much water.
Battery, don’t go mad using 12v till you have sussed out how much power you have.
Chill out, calm down and enjoy ?
 
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Thanks guys, I'm still in two minds about a second leisure battery, but have to say my thinking is to fit one if possible as more battery life can't be a bad think (other than weight) and since I have access to almost un-limited 110a/h AGM batteries free of charge and already have a 2kw inverter it seems an obvious thing to do.
However the only reasons I can find for an inverter is to power a hairdryer for SWMBO and a slow cooker.
 
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My RV is 9.4m long, and with the bike rack on the tow ball, nearer 10m.

I turned up at a CAMC site in Wales on the spur of the moment last year. Asked if they had a pitch, and the very helpful warden asked the length, '9m' I said :whistle2:. 'Let's see if this one will suit you sir' he replied. We walked to the pitch and to be honest, I could have parked sideways on it. That'll do nicely!:giggle: Yet the site states 'max 8.5m':Eeek:

I pitched up, and had a walk around the site, and there was at least 12 other pitches I could have got on with ease. I asked the warden later why the site states 8.5 max, he said it was based on their smallest pitch, and that's because we cannot book a specific pitch, they have to go on their smallest size, in case that is the only one left. :doh: We never pre-book any sites by the way.

Never be afraid to ask, and never book an awning if you only have a canopy.

Craig
 
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Thanks guys, I'm still in two minds about a second leisure battery, but have to say my thinking is to fit one if possible as more battery life can't be a bad think (other than weight) and since I have access to almost un-limited 110a/h AGM batteries free of charge and already have a 2kw inverter it seems an obvious thing to do.
However the only reasons I can find for an inverter is to power a hairdryer for SWMBO and a slow cooker.
I also have an inverter fitted, for my wifes hairdryer, I thought. Yet, it is used also for charging e-bikes, computer, phones, vacuum cleaner, etc; even my cordless drill! A very useful addition.

Craig
 
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I have the Autosleeper Winchcombe and had a second leisure battery fitted. They are both under the passenger seat.
Don't declare your wind out canopy as an awning . You should never pay extra for it. I won't go to sites that charge for awnings anyway. I'm taking up less space than a caravan, car and awning after all!
I can fill with a normal hosepipe or the Whale pump. I have a long Whale hose for initial filling at the tap and a short Whale hose and container for topping up on the pitch . Don't forget to turn your pump on on the control panel when using the Whale hoses. I always forget!

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Thanks guys, I'm still in two minds about a second leisure battery, but have to say my thinking is to fit one if possible as more battery life can't be a bad think (other than weight) and since I have access to almost un-limited 110a/h AGM batteries free of charge and already have a 2kw inverter it seems an obvious thing to do.
However the only reasons I can find for an inverter is to power a hairdryer for SWMBO and a slow cooker.
If you have the space then fit a second one. Under the driver's seat is very tight for 2 x 95 Banner AGMs so if you have the space then it will be worth it. (y) AGMs do not need venting so you will OK on that respect. Inverter if only to Keep SWMBO happy then again it has to be worth it too.:LOL:
Cannot help with the water, but as many have said, your wind out awning is not what the site is talking about, it is the stand alone / attached to the motorhome ones that ruin the grass on your pitch.
Just remember all the fresh water you use - apart from the tea and coffee etc will have to be carried away with you when you are off site, so dont think about re-filling constantly without thinking of emptying your grey first.;)
 
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Question about grey water.

If we are not on a campsite and have lets say pulled in to a lay-by for the night why do we need to store the grey water from the sink etc?

For the last 30 years as part of my business I've driven various vehicles across Europe and beyond sometimes Artics, sometimes a 4x4 but mostly 3.5t vans. I pull off the road and cook, I stay in Hotels and still go down to the van to cook and wash up (its a fed up with hotel restaurants thing, especially since I often drive to a destination, build an exhibition stand / stage and then have to sit around for days before taking things down and driving home) and I would never think to keep the washing up water with me until I find a suitable place.

Obviously I'd never park in a motorway service area and simply allow the shower water to run onto the car park (little voice inside my heads is saying why not, its not as if the companies running motorway service areas have ever done you any favours), but where's the crime in allowing the grey water to simply run out into a gutter / drain?

Toilet waste is obviously a different matter and MUST be carefully dealt with in my opinion but surely grey water has nothing more contentious that liquid detergent and shower gel in it.
 
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OK technically you should not put Grey waste in a Storm Drain (drains in car parks etc) as they tend to go straight to a water course not treatment plants.

On foreign sites a lot like you to water the plants around pitches.

When we HAVE to we find a garage where we can use a designated drain from their sinks. In the wild and woolley vest of wild camping we have let the grey waste trickle into the foliage.

Black waste is different, You can apparently with a permit (AFAIK but someone may know otherwise) release up to a max 50L a year as long as you bury it 1m down.
 
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We are very new to this , have a few trips under our belts - just got back from a week long one. And we like you were concerned - go try your MH , experience the pitfalls and benefits etc. U will learn loads by just .... doing and the guys on here are soooo helpful when u get stuck .
 
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1
I sometimes have the same issue and have found no easy way of finding sites by the Motorhome length.
I’ve often complained to Camping & Caravan club about their website which in today’s age of internet booking if simply not good enough. I’m sure someone will be along very soon to say how much they love it and have never had an issue, but then they won’t do if they don’t have an 8m plus van.
Camping & Caravan club did say that I should phone the site directly.
Where their website says no, it may be available by going directly.

What you do need to take into account is access.
Some sites may have a decent sized pitch, but accessing the site or pitch might be restricted for longer outfits.
That said, your body will overhang the wheelbase.
Often, you can fit on a 7m pitch with your rear end overhanging the grass verge so you can afford to be slightly economical with the truth.
I do not do it with ferries though as they have measurements painted on the floor as you approach the check in desk.
2
With regards to your awning, is it a fixed cassette awning that winds out?
If so, you don’t get charged for using this.
You don’t have to book an awning pitch to use this either.
If it’s an awning that you peg down, you will be charged for this and you will be expected to book an awning pitch with both the C&CC and the C&MC sites.
3
I believe that you can purchase a device which works with your hose, similar to how a caravan uses a pump device which creates a seal around the aqua roll water container supplying a Caravan with water.
You’ll have to google it though.
4
Sorry, I can’t help you with this but I’m sure someone on here will do.

Good luck with your collection and ensure you have a good hand over and ask loads of questions.
Happy travels.

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OK technically you should not put Grey waste in a Storm Drain (drains in car parks etc) as they tend to go straight to a water course not treatment plants.

On foreign sites a lot like you to water the plants around pitches.

That makes sense, obviously I've only had small amounts of waste water to deal with (my works van has no shower etc) as for Black water I can't understand why you'd do anything but find an appropriate disposal point and deal with it properly. I do understand that may not always be as easy as it may seem, but I have no intention of irresponsible disposing of black water.

Jewelbags, Your right, we need to get out and have a go. But I'm a bit of a belt and braces sort of a bloke.
I suspect I'm being over cautious but my best mate of 50 years calls me Bill Horton for a reason
 
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And I am exactly the same - spent two months planning the sites we would visit in France :-) but the weather mixed it all up. We went to wales with the dream of camping at black rock - no where to stay :-) but we found a beautiful place to stay on a harbour wall just up the road - it just sort of , works it self out . Would love to here how you feel in a couple of months time - it’s an adventure , in all senses of the word . Enjoy
 
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What you do need to take into account is access.
Some sites may have a decent sized pitch, but accessing the site or pitch might be restricted for longer outfits.
That said, your body will overhang the wheelbase.
Often, you can fit on a 7m pitch with your rear end overhanging the grass verge so you can afford to be slightly economical with the truth.

Agree with this. Our problems have come mainly in France/Spain.

Ended up on a site in Spain that had loads of room but we only just got to a pitch in our 8 metre van. Hoped that our route out would not get blocked as we had to drive over empty plots to get in. Yep, next morning a trailer tent had pitched on the one pitch that would cause us the most problems.

Now always park outside a site and walk round with three questions......
1. Is there a decent sized pitch we can get on?
2. Can we get to that pitch?
3. If we get on that pitch, can anything change around us that might stop us getting off?

Also, mainly abroad, look out for the trees.

Good Luck.
 
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