The Camping Forum

[Admin]

Hi I have just returned from managing a campsite in France and you will not like my reply!! Its the truth though! I guess this maybe one of the reasonns that you are having to pay a higher price in the UK also. Often people would come on the campsite for only one night with a "campervan" that was absolutely huge-here the probelms start. Damage to trees, damage to pitches due to their sheer weight. Many have been "wild camping" for days on end and have huge dirty water/ sewerage tanks on board. They then decide once on a campsite to empty them all and quite often blocked up the drains. They would then fill up thier many water tanks (when most european campsites are on water meters) and drive away again ready for another weeks wild camping! We found that we suffered untold damage to trees pitches, drains and a hefty water bill all for 13 euros a night! We often turned Campervans away as do many campsites. We could take 100 tents/ backpackers on for the same money and have no probelms whatsoever. Unfortuantely you maybe a very considerate campervan owner but there have been a lot of people out there who have spolit it for the majority!

Hi, welcome and thanks for taking the time out to explain. Would it not be to difficult to charge a rate depending on the size of the unit? for example a small one around the size of an average tent (VW California for example) is not going to damage trees and the waste storage on such a small unit is not really going to cause a problem???

I think this is the reason why this question has been brought up.

Cheers

Andy

[Wayne]

Hi I have just returned from managing a campsite in France and you will not like my reply!! Its the truth though! I guess this maybe one of the reasonns that you are having to pay a higher price in the UK also. Often people would come on the campsite for only one night with a "campervan" that was absolutely huge-here the probelms start. Damage to trees, damage to pitches due to their sheer weight. Many have been "wild camping" for days on end and have huge dirty water/ sewerage tanks on board. They then decide once on a campsite to empty them all and quite often blocked up the drains. They would then fill up thier many water tanks (when most european campsites are on water meters) and drive away again ready for another weeks wild camping! We found that we suffered untold damage to trees pitches, drains and a hefty water bill all for 13 euros a night! We often turned Campervans away as do many campsites. We could take 100 tents/ backpackers on for the same money and have no probelms whatsoever. Unfortuantely you maybe a very considerate campervan owner but there have been a lot of people out there who have spolit it for the majority!

Not something that really effects me, as I do not have a campervan. However, its a very interesting point and one I would never have though about, its also a very understandable point. A case of the few spoiling it for the many again.

The only bit I don't get is the trees being damaged, a site can either take a specific sized motorhome/campervan, or it can't. Or it should at least give areas the size of the motorhome/campervan is permitted. Maybe I'm missing something here. But I can see how the services get abused.

Thankyou for the insight.

[in-a-tent]

I guess it comes down to the issue that some campervans (like the one owned by the OP) are pretty small and unlikely to cause issues but others are the size of a small country.
It seems that there is a flat rate though which is understandable for ease of administration.
I guess this explains why caravans and campervans are charged more, they tend to use more services (chemical toilets for example) so have to pay more.

[yorkshirerose]

Thanks for the welcome I am enjoying this forum. I do think generally that campsite prices whether in thisCountry or abroad are unfair though. Why should someone in a Winnebago or similar have to pay the same price as someone in a VW? I would have no problems in allowing a VW to camp anywhere but for the reasons stated would not have been keen on allowing on a Winneago, The same could be said for many other units though.(I am going to make myself unpopular here!) We dreaded large British caravans coming on the site too. Not because I have anything against us Brits (quite the contrary) but because many cause untold havoc! We could check 100 small caravans (Typically French like Eribas) on- no problems. We would book a twin axle Brit on and be on duty all night because they want the sat TV to work,the micro, the kettle, the heater all at the same time and hey presto -call the electrician! Britsish caravans are generally bigger and equipped with so many "goodies" that the continental systems struggle to cope. Maybe the only fair way of doing this would be to charge per length of unit? Generally the larger the outfit the more "goodies" on them and the more scope for weight damage etc. I would be interested if anyone can think of a fairer way of charging?! Best wishes Jean

[Admin]

Thanks for the welcome I am enjoying this forum. I do think generally that campsite prices whether in thisCountry or abroad are unfair though. Why should someone in a Winnebago or similar have to pay the same price as someone in a VW? I would have no problems in allowing a VW to camp anywhere but for the reasons stated would not have been keen on allowing on a Winneago, The same could be said for many other units though.(I am going to make myself unpopular here!) We dreaded large British caravans coming on the site too. Not because I have anything against us Brits (quite the contrary) but because many cause untold havoc! We could check 100 small caravans (Typically French like Eribas) on- no problems. We would book a twin axle Brit on and be on duty all night because they want the sat TV to work,the micro, the kettle, the heater all at the same time and hey presto -call the electrician! Britsish caravans are generally bigger and equipped with so many "goodies" that the continental systems struggle to cope. Maybe the only fair way of doing this would be to charge per length of unit? Generally the larger the outfit the more "goodies" on them and the more scope for weight damage etc. I would be interested if anyone can think of a fairer way of charging?! Best wishes Jean

Understand what you are saying about us brits! we dont tend to leave anything behind. we noticed it last year on bath tents and vans. much smaller. most familys were using a 4 birth with only a few 6 birth or above. you could pretty much spot the english on sites due to size of pitch lol. we like our space

[yorkshirerose]

Its the gadgets that got us! The mind boggles at what else they might have had?!!

[Admin]

(I am going to make myself unpopular here!)

Far from it! I think its good to have the opinion from someone that has managed a site. especially on a topic like this! cover all angles from every point of view

[yorkshirerose]

Thanks for that! Im really not "anti caravanners" and certainly not "anti Brit!". I genuinely would be very interested to hear if anyone else can think of a fairer way of charging as sometimes I have to agree it does seem totally unfair!

[Admin]

Thanks for that! Im really not "anti caravanners" and certainly not "anti Brit!". I genuinely would be very interested to hear if anyone else can think of a fairer way of charging as sometimes I have to agree it does seem totally unfair!

So you managed a site in france? now back in the UK? is that managing another site or looking for one? (how nosey am i lol?)

[yorkshirerose]

Hi No problems. If you don't ask....?! Yes I managed a campsite in France which was a fantastic experience and I learnt a lot. Hard work and hard fun meeting like minded people. Unfortunately believe it or not the campsite was forced to close early (in high season!) due to extreme roadworks outside the site. We are now back in the UK and I am hating it! I am frantically looking around to see what else there is in the campsing world. I am lucky that I am retired and I love to be an old age traveller! I can't wait until high season is over to wander again! France? Spain? Need some sunshine!

[Allt Y Coed]

There are many reasons why campsite operators may charge a higher price for camper vans. The main reason I would think is the different legislation you have to work under. Camper vans come under the same legislation as caravan sites and massive motorhomes are also included in this legislation.

'Caravan sites' have to have fire hoses and fire lanes that are 3.7 m wide and made of a solid materials and must be with 45 meters of the furthest away pitch for fire engine access. Tent sites have to have fire points with buckets, sand, bashers and have access lanes no less than 90 meters away.

If you have ever had to build 45 meters of road and maintain it you will know how much that costs over time.

In order to charge more for for camper vans many sites also include as has been said chemical loo disposal and have water available - the disposal and supply cost money.

Also groups of people in tents are allowed to camp closer to each other whereas a camper van must be 6m away from anything else so although you may perceive you are physically taking up less space or as much as a tent you technically need to have a pitch that is 6m either way bigger than your van.

All these facts apart though - we charge per person and dont levi an extra charge for vans, though we dont allow rvs and large caravans on our site because the road is too thin to reach us.

Ta

Baz

[JohnWhite1]

Hi Allt Y Coed on,
I love you explanation with magical words, I would like to share this with others camper to provide them useful information about reasonable camping prices.
Thanks