Ascat18 Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 So with the delivery today of the Camping and Caravanning magazine and the application forms for seasonal and storage, I have been trying to weigh up the pros and cons of each. We bought our first caravan this Easter and have really enjoyed using it but due to work commitments taking it out for the weekend seems such a faff and with 12 noon departures such a lot of effort for 1 full day. My question is: Is it better to fork out for a seasonal pitch where you can just set the van up and arrive late Friday and leave Sunday eve or store the caravan on a site that can tow out your van out when you want to visit. Thanks for your thoughts. .. Quote Honda CRV and a Swift Expression 570 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobJS Posted October 25, 2011 Share Posted October 25, 2011 some sites have storage facilities too and can move your van onto site when you need it. Alternatively, some storage sites can tow your van and have it set up at sites local to where its stored for a small fee. Lots of options. Ive been on a seasonal pitch this year (my first year caravanning) and TBH, found it a waste of money. Its now sitting in storage as i wasnt able to make full use of it. I can now choose when and where i want to go with it, think the flexibility is better(for my circumstance that is) Quote Caravanless. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEG55 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 We have our Caravan in storage on a lovely site, where they tug it on and off as we use it. It suits us especially for weekends arrive for 11am Saturday and leave noon on a Monday (we work 3. 30pm start) the caravan is on the pitch, legs down and all level when we get there. We tow it off when we tour for our main holidays. This really suits us as we use the Caravan a weekend per month and 5 weeks holidays per year, due to work hours. It costs us £335 for annual storage on a Cassoa gold Site, and we pay the nightly going rate for our weekends. Seasonal pitch too costly. Quote 2015 ABI ASHCROFT EXCL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali123 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Hi, Like you, we have just bought a new caravan in March this year and are first time caravanners. We had visions of hitching up and visiting somewhere different every other weekend. The reality was somewhat different !!!! With work committments we found it such an effort for as you say one full day. We put our caravan on a site in June and decided to leave it there. We go most week ends taking just under 2 hours to get there and we LOVE it. I think it is a perfect option whilst still working and when we retire we will visit all the other exciting places on offer. We are going this weekend to close it down for winter, the site is storing it for us and the season starts again in March. We find it works really well for us. Yes, I suppose it is a more expensive this way but it is no hassle, VERY relaxing, and I can thoroughly recommend it after a hard week at work. Go on your worth it ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali123 Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 Hi, Like you, we have just bought a new caravan in March this year and are first time caravanners. We had visions of hitching up and visiting somewhere different every other weekend. The reality was somewhat different !!!! With work committments we found it such an effort for as you say one full day. We put our caravan on a site in June and decided to leave it there. We go most week ends taking just under 2 hours to get there and we LOVE it. I think it is a perfect option whilst still working and when we retire we will visit all the other exciting places on offer. We are going this weekend to close it down for winter, the site is storing it for us and the season starts again in March. We find it works really well for us. Yes, I suppose it is a more expensive this way but it is no hassle, VERY relaxing, and I can thoroughly recommend it after a hard week at work. Go on your worth it ! Ooops sorry sent it twice !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CommanderDave Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 If you put a caravan on a seasonal pitch you have to be in a position of using it to be worth the extra cost and also the fuel travelling at weekends to visit it . If you store a caravan in storage areas on a site some will want a fee for towing it onto site and off . As said it down to your lifestyle what suits you best . Dave Quote Jeep Commander 3. 0 V6 CRD Isuzu D- Max Utah Auto Elddis Crusader Storm 2000 Kgs, Unipart Royal Atlas Mover . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ascat18 Posted October 26, 2011 Author Share Posted October 26, 2011 Thanks for the advice everyone. As we are already paying to have it stored it seems that storing it on a site that you can stay on is probably the way to go in 2012. So, next question. ... Which sites would you recommend for storage and a towing service in the south. .. an hour or two from Southampton. We don't need to see the sea. :) Quote Honda CRV and a Swift Expression 570 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted October 26, 2011 Share Posted October 26, 2011 I have always been seasonal as I don't drive due to health so this is the only option we have, anytime we move site or get a new 'van it's usually my Dad or someone who tows. Currently on a seasonal pitch and it works out great for us. We go up most weekends and you leave it on the same pitch over the winter if you want to, or you can move it to the storage area but we just leave it as we go up to check for lodgers over winter (one year we had mice!) and sometimes just have a cuppa etc however this will be our first year of using the caravan over winter. I have said to my Husband though if the fees go up again next year as much as they did this year i'll be putting it across in the storage and any weekend we want to use it we'll shift it onto a pitch and pay the nightly fee or move but seasonal's the best for us. Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ascat18 Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Is everyone keeping quiet about their storage facility a secret because they don't want me to join? Or is it to protect it? If so, can people 'pm' me with great storage sites that you stay on. We have just spent the weekend at Abbey Wood and really enjoyed it. They have storage but it is quite expensive and getting there from Southampton area is a bit of a pain and we think we would get bored of the site in a short amount of time. Quote Honda CRV and a Swift Expression 570 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamP Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 You say you have to off your pitch by midday, so you must only be using club sites. Do you want all the facilities or can you cope using your caravan loo etc. Have you tired a CL, generally you don't have to vacate your pitch by midday on a CL, which is one of the main reasons we use them as well as the fact they are cheaper, a tenner a night is an average price for a CL with electric and hardstanding. Sam Quote <p>2007 Sterling Cruach Cuillin & 2016 Volvo XC60 SE D4 190 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 (edited) Mine isn't secret, it's currently Annsmuir Park Homes, Fife, Scotland. The part at the back of this is caravan storage although he does have an "unofficial" seasonal part and has done for years. So you can pay for the seasonal pitch each year, which is what we do so we can leave the awning up and save hassle, but if he gets any dearer for just a very basic "site" i'll be leaving it in the storage for £250p. a and just wheel it over to a pitch and pay the nightly fee (they do allow the odd overnighter and they're doing work to make it a "proper" site and suppose it is like a CL as you can come and go as you please anytime, no time limits etc. Edited October 29, 2011 by mechs Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ascat18 Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Thanks for your comments. We have only been using club sites as we are fairly new to this. I have looked in the directory for CLs but there is so little detail that I give up! I had not really considered that you would be able to stay at these sites longer so I will definitely investigate. Perhaps we should also look at commercial sites too that have storage and the potential to stay. Quote Honda CRV and a Swift Expression 570 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamP Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Thanks for your comments. We have only been using club sites as we are fairly new to this. I have looked in the directory for CLs but there is so little detail that I give up! I had not really considered that you would be able to stay at these sites longer so I will definitely investigate. Perhaps we should also look at commercial sites too that have storage and the potential to stay. There's very little to about them really which is why it's brief. They can legally only have 5 caravans on at any time. Google earth / street view is your friend when looking for a CL. We've found some lovely CL's using this method. Sam Quote <p>2007 Sterling Cruach Cuillin & 2016 Volvo XC60 SE D4 190 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 Although we have a couple of sites we visit regular. .. I don't think I could be pinned down to a seasonal pitch. .... I like to get out there and visit places. ... Want a seasonal pitch, why not just buy a static. .... To me a touring caravan is for touring. .... There's a whole wide world out there. ... Explore it. .. Quote Lunar Solaris 1 Limited Edition 2007 Hopefully Behind A BMW 520D MSport Touring. ... ***** Jack of all Trades. ... Master of None ***** Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ascat18 Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 Although we have a couple of sites we visit regular. .. I don't think I could be pinned down to a seasonal pitch. .... I like to get out there and visit places. ... Want a seasonal pitch, why not just buy a static. .... To me a touring caravan is for touring. .... There's a whole wide world out there. ... Explore it. .. I suppose it is all about what you want the caravan for. We wanted to be able to escape normal life. We looked at static caravans and the site fees were extortionate and it was difficult to move a static once purchased. That is why we chose a tourer, we are just trying to refine how we use it to make it a relaxing process. Quote Honda CRV and a Swift Expression 570 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeeTee Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I suppose it is all about what you want the caravan for. We wanted to be able to escape normal life. We looked at static caravans and the site fees were extortionate and it was difficult to move a static once purchased. That is why we chose a tourer, we are just trying to refine how we use it to make it a relaxing process. Ascat18 My caravan is in storage at a caravan site which has a number of seasonal pitches and is 135 miles from my home. The touring site opens in March and closes at the end of October each year. On this site seasonal pitches seem to be more popular with people who spend quite a lot of time at their caravan during the season, probably to make it financially worthwhile. The majority of the seasonal caravans are very large caravans often with large awnings and awning extensions. During the season, if I'm not touring with caravan, I will stay at the site probably six or seven times the caravan is towed out of storage and pitched awaiting my arrival. At the end of my stay I leave the 'van on the pitch and it is returned to storage by the staff. At other times I will simply pick up the caravan and use it for touring, sometimes staying an odd night at the start and end of my tour on a touring pitch. In the early part of this season I have even stayed for a few days, left for few days with the caravan remaining on the pitch until my return to stay for another couple of nights. During the close season I can collect and return the caravan during daylight hours to travel to other sites. The site is in Oxfordshire about a couple of hours drive from Fareham though there is normally a waiting list for storage pitches. DeeTee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I suppose it is all about what you want the caravan for. We wanted to be able to escape normal life. We looked at static caravans and the site fees were extortionate and it was difficult to move a static once purchased. That is why we chose a tourer, we are just trying to refine how we use it to make it a relaxing process. That's my point exactly, we looked into getting a static but there's too many rules and regulations, site fees a rip off and on most site's if your static's a certain age you have to get it off site and buy a new one whereas a tourer as ong as it's roadworthy and insured it can be any age, plus if you decide to change sites you just tow it to another. I also stick to seasonal pitches as I don't drive due to health and can find travelling difficult so mine curently isn't that far away from home but far enough away from the front door in a very peaceful spot to get away for a wee break at the weekends, Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kitts Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 We've just given up a static and reverted to a tourer for those exact reasons, mechs! Far too expensive unless you're retired and can stay in it all season to make it pay its way. But then, if I was retired, I wouldn't afford the site fee anyway! Then there's all the rulesand although you pay a large sum for them, I never think they're truly youre van, because you can't do what you like with them, and have to sell/srubbish when the site owner says so! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechs Posted October 30, 2011 Share Posted October 30, 2011 I know kitty, as much as I can't/don't drive (I get a free travel pass) I like the knowing if and when I want to shift it I can. And true, I don't think it would feel "mine" being a static but then suppose i'd be like that if I took out finance on a new caravan. Didn't get time to get a pic of that Europa on our site by the way but going back up tomorrow to tidy up as everything just flung in the caravan for now and my Dad had to get away Quote Compass Shadow 1988 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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