How long between using campsites.

Pauljenny

Pauljenny

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We're on a lovely CL in Cheshire. 4 nights R&R after a 3 weeks meander through Portugal and Spain.

We last were here after the Henley meet, last August.
We've done 10 weeks in the van, since then and not been on another campsite or club meet.

Is this par for the course?
 
It’s worked out at around the 15-18 days between Site visits for me just to ‘Pop in & Use the Facilities to Empty & Fill What’s needed’, Staying overnight around the Once a Month mark. Water has rarely been a factor for this decision, it’s mainly governed by how much Rubbish & Recycling I have accumulated,l or failed to get rid of responsibly or if I meet up with Friends as it Tends to be better for meeting What could be 4 Vans. The Trouble is that often I pay ‘Almost’ as much to Fill n Dump @ around the £5 mark for a quick 2hr stay, as it would be to Stay the Night for £8-£15 mark for 24 HRs On SOME of the sites I have been too !.
I also take advantage of Site Facilities for a change, or use it as a base while we all then Pile into one Van for a trip into a local POI, Cafe, Town or Village that may have warranted a look as if it’s convenient it’s often cheaper & Easier than Parking.
So yeah around the twice a Month mark for a ‘SITE VISIT’ for me
 
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Pauljenny said:
We're on a lovely CL in Cheshire. 4 nights R&R after a 3 weeks meander through Portugal and Spain.

We last were here after the Henley meet, last August.
We've done 10 weeks in the van, since then and not been on another campsite or club meet.

Is this par for the course?
Click to expand...

I think we were last on a campsite about 5 years ago - except for just visiting one or two to quickly service the MH, with permission/payment of course.

Have never been to a 'Meet/Rally' etc. in 9 years of MHoming.

Geoff
 
nicholsong said:
I think we were last on a campsite about 5 years ago - except for just visiting one or two to quickly service the MH, with permission/payment of course.

Have never been to a 'Meet/Rally' etc. in 9 years of MHoming.

Geoff
Click to expand...

How long do stay in the van... Full time? ,just weekends? .
We'll be full timing until October.
 
Pauljenny said:
How long do stay in the van... Full time? ,just weekends? .
We'll be full timing until October.
Click to expand...

We are time-limited by family as to length of trips but we managed 7-8 weeks and 4 weeks last year.

Geoff
 
I think it probably depends on the time of year your touring as to if you ever "need" a campsite. Longest trip we have done is six months and throughout that time I never felt a need to go to a site but it was mainly over summer so hand washing in the van sink is easier (For Mrs D of course) as its mainly shorts and T Shirts or thin sheets or lightweight bedding. Power is never an issue due to solar until the backend and there are usually plenty of Aires with hookup. If I end up on a site of any description its down to choice not need. The Winter however is a different story. I really cant be doing with scrabbling around for power and switching everything off so I Would generally be only spending the odd night or two off grid but again, there are hook up options on CL's or Aires and not many sites open in Winter anyway. Washing and drying of course I suspect could be more of an issue in the depths of winter but the longest winter trip we did was probably about six weeks.
 
I’m out on my travels every 2 weeks and use CS sites and wild each trip.
Mind you I only use CS sites since starting motorhoming 3 years ago and the type I use are as near to wilding you could get on a site.
 
I have never been on a camp site since you were last here paul,we only get one or two days away exp summer because of kids & now the problem of two pet cats which costs a fortune to put in cattery,anyway they would mis us like hell and im a big softie.
 
last used a campsite in spain in 2009 only for one night . usually get away for 5months in winter . but dont use campsites . have shower in the truck. have a twintub washing machine . not a lover of campsites dont really find the users of them have the same thinking as wildcampers . perhaps they cant help it , maybe dont go away enough or long enough. you can get water etc in just about every village your likely to ever visit . certainly in eu you can find a sewer for the toilet waste .
but never mind takes allsorts to make the world what it is .
best most should only go away for 2weeks and leave more room for me . ha ha .
 
trevskoda said:
I have never been on a camp site since you were last here paul,we only get one or two days away exp summer because of kids & now the problem of two pet cats which costs a fortune to put in cattery,anyway they would mis us like hell and im a big softie.
Click to expand...

You..? Soft... ?

Gerraway... !
 
having wildcamped all my camping life, i have to admit i hate doing it in this country, landowners and councils are so fond of regulations and so narrow minded ,they've sucked the joy out of it for me. if i ever get abroad i'll carry on as before , buton this sceptred but often small minded island we'll start using small campsites [except in Wales and maybe Scotland ]
 
I rarely use Cls/CSs but will book into a full facility site (usually C&CC) about every couple of weeks - mainly to do laundry and have a really good long shower.
Being over over 60 the C&CC give us a 25% discount so the site can cost as little as £10 -£12 (no EHU) little more than they charge for a motorhome empty and fill
 
Camp site visits

Never in 5 years, exception for a 5 pound pub field for a meetup with friends and a time when we went with family who only had tents.
We are away 4 to 8 weeks at a time in our converted doblo.
 
We must be getting old.
We've been here for 2 nights and not started digging an escape tunnel.
We'll be off on Monday and wildcamping again.
 
A lot perhaps does depend on the van set up. I never had solar for example first two years and when I did chap I was working for we did it as a product appraisal really so didn't cost much

Realistically in the UK I stopped on a site perhaps one night every 10 days , for the laundry, decent shower and taking on dumping greys and black. also gave opportunity to do a bit of discreet preventative maintenance give the inside a decent clean.

My favoured haunt was Clumber Park a CC site in a lovely spot could mountain bike and the dog loved it !! cost £8 per night as a single person mid week off season which I think is excellent value.

EHU included too so topped up the battery and could get net access power the laptop so I could tease you lot

Site I used before that was a commercial one Sands at Gairloch £15 a night but so I could do the abolutions and tidy the van...Obviously most the time wildcamped and on face value could say paid £15 when wilding was easy, but every 10 days if absorbed the cost it works out at £1.50 per night overall ...see why I was never an accountant !!!

The important part I suppose was I used a site when I felt I needed too that way enhanced the nights wildcamping

Channa

Channa
 
Yes, Andrew, we have 40 watts of solar,it pays it's way, popping in an amp or so, even in this semi cloud.
We're all LCD, no telly. Inverter charging the radio battery and topping up the van batteries too.
If the sun shines enough, we won't need a hookup.
We'll be ok for a week off grid. by the time we have driven to exotic,remote Leeds.
 
when the wet-wipes just won't do it

when the wet-wipes just won't do it and you really, really would appreciate a long hot shower.

Then there's the full laundry bag and the accumulation of dog hair and sand in every rug and crevice needs 220v for the Henry.

and another long hot shower,

I find that I always sleep so much better on a camp site than when random parking.
 
We are on a ccc site (cl or cs not sure which is which) outside Weston-super-Mare now, this will be second night. Wild camped on Thursday night and we are probably wilding tomorrow night so we are running about 50% at the moment.

Probably won’t change ratio until we get solar but prices fitted are a bit off putting at the moment.
 
Nabsim said:
We are on a ccc site (cl or cs not sure which is which) outside Weston-super-Mare now, this will be second night. Wild camped on Thursday night and we are probably wilding tomorrow night so we are running about 50% at the moment.

Probably won’t change ratio until we get solar but prices fitted are a bit off putting at the moment.
Click to expand...

(Are you Brean Sands Side Or A38 Towards The Garden center Side, I was there a bit back)
 
Nobody so far has mentioned higher charging rates from the alternator, e.g. by a Battery-to-battery charger.

Of course this is not much use to those who want to stay static for long periods, when a good solar aray is ideal, in bright weather.

However, for us when moving every 2-3 days, then banging in the extra amps for even 30 mins. keeps us topped-up without solar assist.

Once the charger has satisfied the primary needs of supply the engine battery, then it is very satisfying to see 14.8v charging the leisure 2X90Aph batteries.

Of course if one remains static for a few days one can also run the engine, at an appropriate time.

Just thought I should mention this alternative.

Geoff
 
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