The Caravan and Motorhome Club

[antiquesam]

The down side of wilding is those days when its hot and sunny and you have that urge to roll out the canopy, get the chairs and bbq set up and chill with a beer in your hand. Thats when a nice quiet C/L or C/S is worth any price. After all you are on holiday.

 

[Biggarmac]

For solo campers the big two club sites are often cheaper than CL/CSs as they charge per person when most other sites assume that there are two adults. The C&CC also has OAP discount. C&CC THSs are great value for money as they have elsan disposal and fresh water for around £7- £10 a night.

 

[V1nny]

The membership has been worth it for us just for the financial benefits. We have been members for the last 4 years but in that time we have spent less than 10 nights on sites or Cl’s. We have however saved £1000’s on a new car, £100’s on ferries and Eurotunnel and I have recently started using the PumpKing card which around here saves about £6 per tank for the car and about £5 per tank for the motorhome. If I live to be a 100 the CAMC fees will have still have been covered many times over from the savings due to the discounts.

 

[CliveW]

RIP off

Stopped using the CC / CMC several years ago when they made having hook up compulsory, whether used or not.

In my opinion it is a greedy commercial business.

 

[Fisherman]

Although a member I am no fan of this organisation, that seems focussed on profit rather than the general interests of ALL of its members. Ok we change our name to include those who don’t tow caravans, we even put in grey water drop points, but we ignore the fact that there is one primary difference between a caravan and a Motorhome or camper. We don’t need campsites, we don’t always want to be in a campsite, but we do need to use chemical waste points, and we need somewhere to park up for the night.

Reading their magazine is one frustrating read after another, interspersed with adds for, campsites, insurance, breakdown recovery, their shop, etc. When reading about tours carried out by Motorhomes no mention is ever given to staying outwith a campsite, it’s almost like wild camping (or whatever you want to call it) simply does not exist. Daily now we have over zealous councils putting up signage which restricts us, and many of us are their members. What do they do for us, well they added us to their name, and that’s about it.

Yes their campsites are a good standard, but my best pitches are not in their campsites, or anyone else’s.
My best pitches over look lochs, mountains or stunning sea views, were we park up alone or with maybe one other van. Where there is no hook up or chemical waste point, or shower facilities. It’s time that this organisation really become ALL inclusive and take care of their Motorhome owners interests.

 

[antiquesam]

You and I may like to wild, but we are a small minority going by the number of motorhomes using sites whose owners would never dream of doing anything else but stay on a site and use the vehicle exactly as they used their previous caravans.

 

[Fisherman]

You and I may like to wild, but we are a small minority going by the number of motorhomes using sites whose owners would never dream of doing anything else but stay on a site and use the vehicle exactly as they used their previous caravans.

We are all different, and thank god for that.

Can you blame anyone for fearing wild camping when you read the press, or walk into most carparks were you are greeted with the usual no overnight parking signage.
We are the reason that Skye is now over populated, or Barras economy is struggling, we are the harbingers of all that is wrong in such situations if you believe the crap that is spouted out by the ill informed.

Yes many who were tucked up inside their caravans in safe campsites now wish to do the same in the new shiny motorhomes, and quite frankly I don't blame them
Things have to change in the UK, or we will soon (unless you only want to go to rural areas) will be joining them.

 

[antiquesam]

To be honest if I had a new motorhome, having spent the cost of a second home, I would be scared of parking by the side of the road in some seaside town or go up some of the narrow tracks I use to get to quiet, out of the way car parks. I've read of people in other forums who won't even leave their motorhome in the services to go to the toilet for fear of loss or damage, and I have friends who won't use the toilet or shower in the van in fear of depreciation. Personally, can't see the point of having the thing if you are that fragile with it.

 

[Fisherman]

To be honest if I had a new motorhome, having spent the cost of a second home, I would be scared of parking by the side of the road in some seaside town or go up some of the narrow tracks I use to get to quiet, out of the way car parks. I've read of people in other forums who won't even leave their motorhome in the services to go to the toilet for fear of loss or damage, and I have friends who won't use the toilet or shower in the van in fear of depreciation. Personally, can't see the point of having the thing if you are that fragile with it.

Some folk really have some weird ideas.
As you say what’s the point of owning something then being scared to use it.
Their vans will deprecate if they leave them on their driveways and never venture further than that.
I am just back from Great Langdale in the Lake District and I am still shaking from some of the driving I had to do. At the time it was scary, I even had to bring in the mirrors to get through a gap at one point. Then I had to reverse down a steep lane to let a local bus through. But that’s the fun of Motorhomes for me.
We spent two wonderful days wilding on the banks of ullswater. I do love the Lake District, but the only problem is it’s in England and so do many of its 53 million inhabitants. When hillwalking in Scotland I always greet folk with a good morning or afternoon sometimes even strike up a conversation. But not here just to many folk for that.

 

[maingate]

I don't know if the CMC has a members internet forum or not but I joined the C&CC forum a while ago. What a load of crap it is, it is hardly used by members and certainly has no 'Club' feeling about it.

Is it the same with the CMC?

 

[paulhelenwilko]

Our frustrations with cmc have been pretty much expressed above. They seem stuck in a caravan mentality and motor homes are just another type of caravan for use when you are older and no longer have kids.

The club should be fighting for stadplatz type parking for moho’s close to to cities etc.

However we remain members because the holiday insurance is good and excellent value. Cannot fault it when we have had problems abroad.

Paul

 

[Fisherman]

I don't know if the CMC has a members internet forum or not but I joined the C&CC forum a while ago. What a load of crap it is, it is hardly used by members and certainly has no 'Club' feeling about it.

Is it the same with the CMC?

It’s called discussions. I looked into it a year ago and began to feel sick at its manicured content. They basically want you to tell everyone how wonderful an organisation they are, whilst buying all that they can sell. I tried to post about us using their chemical waste for an increased annual fee, but was unable to do so. I sent them an email for their letters section in their magazine, but it was never published. The only way they will ever change is when it hurts their bottom line, because that’s all they really care about.

 

[blights]

I have used them for years and on the times I use no sites at all and I am just touring I still use their sites with Motorhome Stop Off Points where I can pay anything from a fiver to to a tenner this gives me 3 hours to empty tanks fill up with water shower etc then move on again. For me it is worth the membership for that reason and another huge BIGGY they have a site just round corner from the dragon in law so when it is feeding time (visiting time) I can use the site and stay there safe and sound away from the flames whilst her indoors sees the dragon it is worth the membership fee for the privilege of not needing to use her driveway and keeping my ever decreasing mop top from getting singed by the wrath of the dragon in law. Hope that helps answer your question of course if you have a normal mother in law just make sure you use some of the other ways to get discount as mentioned such as fuel ferry crossing accessories etc to compensate for membership fees.

 

[Fisherman]

I have used them for years and on the times I use no sites at all and I am just touring I still use their sites with Motorhome Stop Off Points where I can pay anything from a fiver to to a tenner this gives me 3 hours to empty tanks fill up with water shower etc then move on again. For me it is worth the membership for that reason and another huge BIGGY they have a site just round corner from the dragon in law so when it is feeding time (visiting time) I can use the site and stay there safe and sound away from the flames whilst her indoors sees the dragon it is worth the membership fee for the privilege of not needing to use her driveway and keeping my ever decreasing mop top from getting singed by the wrath of the dragon in law. Hope that helps answer your question of course if you have a normal mother in law just make sure you use some of the other ways to get discount as mentioned such as fuel ferry crossing accessories etc to compensate for membership fees.

So they let you use their sites for three hours, is this official and for all sites.

 

[antiquesam]

So they let you use their sites for three hours, is this official and for all sites.

I think the C&CC allow this in certain club sites but not the C&MC.

 

[Fisherman]

I think the C&CC allow this in certain club sites but not the C&MC.

I asked the C&MC if this was possible, and was told it was not possible as it would be disruptive to members using their sites. I put forward the idea that they could charge for this pro rata, or for an increased annual fee for those that required this facility. I also suggested that this could be restricted to certain times of the day in order not to disrupt those leaving and arriving at their club sites.

 

[antiquesam]

I asked the C&MC if this was possible, and was told it was not possible as it would be disruptive to members using their sites. I put forward the idea that they could charge for this pro rata, or for an increased annual fee for those that required this facility. I also suggested that this could be restricted to certain times of the day in order not to disrupt those leaving and arriving at their club sites.

I have to say I have found the system we use seems to work well for us. Three or four nights wilding then a night in a C/L with EHU for a night, so SWMBO can dry her hair and I get the task of emptying the toilet, then out wilding again with a stop in a club site every two weeks or so to do the washing.

 

[Fisherman]

I have to say I have found the system we use seems to work well for us. Three or four nights wilding then a night in a C/L with EHU for a night, so SWMBO can dry her hair and I get the task of emptying the toilet, then out wilding again with a stop in a club site every two weeks or so to do the washing.

Spot on Sam, that’s what we do.

 

[Caz]

I belong to CaMC, have done for 5 years. Keep meaning to cancel it but never remember in time before the DD goes out. In 5 years I think I've stayed on 3 of their sites and used 4 CLs - or was it the other way around?
Anyway, they aren't cheap because on the Club sites you have to pay for an EHU pitch even if you don't want one, and then pay per person on top so must work out really expensive for a couple. The CLs vary such a lot - I found a lovely one two years ago for £5 a night, but most seem to be £15 or more - and many charge the same whether you want the EHU or not.
I agree with the above, they might have included "Motorhome" in their name now but they are still very much of a "caravan" mindset.

On the other hand, I've been a member of C&CC for 26 years now and I use their sites a lot. I think it's good value for money (especially since I qualify for Veteran Membership now which reduces the annual fee by 50%). :heart:

 

[Floridaphill]

Although a member I am no fan of this organisation, that seems focussed on profit rather than the general interests of ALL of its members. Ok we change our name to include those who don’t tow caravans, we even put in grey water drop points, but we ignore the fact that there is one primary difference between a caravan and a Motorhome or camper. We don’t need campsites, we don’t always want to be in a campsite, but we do need to use chemical waste points, and we need somewhere to park up for the night.

Reading their magazine is one frustrating read after another, interspersed with adds for, campsites, insurance, breakdown recovery, their shop, etc. When reading about tours carried out by Motorhomes no mention is ever given to staying outwith a campsite, it’s almost like wild camping (or whatever you want to call it) simply does not exist. Daily now we have over zealous councils putting up signage which restricts us, and many of us are their members. What do they do for us, well they added us to their name, and that’s about it.

Yes their campsites are a good standard, but my best pitches are not in their campsites, or anyone else’s.
My best pitches over look lochs, mountains or stunning sea views, were we park up alone or with maybe one other van. Where there is no hook up or chemical waste point, or shower facilities. It’s time that this organisation really become ALL inclusive and take care of their Motorhome owners interests.

Interesting as when I asked one site owner about the arrangement caravan and camping club waste and refresh arrangement they just point to the fact that the caravan and motorhome club were well in profit and the Camping and caravan club were struggling. Indicating the model of pay for a 3 hours wasn't profitable, not sure if this is true.

Being solo often the price is ok for C&MHC but as a couple we favour wild or basic private sites as we don't need hook up or chemical waste most of the time.
I continue to be a member by accident but also because I have the pumping fuel card which round here the local Esso is +5p/litre std diesel and the one near work is +2p/litre, must be tourist prices near us !

Phill