We are picking up our new (2017) Pennine Fiesta in a couple of weeks and are really looking forward to getting out and about in it.
We have been going camping for a lot of years but this is new to us and we are a bit confused as to how to book on to campsites.
If a campsite has no option for camper / trailer tent and only has Tent or Caravan, which do we go for?
Also regarding the pitch itself. Some offer Hardstanding. Does that apply only to Caravans or if we decided not to erect the awning?
I would have thought the awning would need pegging out, so hardstanding wouldn't be suitable, or am I missing something?
Lets start with hard standings, they vary enormously in their material and construction! Some are compacted so hard even rock pegs driven with club hammers struggle to penetrate, whilst others are such loose material, pegs can just be pushed in by hand and really don't work well in securing anything as they just fall out! Sometimes there's a soft loose surface with a hard 'foundation' underneath which makes for interesting pegging out! Other sites have smaller hard standings for the caravan/MH wheels to stand on, whilst awnings are erected on adjacent grass.
As to where you pitch, I suspect that is largely down to individual camp site policy, some don't even let cars on the tent field to avoid rutting the soft ground! With a trailer tent, it's overall quite lightweight, BUT it's axle weight is the equal of many a substantial car, so may have a tendency to sink into soft ground.
If no placement is dictated or option offered in the blurb/booking form, then probably best to clarify with site before proceeding with booking.
JamieUTB I had Pennine fiesta and then a pennine pullman and when I booked a pitch I always made clear I had a folding camper with a caravan base and canvas top, I was always allocated pitches alongside caravans, also we used mainly hardstanding with rock pegs for the awning and to be honest we still do with our gobur folding caravan
If the only option is for a tent or a caravan then to simplify it I would opt for the latter as the trailer has an axle with two wheels where as a tent doesn't.
Just another point, with particular reference to the Fiesta. The trailer / awning orientation is different to that of say a pathfinder or crusader, or even like a caravan in that it is end on rather than side on. So the awning is effectively at 90 degrees to the above units.
Has this posed a problem for anyone, when you are given a hardstanding pitch on CL sites that looks to be around 4m wide. (the trailer itself is 4m long), meaning the awning might encroach the grass area between pitches.
Ask when you book or confirm when you arrive. Not all pitches are the same & some sites are less regimented than others. One of my favourite sites (10 star reviews here) has no hardstandings, the pitch size is 10m x 10m, the owner says park up however you want within that space, “even diagonally”.
If in doubt always double check by phone. Though in my personal experience it would have been a caravan pitch we were given.
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Topic: Pitch type help
via mobile 12/3/2022 at 11:52am
