Quote: Originally posted by burchardt on 15/2/2022
Hello Everybody
As you can probably gather I have a partly converted van which I use for both business and leisure .
Over the past couple of years it appears now that a significant portion of sites will not accept commercial vehicles , which when it comes to holiday planning it is a real headache .
You have to troll through website after website , looking at site specifics to see if they do or do not accept converted vans . Even when you think you have found a site with no mention of them not accepting vans , when you contact them too enquire , you get abruptly dismissed , with " Certainly not" .
My van is not sign written , it's not a pile of rust and dents . It's clean , presentable . There are sky lights fitted . A fold down double bed and fixed cupboards . Unfortunately, due to insurance restrictions I am unable to fit rear windows as I use it for business .
My point is basically this why can't all sites stipulate whether they take vans . I appreciate their stance on sign written vans , I wouldn't want to be on a pitch staring at a big Sprinter or Iveco with " Joe Bloggs Toilet Cleaning Service " on it for a week or so .
The thing is the site's don't give you the opportunity to explain what your vans appearance is or even to see a picture before accepting a booking then when you arrive and it is not as described then they can refuse entrance .
I would have thought with the loss of business over the past couple of years they would be glad of any trade .
Opinions please
The insurance companies I have used for a converted van often don’t take the fact that our is registered with the DVLA as a camper van. I once had to fill out a form which actually had to be filled out by an “inspector”. When I asked what that means they said that any garage can do it. I had to satisfy the list of things that they gave me which were things like windows, fixed tables or fixings for a fixed table and get it signed by the garage down the road. That’s the last time I’m playing that game. Can’t remember the rest but I think they were the things you had to prove to the DVLA. One of which was (don’t write me on this) two windows. On our van they are in the sliding door and opposite but no reference to having any on the rear.
If it was me, I’d just book the site. I just click campervan under 7m as nobody has ever looked at it to see if it qualifies. Maybe that’s being a bit silly on my part but I can’t see what difference that would make to them. I’ve seen loads of work vans on Uk campsite and I’m sure you have as well.
Some sites in the UK have gone a little far IMO. There is one I saw the other day which is a no smoking site. Really?
Quote: Originally posted by SoggySteve on 23/6/2022
Some sites in the UK have gone a little far IMO. There is one I saw the other day which is a no smoking site. Really?
Oh yes please! I was sat outside the MH in the glorious evening sun, enjoying my drink & the fabulous view over the harbour, when Mrs next door came out of her caravan (hab door facing our hab door) and lit up a fag. The smoke & smell came straight over to me & I had to move back in until she’d finished. She was a heavy smoker so I could never sit outside for long on that trip, though it’s what I really enjoy about camping.
Iv found sites i like the look of on a social media. Iv sent them a screen shot of the van with side door open on their message us, stated specifically no towbar.
One site just asked for our reg , checked online to see and we were accepted over the phone.
We do say , in our case for transporting equipment only.
Quote: Originally posted by SoggySteve on 23/6/2022
Some sites in the UK have gone a little far IMO. There is one I saw the other day which is a no smoking site. Really?
Oh yes please! I was sat outside the MH in the glorious evening sun, enjoying my drink & the fabulous view over the harbour, when Mrs next door came out of her caravan (hab door facing our hab door) and lit up a fag. The smoke & smell came straight over to me & I had to move back in until she’d finished. She was a heavy smoker so I could never sit outside for long on that trip, though it’s what I really enjoy about camping.
Each to their own I suppose. You’d really have to ban BBQ’s and fire pits otherwise it’s hardly a smoke free zone. That to me is a step too far away from the type of camping I know and love. I’m not quite sure how many people they’ll attract with those stringent rules but maybe it works for them
It should not be a problem but it obviously is as, believe it or not, there are loads of posts on Google and You Tube videos showing you how to fit fake windows to the back and side of vans to make them look like campers. Some have used glass, some rigid acrylic sheet some just magnetic removable sheet.
Not suggesting you go this far but this could be an option. After all who looks that carefully.
Quote: Originally posted by SoggySteve on 26/6/2022
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 23/6/2022
Quote: Originally posted by SoggySteve on 23/6/2022
Some sites in the UK have gone a little far IMO. There is one I saw the other day which is a no smoking site. Really?
Oh yes please! I was sat outside the MH in the glorious evening sun, enjoying my drink & the fabulous view over the harbour, when Mrs next door came out of her caravan (hab door facing our hab door) and lit up a fag. The smoke & smell came straight over to me & I had to move back in until she’d finished. She was a heavy smoker so I could never sit outside for long on that trip, though it’s what I really enjoy about camping.
Each to their own I suppose. You’d really have to ban BBQ’s and fire pits otherwise it’s hardly a smoke free zone. That to me is a step too far away from the type of camping I know and love. I’m not quite sure how many people they’ll attract with those stringent rules but maybe it works for them
To me personally, there is a big difference between the smell of BBQ fuel and smoke and the smell of burnt meat/flesh on the BBQ compared with the smell of cigarette smoke.
Personal preference and all that; however, my dad was a heavy smoker from a very young age, and died of lung cancer in his 70s, so I am not a fan of smoking.
DK
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Topic: Acceptance of commercial vehicles
via mobile 23/6/2022 at 1:43pm
