Quick question. I've not camped before i've just bought a Kampa Tailgater read micro camper awning for my ford fiesta, when booking a campsite do i book as a tent? or a campervan? I dont want to book as tent and get it wrong! Hope someone out there can help?
Thank you.
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Difficult to generalise too much, as different sites operate under different rules (their individual own rules, NOT any universal rules!)!
One thing to be VERY aware of, some sites with grass tent pitches, require you to park your car AWAY from the pitch! Other's that allow car to be parked on pitch normally MAY have a sub-clause that requires you to park off pitch at times of high rainfall/soggy ground! Both are to protect grass pitches from becoming rutted mud-baths. Some sites also close down their grass pitches for part of the year, whilst keeping caravan/MH hardstanding pitches open longer or even all year. Need to check T&Cs/with site before booking! Those restricted terms would impact you greatly!
I use a campsite that requires you to park your tow car in a general car park area after pitching your CARAVAN on the hardstanding which is only as large as the caravan, the rest of pitch is grass they don't want disturbed! So we all get caught up in individual site rules, even when we appear to be crystal clear in our unit definition!
I suspect many sites would require you to go on a campervan pitch, if for no other reason than the overall size of car and 'camper awning' combined, which would put it into the 'oversize tent' category, that's something not all sites can cope with, or only have limited numbers of that size pitch.
Tent pitches are often cheaper than caravan/MH pitches, but may not have EHU at all! Camper pitches may have choice of EHU or not, the pitch price reflecting this.
AS an aside, if you pitch with your tailgate permanently open, you may suffer a flat car battery! - The tailgate will likely trigger interior lights on opening! - whilst only low powered, prolonged continuous running may be sufficient to drain a battery! Most modern cars shut down much of the electrical system shortly after is engine turned off, to protect from this, but well worth checking that's the case!
Best advice is consult the campsite that you are considering with regard to pitches, and have your overall pitch dimensions required to hand, remember you will need roughly an extra metre in length and 2 metres in width above basic unit (car plus camper awning dimensions) to allow for guy ropes!
Good luck, camping in whatever form is a great lifestyle once you've mastered it. Campers are generally a friendly helpful bunch, if you need assistance, or are unsure, don't be shy to ask.
I looked it up online: it looks smart! And it’s the size of a generous driveway awning for a MH.
Which brings us to another point: some sites charge for an awning, some don’t. (CCC even charges for a wind-out awning that’s not staying out at night.) CAMC awning pitches cost the same as non awning but are wider, CAMC generally doesn’t take tents (unless you arrive on foot or by bike) so you might be a campervan there.
So the answer might vary depending on the site.
The Fiesta is not a MH, but you might be asked if you’re sleeping & cooking in the tailgate.
Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 09/12/2024
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The Fiesta is not a MH, but you might be asked if you’re sleeping & cooking in the tailgate.
That raise a couple of points.
Many campsites do not permit 'sleeping in a car', so if asked, 'you have a bed in the awning'
If cooking facilities are part of your set up, there will be a need for your outfit to comply with fire break distances between units. That is highly unlikely to be a problem with normal pitches, as they are spaced at appropriate distances, but you may be asked about cooking if using sites with less formal pitching arrangements.
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Thanks you your replies, I will look into I think small campsites as I’m a novice at camping. I’ll email with regarding to size of pitch I require and explain what set up I’ve got! Looking forward to spring next year for my first trip away. I will be sleeping in the car and using awning as a sitting area if raining and in the evening probably cooking under a canopy. Thank you both for helping. I’ve attached my small set up!
Microcamper, I think you’d probably end up looking for a campervan pitch on grass (cheaper) or hard stand. The curtains at the window would alert the site to the car being slept in if you were on a tent pitch - but I’ve seen plenty on independent sites in the MH & campervan areas. Plus, by no means every tent pitch has EHU, which you might want.
The only place I've seen 'plenty' is in France as it's fairly common to sleep in your vehicle.
The only place I've seen a couple in the UK is at Stirling, and they were German.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
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Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
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Thank you for your comments, I was thinking maybe booking a campervan option grass pitch with EHU. At the end of the day it's all so much cheaper then a hotel and I think much more enjoyable with friendlier people!
Quote: Originally posted by JulesKav on 10/12/2024
Thank you for your comments, I was thinking maybe booking a campervan option grass pitch with EHU. At the end of the day it's all so much cheaper then a hotel and I think much more enjoyable with friendlier people!
I’d agree.
And yes, should be cheaper than a hotel. More fun anyway! Enjoy your trips, let us know how you get on.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Rear Micro car Awnings
via mobile 09/12/2024 at 6:41pm
