New to caravanning this year, "upgraded" from tents.
As a tenter I'm used to grass underfoot, I am camping after all, and of course tents with their SIGs are almost always pitched on grass (mine is longer and wider than my caravan).
I have no objection to a caravan being told to set up on hard-standing, even though it causes much less damage to grass than a tent. But awnings on hard standings that I've used up to now range from the uncomfortable underfoot to the downright objectionable (when the gravel or whatever hasn't been maintained and all you get is grey mush when it's wet).
Given that I, and I assume most caravanners, have splashed out on breathable groundsheets that are easily damaged by hard standing, I wonder what other's opinions are, and also what solutions you may have found.
On our last site I saw several caravans pitched way off-centre so their awnings were on grass, but this put them right at the edge of their plots on top of the next camper, so not really an ideal solution.
I do realise that after the main season all-year sites will want to look after their grass and the pitched may be very wet; I'm thinking about main-season.
------------- Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.
Why do you think breathable ground sheets are easily damaged by gravel hard standings?
Mine is an close-square open mesh type construction that copes with everything from pea gravel to 15mm quarry stone.
Personally, having spent the weekend on a wet, muddy grass pitch, next to a pitch one side that had a nylon mesh under the worn out grass, and a stone pitch on the other, I'd have been happy on the stone pitch.
We try to book hard standings all the time, never had a problem with the numerous types of gravel, slate and other materials used for hard standings. Inside our porch awning we use a standard awning carpet/flooring and then the interlocking foam flooring available from caravan dealers or stores like Aldi and Lidle. As we are previous campers and having endured very soggy pitches the hard standing ones are now preferred especially as we caravan all year round.
I like to use hard standings. In the awning I put a tarpaulin down first then my thick groundsheet. I can then take the groundsheet up clean. Because the tarp was on hard standing it is usually not too dirty and easy to fold as it is very light weight. Fold dirty side inwards. If I have to put the awning on grass I don't use a groundsheet as breathable ones like mine are hard to clean.
Seems like I am in a minority here, as I have so far tended to steer well clear of hard-standing, much preferring to be on grass. However, we have been very lucky with the weather this year, as each time we have been away it has been fine and dry. We only had one wet night, our awning was already up, and it was the first night of a week's stay, so it was dry again long before we came to take the awning down.
When we last enjoyed caravanning, many years ago, there were no hard-standings on any site we visited, and 90% of pitches had no EHU either.
Grass here too, I think it may be an illusion but it feels like you have more space. I also find the van is warmer but I'm probably crazy lol just a preference with me and my lot!
It all depends on site/pitch layout/maintenance as to how you will feel on a certain pitch. We love a lush grass pitch like at Dolbryn, grass feels more natural so you can pad from caravan, to awning to outside without feeling the need to add shoes of course this is weather permitting/well draining field. I cannot stand a full concrete car park style pitch. Hard standing wise I like the deluxe pitches like at the Plassey, where you have concrete under caravan, non sharp gravel under awning and a grassy area to get your grass fix in all weathers..
I prefare hard standing because usually they come with EHU. some sites have grass with EHU. but mostly are inferior pitches with out.
Also In bad weather you are usually less likely to get flooded on hard standing,
Some sites designate the pitch No you have to use so yours could end up a swimmer, others allow you to select your own any empty pitch so long its the type of pitch you have payed for.
I try to put van in a postion where I can erect awning on hard standing and peg in to grass provided I am not under the fire and safety regs space between next van.
We pitched up in Lakes one Easter given pitch No , rained allnight from about 10pm. next morning had own private moat still raining , inparts knee deep lucky pitch was on slight hillock.
Sunday still pourinng decided to head for home could not get car to van to hitch up, Exhaust would have been under water plus very slippery grass.
Farmer had to bring tractor to tow us off so we could hitch up in yard.
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: Grass vs. hard-standing
