I've just read with interest an article in the forums section of practical caravan.
It concerns site owners asking how old the caravan is and either refusing or basically hiding the old vans away at the back of sites.
As an older tenter who only swapped over to caravans last year I feel insulted by this.
We have an old CI Europa. Ok so it's not mint. Ok it still has the old gas locker on the front. It doesn't have the new shape or new graphics. It doesn't even have running hot water. But it's our escape from home and we love it. As a family with young children, were feeling the pinch as much as anyone else. Why should people with older caravans be refused entry to sites. We pay the same as anyone else.
As far as I'm concerned everyone has to start somewhere with an outfit to suit their budget.
------------- September 27th. I'm going away. Don't care where. Just going!!!!
I have been caravanning for about 14 years and I started with an old old one and the one I have now is 12 years old and I have been north to berwick on tweed and south to st Ives and everywhere in between I am retired so go quite often and I have never been asked how old my caravan is,I would not worry too much about it .If you are asked dont give them your money plenty of other sites.
We have an older caravan and love it we are very happy with it we owe nothing on it it's ours and are not looking to change it for a few years yet.
I can't say we have ever been refused entry or even been asked how old our caravan is...if we were asked I think I would give the site owner a pice of my mind and stay far away from said site.
Like you I don';t think the age of a caravan should come into it we all pay the same site fees and all enjoy caravaning at the end of the day if we all had the same outfit it would be very boring no more walking around the camp sites looking at all the diferent caravans (thats part of our holiday).
So glad to hear from you. To be honest I was beginning to think we were the only people with an old van. We tend to stick to small sites in the west highlands but only got our caravan at the end of last season. We only had one weekend away and found we treated so differently than when we had our tent. No one spoke or simply had the time of day.
To be honest it hurt. But right now I really don't care. She's ours. She's dry and we can give our young girls so many memorable holidays.
------------- September 27th. I'm going away. Don't care where. Just going!!!!
We had a 17 year old caravan which in all honesty was in pretty poor condition and were never asked how old it was, or in any way hidden away on a site; quite the opposite in actual fact. We were always conscious of the fact we had a tatty old caravan but in reality, I don't think anyone ever gave us a second glance.
We now have a "new" 12 year old caravan which doesn't stand out as much on sites as the old one as it looks a lot more modern ans is in better condition and don't feel as conscious of being "the poor relation" on sites.
Quote: Originally posted by DaveCoaches on 06/3/2013
We had a 17 year old caravan which in all honesty was in pretty poor condition and were never asked how old it was, or in any way hidden away on a site; quite the opposite in actual fact. We were always conscious of the fact we had a tatty old caravan but in reality, I don't think anyone ever gave us a second glance.
We now have a "new" 12 year old caravan which doesn't stand out as much on sites as the old one as it looks a lot more modern ans is in better condition and don't feel as conscious of being "the poor relation" on sites.
That's good to hear. We are looking to upgrade later this year to a lighter van. I'm just glad what I've heard from pc seems to be a one off. Although I'm still wary of taking it away from our regular sites.
Is there an age limit to join the CC ??
------------- September 27th. I'm going away. Don't care where. Just going!!!!
Ours will be 15 this year, we have never been asked its age on booking (and would probably answer such a question with a fairly mystified deaf ear), and I don't think we've ever felt any insinuation that we are poor relations - though I suspect it's something we'd be pretty oblivious to, to be honest! We will usually have a quick chat with anyone who speaks to us, and I don't think it would cross either of our minds that the age of our van would influence whether someone spoke to us or not. If it's true that people do that, it's a flippin useful early warning device for us ;-)
ETA no age limit on membership of either club, as far as I'm aware.
As long as your caravan is fit for the road and safe - do not worry about its age, Europa sounds as though its last of CI brand at poss a 1980 model year poss later - very inovative brand and sold well in export markets.
Dont be ashamed - in fact your in a modern classic so be proude of it
Andy Jenkinson
Ps If I see you on site I will say hello and love to look at your Europa-Get Scottish Caravanner for classic tourer articles and buying used in this issue -available from all Scottish Caravan dealerships
Ive had a couple of really old vans, never had a problem, my first was 30 years old, only comments I had were posative,
my next was 20, my current, 15. the main thing is to look after it, keep it clean, and no one will bat an eyelid, however turn up with it unwashed/covered in algae, it looks like you don't look after it, someone may comment
Oh this is just urban myth with a small grain of truth. I'm sure if you turned up in an old ebay bargain caravan painted all over with flowers & covered with slogans like 'dope gets you through the times of no money better than money gets you through the times of no dope'. I'm sure most sites would would show you the gate....but otherwise you will be okay...
....But of course, beware of inverted snobbery...my caravan may be old buts its paid for, etc, blah....
Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 07/3/2013Oh this is just urban myth with a small grain of truth. I'm sure if you turned up in an old ebay bargain caravan painted all over with flowers & covered with slogans like 'dope gets you through the times of no money better than money gets you through the times of no dope'. I'm sure most sites would would show you the gate....but otherwise you will be okay...
....But of course, beware of inverted snobbery...my caravan may be old buts its paid for, etc, blah....
you've seen our 'van then Tentz ?
------------- no tin tent outings booked as yet ,just another cruise in Sept' booked so far
Quote: Originally posted by Tentz on 07/3/2013
Oh this is just urban myth with a small grain of truth. I'm sure if you turned up in an old ebay bargain caravan painted all over with flowers & covered with slogans like 'dope gets you through the times of no money better than money gets you through the times of no dope'. I'm sure most sites would would show you the gate....but otherwise you will be okay...
....But of course, beware of inverted snobbery...my caravan may be old buts its paid for, etc, blah....
I think that's actually far more common.
I have never been looked down on when arriving in an old caravan, even when it was covered in mud after getting stuck on a CL earlier in the day.
I have seen the inverted snobbery though occasionally, though I suspect this is more to convince the owner than anyone else. As I said previously, I felt very self conscious of having an older caravan but found other people would defend it to me.
I have spoken to people with much newer caravans on sites and said how much I would like a newer one but they have told me that theirs does nothing that mine doesn't do except cost them a lot more money.
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: Older caravans.
