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Subject Topic: Sleeping in estate car + driveaway awning Post Reply Post New Topic
30/9/2023 at 4:52pm
 Location: Cirencester
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi Life
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Having just bought an estate car, we were thinking of buying a driveaway awning to attach for day use.

Is it okay to sleep in the car at night with the tailgate open to the awning on a campsite in the UK?


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30/9/2023 at 5:26pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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Have a look in this UK section, there's a more recent post about this topic.
Might give you some info.


30/9/2023 at 6:37pm
 Location: Cirencester
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi Life
View Virsec's Profile View Profile   Reply to Virsec Reply   Quote Virsec Quote  
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I did search the whole forum but it was mostly about sleeping in the awning. May have to enquire at some campsites to see if it's permissible.


30/9/2023 at 7:43pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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Go to France, you can sleep in anything there.


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30/9/2023 at 7:46pm
 Location: Cirencester
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi Life
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Quote: Originally posted by franbee on 30/9/2023
Go to France, you can sleep in anything there.



Hubby will have to renew his passport first! Worth thinking about though, thanks.


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30/9/2023 at 8:25pm
 Location: Milton Keynes
 Outfit: Bailey Alliance 66-2 Motorhome
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It might depend on what campsites you are using and whether the car or the awning is the sleeping accommodation. The CMC are not keen on people sleeping in vehicles that don't have the correct conversion.

David


30/9/2023 at 9:31pm
 Location: Cirencester
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi Life
View Virsec's Profile View Profile   Reply to Virsec Reply   Quote Virsec Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 30/9/2023
It might depend on what campsites you are using and whether the car or the awning is the sleeping accommodation. The CMC are not keen on people sleeping in vehicles that don't have the correct conversion.

David



Thanks, will have to contact a few sites, thought it might make a change from the air tent.


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via mobile 30/9/2023 at 10:36pm
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs
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I’ve seen car plus awning on independent sites. I’d just say, try it out at home first - sleeping in the front seat of an estate car (years ago, car park somewhere) was not the best experience. I was so stiff next morning. Also, think about curtains/ privacy/ daylight.

-------------
2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


01/10/2023 at 10:42am
 Location: Cirencester
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi Life
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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 30/9/2023
I’ve seen car plus awning on independent sites. I’d just say, try it out at home first - sleeping in the front seat of an estate car (years ago, car park somewhere) was not the best experience. I was so stiff next morning. Also, think about curtains/ privacy/ daylight.



It's quite a long estate and the seats fold down more or less completely flat, it was just something I came up with and wanted to try after our bad experience in Looe last week! Probably go back to the tent + car idea. Looking at Roben's tents next time as air getting a bit heavy to lug out of the car.


01/10/2023 at 1:26pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Lunar Cosmos 524
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Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 30/9/2023
It might depend on what campsites you are using and whether the car or the awning is the sleeping accommodation. The CMC are not keen on people sleeping in vehicles that don't have the correct conversion.

David



Think the CAMC, and probably CCC, and likely other sites are looking for curtains/blinds to be a fixture of the vehicle, as a minimum, but also a proper conversion bed is what they really expect. Problem is the uncertainty of whether they will accept you or ask you to leave if discovered in a unconverted vehicle. It's done for sure, so either acceptable to some sites, or folks have got away with it unnoticed.

Having slept in cars (including estates with ample space) a few times, down to circumstance rather than outright choice (tent failure, etc.!), it's about my least favourite option. Think it's the amount of condensation dripping off everything (anything above you (courtesy lights etc.) that can pick up condensation will drip on you!) and the windows run like rivers, the consequential general dampness seeps into everything, and on a chillier night it can feel really quite cold! And of course for any subsequent nights, everything is already damp! Tent's tend to have quite good ventilation and through flow of air to minimise condensation, cars are all but sealed, relying on forced air by vehicle movement or fan - never sat in a traffic jam and had the windows completely steam up in mere minutes!


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01/10/2023 at 2:06pm
 Location: Cirencester
 Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi Life
View Virsec's Profile View Profile   Reply to Virsec Reply   Quote Virsec Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Monty15 on 01/10/2023
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 30/9/2023
It might depend on what campsites you are using and whether the car or the awning is the sleeping accommodation. The CMC are not keen on people sleeping in vehicles that don't have the correct conversion.

David



Think the CAMC, and probably CCC, and likely other sites are looking for curtains/blinds to be a fixture of the vehicle, as a minimum, but also a proper conversion bed is what they really expect. Problem is the uncertainty of whether they will accept you or ask you to leave if discovered in a unconverted vehicle. It's done for sure, so either acceptable to some sites, or folks have got away with it unnoticed.

Having slept in cars (including estates with ample space) a few times, down to circumstance rather than outright choice (tent failure, etc.!), it's about my least favourite option. Think it's the amount of condensation dripping off everything (anything above you (courtesy lights etc.) that can pick up condensation will drip on you!) and the windows run like rivers, the consequential general dampness seeps into everything, and on a chillier night it can feel really quite cold! And of course for any subsequent nights, everything is already damp! Tent's tend to have quite good ventilation and through flow of air to minimise condensation, cars are all but sealed, relying on forced air by vehicle movement or fan - never sat in a traffic jam and had the windows completely steam up in mere minutes!



I think you've persuaded us not to sleep in the car . Back to the Parkdale it is.


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21/11/2023 at 3:33pm
 Location: wirral
 Outfit: Outwell Nevada m Vango sigma 300
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I have carcamped successfully, and recently in Scotland not so long ago. On a campsite, I use a tent canopy over the boot of the car, which is great for cover when cooking, and if its raining. I have had the windows or window open slightly for air flow. This time, I had the tailgate slightly open, at night to make it easier to enter and exit the car rather than the rear passenger door.

It is easier to carcamp using independent sites. CCC sites do not allow canping in cars, that's their rules.   



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