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Dear all,

I’m taking the plunge and going for a seasonal pitch.  In a fit of absurd extravagance, this will be for a second caravan (yet to be purchased) as we still like to tour home and abroad with our main caravan, currently stored under cover down the road – but still want the convenience of leaving another ‘van on pitch all the time.  And even if we don’t end up using it as much as the average seasonal pitcher, both hubby and I have large families already booking their slots to fill up the weeks we’re not using it...  Anyway, can all you experts out there help me with some decisions:

1.       Type of caravan – we know what layouts work for us as a family, but any recommendations on make/size/robustness as this will not be cosseted under cover like our current ‘van.  We probably don’t want to spend more than about £8 or £9K and want as much room as possible, preferably 6 berth, plus something that’s good for winter living.   With weight and size considerations not so important for a seasonal pitch, we could look at ‘vans we would normally discount (e.g. very heavy ones – we could get these towed on site even if our tow car isn’t up to it? Twin-axles etc?).

2.      Awnings.  We have three sites we’re looking at this weekend (near Peak District), all of which allow full awnings to be left up from March until October.  Is it mad to do so and, if not, any tips on tying/securing methods?  I read a post on here about someone using various bits and pieces as extra securing methods, but I must say I didn’t quite understand the method – so would especially welcome idiot proof instructions...  Also – any recommendations on awning type.  Nothing too extravagant – this whole venture is going to cost us a packet as it is...

3.      Pitch – we’re not brimming with choices, but one of the sites we’re going to see has three available at present.  Any tips on what to look out for in a good seasonal pitch?  Any drawbacks to avoid?

Thanks everyone for any thoughts.

Agree with mjw1999.A Hobby would be ideal for a seasonal pitch.Solidly built and plenty of room.Awnings left up all season will start to look tatty a lot quicker than one taken down and stored away but the convenience of just arriving at your van and no setting up to do far outweighs this i think.You can buy storm staps for your awning to stop it getting blown down in strong winds.Imo the more expensive the awning the better quality it will be and therefore last you longer.A good idea when choosing where to site your van is to look at the crime figures for that area.A sited van soon becomes noticable to the criminal fraternity as it mainly only gets used at weekends and theres nothing worse than arriving on site to find your van has been broke into.Ask the site owners if they have had any thefts from the site and also enquire at the local police station for crime figures to see if these tie in to what the site owner says.Also try to choose a pitch that gets the afternoon/evening sun.Nothing worse than being in the shade all day.

Dear All,

Thanks so much for all the tips.  I think the sites allow family and friends, but, yes, I don't think any allow sub-letting for money.  Yes, I wondered about a Hobby, but I've read somewhere that some are too wide to be towed, even by a big car - is that right?  And are they more prone to being stolen?

Good tips about checking security - thanks for that.  My current caravan is completely out of site in a locked up farmers barn, so I've never really thought about the risks of theft, but something I'll now check.

Back to Hobbys - are they good for damp-resistence?

hi. regarding your awning. I am also on a seasonal pitch. I put my awning up at easter and stays up till november.I have an isabella, I put 3 extra roof poles in plus 2 upright poles , I also put what i call side poles, these go from the front of the awning to the van. upright and side poles stop wind bellying the front and sides of the awning. I put long pegs 12" at each corner and center of the awning to stop any lifting. make sure the awning is well peged down. I peg the ground sheets down 4 in all.on top of all this, when i am not there i put the storm straps on. again useing long pegs. My awning as seen all kinds of weather in cornwall, And touchwood never moved an inch. My pitch is on 5" gravel.  you can see my awning in my gallery. 

I be glad to give you any info.  

Quote: Originally posted by sibsbibs on 11/3/2010

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Dear All,

Thanks so much for all the tips.  I think the sites allow family and friends, but, yes, I don't think any allow sub-letting for money.  Yes, I wondered about a Hobby, but I've read somewhere that some are too wide to be towed, even by a big car - is that right?  And are they more prone to being stolen?

Good tips about checking security - thanks for that.  My current caravan is completely out of site in a locked up farmers barn, so I've never really thought about the risks of theft, but something I'll now check.

Back to Hobbys - are they good for damp-resistence?

---

We have been on a seasonal pitch for the last 4 years in cornwall. No problems with awning being up we normally put up beg of may to end of sept full awning and use a snow porch awning at other times this year we have moved pitches onto concrete base and cant put the porch one up so will be putting the full awning up at easter we have the same awning as Bill Terry and bought extra "storm poles ".

Our burstner is ideal for us has 2 full size solid fixed adult bunks  6"6 long and also a fixed double with another small double bed collapsable from the lounge in the middle. Which means our beds are always made up. Havent seen another layout like it yet.

 I keep the fridge with essentials in. When we arrive on a fri evening within 15 mins filled with water in the tank and have unloaded packed away and drinking coffee.

We Love it no more hastle towing and setting up.

Have a look in the towsure catalogue there is some seasonal pitch awnings in there not too pricey.

We dont shower in the van and use the facilities which might be worth bearing in mind when looking for a van as a large end bathroom is not essential gaining you more living space.

We do have a tention tool to get the awning just right which is so handy when adjusting. I have seen  a  few seasonal awnings collapse on site but we have been ok  so far think  its mainly down to not being put up correctly,   a loose roof  which can be seen flapping and no storm straps and the over hang not being tentioned leaving the wind to get underneath it.

good luck what ever you decide.

Bill terry where abouts in cornwall are you is that a clay hill in the distance?

am on calloose caravan park. just outside of Hayle. Leedstown

The centre pic in my gallery is in NZ. and that in the back ground is a volcano. Its in the north island nr plymouth  and its massive when you start getting close to it.

Quote: Originally posted by Bill Terry on 11/3/2010

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hi. regarding your awning. I am also on a seasonal pitch. I put my awning up at easter and stays up till november.I have an isabella, I put 3 extra roof poles in plus 2 upright poles , I also put what i call side poles, these go from the front of the awning to the van. upright and side poles stop wind bellying the front and sides of the awning. I put long pegs 12" at each corner and center of the awning to stop any lifting. make sure the awning is well peged down. I peg the ground sheets down 4 in all.on top of all this, when i am not there i put the storm straps on. again useing long pegs. My awning as seen all kinds of weather in cornwall, And touchwood never moved an inch. My pitch is on 5" gravel.  you can see my awning in my gallery. 

I be glad to give you any info.  

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Our van we had on a seasonal pitch was a 2006 Abbey Spectrum 540 with a Bradcot Residencia full season awning.  In March 2009 we moved  from Poole into a bungalow not far from the site we had the van on.  So we took it off the pitch and the site owner put it outside the offices with a couple of others for sale.  We got a phonecall 2 hours later offering us the full asking price.  In fact, that weekend we could have sold it 4 times over.

Jenny