Has anybody thought about a new club for caravanners?
I am a member of the CC and I read a lot of posts about shortcomings and advantages of both the mainstream Clubs so I think there is plenty scope for competition.
It would have to start modestly with existing UKCS members being offered to buy in to get it started but there is a lot of potential to get things off the ground in my opinion.
For a start, this website is streets ahead of the CC version and they have been so slow with technology that their website is primitive - I think. It is a good organisation but I believe it is stuck in a past era and frankly stuffy.
I am probably being a bit provocative and no doubt many will defend it but could there be anyone bold enough to take the UKCS from where it is now - the best place for tent / caravan / campervan information and exchange and comment to being a fully fledged if small club with sites, insurance etc?
I f you regard the CC as a commercial body with their priority lying with manufacturers you will not be diasappointed. I have been a member for around 40 years and found that you cannot trust their integrity where test reports are involved. I have a recent example where they told me that they did not refer to a problem involving safety as it would not be fair to the manufacturer if other models had the problem and they were not aware of it. So on balance I remain a member to use CLs and rallies but disregard test on vans etc.
You are right about their out of date attitude and poor website.
It would be a major long term task to pull their members but at 72 time is not on my side.
Ukcs is best left alone as it is! It is Webby's site and with Ratty's able assistance serves the camping and caravanning fraternity admirably.
The two major clubs serve a purpose and if the benefits they afford suit you , then that's fine.
I've only ever belonged to the C&cc for a while back in the 70s and found that I wasn't making use of much that they offered so opted out.
I discovered Ukcs ten years ago and it has fulfilled everything I needed (Other than towing the van for me) over the years. The 'Camp site search' is the best available, there are rallies and meets, discounts available to members and regular updates to the current news of the leisure industry and the hobby. If you've a prob, there's only one place you'll get an answer,Ukcs!
You can also make comments and sugestions as in this instance and they can be discussed.
Thanks for the idea, but I would say no and Webby and Ratty can take that as a vote of confidence.......Mick.
As a TT owner, presumably I wouldn't be eligable for this 'new club for caravanners' but would I still be able to use the forum?
We joined the CC a year ago when we got our TT and, so far. have been very impressed with the quality of the club sites. To us, the website and test reports are a minor part of the benefits of membership. We always book directly with the sites and I've yet to see them do a test on a trailer tent!
I think the idea of a new club is interesting but I wonder how much investment would be needed to set it all up, and who would be prepared to take the risk.
While there is the potential for UKCS to come to arrangements with insurance companies and breakdown facilities, the financial outlay of competing with the clubs on the sites is unthinkable.
As I understand though all the UKCS meets take place on camp sites, but if the UKCS were established as a club and had a constitution then it would be possible to apply for an exemption certificate to enable these meets to follow the example of the clubs and use fields, or even CLs and CSs without being bound by the 5 caravans rule (which is a legal restriction, not a club restriction)
I wasn't suggesting that UKCS should apply for an exemption certificate just pointing out it was possible. To be honest, it would be more trouble than it was worth as it would mean having to set up a constitution, a committee and holding AGMs just as the clubs do. Just not worth the hastle and expense, plus the expense would have to be met by someone which would mean having to charge a membership fee.
Also as the members are scattered so far around, actually getting a rally organised regularly enough and getting enough people to attend to make it viable to hire the field would be nigh on impossible.
Quote: Originally posted by ianclose on 22/1/2013
As a TT owner, presumably I wouldn't be eligable for this 'new club for caravanners' but would I still be able to use the forum?
We joined the CC a year ago when we got our TT and, so far. have been very impressed with the quality of the club sites. To us, the website and test reports are a minor part of the benefits of membership. We always book directly with the sites and I've yet to see them do a test on a trailer tent!
I think the idea of a new club is interesting but I wonder how much investment would be needed to set it all up, and who would be prepared to take the risk.
Sorry, I had no intention of excluding our erstwhile tenters or TT users or anybody else.
I am also very happy with our website and moderators and have no wish to see any change to the website.
It's simply that I feel there is room in the Club Market for another player and while I love CL's and CS's when I have used them, a new club could develop a similar network and some might jump ship to join.
Any club or forum to be successful will not bite the hand that feeds it ie its advertisers.
The two big clubs stopped being for their camping members years ago with site prices the same or dearer than commercial sites with statics and pods also being added.
A long way away from the original C&CC light weight camping and bicycle association
Not hearing much from management but by making UKCS a club apart from charging a membership fee what else would members get from it?
UKCS doesn't own any sites which it could offer to members. Other services similar to the clubs are offered through advertising on here. Including discounts to UKCS members.
Perhaps instead of a club UKCS could consider negotiating special deals at UKCS recommended sites. Of course such sites would need inspecting. I have time on my hands.