How caravanning has changed!

In over 40 years of caravanning we have seen many changes so it will be interesting to find out if other members share our views.  This is not intended as a rant against the Club and we do not want to start a bad tempered debate as everyone is entitled to an opinion.  In our experience the other major club fairs no better and can be quite dictatorial so CC is still our club of choice although we are members of both.

The majority of dealers have sadly altered from small family businesses, with customer satisfaction being of prime consideration, into conglomerates who largely ignore their after sales responsibilities and only seem to see customers as a necessary evil on the way to riches.

Caravans/motorhomes have changed from mainly strong, well made but basic units which were easy to modify and maintain into flimsy, poorly built, over complicated, over priced gin palaces.  Some modern on board facilities can be great but we do mourn the loss of  build quality and maintainability.

On site facilities have greatly improved but the costs have escalated wildly.

Advance booking did not used to be necessary which meant we could decide en route where to stop  and this spontaneity was the very essence of the freedom of a touring holiday.  Now booking is often a necessary and sometimes impossible chore.

It seems to us that the clubs, originally groups of  like minded people trying to advance their hobby for the benefit of members, are now big businesses with profit as the motivation.  Executives, probably well paid, seem to rely on low paid and mainly part time staff who often have to work with inadequate equipment and facilities to enable profit to be made.

Campers, themselves, were mostly happy, friendly people who realised that the rules were for the benefit of all and obeyed them even if they disagreed.  A selfish attitude and disregard for others seems to abound now and it is not unusual to meet people who think the rules are only for others and argue, sometimes aggressively, with wardens and fellow campers if/when they are asked to comply. Just look at some of the forum comments for examples!  If you want to see a site without reasonable rules then study the next travellers site you see!  No one has to join or remain in any club so you have to wonder why some people choose to be members.

The only constant over the years has been the wardens.  The vast majority are still friendly, helpful people who do the often thankless job because they enjoy trying to provide a pleasant environment for fellow caravanners rather than for financial reward - although their authority to make local rules and decisions sometimes needs to be monitored.  Of course, there are a few, fortunately rare, exceptions who do nothing to enhance the image of wardens or the Club and these are better termed as warders! Wardens need to be given the full backing of the Club’s head office to enforce the rules – we  have been on sites where wardens have tried to stop antisocial behaviour and been told by Head Office not to get involved.  (We have no connection with any Club employee!)

The above is just a summary of our observations and may provide food for thought.