There are a selection of products out there to remedy the issues caused by uneven pitches such as level ramps and an aluminium leveller which is placed under the uneven wheel to ‘jack’ it up to a reasonable level. The jack device is preferred by those who want a better position of control and aren’t that comfortable trying to tow their caravan onto what is quite a small ramp.

Users must ensure when using the ramp leveller that they pull forward the caravan onto it, not try and reverse onto it. When you reserves a caravan up onto a ramp you effectively have no brakes therefore when you pull forward your brakes are still operational and when you put your handbrake on you have full grip. If you are attempting to level out your caravan on grass ideally you want as a wide a ramp as possible to spread the load and prevent the ramp sinking into the grass which doesn’t achieve the objective.

The Aluminium Leveller is essentially a cradle which is placed either side of the wheel and is then wound up like a jack to level out the caravan. The lever is practical as it is light, easy to carry around and can lift the caravan a good 8/9inches off the ground. The only downside of this piece of kit is that it does take some time to wind up however to the unconfident tower this is an acceptable compromise.

There are a few ways to test that the caravan is level once you have evened it out by eye. Some owners are confident that placing a glass of water on the floor of the caravan is an acceptable way to measure the level whereas other, more precise owners will opt for the twin spirit level to examine their work.

What is it?

An Equinox happens twice a year when daylight and darkness lengths are exactly the same.  In scientific terms it’s the time of year when the Earth’s axis is neither tilting towards nor away from the sun.

The second Equinox occurs in September and heralds the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days and increasing of darker hours.

Happy days

Today’s Equinox alerts us the clocks are about to change and longer days will become the norm – perfect for increased caravan shenanigans. (Clocks alter at the end of March).

With Easter being early this year, daylight hours will be welcome as parents struggle to entertain kids – no mean feat when faced with abundant darkness at other times of the year.

During increased daylight your offspring will be able to run around campsites until much later, meaning all that youthful energy will have been burnt off come bedtime. And with your children’s beans fully spent, you can relax with a well-earned glass of Pinot and watch the sun set beyond the horizon.

Summer’s here!

The arrival of high season marks the time when most enthusiastic caravan owners hit the road for frequent trips away.

With six blissful months ahead, filled with camping adventures, fun times and long lasting memories, the Equinox instils a sense of optimism in most UK residents – a welcome antidote to the pessimism of a seemingly enduring winter.

Outdoor types favourite months

The cold weather is starting to wane, Daffodils are springing to life and icy temperatures are starting to disappear into the ether.

For anyone fond of spending time in the great outdoors, the Equinox marks the start of an easier period for al fresco activities.

Everything from barbecues, entertaining, sporting activities and general messing about outside is a brighter prospect with milder weather.

So embrace the changing of the seasons, spruce up your caravan, pack up your kids, hit the road and get ready for a summer of caravanning fun!

Many cater for the whole range of campers – tent, caravan, motorhome, trailer tent – while others are more specialised. The following gives a brief description of some of the more known clubs, listing their advantages and benefits so that you can decide whether taking out membership will be beneficial for you, and if so which caravan club to join…

The Caravan Club

Now 105 years old, the ‘Caravan Club’ is still perhaps the most familiar club of its kind to most people and is certainly the largest of those on offer in the UK. The club has a vast range of benefits, offers and discounts exclusive to members only which can mean easily and quickly recouping the cost of annual membership as well as genuine and substantial savings elsewhere. All members receive a large full colour sites directory, a monthly club magazine and access to the on-line member’s forum and discussion groups.

The club’s website also allows extensive site searches and on-line bookings.

The essentials:

Cost – £42 per year based on 2 adults at the same address + £10 joining fee (waived if payment by direct debit).

Club sites – 200+ sites where members can take advantage of reduced pitch fees

Certificated locations (CLs) – 2500+ member only sites which can take a maximum of 5 caravans or motor-homes at any one time.

Special offers – includes such things as pitches for £1, 50% off pitch fees, kids for £1 and midweek booking discounts.

Member exclusive discounts/offers – updated monthly and include such things as reduced rates for M6 toll. Discounts and offers on more than 300 attractions and days out. Searchable by relevance to destination and site choice.

Access to dedicated breakdown and recovery service for caravans/motor-homes – operated by Green Flag – cover from £34 per year for caravans, motorhomes, cars and trailer tents.

Reduced rate ferry bookings – only available to members.

Overseas travel service – which includes information on recommended European sites.

Storage pitches – members only access to thousands of options.

Insurance reductions – the club have their own insurance schemes which members can take advantage of or alternatively many caravan and motor-home insurers offer reduced premiums where club membership can be shown.

Technical advice – instant access to the club’s own professional caravan advisers as well as on-line information leaflets and technical pages.

Legal advice – with relation to motoring and caravanning.

Sites directory – 704 page full colour handbook, updated every two years, with photographs and individual site fees.

Caravan Club credit card – holders can earn points which entitle them to claim pitches for free at UK club sites.

The Camping and Caravanning Club

www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk

As the second largest club and self-titled as the ‘friendly club’, the ‘Camping and Caravanning Club’ has typically a  rather more informal feel than the ‘Caravan Club’ and gives equal emphasis to tent campers, caravanners, motor-homers and trailer tent owners.

The club, which has been operating for more than 100 years, has very similar benefits, offers and discounts to the ‘Caravan Club’ and also produces a comprehensive site directory every two years, called the ‘Big Sites Book’ and a monthly club magazine.

The club’s website allows site searches and on-line bookings and has a wealth of information on all things camping and caravanning.

The essentials:

Cost – £40 per year based on 2 adults and up to 4 children (under 18) at the same address + £10 joining fee (waived if payment by direct debit.

Club sites – 110+ sites where members can take advantage of reduced pitch fees. Extra specific reductions also apply and include:

Over 55s – save up to 30% (not applicable in high season)

Children go free – under 6s are free year round and 6 to 17 year olds are free in low season

Backpackers – tent backpackers’ rates start at only £2.35 per person per night.

Certificated sites (CS) – 1500+ member only sites which can take a maximum of 5 caravans or motor-homes at any one time and up to 10 tents.

Special offers – includes such things as 4 nights for the price of 3 as well as all the club site discounts some of which are listed above.

Member exclusive discounts/offers – offered on both UK and worldwide destinations and include discounts on theme parks, free adult entry to Disneyland Paris, discounted hotel breaks and ‘members marketplace’ where savings on a range of products are listed and updated constantly.

Access to dedicated breakdown and recovery service for caravans/motor-homes/trailer tents and campers vehicles – operated by the RAC – cover from £41 per year.

Reduced rate ferry bookings – only available to members.

international travel service – called ‘Carefree’, this service includes on-line e-brochures, camp site listings from more than 20 countries and on-line booking.

Storage and seasonal pitches – members only access to many options.

Insurance reductions – the club have their own insurance schemes (including caravan/motor-home, car and home) which members can take advantage of or alternatively many caravan and motor-home insurers offer reduced premiums where club membership can be shown.

Club classifieds – which allows members to offer items for sale or buy from other members.

Technical advice – instant access to the club’s own professional help desk advisers as well as on-line information leaflets, articles and data sheets.

Legal advice – with relation to motoring and caravanning.

Independent financial advice – service exclusive to club members.

Sites directory – full colour handbook, updated every two years, with photographs and individual site fees.

Motor Caravanners Club

www.motorcaravanners.eu

Established in 1960, the MCC are an organisation which co-ordinates meets for motor-homers and have a small range of member exclusive benefits. The club welcomes motor-homers of every category whether factory build, self-build or conversion.

The essentials:

Cost – £28.50 per year + £5 one- off joining fee

Sites – offers a network of small privately owned sites which allow a maximum of 5 units at any one time. Additionally, there are around 500 organised meets and venues which cost approximately £8 per unit per night.

Other benefits -insurance discounts, ferry booking savings, exclusive members’ offers and discounts, reduced rate recovery service, monthly club magazine

The Auto Camping Club

www.acceastmidlands.co.uk

This club has been running for almost 50 years now and is essentially about getting camping, caravanning and motor-home enthusiasts together regionally at all kinds of social gatherings, rallies and parties and organising budget pitches for those events.

The essentials:

Cost – £25 per year

Benefits – reduced insurance rates and discounted equipment.

The Touring Caravan Club

www.touringcaravanclub.com

Open to trailer tent owners, caravanners and motor-homers, the Touring Caravan Club has existed in one form or another since 1937, organising rallies and events for enthusiasts.

The essentials:

Cost – £27 per year

Benefits – UK and continental breakdown and recovery at concessionary rates, discounted ferry bookings, club magazine produced 6 times a year.

The Historic Camping Club

www.historiccaravanclub.com

Formed in 1993, the aim of this club is to bring together owners of vintage, classic and historic caravans which pre-date 1961 through organising rallies and sharing information and expertise.

The essentials:

Cost – £17 per year

Benefits – co-ordinates a ‘caravan hire register’ for members who are happy for their caravans to be available for film, TV and media hire. Also produce a news sheet for members every 6 weeks which includes offered/wanted items.

The Coast and Countryside Camping Club

www.coastandcountrysidecampingclub.info

Established in 2005 and with only 100 members the ACC’s aim is to bring together campers, caravanners, trailer tenters and motor-homers who enjoy greenfield camping around the south coast area of Britain.

The essentials:

Cost – £5 per year

Benefits – organises meets at various venues which start at around £4 per unit per night.

There are many more small clubs most of which offer similar benefits with comparable membership costs but differ as regards the areas in which they operate (such as the ‘Irish Camping and Caravanning Club’) and also the client groups they are targeting (such as the ‘Deaf Caravan and Camping Club’ or ‘Classic Camper Club’). Additionally new clubs are being formed all the time while some existing clubs cease operations. There are also exclusive area and caravan make clubs you can join too.

We also have a further list of caravan clubs in our directory.

For those who regularly use their caravans and motor-homes there is no doubt that the larger clubs usually offer the best deals with the largest range of fringe benefits. However, only you can decide which club will offer you personally the most financial advantage and holiday opportunities depending on what, how and when you use your unit.

Any clubs you’re in and would recommend? Let us know in the comments below!