A Guide to Seasonal Touring Pitches and Storage

If you can’t keep your caravan at home, here are the ways you can safely pitch or store your tourer for extended periods. These include ‘Seasonal Pitching’ and ‘Store & Stay’.

Many people cannot store their caravans at home, due to a lack of space or security, or restrictions in their property deeds.

This means that anyone who wants to experience the amazing caravan or motorhome lifestyle, but is limited by these issues, needs to find a solution.

Luckily, there are several ways around these problems. Let’s start with seasonal touring pitches.

What is Seasonal Pitching?

Seasonal pitching is when you leave your tourer on a campsite pitch for an entire season, and just visit it when you want. Seasonal pitching removes all the hassles of packing, towing, and pitching, etc.

Just pick one of your favourite sites and regions, and you’ve got cost-effective accommodation for most of the year.

Depending on how long you pitch for, the costs will typically be £1,500 to £3,000 for a whole season. While this sounds like a lot, it can cost as little as £75 to £100 a week, and, if you visit your van often, it’s fantastic value.

Most sites offer seasonal caravan pitches from Spring through to Autumn, but will require you to leave the site for a period of time, to avoid being seen as a ‘permanent resident’, which might have tax and usage implications.

If you don’t enjoy towing your caravan, then seasonal pitching could be for you. With your seasonally-sited caravan on its pitch, you don’t have to worry about hauling your caravan around, and can just enjoy the holiday bit! You might also save money on caravan storage fees. And, on a high-quality campsite, your tourer will be perfectly secure.

Also, there’s no pitching and levelling to do, so it might suit caravanners fans who are less mobile. It’s certainly an effective way to extend your caravanning lifestyle, when the body’s not quite as willing and able as it once was.

Simply pick a beautiful seasonal pitch (ideally close(ish) to home – as you’ll use it more often). And you can be comfortably ensconced in your van in time for a barbecue or your favourite soap opera by eight o’clock on a Friday evening!

Cost benefits of seasonal touring pitches

Some of the extra cost for pitching will be ‘repaid’ by your car’s improved fuel efficiency, when you’re not having to tow your tourer. Towing a caravan can halve your car’s fuel efficiency.

Similarly, as you don’t have to tow a caravan, you could also buy a smaller, more-fuel-efficient car family car, so there’d be savings there too.

If you have a favourite site, why take the risk of visiting a new one that you don’t know? An unknown site might be amazing, but there’s also the chance that it won’t live up to expectations.

Your home-from-home with the faff

Another benefit of seasonal pitching is that you won’t have to pack and unpack your van with each trip, as you can leave your van filled with all the kit you’ll need, and even some clothes. Any holiday gear, such as inflatables, wetsuits, and canoes, windbreaks, and furniture can also stay permanently on site.

By frequently visiting the same site, you’ll also make new friends among others who holiday there regularly. Alternatively, encourage good caravanning friends to grab a seasonal pitch too.

If you have kids, and pick a site with child-friendly facilities, they’ll love it there too… and we all know that ‘happy kids mean happy camping’!

Seasonal pitching in the perfect place

Pick your pitch carefully, considering things like size, flatness, the direction of the sun, the campsite wi-fi or phone signal strength, or its proximity to the campsite amenities. A well-chosen seasonal pitch leaves nothing to chance, but you may need to book early.

You can also pick a seasonal destination to fulfil your hobbies and passions, be that fishing, or walking dogs, or watersports.

Seasonal pitching is ideal for those families that enjoy long summer breaks; as, if you stay for a whole month, a long-term pitch makes perfect financial sense. With some families, one parent takes the kids to the caravan for an extended period, while the other working parent joins them for weekends, and for their annual leave.

The ideal gear for seasonal pitching

Pole awnings are recommended for seasonal pitching, as they are strong and rigid, whereas even the best air awning is likely to lose some air pressure over an extended period. A high-quality Isabella awning is the perfect option and will stand up to the very worst British summer weather!

Likewise, we’d recommend using a 100W solar panel to keep your leisure battery topped up (and your alarm/tracker active) when you’re not on site. That way you shouldn’t arrive to find you’ve got a flat leisure battery.

Overall, seasonal pitching means you have a holiday home in one of your favourite spots. But it won’t cost you a fortune as you don’t pay the rates, maintenance, bills, and initial purchase price that you would with a bricks and mortar getaway!!

What is Store & Stay?

‘Store & Stay’ is a lower-cost alternative to seasonal pitching, as you only pay camping fees when you’re at the site and your tourer is actually on a pitch. For the remainder of the time, your van is kept in a neighbouring secure storage facility, where you only pay for storage fees, which are typically much lower (from £5 to £10 per week).

This S&S service is offered by many campsites with storage facilities attached.

When you want to visit your caravan, simply contact the site, book your favourite pitch, and by the time you arrive, your tourer will be in place on your favourite pitch.

Advanced booking is always recommended. And you may have to pay a nominal fee for your tourer to be pitched and levelled for you each time.

When you depart, your caravan is moved back to the secure storage facility, remaining there until your next visit.

Two of my favourite UK campsites offer this facility. Waterrow Park in Somerset and Keal Lodge in south Lincolnshire, both offer adjacent storage, and, in the case of Keal Lodge (an award-winning campsite), its facility was the first in the UK to achieve a Platinum CaSSOA rating. The highest security level that the organisation offers. The best of both worlds!

W waterrowpark.co.uk

W keallodge.co.uk

Secure storage and CaSSOA secure facilities

The other option to Seasonal Pitching and Store & Stay is to permanently store your tourer until you need it.

There are hundreds of secure caravan storage facilities all over the UK. But the best are associated to, and regulated by CaSSOA, the Caravan Storage Site Owners Association.

Typically with caravan storage, you pay an annual fee of between £200 and £600 – depending on location and facilities. You then get easy access to your tourer, so you simply collect it, load it, and tow it off on your travels. Easy!

The best sites have high levels of security, including: palisade fencing, CCTV, floodlighting, ‘air-lock’ double-gate systems, tagged caravans, and automated leisure-vehicle logging, so that every stored vehicle is tracked on and off-site.

With the best CaSSOA sites, caravan owners have 24-hour access to the facility using electronic passes, so early starts are not a problem. Quality sites also offer extra services like cleaning, maintenance, and annual servicing.

By storing at a good CaSSOA site, you will receive cheaper insurance cover from many of the better insurance companies. This reflects the high levels of security at these facilities.

Other options for storage include informal facilities, such as on farms or private land. But these generally do not offer anything like the same level of security as CaSSOA sites. A well-run informal facility can work well, but there is often an increased element of risk.

Permanent caravan parking options

As you’ve seen, there are several options for long-term caravan pitching and storage. None of them are free, but they each offer their own benefits, and they do represent excellent value if picked and used properly.

One thing is for sure, if you can’t park your leisure vehicle at home, there are several options available to help you enjoy the caravan or motorhome lifestyle.

10 Great campsites for seasonal pitching

Bryn Gloch, Gwynedd, Wales

Nestled in the scenic Snowdonia National Park, Bryn Gloch Campsite offers a picturesque retreat for campers. Surrounded by mountains and rivers, it provides a tranquil escape, with modern facilities, spacious pitches, and proximity to hiking trails, making it an ideal base for outdoor enthusiasts.

Longor Holiday Hideaway Park, Peak District, Longor Wood

Longnor Wood, in the charming village of Longnor, Buxton, Derbyshire, offers a peaceful retreat with 23 hardstanding pitches for long-term stays. Surrounded by scenic landscapes, it provides excellent flat pitches and modern amenities. This makes it an ideal base to seasonally-pitch to explore the Peak District National Park and its picturesque surroundings.

The Laurels Holiday Park, Cornwall

Nestled in the heart of Cornwall, in Whitecross, Wadebridge, offers a serene escape. Surrounded by lush countryside, it features spacious gravel and grass pitches and excellent facilities. This makes it a perfect base to pitch up long-term and explore Cornwall’s stunning beaches, quaint villages, and scenic landscapes.

Cotswold Hills Country Park, Oxfordshire

Cotswold Hills Country Park in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, offers a tranquil escape in the picturesque Cotswolds. It is ideal for those Midlands-based caravanners seeking seasonal pitches within an hour’s drive of home. Surrounded by rolling hills, it provides lovely pitches and facilities, which make it very inviting for visitors wanting to relax in a peaceful setting while exploring the charming villages and countryside of Oxfordshire.

Lebberston Caravan Park, North Yorkshire

Lebberston Caravan Park in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, offers a coastal retreat near the vibrant seaside town of Scarborough and within a short drive of York, Malton, Pickering, and Filey. The campsite has modern facilities and spacious, flat pitches. This makes it a good place to stay if you want to explore the Yorkshire coast. You can enjoy the sandy beaches and discover the area’s rich history and attractions.

Lanyon Holiday Park

Lanyon Holiday Park in Four Lanes, Redruth, Cornwall, offers a peaceful haven for long-term pitching in the heart of Cornwall’s mining-heritage region. With well-equipped facilities, the site is set among rolling countryside and provides a convenient base for exploring Cornwall’s historic sites, coastal beauty, and charming villages.

Bunchrew Caravan Park

Bunchrew Caravan Park, located near Inverness on the shores of the Beauly Firth, offers a tranquil escape in the Scottish Highlands. With modern facilities and stunning views from most pitches, it provides a perfect base for exploring the Highland landscapes, historic sites, and nearby Inverness.

Kings Lynn Caravan And Camping Park

King’s Lynn Caravan and Camping Park, situated in the historic town of King’s Lynn, Norfolk, provides a welcoming retreat. With modern amenities and convenient access to the town’s attractions, it offers a comfortable base for exploring Norfolk’s scenic countryside and cultural landmarks. Long-term pitchers will love the easy access to Norfolk’s sensational northern coastline, too.

Ream Hills Holiday Park

Ream Hills Holiday Park in Weeton, Blackpool, Lancashire, offers a peaceful escape near the lively city of Blackpool. With level pitches and well-appointed camping facilities, it provides a convenient long-term base to explore Blackpool’s attractions, enjoy coastal delights or relax in a scenic countryside setting.

Sandyholme Holiday Park

Sandyholme Holiday Park in Owermoigne, Dorchester, Dorset, offers a tranquil getaway for seasonal caravanners in the heart of rural Dorset. With modern facilities and beautiful pitches, it provides a serene base to explore Dorset’s many historic landmarks, scenic landscapes, and nearby attractions.

Find Your Perfect Staycation with Raymond James Caravans

Raymond James Caravans is dedicated to making sure that every caravanner finds the best way to spend their staycation. Whether you’re looking for a seasonal pitch to enjoy the beautiful countryside over an extended period, or you need secure storage options that offer peace of mind when you’re not on the road, we’re here to help.

Our team is committed to providing expert advice and support to help you make the most of your caravan experience. Visit us today and see how easy and fun it can be to find the perfect caravan with the right help and options. At Raymond James Caravans, your perfect getaway starts here.

Can you tow a caravan with an electric car? The 2024 Q&A Guide

John Sootheran delivers the ultimate guide to towing with an electric vehicle (EV)

Love ’em or hate ’em, EV’s are here to stay, whether that’s a Tesla model or from one of the legacy brands we all know and love.

You’ll see a dozen reasons online why battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) don’t or won’t work. Though I’m sure 99% of the naysayers have never driven one.

I’m a confirmed petrolhead, having worked on two of the world’s biggest and best automotive magazines, and I’ve driven everything from a Lada to a Lamborghini. My message is ‘be open-minded’… because that’s what it took to go from ubiquitous ‘horse-power’ to the internal combustion engine, 120 years ago.

The quick answer to the headline question is a resounding ‘YES’! But that response has several caveats, which we’ll explore in this Q&A article.

Hang on, hasn’t the 2030 petrol and diesel combustion-engine ban already been cancelled?

No, the ban has been pushed back to 2035. That said, manufacturers still have to hit a 2030 target of 80% of their new cars and 70% of new vans being zero-emissions. By 2035, that number is 100%.

Does that mean I won’t be able to tow a caravan after 2035?

Not at all. Petrol and diesel cars are likely to be available to buy new, right up to the 2035 deadline – although ‌prices could rocket as the supply drops significantly.

Of course, pre-owned internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles will still be available after that date, and well-maintained ones could last for decades. However, it’s anyone’s guess as to whether there will still be petrol stations on every corner come 2035.

Electric vehicles and alternatively-fuelled vehicles are expected to make up the vast majority of car sales by 2035. It’s likely that these will make excellent tow vehicles, as they are already well on the way to achieving that goal. In fact, today’s electric cars and vans are well suited to towing in many ways.

So, EVs can tow a caravan, then?

Volvo EV - Credit CAMC — Volvo EV – Credit CAMC

Yes, they can. In reality, several characteristics of EVs make them ideal for towing, but a couple don’t. Let’s look at the positives first.

Towing weights – EVs are heavy thanks to the large, dense batteries required to store all that power. A biggish electric car, like VW’s SUV-style ID.5, which is just 6cm longer than a VW Tiguan, weighs 2.65 tonnes, which is more than most Range Rovers! This extra mass completely outweighs every caravan, which is another bonus when towing. It puts the towcar in complete control of any van.
Towing stability – Much of this weight is low-down in the chassis. This creates a low centre of gravity and an exceptionally stable towing platform.
Towing torque – Electric motors deliver big torque (pulling power), and they do it from zero rpm. This means, whether you’re pulling away from a junction, or accelerating onto a motorway, you have a huge amount of towing power to get up to speed quickly (and safely). Turbo diesel engines have a lot of torque from low down (around 1500rpm), but they can’t compete with an EV, and petrol cars are even further behind, as their power is developed much higher up the rev range, which means delayed acceleration.
Regenerative braking – EVs have the option to use the energy from decelerating and braking to recharge their batteries. In a car like the VW ID.5, and many others, this manifests itself as an automated braking effect when you lift the accelerator. Drivers soon get used to this, and it makes driving much easier, as you often don’t need to brake at all! Anecdotally, you should also save money by not having to replace brake pads so often.
Towing speeds – By towing at a sensible A-road speed of up to 60mph, you will maximise your EV battery power.

The negative aspects of towing with an EV

Not all cars are designed to tow! Credit - Meta_ Facebook — Not all cars are designed to tow! Credit – Meta_ Facebook

There are plenty of crucial advantages to towing a caravan with an EV, but there are a few negatives, too, which may shape your decision-making.

EV tow car choice – While the choice of EVs is growing pretty quickly, the number of potential tow cars is still quite limited. That said, you should be able to find something to suit your towing needs, and, with many more models coming on-stream in the next couple of years, that situation will only improve.
Of course, the selection of used EVs coming onto the market is still limited, which may mean that buying a new EV is the only option. New EVs are expensive and typically come at a £10,000 premium to their ICE equivalents.
EV battery life – EV battery longevity is a worry for many drivers who are considering buying an electric vehicle. Scare stories suggest that the expensive batteries in EVs don’t last long. However, as more data is gathered from the first electric cars to hit the road, it seems that they have very long lives of between 10 and 20 years, and up to 200,000 miles. At the point they are no longer viable, the components of the batteries can be recycled. If a battery were to fail earlier in its lifecycle, it would likely still be under warranty from the manufacturer.
EV towing range – Driving solo, a typical EV has a range of 150 to 300 miles. However, hitch a tonne or more of caravan behind and that range drops substantially. In tests, an EV towing a lightweight (995kg) tourer lost around 45-50% of its range. It went from doing 3.6 miles per kWh solo, to 2.0 miles per kWh with a caravan hitched. Of course, an EV with a large battery giving a solo range of 300 miles, something like the VW ID.5, should still manage a reasonable 150 miles when hitched. However, a smaller MG4 EV with a range of up to 200 miles, may only manage 120 miles when towing. While these ranges aren’t disastrous, they do add the need for a recharge to many longer trips. This adds its own complications, as it’s likely you’ll have to unhitch your caravan and park it somewhere safe for the hour that your EV is on charge, as there is not enough room in most charging bays.
Towing in winter – Cold weather affects EV performance, as lithium-ion batteries lose a significant proportion of their output in temperatures below freezing (0°C or 32°F). This figure is estimated at 20% at 0°C, and 40% at minus 5.5°C. Naturally, this can make EV towing unviable in winter conditions. EV batteries may also charge more slowly in cold weather. On the plus side, modern EVs often have cooling and heating systems built into their Li-On cells to maintain their perfect operating temperatures.

EV battery capacity explained

Electric vehicle batteries come in various sizes, and the bigger the battery, the more range it will provide for a vehicle of that size and type. EV battery capacity is measured in kilowatt hours (kWh), which reveals the amount of charge they can store. Here are some popular EV cars and their average battery capacities.

Peugeot e-3008 Long range – 98kWh
Kia EV9 – 96kWh
Tesla Model S Dual Motor – 95kWh
Polestar 3 Long Range Dual Motor – 107kWh
Volvo EX90 Twin Motor – 107kWh
Mercedes EQE SUV – 90.6kWh
BMW i4 – 80.7kWh
WW ID.3 Pro – 77kWh (most VAG EVs have this capacity)
Škoda Enyaq – 77kWh
Hyundai Ioniq range – 74kWh
Kia Niro EV – 64.8kWh

Data from ev-database.org

How to tow a caravan with an EV?

The principles of safe and efficient towing are the same for EVs as for internal combustion-engined (ICE) vehicles.

However, when towing long distances with an EV, you’ll need to plan your route carefully, allowing for charging stop(s) on the journey, and, if you’re sensible, selecting back-up charging options, just in case your first choice is full or out of order.

Likewise, you can plan ahead and use Google StreetView to identify safe places to park your caravan while you recharge your tow car.

What would be a five-minute fill-up in an ICE tow car could take an hour in an EV, but at least you can use the time to rest, have a coffee, walk the dog or stretch your legs.

Range anxiety may well be an issue when towing with an EV, so make sure you fully charge up before leaving home, and perhaps plan your recharge stop when you’ll have at least 50 miles of range remaining, bearing in mind that hilly or urban driving may seriously reduce your range.

Also remember that your range will drop drastically initially, as the car recalculates for the weight of the van. It should then settle down.

Charging on campsites

Some campsites have EV charging facilities, though high-speed chargers aren’t on the pitches, but in the car park or close to the office.

The Caravan and Motorhome Club allows on-pitch charging, but it must be done through the caravan and not directly from the hook-up post. This will be very slow charging and the cost is £9 per day. Better to use the 22kW or 7kW fast chargers offered by some sites. For example, the CAMC currently has 11 sites with tap-and-charge facilities.

W caravanclub.co.uk/uk-holidays/uk-sites/club-campsites/facilities-on-club-sites/electric-vehicle-charging/

If you use your caravan to charge your EV, it will of course limit the other current you can draw from the hook-up, without causing the circuit to trip. Charging an EV and running the heating or boiler, for example, is likely to overload the system.

Some EVs, including Teslas, can have their charging rate reduced using ‌touchscreen controls. Turning the current draw down from 10A to four or six amps may free up enough current to run other caravan facilities; however, it might be best to charge your EV at night or when you are away from the pitch.

Charging speeds
If you plug your EV into the standard mains at home, you can expect a charging time in excess of 12 hours, depending on your EV. Conversely, if you find a high-speed or superfast charging point, a full charge could take as little as 30 to 60 minutes.

Here’s a chart of typical charging-speed options at UK charging stations, plus how many miles an hour of charge will provide.

7kW	up to 30 miles
22kW	up to 90 miles
50kW	up to 90 miles (in 30 minutes)
150kW	up to 200 miles (in 30 minutes)

How do I find EV charging stations?

Use one of the charging station location apps, such as ZapMap. This app is free and delivers all the information you need for effective route planning and charging.

Fitting a towbar to an electric vehicle
All the major towbar manufacturers supply towbars with specific fitments for EVs, though not all cars are catered for or will take a towbar fitment.

Tom Miller, CEO at Tow-Trust Towbars Ltd, said: “Here at Tow-Trust, we produce bespoke towbars for EVs, and EVs are a big part of our development program for 2024 and beyond.

“This year, we have successfully developed and launched Towbars for the Audi E-Tron, Skoda Enyaq, Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5, Mercedes’ EQA, EQT, EQC, EQV, and BMW’s iX3 and i4.

“I believe it has taken a while for vehicle manufacturers to get the towing capacity and battery life to sufficient levels for towing, but they are certainly well on their way with it.”

If you’re buying an EV with a view to towing with it, check whether the dealership will retro-fit a towbar, or if it needs to be on the factory order. Also, compare the prices of factory fitting (which can often be north of £1000), with bespoke, after-market fitments from the likes of Tow-Trust or Witter (UK).

I always recommend getting a fully-integrated, vehicle-specific electrical system fitted, as opposed to the by-pass systems that some suppliers recommend. While these may well be cheaper, it’s highly likely that they won’t integrate the car’s control systems entirely with the caravan.

In fact, in some cases, the car may not even know a caravan is being towed, so the lights, suspension and braking may not be automatically adapted and optimised.

What are the best electric tow cars for caravans?

The following EVs have all performed well in tow car awards with the major clubs.

Kia EV6	Kerb weight 2090kg Max towing weight 1600kg Price £51,745
Volvo C40	Kerb weight 2185kg Max towing weight 1800kg Price £62,205
VW ID.Buzz	Kerb weight 2117kg Max towing weight 1000kg Price £52,185
Nissan Ariya	Kerb weight 2222kg Max towing weight 1500kg Price £55,602
VW ID.5	Kerb weight 2117kg Max towing weight 1000kg Price £52,185
Audi E-tron 55 Quattro	Kerb weight 2565kg Max towing weight 1800kg Price £72,970
BMW iX xDrive 40	Kerb weight 2585kg Max towing weight 2500kg Price 77,695
Polestar 2 Long-Range Dual Motor	Kerb weight 2198kg Max towing weight 1500kg Price £47,900
Škoda Enyaq iV 80	Kerb weight 2032kg Max towing weight 1000kg Price £40,970

Contact

Tow-Trust Towbars tow-trust.co.uk
Audi – audi.co.uk
BMW – bmw.co.uk
Kia – kia.com
MG – mg.co.uk
Nissan – nissan.co.uk
Polestar – polestar.comŠkoda – skoda.co.uk
Tesla – tesla.com
VW – volkswagen.co.uk
Volvo – volvocars.com