CMCA vs Caravans

tezza · Senior Member

CMCA vs Caravans

Gerty Dancer · Guru

I agree Tezza, we tried to join too. Maybe its because they felt motorhomers had issues that were different to caravanners, or they were worried caravanners might out-number those with motorhomes. Its a pity. Are there any caravan-only clubs?

You might be able to join as an associate member though, and you'd then receive their magazine "The Wanderer" which is an excellent source of information.

BarbandDaz · Senior Member

Quite a fewbrands have their own club, Most states have several caravan clubs and there is also the Australian Caravan Club.
Do a google and see what you find for your area.

Helena · Guru

We have a van are associated memebr of the CMCA club the only difference in being an associated member is that you cannot vote but we get the magazine the wanderer and are able to get into the members site which can have a lot of information on it. always felt it was a pity that they didn't incorporate caravans as well though Helena.

Happywanderer · The Master

Doesn't CMCA stand for Caravan, Motorhome and Campervan Association?

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia was formed by and for people who owned campervans and motorhomes.
Owners of any other vehicles or combinations are allowed to join as associate members, if they so wish.

Cheers,
Peter

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia. (I think?)

Happywanderer · The Master

Ah!! I should have gone looked at the site first.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Happywanderer wrote:

Ah!! I should have gone looked at the site first.

Which was suggested in your thread on vehicle insurance.

Vic · Guru

Like someone has already said here, there is the Australian Caravan Club which is for caravans only I understand.

However, I think the best Australian club to join is this one, doesn't matter what you have or if you change to another type of RV you can still remain a full member of the club, unlike some clubs with specific brands or type of RV's where if you sell them and buy something else you have to go elswhere and can't join the friends you have made over many years anymore at their club meets etc. A couple of examples are Jayco clubs and A'Van Club of Aust.

Suggest look at joining this club;
Australasian Touring Caravan Motorhome and Camping Club
http://www.atcmcc.org.au/

-- Edited by Vic on Wednesday 9th of March 2011 01:12:57 AM

Cruising Granny · Guru

Having a friend who's had a campervan and now a motorhome, I sense some snobbery toward caravanners from motorhomers.
I've heard some really weird descriptions of why campervanners feel hard-done-by when they have to pay full fee for a site when they can put to campervans on the one site, especially if one doesn't need 240V.
Too hard to explain here, but there is some weird rivalry out there which has made me uncomfortable in their company at times.
I don't belong to any clubs. I can access information and magazines on the net and newsagents, so I can keep clear of organisations.
To each his/her own I reckon. It's just that snobbery/rivalry I'm not happy with when it happens.
I get a sense of superiority from my girlfriend. I ignore it because I think she's misinformed, and I value our friendship. We haven't come to blows yet, but depending on the amount of champers, it may come to that, at least verbally.
The CMCA members seem to have access to discounts and deals, but I get many of the same through Seniors.

tonyd · Guru

Well said, Chris. From this and other sites, I get the feeling that the fifth-wheeler brigade look down on the motorhomers, who in turn regard caravanners as a bit infra dig, caravanners curl the upper lip at the users of camper trailers, and the CT users look down on tent campers. And as for swag users, forget it!
I agree about organisations. I have long been a member of the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia, but the few members who attend the meetings are absolutely obsessed with procedure and protocol and disputes about constitutions, ignoring the fact that nothing gets done for the benefit of members, many of whom need help.
I glean what information I need from this site and others about exploring Australia and ignore the silly snobberies.
Cheers, Tony

Helena · Guru

Thank goodness that kind of snobbery isn't on this site we have come under fire quite often with this kind of thing especially when we had our Toyota campervan we still get it as we have the smallest A Van and so suprised when people still come up and say do you really live in that kind of thing for 4 months so rude we are happy with what we have and enjoy our holidays in it as I say that is one thing I love about this forum no snobbery. Helena.

Ma · Guru

We all start out with one breath and end on one breath regardless of what material things we have.

Just being happy with what you have in the middle of those two breaths is what makes the person you are.

Be happy within yourself and let the other bloke look out for himself.

Bet you will lead a more productive life than him.

Smokeydk · Guru

over the years ...I've even see some campertrailer owners look down at other ones cause they think theirs is better.....It happens in all Organisations

chris & terry · Senior Member

A few quick notes, Helena, I was of the opinion that on joining the CMCA, even as an associate, they preferred you to post a photo of your rig, & if a caravan you were given a 12 mth period of grace in which to come to your senses & buy a motorhome, my words not theirs. Tonyd sadly I too have come across a lot of what you said. It seems to me that a lot could be learnt from this organization by others that perport to represent certain specific sections of us travelers. I have found the Grey Nomads on the hole to be non-judgmental & friendly, they offer good advice freely having a vast array of rigs. I thought Martin Luther King sorted out the problem of inequalities 50 odd years ago, but on leaving home I found it was alive & well. Maybe we need some one stronger that Martin, any thoughts on Julia?
I thought we were all just travelers, why can we not be unto ourselves just that?

terry

ozjohn · Guru

The Australian Caravan Club has branches throughout Australia including many regional areas.

They work very closely with the CMCA and other RV bodies to lobby government and councils for a better deal for all RV'ers.
www.australiancaravansclub.com.au.

Cheers, ozjohn.

Smokeydk · Guru

Has friends that in the ACC......sub Club in SA called Sundowners

http://www.australiancaravanclub.com.au/index.php?option=com_community&view=groups&task=viewgroup&groupid=22&Itemid=78

Vic · Guru

ATCM&CC also work with CMCA and ACC to give a better deal to all RV owners, and while ACC only have membership for caravans and camper trailers, ATCM&CC cover all type of membership;

http://www.atcmcc.org.au/

ACC do a good job too and I know several people who belong to that club too who are very happy in it.

Happywanderer · The Master

Ron and Shirley, I have been into their site many times, just hadn't remembered what the letters stood for. And insurance already bought at time of your suggestion, sorry.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Lets face it, if people want to be competetive or snobbish they will, no matter whether its about caravans or their house/car/garden/whatever.

I just ignore that rubbish and enjoy the friendly people I meet.

justcruisin01 · Guru

Well we have a house ,tent, camper trailer, boat & a caravan, guess I'm in the s#@#t which everway we go .LOL
We do own them all & we can sleep at night, I am not an attention seeker!!.

Ma · Guru

We are the same as you JC, well not the camper trailer bit though.

Guess it is just a matter of how high they are piling it these days.......

pipes · Senior Member

I suppose you could call it a "motorhome" It was one of the many mobile homes I have driven, as a solo, around Oz. It was / is a 1974 cabover, silver and blue Dodge truck, with a small caravan bolted on the back. It didn't look too flash, but was comfortable. Anyway, while parked in a 'van park up north, one of those humungous motorhomes rolled in. It had a sticker on it so all knew the owners belonged to a well known motorhome club. After setting up the slide outs and spa, the middle age couple started walking around the park. I was working on the Dodge as they walked by. They stopped and the woman pointed at my "home" She said, with curled lip, "Oh my God, do you live in that thing!?" I smiled, stood up and wiped my hands. Then I walked over to the husband, pointed at the wife and asked, "Oh my God, do you live with that!?" They walked away in a huff. So, whatever you drive, if you wake up in the morning, and you're still alive, put a smile on your and dial and to never mind the snobs. By the way, the Dodge was STOLEN in 2005. I contacted the rego. people to find out where it was registered, but due to the privacy act, no info. was available.

-- Edited by pipes on Wednesday 9th of March 2011 02:35:41 PM

justcruisin01 · Guru

Great come back there Pipes.
This privacy thing is a great joke, they all have more info on us than we even know about.

petengail · Guru

Management and I were camped at Inskip, last year, mangement was chatting to a lady who was off on their first trip in their new (second hand) Jayco Stirling. Another Stirling pulled in and the lady, and I use the term loosely, said to management....."oooooh its a Stirling", turned her back on management and nearly wetting her pants with excitement went off to chat to the new Stirling owners. Whenever we now pass a "Stirling" we go Ohhhhh its a Stirling and then crack up. By the way we own a 1990 Viscount and are very happy. You do meet all types out there but there certainly are some snobs

Helena · Guru

Who cares what kind of rig you have let's face it we are all out there doing the same thing enjoying this wonderful country of ours if people want to look down on others that is there problem after all what do material things matter in this life anyway as long as you have yhour health and can keep doing what you love why worry. Helena.

Cruising Granny · Guru

We are all equal in travel, whether it's a station wagon and a swag or a massive 5th wheeler with 3 slide-outs
Being a solo woman with a "big" van and 4WD, certainly curls up the acrylic nails of some of the snobs among us, (and their wives. )
If they're snobs I treat them with the respect they deserve. Fortunately they are the minority.
Some travellers appear to be substituting the 5 bedroom home and 3 bathrooms with their RV. Interesting!
You get state competitiveness, travel mode, new vehicle vs old, pop-top vs van vs camper van, etc etc.
It's the attitude people have toward material possessions. Fashion, shoes, hand bags and hair-dos also attract a competitive or envious glance or glare.
If we can put both feet on the floor in the morning, we have a lot to be thankful for. If we can do it in a country where it's free to park up by a lake, river or beach, or under a shady tree anywhere in this land, we have a lot to be thankful for.

Sheba · Guru

Love your Reply Pipes. Lol.

Cheers,
Sheba.

Landfall · Guru

We have a Geist.

So you can imagine the flak we get from everyone.

We jokingly call it our mobile 5 star bathroom.

When we are frequently told they are "not made for Australian conditions" we answer, "that's Ok we don't tour Australia."

Snobbery is out there alive and well.

Dusty