CMCA membership .... is it worth it?

chaslib · Senior Member

CMCA membership .... is it worth it?

goldcoaster · Senior Member

We are only in it for the Insurance , you are lucky you have contacts in the Insurance game . CIL were $200 dearer than Ken Tame on our Motorhome.
Mick

Dav4Cris · Senior Member

We dont have a motorhome so we really have no reason to join the CMCA as Ken Tame wont insure the van. We where members years ago and as has been said there are heaps of adds and its mostly about caravan parks, which we try hard not to use. Free camping is our liking, get some lousy ones but most of the time we find nice ones, occasionally we find great ones.
So why spend money on something that is not needed!

kiwijims · Guru

We were also members of the CMCA only because the Motor Home we had at the time was too old for any other insurance company to handle,

Ken Tame was the only insurance company that would cover our bus ( a 1977 Coaster ) the only stipulation for the cover was, we had to be members of the CMCA to get the cover.

She wasn't flash, but took us where we wanted to go...........

Copy of crusin in the coaster 001.jpg

I also found the Monthly magazine was nothing but adverts, very little helpful info, as soon as I sold the motor Home I didn't bother to renew the membership, instead I joined this Forum and have found all the info here readily available , and free for the reading.

We were down in Tassie when the CMCA had a gathering some years back, We found them to be a very clicky bunch, at the gathering when they all arrived in a paddock, you couldn't park where you wanted to, they would not have our "Cheap Van" beside a $80,000 Motor Home with all the bells & whistles, "Oh No" , You get your cheap heap of junk way down the line, where the lower class vans were, my thoughts at the time were, How many of you lot actually "OWN" your vans, or do most of you have to be back at work by a certain date to pay the next install on them.

Another thing I found was that if you wanted to go to one of their Rallies, it would cost a fortune.

We would much rather free camp and nine times out of ten, meet people who would just come along for a friendly chat and we would all enjoy ""Happy Hour"" at very little expense to anyone.

K.J.

JayDee · Guru

My preference is the " Google" magazine. I find out more with google than any Mag. can offer. And yes we know that they have to have Adv. for the Mag. to survive. Forum are also a great wealth of knowledge. Then there is Wikicamp and the bible, Camp Book.
Why would you need a Magazine??? Ooops !!! of course there is the personal preference of have a hard copy.
Jay&Dee

the rocket · Guru

kiwijims wrote:
We were also members of the CMCA only because the Motor Home we had at the time was too old for any other insurance company to handle,
Ken Tame was the only insurance company that would cover our bus ( a 1977 Coaster ) the only stipulation for the cover was, we had to be members of the CMCA to get the cover.
She wasn't flash, but took us where we wanted to go...........
I also found the Monthly magazine was nothing but adverts, very little helpful info, as soon as I sold the motor Home I didn't bother to renew the membership, instead I joined this Forum and have found all the info here readily available , and free for the reading.
We were down in Tassie when the CMCA had a gathering some years back, We found them to be a very clicky bunch, at the gathering when they all arrived in a paddock, you couldn't park where you wanted to, they would not have our "Cheap Van" beside a $80,000 Motor Home with all the bells & whistles, "Oh No" , You get your cheap heap of junk way down the line, where the lower class vans were, my thoughts at the time were, How many of you lot actually "OWN" your vans, or do most of you have to be back at work by a certain date to pay the next install on them.
Another thing I found was that if you wanted to go to one of their Rallies, it would cost a fortune.
We would much rather free camp and nine times out of ten, meet people who would just come along for a friendly chat and we would all enjoy ""Happy Hour"" at very little expense to

Hi, I have heard other people say this also. Not for us either.

Pejay · Guru

Hi Libby,
Sounds to me that you may have made your decision already with what you have written, and just wanted confirmation. We once were associated members (we have a van) but decided it wasn't worth, and besides I get to read the mag at the doctors when I go there.

chaslib · Senior Member

Thanks all for your thoughts - appears our combined thoughts are running parallel ......... $40 approx a year = 2 bottles of good Chardonnay ... - no contest!!!

Hope to see some of you on the road during the next 6 months -

Stay safe

Santa · Guru

We are members of the CMCA, if it were not for the Ken Tame insurance tie up would not bother, magazine of no interest, as others have said full of advertisements.

Having said that, they have done a great job of setting up free dump points Australia wide that most motor homers need to use every few days.

Would we join if we could get competitive insurance elsewhere? probably not. smile

2foot6 · Veteran Member

We were members for a few years in the early days of looking for,buying and travelling in our motor home.After reading the complaints and bickering on the old forum ,my attitude changed ,then the forum was shut down.I quickly lost interest in the CMCA and it has not returned.As stated by previous posters ,any benefits of the CMCA ,IMHO are available on this and other forums ,company loyalty cards and seniors cards. As for the insurance I have always found cheaper insurance with the same benefits(or the benefits that I required)by other well known insurance companies,and now that the RACV and other associated clubs are now offering roadside assist for motor homes up to 8000kg, it is another reason not to the CMCA . Camaraderie,magazines,forums,discounts and rallies are not for everyone,we all have different needs and we all seek the benefits of clubs and alike that suits our needs.Please don't see me as anti CMCA,I am definitaly not,Im just in a stage of life that doesn't need the hassles of clubs(membership fees ,elections,rules and unwanted magazines)and needs to get out there and enjoy what time is left.I wish the CMCA all the best and hope they continue to grow and provide real benefits for it's members ,without the problems of the past.To answer your question Chaslib,the CMCA has a lot of benefits available and for those who like those benefits it's a great club to be a member of,and for those who don't need all the benefits I suppose it's a personel preference whether to join or not,as for me I find the benefits in other places.....................................cheers Peter smile

Bargswan · Member

I agree with Peter, we are members of CMCA and have been for 9 years but the club has changed. They have also achieved countless dump points that are available to members and non members, and have arranged discounts through various outlets. We are yet to find a CVP that offer this discount for being a CMCA member. I also agree that the Wanderer magazine is 75% adds. I have checked on the lost forum 3 days ago, and was told they intend doing something in the near future. It's been a long time missing.

Bob

2foot6 · Veteran Member

We are yet to find a CP that offer this discount for being a CMCA member.

Well Bob,I use a CP often that does have a CMCA sticker in the window and offers a discount,but as the management tell me,I get the same discount for being a senior.Perhaps the CMCA would more suit the younger generation.

chaslib · Senior Member

I have come across a couple of CPs that also give the same CMCA discount to seniors ........... As someone else posted - I have looked at some of the pics of the CMCA rallies and meets and feel if I wanted to be in that type of environment I would go back to being a girl guide leader again!

dragonfly1 · Senior Member

Hi there everyone

We are members of the CMCA but we don't go to rallies etc but I think a lot of you are missing the important things that the club does. Some examples are rv freindly towns for you to stay safely in.Dump points and water available all over the country.They represent not only their members but all campers at government level in the fight with caravan parks so as we can retain our free camps and rest areas. Surely this alone has to be worth the $44 a year fee and the more people that join the greater pulling power the club would have.If you find people clicky just don't talk to them and I find now that I have a motorhome some with caravans won't talk but they would not know we had seven caravans and was forced to buy a motorhome because of five shoulder replacements but that is fine and it does not worry us.Iam sure everyone on this forum use the facilities that the CMCA provided

Dragonfly1

Santa · Guru

chaslib wrote:
I have looked at some of the pics of the CMCA rallies and meets and feel if I wanted to be in that type of environment I would go back to being a girl guide leader again!

I feel very much like you do Chaslib, check out this pic http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2138148/campervans-to-roll-in-2m-rally-at-nelson-bay/ not sure why anyone would leave home to camp in this delightful confuse setting.

Santa · Guru

Have to say I've driven into many (RV friendly towns) other than a sign on the outskirts advising us of their status have never been able to discern any tangible difference between them with and them without the title.

As a matter of fact, 99% of towns we visit are very welcoming regardless of whether or not they have a gong from the CMCA. smile

2foot6 · Veteran Member

As a matter of fact, 99% of towns we visit are very welcoming regardless of whether or not they have a gong from the CMCA.

I have to agree with you Santa,we have stayed in many towns over the years,and many towns did their own thing,like staying near a hotel in a free designated area with water for the cost of a drink or even a meal at the pub .Now a lot of these towns are considered as RV friendly and that's a good thing,but not all the doing of the CMCA..RV friendly towns have been around for many years ,just not called that..............................................cheers Peter

-- Edited by 2foot6 on Sunday 19th of April 2015 01:52:02 PM

kiwijims · Guru

Santa wrote:
chaslib wrote:
I have looked at some of the pics of the CMCA rallies and meets and feel if I wanted to be in that type of environment I would go back to being a girl guide leader again!

I feel very much like you do Chaslib, check out this pic http://www.theherald.com.au/story/2138148/campervans-to-roll-in-2m-rally-at-nelson-bay/ not sure why anyone would leave home to camp in this delightful setting.

Have just read about the CMCA rally at Nelson Bay, it said that they expect a $2.000.000 benefit for the local community , Must be a new Breed of very rich Members in the club now !!!

With the local Council thinking of wavering the $20.000 hire fee for the site, and accepting a donation of $10.000 from the CMCA ,I hope they do get a little more than that for their troubles or someone will be well out of pocket.

I have read of some previous event where the local council were so far out of pocket, that they swore they would never hold another gathering of this type, the expected benefits for the local stores did not happen, as the people who attending had stocked up in the city before attending the gathering, therefore very little was spent locally after they arrived .

It will be interesting to hear the reports after the advent,

K.J.

Big Gorilla · Guru

NO...

PeterD · Guru

Dav4Cris wrote:
We dont have a motorhome so we really have no reason to join the CMCA as Ken Tame wont insure the van.

Ken Tame does insure vans, providing it's packaged with the tug.

Izabarack · Guru

I will stay a member because they seem to be the only organisation out there doing some good for the travelling public. Lobbying local and state governments for RV friendly behaviour pays off for everyone, including those who get the benefits without contributing.

Iza

TommyG · Senior Member

Dragonfly1 & Iza, have said it all.
The good work done by the CMCA is well worth the membership. Agreed, the CP discount is a joke and the CP's are quick to point out: "You don't need to be CMCA to get a discount". Do you wonder why they especially make that point?
Members of the CMCA do not have to be chapter members to attend chapter meetings, if you are a CMCA member or even caravan associate, look for a meeting that would suit your travels and arrange to go.
Even only once. If you never go, you will never know. There are some wonderful people out there, some nearly as clever as some who frequent this forum.

Bruce and Bev · Guru

Im against the CMCA as we have a 'van and it is not self contained (no grey water tanks) and so therefore does not meet their intentions of self contained - mainly motor homes, large 'vans, or people that pay to have a tank fitted.

However, I do think they do good things for our community in terms of dump points all of us can use, lobbying pollies and pushing towns and cities to be more RV friendly (even if it is for fully self-contained RVs only. If they want to grow their membership, they need to stop being motorhome exclusive. Would be interesting to see how many of their committee member and general members have motor homes and then how many with non self-contained 'vans like many of us?

aussie_paul · Guru

dragonfly1 wrote:
Hi there everyone
We are members of the CMCA but we don't go to rallies etc but I think a lot of you are missing the important things that the club does. Some examples are rv freindly towns for you to stay safely in.Dump points and water available all over the country.They represent not only their members but all campers at government level in the fight with caravan parks so as we can retain our free camps and rest areas. Surely this alone has to be worth the $44 a year fee and the more people that join the greater pulling power the club would have.If you find people clicky just don't talk to them and I find now that I have a motorhome some with caravans won't talk but they would not know we had seven caravans and was forced to buy a motorhome because of five shoulder replacements but that is fine and it does not worry us.Iam sure everyone on this forum use the facilities that the CMCA provided
Dragonfly1

Good post Dragonfly1. For those reasons $44 is well worth it. biggrin

Aussie Paul. smile

D and D · Guru

Its amazing how many insurance companies aren't interested in talking after they're told that the van is our home, full time. Ken Tame is one of the few that will offer insurance on that basis and of those companies that do, Ken Tame gave the cheapest quote I could find and that saving alone is worth the membership fee. Add to that that the CMCA is possible the most vocal group for advocating for traveling people whether they do so on a full time or part time basis. Dump points, RV Friendly Towns, Members Stop Over Areas ... I've used them all at one time or another which add to the value of the membership even if it is only an associate membership because I have a caravan and not a motor home. I've got a 10 year membership that reduces the costs down from the $44 and I reckon its well worth it.

Dave

Dunmowin · Guru

dragonfly1 wrote:
Hi there everyone
We are members of the CMCA but we don't go to rallies etc but I think a lot of you are missing the important things that the club does. Some examples are rv freindly towns for you to stay safely in.Dump points and water available all over the country.They represent not only their members but all campers at government level in the fight with caravan parks so as we can retain our free camps and rest areas. Surely this alone has to be worth the $44 a year fee and the more people that join the greater pulling power the club would have.If you find people clicky just don't talk to them and I find now that I have a motorhome some with caravans won't talk but they would not know we had seven caravans and was forced to buy a motorhome because of five shoulder replacements but that is fine and it does not worry us.Iam sure everyone on this forum use the facilities that the CMCA provided
Dragonfly1

Its a bit like the Camps Aust Wide vs Wiki camps debate. $60.00 vs $8.00. Who had done all the hard work? I go with the one who has!

(not a CMCA member but appreciate the work they have put I for freedom campers)

Phil C · Guru

We were in CMCA for 12 months and didn't gain a thing, obviously we are out now but it was not a good investment. For some it may be great but we found it not so.

Cheers

Bugsy · Veteran Member

I must admit I am always surprised when threads like this start and everybody has to tell us what is wrong with a club that they are not a member of or reckon they get nothing out of the club. Do you fell the need to tell us why you aren't a member of the local bowls club or the golf club, football club or even caravan club. I guess most of you aren't members of them either and probably get little benefit from them either.

I have been a member of many different clubs over the years and always feel you get out of club what you are prepared to put into the club. I am a member of the CMCA and it has been my experience that a lot of people want the benefits of the club and there are many that are freely available to the public, like dump point and RV friendly towns just to name two but don't want to contribute in any way. The club over the years has spent millions of the members funds on these types of projects and government lobbying but always seems to cop a fair bit of criticism and quite frankly much of it unjustified. Just look at this thread to see many inaccurate statement " Ken Tame won't insure caravans" as one example. Grossly inaccurate. The new club management is finally listening to the members and spending our money on MEMBER benefits such as MSOs (Member Stop Overs) and club owned low cost camp sites for the exclusive use of our members. Will they also be criticized for that as well. The club has led the way with self containment initiatives and also cops flack for that but the alternative is government enforced self containment which will come in time whether you like it or not.

Quite frankly I personally don't care if you are a member of the CMCA or not or whether you attend rallies or not (which is a tiny part of the overall scene) but lets not bag an organisation which largely has been very success in protecting our way of life as RV travellers.

As for being a good investment I'll bet most of us waste more that the .85c per week it costs to be a members on fags, booze, icecream, etc and get little value out of that either.

-- Edited by Bugsy on Sunday 19th of April 2015 08:12:59 PM

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

On ya Bugsy :)
Margaret and I have been members since 2003, from memory.
The CMCA is the biggest RV club in Australia by a very big margin. There are likely to be 100 different reasons put forward for that.
Can anyone name the second biggest RV club in Australia?

Cheers,
Peter

Westcoast · Member

Bugsy wrote:
I must admit I am always surprised when threads like this start and everybody has to tell us what is wrong with a club that they are not a member of or reckon they get nothing out of the club. Do you fell the need to tell us why you aren't a member of the local bowls club or the golf club, football club or even caravan club. I guess most of you aren't members of them either and probably get little benefit from them either.

I have been a member of many different clubs over the years and always feel you get out of club what you are prepared to put into the club. I am a member of the CMCA and it has been my experience that a lot of people want the benefits of the club and there are many that are freely available to the public, like dump point and RV friendly towns just to name two but don't want to contribute in any way. The club over the years has spent millions of the members funds on these types of projects and government lobbying but always seems to cop a fair bit of criticism and quite frankly much of it unjustified. Just look at this thread to see many inaccurate statement " Ken Tame won't insure caravans" as one example. Grossly inaccurate. The new club management is finally listening to the members and spending our money on MEMBER benefits such as MSOs (Member Stop Overs) and club owned low cost camp sites for the exclusive use of our members. Will they also be criticized for that as well. The club has led the way with self containment initiatives and also cops flack for that but the alternative is government enforced self containment which will come in time whether you like it or not.

Quite frankly I personally don't care if you are a member of the CMCA or not or whether you attend rallies or not (which is a tiny part of the overall scene) but lets not bag an organisation which largely has been very success in protecting our way of life as RV travellers.
As for being a good investment I'll bet most of us waste more that the .85c per week it costs to be a members on fags, booze, icecream, etc and get little value out of that either.

-- Edited by Bugsy on Sunday 19th of April 2015 08:12:59 PM

Could have quoted any of the supporters chose this one they do good work worth every penny to get a lobby group that gives a toss about free camping, they are talking about starting their own caravan parks up should be interesting. Worth it.