Do You Belong to a Caravan Club ?

Peter Rose · Veteran Member

Do You Belong to a Caravan Club ?

JayDee · Guru

No as we like to do our own thing etc.
Not keen of other s organising our travels. Just us I guess.
But there are heaps and heaps of members of Caravan Clubs.
Jay&Dee

Cupie · Guru

No .. But

We have often thought about joining a club but always pull back.

I am a solitary person very happy in my own company & with SWMBO.

Meetings and jumped up incompetent little petty committee officials piss me off.

As a career manager in very large organisations, meetings were an unavoidable part of daily business. We developed highly efficient meeting processes/procedures & I just can't stand the crap that goes on at many 'club' type organisations.

Having said that, my next door neighbour has long been a member of various Van Clubs & we are very envious of the great outings that they go on & the very good friends that they have developed through their involvement. They get you out of the 'burbs & using your van which is a plus for we part time nomads. Some even do good work in the community & further the interests of caravanners in general. So that's got to be good.

Perhaps it's about finding the club that is the right fit for you.

Now that our involvement with 'baby sitting' a couple of or Grand Children has finished after 10 years we will likely be reviewing our Club involvement. Maybe Probus or a Caravan Club might get a go.

gwb · Senior Member

Agree with Jaydee but some people are more outgoing than we are but in saying that clubs can be a great source of information.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

No. I chose not to join any CV clubs for the same reason as JayDee really. That said, I do sort of treat this GN Forum like a club though. I have met many great people and made life long friendships. Just make yourself known and it will happen. Some people I see on a regular basis, some I might come across somewhere else and some might not be ever again but we all chat on the forum. I can count on one hand the people I couldn't be bothered with again. I have even spent time camped with about 20 other GN members and had great times. Nope, I don't need to join a club.

From one very happy GN member.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Yes and no lol . Have been but only for insurance and info . Don't go to events etc ., I run out of subscription then catch up . I don't get the mail on the road . No majer priority!!

rainy1850 · Senior Member

Doug, we joined A.C.Club and have used it once in Mallacoota. There were two groups and they were all so friendly. We have not been to any musters since due to commitments. We are booked to go to Taree in July for a camel festival. We like to do our own thing and prefer free camping. It is good the happy hours finding out knowledge from others. We have worked all our lives, renovated, minded the grandkids so never found time to make friends socially. I now look forward to chatting with other camper like minded people. Chatted with you two years ago at Green lake and found you interesting.

Lorraine

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

To add to above . I use the dumping points . So I don't mind contributing and support their up keep . Some places where dump points are think they own them !! As soon as I mention I'm A member & contributed, no argument !!

Possum3 · Guru

We belong to various Safari Groups (Police Forensics, Lightning Ridge Police, Bourke Police) that allow non-police to basically tag along and learn about outback and off-road in safety. Highly recommend to the novice campers - although not suitable for caravans, off-road camper trailers, tents, swags, rooftop camping pod, etc welcome.
Many of our friends join caravan and motor home groups but they tend to be a little exclusive to certain types of RV's (and people for that matter). Nowdays we tend to travel with friends that have similar interests to us, most of whom we've met out on the road.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

rainy1850 wrote:
Doug, we joined A.C.Club and have used it once in Mallacoota. There were two groups and they were all so friendly. We have not been to any musters since due to commitments. We are booked to go to Taree in July for a camel festival. We like to do our own thing and prefer free camping. It is good the happy hours finding out knowledge from others. We have worked all our lives, renovated, minded the grandkids so never found time to make friends socially. I now look forward to chatting with other camper like minded people. Chatted with you two years ago at Green lake and found you interesting.
Lorraine

Yep, sure did. Hope you and phil are well.

Mmmm, "Interesting" I hope it was a good interesting Lorraine?

See what I mean Peter R. :)

-- Edited by Dougwe on Thursday 18th of May 2017 12:18:08 PM

Desert Dweller · Guru

We couldn't think of anything more boring than sitting around chin wagging with a load of other wrinklies. We've seen quite a few of their gatherings & it's not for these two little black ducks. We're independent thinking individuals not ''sheeple''.

At every caravan club meet up that we've seen there's always one particularly bossy person that tries to dominate everyone else & run proceedings.

Dunmowin · Guru

Like many here, we are permanently on the road, so no need for a club to organize our events. If we want to be social, we will be. If we don't, we wont. That is why we seek out bush camps, and travel out of season (in the opposite direction to most)

Not that we don't like other travellers, we have learnt a lot by meeting with them, just don't want to be organised.

jrg · Senior Member

Peter and Rose yes I am a member of a club and you have not acutally heard a negative from any of the replys all you have got is their opinions and personal preferences which is fine.
I live in the Mid West of WA and we have 8 treks per year with only 2 in caravan parks the rest are on private farms or stations within a 250k radius .The Treks are officialy friday and Saturday home Sunday but as our group has mostly retired it is stretching to Thursday and even Wednesday with some extending into next week.The club is limited to 50 van membership and we are full and average 30 van per trek . We have the manitory happy hour run by the president on each night usually kept to 15 minutes max an informative tag a long of about 2 hrs Saturday Mornings taking in local sights along with a few fun events thrown in .
Advantages
1. Discount insurance being affiliated with ACC
2. Makes you use your van every 6 weeks instead of locking it in storage for 6 months between trips
3. Making of new and long term friends
4. Teaches you tolerance because you are not going to agree or like all of the 100 members you either avoid or tolerate as they are fellow members
5 Cheap weekend most of our treks are $10 per night per van
Disadvantages
1. As seen by the above not for everyone
2. Clubs being to regimented
3. Clubs which use C/Parks only can get expensive

If you are thinking of joining a club contact your state caravan body all states have one and find out the closest on to you and go and check them out

Ron-D · Guru

No clubs for us to regimented ,it suits a lot of people but for us we don't like to be ruled over by petty officials,which can happen sometimes with the clubby scene, you meet a lot of nice people on the road ,we don't need organised events suits some people each to there own eh....

elliemike · Guru

We belong to the Avan Club WA (Folding Campers only) Ellie and I are bush campers, and mostly travel by ourselves, most of our Western Australian Avan Club members do the same in one way or another.

But we do have meet up's every few months. Always very informal and relaxed group of friends. RULES ! Other than, Dogs are not permitted at things like Happy Hour, or gatherings like that. Dogs are welcome if they are allowed in the Camp Park. Cant think of any regimentation in our group.

Most travel independantly, unless they organise to travel together. The Single Ladies (one or two team up for long trips)

We also meet up for lunches in various locations around Perth or the hinterland. Those who can make it roll up for lively lunches, chat, and a drink.

Also we do ocasionally have working Bee's at a members property, where we do simple maintenance jobs for other members, check out the vans for faults for those who have no skills that way. Usually rolls into a BBQ and camping the night. Good Fun.

Great group of people and more importantly all Good Friends.

Three of us just organising a Golden Outback trip to the Goldfields North of Kalgoorlie. History Buffs and Geologist types. Probably be about 6 + vans will do that. We do not travel in convoy, bunched up. We tend to travel, stop, and start, at our individual pace. Meeting at the next camp later in the day.

-- Edited by elliemike on Thursday 18th of May 2017 07:25:01 PM

The Belmont Bear · Guru

Firstly I have to say we are not van club members and the main reason is that we see them as being similar to organised tours. Whenever we have travelled either at home or abroad we have always done so independently as we prefer having a flexible agenda and not being locked into any set intineries. Obviously there would be some advantages of being in a club such as the cost savings by buying in bulk and even the comraderie that you would get by people travelling and sharing similar interests together. I think I would still prefer meeting people that I don't know as in IMHO it makes happy hour a far more interesting and rewarding experience.

cheers BB

-- Edited by The Belmont Bear on Thursday 18th of May 2017 07:32:46 PM

Warren-Pat_01 · Guru

It all depends on your way of life & what you're looking for - some like to be alone, some like the social atmosphere that a club encourages.
We have friends who are in the ACC & they enjoy it. Pat & I are in BirdLife Townsville (assoc with BirdLife Australia) - we enjoy looking for & looking at birds - trying to find the odd "lifer" ie, one we haven't seen before.
Anyone looking in from the outside might think we are a 4WD club or in the past a "tenting club", graduating to a "Jayco Camper-trailer club" as there were two Eagles, three Penguins + a mixture of some others & the odd caravan; now most of us have graduated to off-road or Outback caravans of various sizes. Like the caravan clubs we share a common interest, only ours is birds (the feathered species) & generally enjoy each others' company, happy hours, travelling to places known to have certain species of birds, etc.

We might drive 5-600Kms in a day if heading for the remote areas of SW or Far North Qld or it might be a shorter trip of say 230Kms. Some of us are off to Bladensburg NP next week for a few days with two stops on the way out, one or two on the way home. When we are on day outings we travel in convoy but generally going to remote spots we might travel independently & meet up at or near the camp spot.
And it will be nice to come home again (for a rest)!

Cheers,
Warren

rainy1850 · Senior Member

It was a positive interesting conversation and recently about tyres on your colarado.

hako · Guru

We're in the Avan club of Australia only for technical tips/info - never been to a meet as like most people above we're not club people.

Regards

RosieW · Guru

CMCA for insurance purposes. We've been at a few showgrounds when van clubs have been in. One was - some brand beginning with K - they were a lot of fun. The other lot were a Winnebago group, and they were pains in the proverbial. Or rather, the organisers were..

As full-timers, we don't need a club to encourage us to use the bus. Although, after 18 months caretaking in houses, we may need encouragement to go back to roughing it.......

Chris61 · Senior Member

I am a president of a small CMCA chapter in Tasmania, only been going for 18 months. Go along and have a weekend away with a group, you may just enjoy yourself. You may have to try a few to find a group that suits. We never had friends with an RV when we first bought our van, joined a club and met a few like minded people and after 6 years still camp with friends that we met through this club. We even started our own chapter in the CMCA as they cover our insurances when we have a meet. When we head to Queensland we usually find a chapter to join for a weekend, just something different to do.

Desert Dweller · Guru

The last club we were involved with was brownies & cubs back before we hadn't grown pubic hair. We don't require further supervision, we know how to light a campfire.

Some folk feel the need to get involved in organized activities, not us thank you very much. Each to their own though.

Phillipn · Guru

Desert Dweller wrote:
The last club were involved with was brownies & cubs back before we hadn't grown pubic hair. We don't require further supervision, we know how to light a campfire.

Some folk feel the need to get involved in organized activities, not us thank you very much. Each to their own though.

Just be careful when you light a camp fire , don`t singe your pubic hair.

PeterD · Guru

I have been a club member for 25 years. Firstly with Canberra CC and now with Tuggerah Lakes Caravanners. I have also visited many others. Firstly lets get rid of the typical comment "I don't like being organised" or 'I don't like being told what to do." Clubs are something that you join so you can participate in their events, they are not there to organise you. People with that attitude should stay away, if they need organising they generally become a pain in the A.

There are a few clubs that are highly organised and everyone acts together for each event. These are generally the smaller clubs that have developed into a close knit group of friends. The majority are clubs where the members are a loose knit group and no one gets upset if you go your own way during rallies and do not participate in individual events.These are the clubs I have had a long association with. I have enjoyed their activities and have organised events for both clubs.

Another criticism that is bandied around is something like "they won't let you join until you have attended 2 or 3 rallies and 2 or three meetings." My opinion is this is great. It works both ways, it lets the club members see if you can fit in and more importantly it lets you see if the club is your type of club before you part with your money and join up. It gives you a limited free membership whilst you are making up your mind.

Club membership is for those who wish to share a bit of time with people like yourself. It allows you join in with some activities but does not limit you to do some or a lot of travelling outside club trips and rallies. It is great for those who are getting into vanning. For workers it encourages them to use their vans more. If you like travelling with a small group it puts you in contact with like minded travellers and you can organise informal trips outside the club.

Cupie has given a good balanced view of both sides. If you are thinking of looking at clubs then here is a listing of the MACC member clubs in each state. Give their contacts a call and even do a couple of outings with them to see if you fit in ok with their way of life and wish to join up.

Qld Clubs - NSW Clubs - Vic/Tas Clubs - SA Clubs - WA Clubs.

And the bottom line is - clubs are not for the antisocial and for those who don't want to fit in.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Correct . Seems there's people with chip on their shoulder too . Missed out on some opportunities and it's everyone else's fault!! I have been criticised for having a motorhome . Imo each to their own . Why pidgeon hole people ? . I hear the battle between vans and motor homes . It gets sickening ! Like get a life !! Some are just very anti social ..

The Belmont Bear · Guru

The OP asked if people had joined caravan clubs and their reasons why ? In my reply I said that we had never joined a club as we had always preferred to be independent travellers whether it be at home or abroad. Just to be clear no way was that meant to be a criticism of either caravan clubs or those people who chose to be members of one it was merely expressing our own personal preference. We don't consider ourselves to be anti social in fact when on the road we enjoy meeting and spending time with fellow travellers - just not in an organised way.

Cheers BB

Peter Rose · Veteran Member

Lots of Interesting responses even if most are not what I asked in my OP "LOL"
However Thank You everyone for interesting and informative opinions.

Tony Bev · Guru

I personally have never joined any caravan clubs

But....

I do have friends and acquaintances, who have joined caravan clubs

They enjoy the experience of meeting (at caravan parks, or gatherings in certain places), like minded people, so I say good on them for enjoying themselves

I suppose that I use this forum, as a type of caravan club, as I certainly like meeting other members

iana · Guru

I'm a member of the ATCMCC, rallies are organized, the company is mixed, but we get to meet other people. there is also on offer a cheaper rate for insurance for the tug and caravan.

Chris61 · Senior Member

Aus-Kiwi wrote:
Correct . Seems there's people with chip on their shoulder too . Missed out on some opportunities and it's everyone else's fault!! I have been criticised for having a motorhome . Imo each to their own . Why pidgeon hole people ? . I hear the battle between vans and motor homes . It gets sickening ! Like get a life !! Some are just very anti social ..

I like your comment"I hear the battle between vans and motor homes". You should see the reaction sometimes when you rock up with a 5th wheeler. They like to use you as the windbreak out the back, but mostly it is all good hearted ribbing