Parking L2 Ducato/Boxer/Relay

dilby

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Hi all -

First post here, thanks for having me! I'm in the initial stages of planning a camper conversion after selling my old campervan and severely missing it! I'm leaning towards an Ducato/Boxer/Relay in L2H2 size as I like a fixed roof and it doesn't seem widely available in L1. So I'm wondering if any owns or has experienced driving an L2 or something of a similar size (5413mm) and how they fare with manoeuvring & parking. As the average uk car space is meant to be 4.8m and apparently you can get fined for being over, do people find it an annoying size and end up having to avoid some car parks or even been fined? Would be great to hear some thoughts & experiences from kind folks - thanks so much!
 
Our camper is wider BUT.
Of you can fit in 2 bays lenghtwise
Just do so and buy 2 tickets.
Put them on a small clipboard on the dashboard with a simple note..
"2 spaces so 2 tickets"
Take a time stamped photo of the note and also showing how you are parked.
I do appreciate some councils are OTT on this. But if fined challenge it, and if needed go to court.
I checked this in one carpark and the warden was quite happy.
Problem is finding the 2 spaces.
Sometimes an overhang on grass will be good.
We being coachbuilt sometimes need 4 spaces but often in a retail park which is free parking...SO YOU CAN STOP AND SHOP.
 
Hi, welcome along. My bus is 7.7m long, so parking is sometimes an issue, but I find I can usually manage OK. If my O/H is with me, I usually just sit in the bus & send her into the shop.....🐻👍😉
 
dilby said:
Hi all -

First post here, thanks for having me! I'm in the initial stages of planning a camper conversion after selling my old campervan and severely missing it! I'm leaning towards an Ducato/Boxer/Relay in L2H2 size as I like a fixed roof and it doesn't seem widely available in L1. So I'm wondering if any owns or has experienced driving an L2 or something of a similar size (5413mm) and how they fare with manoeuvring & parking. As the average uk car space is meant to be 4.8m and apparently you can get fined for being over, do people find it an annoying size and end up having to avoid some car parks or even been fined? Would be great to hear some thoughts & experiences from kind folks - thanks so much!
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My ducato pvc is 5.99 . My wheels fit into all parking spaces I've come across .
I find the ducato pretty manoeuvrable . Especially now my reversing camera is fixed
 
I have a h2 L2 I can get into normal car park spaces some can be tight some not it about looking for a slightly bigger space I have no probs at supermarkets I have reverse sensors and I have also fitted a brake light reverse camera which makes things a bit easier but all in all we downsized from a tag axle and we love the van and get far more use than we did with the tag
 
We also have an L2H2 relay van. Never have a problem parking as we find that the wheels fit (just) in most parking bays. The reversing sensors are handy for the spaces which are tight....a camera was on our list, it seems okay without it so far.
Welcome to the forum! 👋👋
 
My Adria is a Ducato base, high top and about 5.5 metres. It goes in most car parking spaces although it can overhang slightly - best to park where there is a bit of grass at the back or front if possible. Providing there is no height barrier, I have never had a problem parking in car parks. I tend to go in and out through the side sliding door rather than the driver's door if there is a car parked in the next space, saves any risk of the door being damaged.
 
I built an L4 H2 and never had any issues in parking in car parks, the over line fines are for the idiots who cannot park straight in a spot and park over the side lines, most do not have lines at the ends of the bay because there is no standard car length.

I always park where I can easily get out, usually at the edge of a car park and have a straight run out rather than having to turn left or right, and be careful of not blocking footpaths as that could incur a fine for obstruction, I have been unsure in some rural places but there is usually a sign with a phone number, so I ring to ask and give my reg number, I also have a voice recording app (ACR) on my phone to PROVE that I got permission just in case they decide to ticket me, that has got me out of trouble twice.
 
My Ducato is L4H3 (i think) and although my wheels do fit width wise in a standard UK bay I'm acutely aware that there isn't much leeway for errors on behalf of other drivers not parking in the centre of their bay. I have returned to my van before and found I've had to use the sliding door to gain entry as I've been squeezed on either side with no room to open doors. Also remember to fold your mirrors in.
Lengthwise, I'm afraid it's 2 bays back to back and as jagmanx says above, 2 bays equals 2 tickets.. it's common sense and common courtesy but finding a car park that's not going to leave me squeezed with the danger of having doors banged against my precious van, lack of availability in empty double spaces back to back or sometimes even locating carparks without height restrictions means in general, I shy away from public carparks unless I really have to. Supermarkets and retail parks (in my mind) are usually better for parking but fall down on time restraints (in the UK) and are not always in a location that suits being a tourist. Again common courtesy suggests you buy something - however small - to show gratitude for the fee parking.
Despite everything said above probably not alleviating your concerns.. you'll be fine and I've never yet failed to find somewhere to park.. Enjoy your travels.
 
I got away with a double yellow ticket in my courier van once, I took a picture of where I was parked when I saw the ticket, then moved the van to show there was no yellow line there to be in contravention of the rules, another gray area, also if a yellow box is indistinct it doesn't count as one, there can also be unlawful yellow boxes.
 
I try to find a space at the edge of the car park where there's some overhang space
 
Our campervan is 5.4m long - we think its a good compromise between space and ability to park, especially as its quite narrow which also greatly helps on narrow single track roads. It will usually fit in normal parking bays.
 
davef said:
Our campervan is 5.4m long - we think its a good compromise between space and ability to park, especially as its quite narrow which also greatly helps on narrow single track roads. It will usually fit in normal parking bays.
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Thanks for the reply - what base vehicle is it?
 
dilby said:
Thanks for the reply - what base vehicle is it?
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Its a 1991 twin wheel long wheel base Transit with high roof. Started life as a military ambulance though with normal panel van body with fibreglass roof and minus side door, not as wide as modern Transits. Probably not too many about....
 
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