Max length of vehicles on Aire's

[biggirafe]

Hi
Whilst out on the weekend a chap I met in a new Kontiki asked if I had ever had trouble in France with the length of my 95 Kontiki (24 foot). I explained I had not been to France in it but that I was not aware of any length restrictions he says he had a conversation with someone who thought there were.

This conversation has worried me as we have bought the Kontiki with the express purpose of touring europe, are there any length restrictions on Aires in Europe?

 

[The Grand Wanderer]

Size is everything

Hi Biggirafe,
Size is everything to us wilderers as the bigger the better when using for prolonged periods comfort wise.
We have spent many months (seven in fact) in France Spain and Portugal and have never had a problem using aires or any other stopping places with our 24 footer.
Enjoy the dream.
Regards,
Wanderer

 

[Last of the Mohicans]

Hi
We have been over to france and germany in our Auto-Trail Mohican with a back box its 27ft and we havn,t had any trouble parking on any Aires or Stellplatz and that was this year

 

[biggirafe]

Thanks Guys
I figured this was the case, just needed a sense check. I hate having conversations like that. I knew in my heart he was wrong but it always leaves you wondering

Thanks again

 

[Channa]

I have never seen a length restriction on an aire.

The only problem with bigger vans towing trailers etc is if the aire is filling,sometimes difficult to find a space that a smaller van will squeeze into.

Channa

 

[maingate]

There is a new law on vehicle length. I read it on MHF if you want to trawl through their postings, it was fairly recent.

Don`t panic as it only affects large motorhomes towing large trailers apparently.

 

[ubuntu1]

length

It probably comes from the Caravan Club who say that you may have trouble if your van is over 6m in length because mos French vans are under 6m. I think the statement is very out of date and I have never had a problem.

 

[John H]

23 foot long van - regularly use French Aires and never had a problem - nor have we ever seen any indication of maximum length on any notice anywhere. Ignore the moans of the Caravan Club - they are a bunch of killjoys (about almost everything, including wildcamping).

 

[vindiboy]

Some Aires have a weight limit of 3.5 tonnes,or at least the approach roads do, my van is 27 ft and some Aires are a bit tight to get on particularly if they are road side as parking bays, but I have never had a real problem.

 

[Channa]

. Ignore the moans of the Caravan Club - they are a bunch of killjoys (about almost everything, including wildcamping).[/QUOT

I take it you wont be renewing a membership then ???!!!
Channa

 

[John H]

I take it you wont be renewing a membership then ???!!!
Channa

I'm nothing if not pragmatic - if I continue to get discounts on ferries and access to value CLs then I will continue to be a member of the CC. However, that still doesn't mean I approve of their negative attitude to wildcamping (and I would assume that the same would apply to most subscribers to a wildcamping website) nor of their extortionate campsite fees compared to nearby commercial sites in almost every case.

 

[maingate]

Hi JohnH,

I am a bit puzzled by your reference to CC sites being more expensive. I am a member of both big clubs and I get an age concession. I think it is from both but my cards are in the van in storage. I have found the opposite to you in practice.

Like you, I am no big fan of either clubs, especially the C & CC. Twice I have contacted them with a valid complaint and never been acknowledged so I only use them when it suits me.

 

[John H]

Hi JohnH,

I am a bit puzzled by your reference to CC sites being more expensive. I am a member of both big clubs and I get an age concession. I think it is from both but my cards are in the van in storage. I have found the opposite to you in practice.

Like you, I am no big fan of either clubs, especially the C & CC. Twice I have contacted them with a valid complaint and never been acknowledged so I only use them when it suits me.

C&CC gives an age concession; CC doesn't. But even so, if you nominate a site I will find you a nearby commercial one that is a lot cheaper. We have spent the last six weeks in Cornwall and have used three commercial sites at a cost of £5 per night, £8 per night and £7 per night - the only two CC sites in Cornwall that are currently open in November charge £14 and £18 per night and offer no greater facilities than any of the three we have used. Pick your county and I will do a similar analysis for you. I have many times challenged the so-called non-profit-making club about its pricing policy and of course have got nowhere. When I stop using CLs (not all of which are good value) and stop getting discounts on ferries (which we use extensively) then I will gladly drop out of the club.

 

[vwalan]

camping sites what are those? oh yes i may have seen them .you park that close you walk out through 4 vans bit like a boat marina. no barbiques or open fires. pay a months food for 1 night. you cant make a noise but they might have a club house making loads. seen pictures of them. no commercial looking campers , no m,bikes, book ahead . think i,ll leave them alone.

 

[Coolasluck]

camping sites what are those? oh yes i may have seen them .you park that close you walk out through 4 vans bit like a boat marina. no barbiques or open fires. pay a months food for 1 night. you cant make a noise but they might have a club house making loads. seen pictures of them. no commercial looking campers , no m,bikes, book ahead . think i,ll leave them alone.

Like your style

 

[vwalan]

as for aires in france have used loads .first with a t2 v w now with the artic ,also with a tear drop caravan .never been asked to move or been told not to be there. have also put up a small tent by the side of some .encouraged by the french when on m,bike camping in the summer. alot of sites dont acept m,bikes. so find an aire with a bit of grass ,ideal. even left the tent watched by french camper vans while going into town to party. seen loads french caravans on aires ,

 

[John H]

as for aires in france have used loads .first with a t2 v w now with the artic ,also with a tear drop caravan .never been asked to move or been told not to be there. have also put up a small tent by the side of some .encouraged by the french when on m,bike camping in the summer. alot of sites dont acept m,bikes. so find an aire with a bit of grass ,ideal. even left the tent watched by french camper vans while going into town to party. seen loads french caravans on aires ,

Have also seen tents and caravans on aires but also seen caravans turned off by the police - once in France and once in Spain. The Spanish incident (at Caceres) was slightly embarrassing because the caravan was local and we Brits in our motorhomes were using the free aire (complete with free electricity) on their taxes! I think that if caravans do get turned off it is probably because once the van is detached from the car it isn't insured to be on the road - and aires count as the highway. For the same reason, people shouldn't park unhitched caravans outside their homes (but many do).

 

[barryd]

camping sites what are those? oh yes i may have seen them .you park that close you walk out through 4 vans bit like a boat marina. no barbiques or open fires. pay a months food for 1 night. you cant make a noise but they might have a club house making loads. seen pictures of them. no commercial looking campers , no m,bikes, book ahead . think i,ll leave them alone.

Nice one Alan, totally agree. Had no issues in France or any other country for that matter with our Konitki this year. The Aires book often warns about certain Aires not suitable for vans over 6.5 metres. I think this could be aimed at the RV crowd as we still got in no problem.

 

[justpugs206]

Hi
Whilst out on the weekend a chap I met in a new Kontiki asked if I had ever had trouble in France with the length of my 95 Kontiki (24 foot). I explained I had not been to France in it but that I was not aware of any length restrictions he says he had a conversation with someone who thought there were.

This conversation has worried me as we have bought the Kontiki with the express purpose of touring europe, are there any length restrictions on Aires in Europe?

hi mate i have done france loads of times my van is the same size has yours never had a problem dont worry just do it and have some times see ya just pugs .

 

[maingate]

What may be confusing the issue here is that I believe new rules have taken effect in Europe about overall length of vehicles on the road. It might be just in one country. This will not affect any motorhomes I believe unless they are towing trailers. I have tried to find where I read this but must be having a senior moment and cannot.

Maybe somebody knows.