Aires with a toad

[GAVLAD]

Do you know your itinerary and roughly where you think you’ll be staying?
If so, I would use Google street maps like someone has mentioned above to help plan.
Do you have an All the Aires guide book?
There’s usually a description in there to indicate whether the Aire can accommodate large Motorhomes.
If so, you’ll probably have no issues with towing your toad and parking.
We have a large Motorhome and we have not had any issues with access or parking at the Aires listed with a large Motorhome symbol.
We have struggled with some Aires which don’t have that symbol (in the All the Aires books) - mostly, getting into the Aire due to a chicane type access or barrier.
As for raising eyebrows, our experience is that our French cousins can take the pi$$ when it comes to aire etiquette. We’ve had Motorhomes taking two spaces, parked longways, tables, chairs and windbreaks our, washing machines and carpets out drying. You name it. So I wouldn’t worry too much about your car being attached to your van.
We’ve also been blocked in due to no space being left but they tend to move before we have needed to move.
I think most of the time, if you are as considerate as you can be and meet the raised eyebrows calmly with a smile, you’ll be fine.

 

[138go]

I once had a boyfriend who was a French teacher. He always took a coach load of kids to France every year and on their way to their accommodation he took them past the factory that makes wheelchairs for frogs. It was his little joke to get him through the trials and tribulations of a school trip.

 

[Taran_Las]

Legless frogs Phil ? Have you slipped across the border for a quick one yet
Cheers
Ed

No Ed I haven't. As you well know, I'm a law abiding goody two shoes who will only leave my property when the Senedd tells me I can

ps - when I see you next, I'll give you the truthful answer​

 

[Lenny HB]

As you well know, I'm a law abiding goody two shoes

Must have had a live changing event.

 

[Christoph]

Thanks Gavlad...that’s a bit more encouraging. Looking at the tunnel then aiming for La Rochelle as a start after a couple of stops on the way then take it as it comes form there. All subject to the obvious of course!

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[jazzijeff]

We have a toad and have no problem getting on aires. If it’s a barrier we drop the car outside as you can’t get in and out with just the car. Never had a problem in France and unhook and drive in Spain. Don’t let people put you off it’s great to have and we use it all the time. You can also carry more stuff to use when parked for longer.

 

[Shrimp]

We never take the toad to France, no need really as moving every couple of days you can get shopping on route!
You will find some Aires have a car park nearby so car can be parked in there.
We use a cable to lock the A frame to the undersides of the van when necessary!

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We have a toad and have no problem getting on aires. If it’s a barrier we drop the car outside as you can’t get in and out with just the car. Never had a problem in France and unhook and drive in Spain. Don’t let people put you off it’s great to have and we use it all the time. You can also carry more stuff to use when parked for longer.

We have seen a convoy of French vans going through an automatic barrier, 3 vans, to save paying, we assumed. They were very close together and drove out very slowly.

 

[jazzijeff]

Getting in and out through the barrier with the toad on board is no problem it’s just you can’t then get back out with the car and leave the camper if you want to go off for the day. That’s our experience anyway. So if we want to use the car we park it out side

 

[eddie]

It won’t be an issue as French plod will have fined you and made you unhitch long before you get to the Aire so it won’t be a TOAD anyway

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[jazzijeff]

Never happened and I’ve never meet anyone it’s happened to although I’ve meet a lot of people who know someone it’s happened to. Much like the gassing I suspected.

 

[Rds559]

Aires are not much bigger than 8 meters and if you put car in the next bay the French will drag it out, don’t tow use your van.

 

[jazzijeff]

Last comment on the subject if you don’t mind. My rv is 10 metres and sure there are some I would struggle with but all the really good ones for us are no problem and if you spend a little bit of time there are thousands and I mean thousands you can get on and feel comfortable. Also I find the French very understanding and it’s mostly the brits who tutt and raise an eyebrow. Most French/Spanish people’s instinct would be to guide you in. Just from my experience over the years anyway

 

[Speve]

Aires are not much bigger than 8 meters and if you put car in the next bay the French will drag it out, don’t tow use your van.

That’s not true we are 12m overall and there are lots of aires that can take us without the need to take two spaces

 

[LesW]

Never happened and I’ve never meet anyone it’s happened to although I’ve meet a lot of people who know someone it’s happened to. Much like the gassing I suspected.

Well I've met someone it happened to, taking their car to their second home in France.

They now drive both vehicles down.

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[flatpackchicken]

I take my car on trailer only because don’t want aggravation in Spain etc. Never had a problem parking in Aires with it but normally pick my Aires where there’s plenty of room or car park attached or nearby. Never had any trouble in 10 years all over Europe. Just if possible google aire for size and entrance etc. you can normally always park your car close by aire if to tight or very busy. I have an
13m outfit and never had a problem yet In 10 years as always use the 6 Ps = ( Perfect planning prevents piss poor performance )
Always try and arrive early or by about 2pm as after this they all start arriving !!!!!
Have a great time

 

[jazzijeff]

Perfect planning prevents piss poor performance the power of positive thoughts. Good on you

 

[eddie]

A friend of mine owns a campsite in France, about half way down and he has told us that "Peeple wif triangles" have to leave the car on the site when they go home, as only one will drive and train it back to collect the car

As for size?

I am not too sure that there is a "limit"

And if you tow, use bigger Aires

 

[Attila the Hen]

TBH, aires are great, but we’ve found village municipal campsites are cheap, (€10pn) usually basic but spotless showers etc And often less restricted. Again, we have a whizz - bang (pvc) so luckily we don’t have any size problems

 

[Minxy]

Never happened and I’ve never meet anyone it’s happened to although I’ve meet a lot of people who know someone it’s happened to. Much like the gassing I suspected.

There are members of this forum who have been fined for using an A-frame.

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[jazzijeff]

I’m sure there are I’ve just not meet any and I’ve never seen a slip to say what law there breaking so if anyone has been fined for towing a car on an a frame I. France can you please post the receipt for the fine so we can see which law you e broken. Please I’m genuinely interested as I tow.

 

[eddie]

I don't think that the French and Spanish have a law banning A Frames, why would they when it is in real terms a handful of people that use them.

There are definite laws that ban one car being towed by another car, which is what people fall foul of.

I have towed extensively in Europe, big boats behind big RV's and I have a Car A Tow A frame which is fitted to a Terios ordered specifically for the job, as it is a big seller as a TOAD in the States and has a section in the handbook about what to do when the car is on a A frame

It has been to France and Spain, but I wouldn't bother to take it again as I know of too many people having hassle.

It will be going to Scotland later in the year so long as Mrs Sturgeon hasn't started building the wall

Truthfully if I wanted to take a car to France I would buy a trailer and be done with it, luckily we rarely bother with is as we love using our bikes and a bike trailer for the dog and shopping trips!

 

[Theonlysue]

check on Google earth.
Some aires are massive, and will take any size unit.
Some youll struggle with if youteover 8m

 

[Speve]

TBH, aires are great, but we’ve found village municipal campsites are cheap, (€10pn) usually basic but spotless showers etc And often less restricted. Again, we have a whizz - bang (pvc) so luckily we don’t have any size problems

Yes we’ve used them and they are really good value and in some nice places as well only problem is they are not open during winter months or we would certainly use them.

 

[Rds559]

That’s not true we are 12m overall and there are lots of aires that can take us without the need to take two spaces

That’s not true we are 12m overall and there are lots of aires that can take us without the need to take two spaces

Yes but if they are long ways big vans take up 2 spaces

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[Rds559]

Why tow a car.

 

[Speve]

Yes but if they are long ways big vans take up 2 spaces

??? Don’t quite understand what you mean by longways if I can’t park in one bay I would not use the aire.

 

[Speve]

Why tow a car.

Read my post #21

 

[peterc10]

We have seen a convoy of French vans going through an automatic barrier, 3 vans, to save paying, we assumed. They were very close together and drove out very slowly.

Typical bloody French.

This post is made on behalf on my client Chris and he has confirmed to me the veracity of this statement.

 

[Ninjabob]

Why tow a car.

Why not?

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