Caravans are moving in!

[nicholsong]

I don’t think that setting up a caravan is much more involved than setting up a Motorhome, particularly if you don’t get the awning out. Also, levelling a camper can be much more involved than levelling a caravan.
And, just because you are in a caravan doesn’t mean you have to unhitch and stick around for two or three days! A bit of typecasting I think

We put handbrake on, gas on, she uncorks the wine while I get the chairs out - 4 mins.

On many Aires, if caravans do not unhitch, the tow vehicle would be an obstruction. Then it is jockey-wheel down and steadies. Also they take another bay for the tow vehicle.

We do not use any levelling.

My comment about caravans staying longer was based on many users saying why they prefer a caravan, so that they can use the car for a few days while the caravan is static. Aires are not designed for this purpose.

Geoff

 

[Zepp]

It’s in the name camping car aires and don’t forget a lot of aires only have a licence for motorhomes we are on a Spanish aire now and they have turned away 2 caravans today because they are not a campsite and they can only take motorhomes
Also a 5th wheeler is not a motorhome no matter how you dress it up it’s a trailer/ caravan and we have been on Spanish aires when the local police have come around and told people to remove cars and trailers from motorhome bays

Not naming or blaming anyone but must of the 5th wheelers I’ve seen have the corners damaged also I never want a caravan trying to reverse near me you don’t get movers on a motorhome

 

[bobandjanie]

Some cant even park properly. Bob.

 

[Wildbill]

I don’t think that setting up a caravan is much more involved than setting up a Motorhome, particularly if you don’t get the awning out. Also, levelling a camper can be much more involved than levelling a caravan.
And, just because you are in a caravan doesn’t mean you have to unhitch and stick around for two or three days! A bit of typecasting I think

do people actually levile their van that must be such a palaver
bill

 

[pandas]

Seen a lot of “supposed to’s” on here today. “Supposed to this, or supposed to that” and equally, not supposed to’s.
One of the reasons we’ve avoided Aires, is that as I understood it, an Aire was “supposed to be just an overnight stop”, and, as understood it, most people ignored that.
Was my understanding wrong, does everyone do what they’re supposed to?
Ten years ago, an Aire was free, very basic and not the sort of place you’d park a car and caravan. Now they make a charge, and offer a more civilised overnight stop and are less crowded, maybe they need to appeal to “tuggers”.
The opportunity to use a van and a caravan in the same way appeals. If caravans start to carry fresh water and grey water it also challenges the basic difference that many “banners”seem to identify with.
Aren’t we all just “travellers”?

No we are not all 'travellers'!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Loveshack]

We do not use any levelling.......
Geoff

When we first bought our van, 10 years ago, a lot of the discussion, on that other forum and in magazines, used to be concerned with security while “wildcamping”, which includes using aires, people used to advise newbies to:
1). Avoid putting your van on levelling ramps, and
2). Use internal windscreen insulation.

The reasons being, so that you could make a rapid escape in the middle of the night, when necessary. I suppose one wouldn’t mind not being permitted to sit outside in your chairs, or leave your table and chars outside on that basis.
Even just passing through and staying for one night still doesn’t appeal.
I don’t think many tuggers will invade aires, for these reasons and a perceived lack of security alone.

 

[gwyntaxi]

I knock hard on our window to draw his attention and glared at him, but I don't think I'm very good at glaring in French and I don't think he gave a toss either, ........ typical tugger then.

The French motorhomers don't seem to bothered about arriving after 10pm either.

Nor leaving at 6.30 am to avoid paying.