If Aires don’t allow camping behaviour…

[Heebson]

Hi folks.
We’re a year into motorhoming and have used a mix of sites and off-grid - both aire types and park-ups. All within the UK.

We’re planning to go abroad this year - France in May and Netherlands in August - so I’ve been devouring lots of threads & blogs to get prepped - but one thing kinda puzzles me.

It’s made clear that when staying on Aires that ‘camping behaviour’ is banned - usually described as winding out the awning, getting chairs out or bbq-ing. Fair enough - but what do folks actually do? I’m thinking here that hopefully the weather’s nice, so ok, we cook in the van, but we really would like to sit outside to eat - even with a plate in the lap - or even just have a drink at the end of the day. Being confined to the van doesn’t sound that nice.

So just wondered what the practical reality is. How do people cope or work around it (Not meaning ‘just do it anyway’)?

I know the easy answer is ‘use sites’, but the unplanned nature of leveraging Aires really appeals. Hope this makes sense.

Thnx,
Heeb

 

[Minxy]

The legal width of a vehicle anywhere does not include the mirrors.They have to fold up so as to be within the maximum width of the widest part of the bodywork when folded. This is why you see many vehicles with what appear to be peculiar ways, shapes & angles to the fold up position. In spain the width & length measurements are on your documents.

I've never had any MH or PVC when the mirrors, when folded, were at the same width as the rest of the vehicle, they have always been wider, even with our 2.30m Chausson the mirrors were wider when folded. The exception nowadays would be for the much chubbier MHs which are 2.35m wide as they may be level on them.

 

[Grianan]

My step protrudes less than an open door. So less invasive if only out when actually using. I’m also more likely to fall using front cab door so always enter/exit using step.

 

[pjay]

My side windows are ok to open then ....


Pete

 

[pjay]

On some aires there's barely sufficient room to open the hab door, never mind putting the awning out.

Not when you've got a whoosh bang.

Pete

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[stuartholmes]

Not when you've got a whoosh bang.

Pete

Excuse my ignorance.. it's not of great importance but what, in this context, is a whoosh bang?

 

[Littlewheels]

Excuse my ignorance.. it's not of great importance but what, in this context, is a whoosh bang?

PVC

 

[the1andonly]

PolyvinylChloride?
TLA's

 

[Grianan]

Panel Can Conversion with large sliding side door.

 

[stuartholmes]

Panel Can Conversion with large sliding side door.

Ah thanks. I can see I should have been able to guess that. But at my age....
Cheers.

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[jumar]

Ours even when folded stick out 4-5"

Better give Spain a miss then...the Law enforcement squads will be on the look out, PL registration is it? ,,,

 

[Peregrinator]

Sure .

But here's the thing , would you like them standing on fish hooks? Dirty nappies ? , shit stained wet wipes? , used condoms ? Beer bottle lids? Broken glass ? Sharp cans etc


All things I see on beaches every day .


I pick up my dog poo


As I said dogs don't ruin beaches. People do that

I must remember to not go to beaches you visit.

 

[Northernraider]

I must remember to not go to beaches you visit.

I suggest then you never go to a beach anywhere. Or when you do open your eyes.

Because I've yet to visit a country that doesn't have all that on the beaches. Some more than others.

Dog shit is the absolute least of your worries

And the least likely to find . Human waste is far far more likely

 

[gus-lopez]

Ours even when folded stick out 4-5"

Sad as it is I cannot help looking along the sides of parked vehicles when mirrors are folded to ensure that they are inside the most external part of the vehicle bodywork.If they are not the vehicle is illegal .

I've never had any MH or PVC when the mirrors, when folded, were at the same width as the rest of the vehicle, they have always been wider,

no you just think they are. crouch down when they are folded .take a perpendicular line from the extremity of a wheel arch, you'll find that the mirrors are level at worst with them.If they aren't the vehicle cannot legally be on the road if the extend farther than bodywork when folded.
I only know of one current model SEAT that is borderline for whether the mirrors are illegal.& they have modded them once already.

My side windows are ok to open then ....


Pete

View attachment 717468 View attachment 717469

Yes, sliding no problems.

 

[Northernraider]

Sad as it is I cannot help looking along the sides of parked vehicles when mirrors are folded to ensure that they are inside the most external part of the vehicle bodywork.If they are not the vehicle is illegal .


no you just think they are. crouch down when they are folded .take a perpendicular line from the extremity of a wheel arch, you'll find that the mirrors are level at worst with them.If they aren't the vehicle cannot legally be on the road if the extend farther than bodywork when folded.
I only know of one current model SEAT that is borderline for whether the mirrors are illegal.& they have modded them once already.

Yes, sliding no problems.

I haven't had any cars or vans where the mirrors were folded in and the same width either. This van the mirrors are at least 4 inches wider than anything else when folded in .

Jackie's t6 the mirrors don't fold in they sort of turn up and they don't actually get any narrower. Always thought it pointless

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[Peregrinator]

I suggest then you never go to a beach anywhere. Or when you do open your eyes.

Because I've yet to visit a country that doesn't have all that on the beaches. Some more than others.

Dog shit is the absolute least of your worries

And the least likely to find . Human waste is far far more likely

I must be lucky then, or just well planned, only beach I did stay next to that had lots of Dog poo, was in Ireland.

 

[roadwarrior]

I am genuily surprised at some of the comments here - i have been all over france and like many say there are aires and there are aires I avoid cities or crowded places i dont often go to the coast as prefer inland places I also tend to go in sept when frenchy has gone back to work and france is cooling a little but having said all that i have only experienced two places that were so busy there was no awnings or even worse having to fold wing mirrors -that strikes me as living hell as a sardine. I would not contemplate even stopping the engine never mind park up. I fully agree with look and see what others were doing. Maybe its when i go - or even where - either way there are plenty of places to go but i would NEVER park where it was so tight you had to pull your mirrors in.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/nninVPVQUDBvTUTM9

 

[suavecarve]

PolyvinylChloride?
TLA's

LTA

Who cant love a TLA

 

[Reallyretired]

It may be the law but I've never folded my mirrors on an Aire, they don't do it automatically like our cars. Likewise put out the electric step if going in or out. Usually retract it when not in use in case anyone walks into it.

 

[Northernraider]

I must be lucky then, or just well planned, only beach I did stay next to that had lots of Dog poo, was in Ireland.

Then you've just confirmed my point.

Dogs on beaches aren't the issue. It's people.

So why are dogs banned from beaches and people arent

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[stuartholmes]

LTA

Who cant love a TLA

What has all this got to do with tennis?

 

[suavecarve]

What has all this got to do with tennis?

"Love The Acronym"

 

[Peregrinator]

Then you've just confirmed my point.

Dogs on beaches aren't the issue. It's people.

So why are dogs banned from beaches and people arent

It's always been about the people, otherwise it would be like in a car accident, and the driver blaming the car.

 

[Speve]

Sad as it is I cannot help looking along the sides of parked vehicles when mirrors are folded to ensure that they are inside the most external part of the vehicle bodywork.If they are not the vehicle is illegal

There must be thousands of illegal A class Motorhomes touring Aires then as the coach style mirrors don’t fold without taking a spanner to them

 

[peterc10]

Sad as it is I cannot help looking along the sides of parked vehicles when mirrors are folded to ensure that they are inside the most external part of the vehicle bodywork.If they are not the vehicle is illegal .


no you just think they are. crouch down when they are folded .take a perpendicular line from the extremity of a wheel arch, you'll find that the mirrors are level at worst with them.If they aren't the vehicle cannot legally be on the road if the extend farther than bodywork when folded.
I only know of one current model SEAT that is borderline for whether the mirrors are illegal.& they have modded them once already.

Yes, sliding no problems.

Gus, when you say "illegal" what country's laws are you referring to?

What about A class motorhomes. On our Hymer, like most A Classes, the mirrors stick out well away from the bodywork, and even if swivelled they still stick out beyond the bodywork. Some such mirrors can't even be swivelled at all.

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[roadwarrior]

call me a thicky but A class mirrors are alway too high for anybody to walk into and so the folding mirrors thing
does not apply

 

[cyberyacht]

Oh no they're not and not just during panto season. Just the right height to catch the top of your head! Concorde's and similar behemoths excepted.

 

[Minxy]

call me a thicky but A class mirrors are alway too high for anybody to walk into and so the folding mirrors thing
does not apply

Okay to make you happy I'll accede to your request ... You're a thicky!

It depends on the A class as some have low mirrors, some high, some ultra high, ours are high so still able to inflict injury.

 

[chaser]

I don't know where all you people have been, we have been going to France and a little bit of spain and Italy and other countries for at least 12 years now using almost entirely Aires, but never been on one where we couldn't put the step out or the table and chairs, as to doing anything with the mirrors, I didn't know you could.
We havnt got an awning or wheel chocks so can't comment on them.

 

[Minxy]

I don't know where all you people have been, we have been going to France and a little bit of spain and Italy and other countries for at least 12 years now using almost entirely Aires, but never been on one where we couldn't put the step out or the table and chairs, as to doing anything with the mirrors, I didn't know you could.
We havnt got an awning or wheel chocks so can't comment on them.

The vast majority do not allowed anything outside the vehicle's usual perimeter as it would be when being driven, so no steps, outward opening windows, not even ramps or leveling rams, and certainly no outdoor kit etc. Roof vents are the exception. It doesn't mean people don't do it though.

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[chaser]

The vast majority do not allowed anything outside the vehicle's usual perimeter as it would be when being driven, so no steps, outward opening windows, not even ramps or leveling rams, and certainly no outdoor kit etc. Roof vents are the exception. It doesn't mean people don't do it though.

How many times have you seen anyone check, I have only seen two and that was on paid Aires where someone came for the money, never, ever on a free alre.