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

 

[Bazzagas]

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

Why would any one be so close to my moho as to bump into the mirrors..
Stay away...

 

[peterc10]

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.

I think you should tell the French campingcaristas about that! . Nothing will stop then putting out the tables, chairs, and BBQs and having a family get together if they want to.

We have been using Aires in France for 10 years and have been doing those sorts of things when suitable and have never had any problems. It all depends upon the Aires. Some town centre ones have marked bays that are too narrow to do much, but even those have never stopped me putting my step out or using levelling ramps or jacks. At others, like La Mailleraye, Blaye, Azay le Rideau and Neufchatel en Bray for example, there is space and grass to sit out in the sun or shade and everybody does.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

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

A nasty thing

 

[bigtwin]

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.

The ‘not exceeding the perimeter of the vehicle’ is a Spanish thing and it is policed. France is a different matter.

Why would any one be so close to my moho as to bump into the mirrors..
Stay away...

At 6’3”, I do my damnedest to stay away from the edge of pavements as lorries, coaches, and you drive past with mirrors placed such that decapitation, or at least severe injury, is a real possibility.

Ian

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[Peregrinator]

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.

So that explains it, because you can get away with it, you break the rule, and like many that do the same as yourself, ruin it for everyone else.

 

[chaser]

So that explains it, because you can get away with it, you break the rule, and like many that do the same as yourself, ruin it for everyone else.

So what have I ruined for anyone?
What do you do on an aire?

 

[Peregrinator]

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

‘use sites’ You said it

 

[Peregrinator]

So what have I ruined for anyone?
What do you do on an aire?

Park up for the night, or visit lovely area, there are places where there is no longer Aires, some very nice villages have closed theirs due to camping.

 

[Minxy]

What do you do on an aire?

Park for the night, it's not a campsite so although we'll occasionally get out our chairs if we can see it's not an appropriate place to do so, or could upset residents who live there, we don't.

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[Minxy]

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.

Not so much in France but they certainly do in Spain, the police go by slowly, driving round the parking area, and have been known to clear the whole lot out if they find one breaking the rules. This does occur as we met some couples who this had happened to.

 

[Just smiffy]

some very nice villages have closed theirs due to camping.

Please direct me to one that has closed because of this….

 

[chaser]

Park up for the night, or visit lovely area, there are places where there is no longer Aires, some very nice villages have closed theirs due to camping.

Never heard such a load of rubbish.
The only reason they are closing is because of companies like campingcarpark taking over.

 

[suavecarve]

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.

10 years going to France, 98% on aires, Up to 3 months per year. 1 check at Serrieres en chatagne when the mayor came round and asked us to face the other way so we could drive out safely if there were a fire.

 

[gus-lopez]

Why would any one be so close to my moho as to bump into the mirrors..
Stay away...

I had someone walk between my van 6 the trailer i was towing who then proceeded to berate me when he fell over the tow bar & wondered why i slapped him. they are out there & multiplying.

At 6’3”, I do my damnedest to stay away from the edge of pavements as lorries, coaches, and you drive past with mirrors placed such that decapitation, or at least severe injury, is a real possibility.

Used to be a common problem on saturdays when out shopping.

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[peterc10]

I had someone walk between my van 6 the trailer i was towing who then proceeded to berate me when he fell over the tow bar & wondered why i slapped him. they are out there & multiplying.

Back in the mid 1970s my Brother in law broke down in West London, and the wife and I went up to tow him back to Kent. In those pre M25 days that was a straight through the middle of London journey. We stopped at the traffic lights in a busy Trafalgar Square and suddenly there was a big bang on the back of my car. Looked in the mirror and saw a guy, who had tripped over the tow rope trying to cross the road, getting up and brushing himself off and glaring at us. The BiL who had been keeping the tow rope taught, had seen it all happening and was p*****g himself with laughter. Ooops

 

[suavecarve]

So that explains it, because you can get away with it, you break the rule, and like many that do the same as yourself, ruin it for everyone else.

I do as well. Ruined nothing for nobody.
I also once posted a photo in the photo from the inside of the outside that was taken from just outside my camper, which seems an annoyance to some.
I ll be waiting with anticipation of the names of these villages that have closed aires, because of camping, in the meantime I will continue with my french attitude in france

 

[nicholsong]

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.


& only when in motion. When stopped/parked the width is the widest part of the bodywork.

With a flat-sided 'A' Class it is physically impossible for the mirrors to fold inside the width of the vehicle without breaking the window which is itself the maximum width of the vehicle.

If the Spanish police check and fine, who do they fine, the driver or the manufacturer?

How do the Spanish authorities issue a CofC for a Spanish built 'A' Class if it is impossible to be legal?

Have any such fines been issued or are we talking in the Ether?

 

[gus-lopez]

With a flat-sided 'A' Class it is physically impossible for the mirrors to fold inside the width of the vehicle without breaking the window which is itself the maximum width of the vehicle.

hopefully this link comes out..

Broken Link Removed

Pictur 2 shows the passenger side of a flat sided A class. the mirrors if unable to fold backwards & rotate against the side window then they should fold forward & rotate round the windscreen.( similar to a coach)Either way they would be inside a perpendicular line drawn from the widest part of the vehicle which would be that front wheel arch trim. For spain,don't know about elsewhere, the side with the awning would have no problem as the awning is required to be added to the technical log book meaning the additional width is noted .

If the Spanish police check and fine, who do they fine, the driver or the manufacturer?

If they do it is always the driver

How do the Spanish authorities issue a CofC for a Spanish built 'A' Class if it is impossible to be legal?

No idea but it must be able to be done

Have any such fines been issued or are we talking in the Ether?

Again ,no idea.

For me I can't see why they make them fold up if it isn't legally required for them to fold up automatically when the vehicle is parked

 

[Minxy]

Sorry Gus, if you look at the Benimar A-classes you can see that the mirrors do not fold back flush with the sides of the MH, they are wider, is this an old 'rule' that is not adhered to anymore? If not then Benimar are breaking it.

Gama Amphitryon 2025 - Modelo A940 - Benimar

Dimensions/weights/placesCapacity of water tanks

www.benimar.es

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[peterc10]

hopefully this link comes out..

Broken Link Removed

Pictur 2 shows the passenger side of a flat sided A class. the mirrors if unable to fold backwards & rotate against the side window then they should fold forward & rotate round the windscreen.( similar to a coach)Either way they would be inside a perpendicular line drawn from the widest part of the vehicle which would be that front wheel arch trim. For spain,don't know about elsewhere, the side with the awning would have no problem as the awning is required to be added to the technical log book meaning the additional width is noted .


If they do it is always the driver

No idea but it must be able to be done

Again ,no idea.

For me I can't see why they make them fold up if it isn't legally required for them to fold up automatically when the vehicle is parked

Gus, those mirrors are similar to mine and they do not fold in any way that would enable them to be inside for perpendicular line from the wheel arches. It is simple to measure because an A class side wall is vertical. The width at the top is the same at the bottom. I have seen Spanish motorhomes with these type of mirrors so I guess they would also be added to the technical log book, just like the awning.

But this is irrelevant for people with motorhomes that are not registered in Spain isn't it? AFAIK the law concerning vehicles in the UK is different than Spain. For a start we do not have a technical log book. As long as ours meet UK standards we can drive them in Europe.

 

[roadwarrior]

i am with chaser on this - i have no clue where these restrictive aires are of which you speak.

 

[roadwarrior]

here we all are packed in like sardines , thay also make us have unrestricted length parking, no stop time limits and they even force us to have free electricty - its hell i tell you

New item by john chapman

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[peterc10]

here we all are packed in like sardines , thay also make us have unrestricted length parking, no stop time limits and they even force us to have free electricty - its hell i tell you

New item by john chapman

photos.app.goo.gl

I agree it looks awful. Can you tell us where that is so we can avoid it please.

 

[roadwarrior]

I am shocked how contentious this is, but i suppose there are people who obey all rules, no matter what. people who obey some rules based on common sense, people who obey few rules - and then there are the French who have no idea what a rule is...

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[gus-lopez]

Sorry Gus, if you look at the Benimar A-classes you can see that the mirrors do not fold back flush with the sides of the MH, they are wider, is this an old 'rule' that is not adhered to anymore? If not then Benimar are breaking it.

Yes & the widest part of the bodywork they have to fold back behind is the base of the mirror housing itself which is what the "width" measurement of the vehicle would be if it is the widest point

Gus, those mirrors are similar to mine and they do not fold in any way that would enable them to be inside for perpendicular line from the wheel arches.

I was only using the arch as an example. It could well be as above the actual mirror base is classed as the widest part & as above.

But this is irrelevant for people with motorhomes that are not registered in Spain isn't it? AFAIK the law concerning vehicles in the UK is different than Spain.

We are talking about C&U UK & eu directives which are the same. widest part of a vehicle must not exceed 2,55m

 

[roadwarrior]

of course i can its here

New item by john chapman

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and another

0 new items by john chapman

photos.app.goo.gl

another one where they force us to have free electricity

New item by john chapman

photos.app.goo.gl

its tough out there....

 

[nicholsong]

Gus, those mirrors are similar to mine and they do not fold in any way that would enable them to be inside for perpendicular line from the wheel arches. It is simple to measure because an A class side wall is vertical. The width at the top is the same at the bottom. I have seen Spanish motorhomes with these type of mirrors so I guess they would also be added to the technical log book, just like the awning.

But this is irrelevant for people with motorhomes that are not registered in Spain isn't it? AFAIK the law concerning vehicles in the UK is different than Spain. For a start we do not have a technical log book. As long as ours meet UK standards we can drive them in Europe.

Can somebody with a Spanish-registered 'A' Class with mirrors like the Benimar above please look at their Spanish technical log referred to and compare the width recorded with the actual width of the folded mirrors.

For non-Spanish MHs with no width recorded, which I assume is the majority, if challenged can one not just declare the width of the MH as being whatever it is in fact with the mirrors folded? Then it is within the width declared.

[EDIT This post was in writing before I read gus-lopez post #115]

 

[Just smiffy]

Park up for the night, or visit lovely area, there are places where there is no longer Aires, some very nice villages have closed theirs due to camping.

Please direct me to one that has closed because of this….

We’re still waiting….

 

[dayo]

I don’t know about putting out your awning some of the Aires in France “in season” you will have a job to put out your step let alone an Awning

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[suavecarve]

I am shocked how contentious this is, but i suppose there are people who obey all rules, no matter what. people who obey some rules based on common sense, people who obey few rules - and then there are the French who have no idea what a rule is...

When in France ....................