Parking etiquette a question

[Gaston aires]

Close parking.
Once on an aire in La Coruna Spain it got so crowded late in the day we would have had to drive forward to get out the door, and we had a PVC with sliding door. Great position for an aire but I had to knock on the offending van through the window and ask him move. He did move over and presumably blocked the next vans door. He was Italian and I don’t think he realised we were RHD.
Phil

 

[chaser]

In 12 years of touring Europe using Aires I can't ever remember even thinking which way my door is , you are mainly only there one night so what's it matter, never had anyone complain and met many pleasant people, either facing or not.

 

[Lenny HB]

We rarely use sites but I really don't get UK sites just big open fields they charge a fortune to park on.
Most Continental sites have a hedge all around the pitch giving you your own space and you park however you want on it.

 

[Sapper520]

I try to park for whichever is the best view through the open rear doors on my van and then use the rear doors to get in and out. I only need to use the side door in heavy rain or for access to the toilet cassette or if the canopy is out. (British style PVC with rear lounge.) The rear doors are pretty noisy as well.

Got a fixed bed at the rear.

 

[Sapper520]

Should be a law, only allowed to open & close sliding doors between 9am and 10pm.
Had one bloke on a wild spot in Luxembourg a couple of years ago must have opened and slammed his door at least 10 times all through the night.

No toilet on board and a weak bladder?

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[Lenny HB]

No toilet on board and a weak bladder?

Yep, home conversion single bloke probably been on the beer.

 

[pandas]

Should be a law, only allowed to open & close sliding doors between 9am and 10pm.
Had one bloke on a wild spot in Luxembourg a couple of years ago must have opened and slammed his door at least 10 times all through the night.Mac

Should be a law, only allowed to open & close sliding doors between 9am and 10pm.
Had one bloke on a wild spot in Luxembourg a couple of years ago must have opened and slammed his door at least 10 times all through the night.

There was a mclaren sports Motorhome next to us recently with an electric sliding door - that was really very noisy. In the Uk caravans park facing out from the pitch - we face inwards so never an issue as a Hymer. In Europe it would be very rare to meet somebody else from the UK except the northern parts of France to not a problem.

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[pandas]

Looks like Lenny’s repeating himself again

 

[The Wino]

I park based on which way were going to level better and have the best view I don't think the side the door faces compared to the next MH comes into it. Our doors on the continental side. Maybe I'm unusual as I don't fence off the pitch with a windbreak either.

 

[AXO66]

In hot weather try and park with Fridge vents facing north(ish) defo not south.

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[tonyidle]

I find that talking to the victim works every time. Never had an issue.

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

It's a new game, "Motorhome draughts ", best not to get yours kinged though .
Mike

 

[Richard n Ann]

When I had a works van, to close the sliding door quietly you moved it slowly until nearly shut and then give it a firm push inwards at the right hand side.

 

[chaser]

When I had a works van, to close the sliding door quietly you moved it slowly until nearly shut and then give it a firm push inwards at the right hand side.

That does actually work on ours but never think about it.

 

[RM_Marine]

Just a observation

As a group of people who all drive lovely motorhomes and all chat alot on here and with motorhomes that we are all very proud of.

It doesn't really seem we all get on to well or even like talking in real life other than on the app here.

Last time I checked I wasn't sat on the london underground outside of the Olympics or sat at home with the wife watching tv or on my phone

Human interaction is good and, yes you might not know the person but most of the time when I go away, I go away to have vanventures and meet new people and new things

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[AnnieB]

Normally doesn’t bother me which way the neighbours park, sometimes we face in, sometimes out.
The only time I was irritated by the van next door was when they faced in with their door opposite ours then got out 2 chairs and sat side by side with their backs to their van immediately opposite our hab door. Felt like they we’re waiting for the show to begin.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Normally doesn’t bother me which way the neighbours park, sometimes we face in, sometimes out.
The only time I was irritated by the van next door was when they faced in with their door opposite ours then got out 2 chairs and sat side by side with their backs to their van immediately opposite our hab door. Felt like they we’re waiting for the show to begin.

Doesn't bother me, I think when at the pool we all sit/lie even closer

 

[gus-lopez]

Do any PVC owners realised how loud and how bloody annoying a bloody sliding door is

Yes. Very similar to having to listen to music, someone's tv , people speaking etc, probably why I very rarely would ever use a site.

When I had a works van, to close the sliding door quietly you moved it slowly until nearly shut and then give it a firm push inwards at the right hand side.

Yes . I can close mine nearly shut then just push in the back from outside. Inside i can do the same but with a handle. trouble is if not 100% shut then when you double lock with remote the horn sounds.

 

[RM_Marine]

Can we all stop moaning it's the weekend and you aren't going to solve the problem here

Buy noice cancelling head phones and play music through them as it seems you all don't want to talk to each other when you go away, away

Rant finished

 

[Stealaway]

The only time I was irritated by the van next door was when they faced in with their door opposite ours then got out 2 chairs and sat side by side with their backs to their van immediately opposite our hab door. Felt like they we’re waiting for the show to begin.

I would have pulled a chair out and joined them -- but that's me -- I love being social

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[DumfriesDik]

I'd try and avoid door to door parking, but sometimes it's Hobson's choice. Recently parked so that I could get away early and easily.

 

[Otter Spotter]

Park for the view & the sun, best avoid being anywhere a PVC as they appear to delight in slamming there sliding doors all night.

No we don’t, many PVC’s haven’t converted the front seats so either going out the side or rear doors and both need force to close them.

 

[nicholsong]

This thread seems like it creates yet another reason not to go on campsites.

If not wildcamping we are on Aires/Stellplatzen and are often sparsely occupied, and anyway the sort of MHomers that use them do not seem to think about any 'Rules' - they just get on with life.

The only 'busy' Aires I have encountered are Bergues and Honfleur and I have never seen any encounters.

It seems that the best parking 'arrangements' are 'nose-to-tail', e.g. alongside a river/canal. That and where hedges separate pitches.

Geoff

 

[Tombola]

Doesn't worry me.i just carry on about my business and certainly wouldn't move if I like the spot. Let them worry about me ...not me worry about them.

I'm pleasant enough and like a hello..but can just as easy do my thing without saying a word if they are loners.

 

[Pusscat]

We stayed on a little French aire where you paid a chap who appeared at a certain time of day. There was a limit in van numbers and we were the last one….but as is sometimes the case, more vans just kept arriving..parking close to the side, in front of us, everywhere! It was all very good natured. We though hey Ho and went for a local drink.

We got back in time for the money man to pay him and between us in broken French and English we agreed that we may get a knock on the door in the morning and be asked to shifty the vans around to let each other out.

morning came, we woke up and were waiting for a knock…I peeked out and the aire was nearly empty! We hadn’t drunk that much! How they‘d all managed to get out and do it so quietly still remains a mystery…

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[Poursay]

Thanks for advice on how to close the sliding door quietly ( relatively I suppose). Will practice at home. Very aware of noise and try to be as quiet as poss, but invariably this means not closed properly and have to do it again Defeating the object.

 

[The Old Man]

Door shutting.

I've always gone for a strong, firm shut!

Get it closed first time, one bit of noise, short and sweet, job done.

IMO less disturbing than lots of half hearted taps.

 

[MattR]

We stayed on a little French aire where you paid a chap who appeared at a certain time of day. There was a limit in van numbers and we were the last one….but as is sometimes the case, more vans just kept arriving..parking close to the side, in front of us, everywhere! It was all very good natured. We though hey Ho and went for a local drink.

We got back in time for the money man to pay him and between us in broken French and English we agreed that we may get a knock on the door in the morning and be asked to shifty the vans around to let each other out.

morning came, we woke up and were waiting for a knock…I peeked out and the aire was nearly empty! We hadn’t drunk that much! How they‘d all managed to get out and do it so quietly still remains a mystery…

There are certain nationalities known for their abilities to arrive just after the evening collection of parking fees on aires and leaving just before the morning collection of fees but the French seem to be world champions at it.

 

[Skez]

Should be a law, only allowed to open & close sliding doors between 9am and 10pm.
Had one bloke on a wild spot in Luxembourg a couple of years ago must have opened and slammed his door at least 10 times all through the night.

Are the 'Hartal' type doors silent closers??

The one on our Frankia required a hefty and fairly loud slam to close it! Maybe it was defective though??

I actually find that I can close our slider quietly by sliding it to the point of closing slowly and gently, and then a firm tug on the handle or push on the rear of the door if from the outside, and hey presto - quietly closed. With no more noise than our old 'conventional' door.

 

[Lenny HB]

seems you all don't want to talk to each other when you go away, away

Speak for yourself, I'm at the Stratford Fun meet over 100 Funsters here, when I do the daily loo run often takes nearly an hour so many people to talk too, & then I have to do the rubbish run.

Are the 'Hartal' type doors silent closers??

Not if you slam it but it's easy to close quietly. But I don't open and slam mine all night like a lot of PVC's seem to delight in doing.

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