The future of the whole Industry

You will be telling me next you never took your caravan to Rother Valley CP, or Clumber Park. Plenty of scope there a day out with Van😁You could even stay overnight in proper places.

Just enjoy it busyelf, as others have said it’s not the outfit you choose, it’s what you choose to do with it, and everyone finds their niche👍

Incidentally, top towing tip from me. You don’t have to use motorways all the time. We used a good deal of A routes, and found some great pull in places for a look around, and a lunch spot. We still use some of them with the MH as well.

it can be hard enough finding a space to park 40+ ft of car & caravan at services due to everything but a caravan being parked in the caravan spaces let alone parking on A roads .... there's usually just one vehicle slap bang in the middle of any lay-by you might find.

At the last services I used while towing, I pulled up alongside another caravan among a load of HGVs into some dead end spaces .... the sign at the end said 'NO HGVs' 🤷‍♂️ On closer inspection, the spaces were intended for coaches. I never actually saw any spaces reserved for caravans.

Forgive me for mentioning over there, I have limited experience of this but what I’ve seen on the continent is a long history of aires and municipal overnight motorhome facilities which are occupied by camper vans and their bigger cousins. What I wonder is if there is a feeling of being left out, or less privileged, by our caravanning fraternity who live over the water. I suspect not.
My opinion on this for Blighty comes from having ‘camped’ in tents, trailer tents, camper vans, caravans and motorhomes. Each mode brought with it specific needs for difference phases of my life and with it different needs as far as enjoying the pastime itself. As others mention, if there are specific needs caravaners require these need to be expressed, explored by themselves and if viable I’m sure someone will try to provided what they need. Personally I think the idea in the opening post will find little support or appetite. 

That’s the spirit😁 The A1 is always a good choice, we travel mainly North on it, but some great places not far off for a look around. We parked our caravan up in car park at one or two big houses, so with a bit of checking, not hard to do. 

"What annoys me is the fact that provision is made for Motorhomers and campervanners but not for Caravanners".

"the Caravanners who replied have stated that there is no issue."

"Is this a common problem or is it anothe case of 'We Work around it'?"

Hi Busyelf, There are clearly differing wants and desires but, as I said, the type of facility you describe holds no appeal for me, and maybe others.

I for one am not saying there is not a problem but know there is not a lot I can do about it, and see no point in getting annoyed about something I cannot influence.

And yes, it is a common problem but again, for example, when faced with caravan spaces full of LGVs what do you suggest should happen?

And as 'over there'  was mentioned our worst ever journey, so far as ability to take a break was a Sunday in France when LGVs are banned from the Autoroute and literally fill all the service areas-mind you do have the non facility aires to fall back on.

Very true, there is usually one, occasionally several, when it comes to anything remotely associated with things perceived as not fair. Some don’t even want to recognise the reasoning behind some discussions and decisions made regarding rules, laws and guidelines. You only have to look at many a thread over the years on CT to find several instances of this. Now believe me, such discussion are good as they can serve to highlight issues and raise questions and occasionally changes. Sometimes they even serve to modify beliefs. It’s good to talk, good to value contributions and also possibly help those, me included, seeking solutions and/or clarification along the way.👍

"Generally the Motorway Service areas are private land, therefore the only thing you can do really is speak to the site operators (car park attendant) and let them know the situation."

"Caravan Parking areas can be occupied by Cars with trailers or caravans in tow"

Hi Busyelf, All the points you make seem eminently sensible, the problem is that the reality doe s not match my experience.

What car park attendant? If you cant park how do you make you problem known??

We have come across, and reported several instances of van parking areas being 'abused'. Taken photos of LGVs parked in clearly marked areas, sent them to the vehicles operators, had a discussion last summer with an AA Relay driver who was about to pull into our space in a caravan area-his reply was its busy so I can park there as I have to have my break.

I am sure that your response will be positive but see no prospect, no matter how many emails, letters of complaint or whatever, are sent to the operators, if for no other reason than their income from LGVs, and in particular coaches, must far exceed what the cravanner brings in.

Plus the chances of getting two spaces together for the mid-sized, or even small, motorhome are pretty remote and there's little chance of fitting into a standard space. It means that anything bigger than a car, including AA Vans on their break, have to go in the caravan slots.

One of the main reasons I sold my motor caravan and bought a regular caravan was parking….or the lack of when every car park and supermarket acquired 1.85m barriers.