Motorway Service Station Parking
Just wanted to warn other Caravanners of the experience I had at Hopwood Park Services at Junction 2 on the M42 recently. Called in for the first time and followed signs for ‘Caravans’.
The bays provided were alarmingly narrow - much narrower than usual at service staions. Our Bailey Orion is only 2.19 metres wide but we had to squeeze between a newer wider caravan and a medium sized Motorhome, I had to do a bit of backwards and forwards to get my caravan parked exactly mid lines and in a straight line. Then we were so close to the caravan next to us we could not open the caravan door to get in and had to reverse until our door was behind the rear of that caravan. The Motorhome then driver had to fold in his nearside door mirror so I could open my car door
Some of the bays were unusable as the outfit parked had wheels on or just over the lines.
However, my main frustration was that parked Motorhomes outnumbered parked caravans by 2:1 despite the bays being clearly marked ‘CARAVANS ONLY’ - see attached picture from Google Earth (in a quiet season). The bays opposite (and some further down) were eminently suitable for Motorhomes and large Vans. I think it most inconsiderate of the Motorhomes to take up the few dedicated Caravan slots when they, and any similar sized delivery van have numerous other bays available. The only alternative for caravans is the HGV areas and then we are resented by the HGV drivers for taking their spaces.
I don’t know what the Clubs’ attitude to this is, and where Motorhomes are recommended to park, but to me it is simple, when bays are clearly marked ‘Caravans Only’, that is what is meant, ‘do not park here unless you are towing a caravan’.
Comments
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Thanks for the warning about the width of the parking bays. Perhaps you might wish to contact Welcome Break about that. But if the sign says caravans it seems reasonable for motor caravans to park there.
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I am not sure which bays you mean for motorhome aka motor caravans. It seems you might be suggesting parking over two longitudinal bays. If so this is usually frowned on in motorway services and obviously relies on there being two such bays. Often in motorway service car parks in the car parking area the road ways are often to tight for turning for all but small vans. I do think it sensible if motorhomes are going to park in the longer bays to park behind one another where appropriate rather than start in a new bay - after all we can usually manoeuvre slightly more easily than caravans. But the general presumption is that motorhomes park in the caravan indicated bays. The real issue comes where these are also in the lorry park!
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I think Hja makes a valid point. Normal car parking bays are fine when the service station is not very busy but in my experience that is not very often. A motorhome will fill a car parking bay and if vehicles park either side it would be almost impossible to get out of that parking bay without hitting something. Personally I was never too bothered about parking in with the waggons but this is not always allowed. There is usually enough room for caravans and motorhomes in the designated areas providing other vehicle types are not taking up space.
David
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Here's Gloucester services caravan and motorhome parking, one of the best I think with wider bays..
Most motorhomes could reverse into the shorter bays, the drive in/out bays are presumably there for those towing or Vehicles longer than the other bays.
I towed in and out of there on Thursday all full with several of the drive in/out bays half filled with shorter motorhomes.
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Exactly, It would be pleasant if MH drivers avoided using the through bays if their vehicle would fit in the reverse bays. With no suitable caravan parking available in the designated area we parked in the adjacent coach area for 10 mins, there were no coaches but several MHs already there. So Hands up I'm guilty as well.
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A motor home is a mobile caravan. Nothing more nothing less so they are perfectly entitled to park in the caravan bays. Most mobile caravans will not fit into the normal parking bays anyway and they are certainly no HGVs. It is probably only in the UK that it is known as a motorhome?
However I have only used Hopwood twice in the past 2 years visiting with a 2.5m wide caravan in tow and no issue with parking so maybe they changed the bays recently?
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However I have only used Hopwood twice in the past 2 years visiting with a 2.5m wide caravan in tow and no issue with parking so maybe they changed the bays recently?
The bays have been like it for at least the last 6 years. It’s fine if there are only a few vans. Generally every other one will be occupied and the spaces remaining between are only suitable for narrower motorhomes and caravans.
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For the last couple of years I have been using the HGV areas. The truck drivers are usually friendly and I have never had a problem with any rules enforcers.
It is important to note that we don't leave the rig, just park up, have our snack etc, then move on.
No grief at all. Simples.
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At last, manged to dig out the post regarding the Club lobbying the authorities. It was started in April 2018 and it does not appear to have had any impact whatsoever and the parking of motorhomes and caravans remains a frustrating and serious issue.
peedee
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I agree with Surfer. My V5C clearly states that I drive a Motor Caravan not a motorhome. legally it appears there is no such thing as a motorhome or campervan they are Motor Caravans.
A couple of years ago I was trying to park at Wetherby Services and they had an attendant stopping people from parking in the wrong bays. The only space available was designated Coaches - next to the caravan bays. He made it abundantly clear I would get fined if I parked there.
If you cannot park safely at any motorway service area, then best to move on and write a stiff letter to the firm responsible for parking arrangements.
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Whilst the description on the V5 might well be Motor Caravan, it is quite an archaic term and the more generally accepted name by both owners and manufacturers is motorhome. I suppose it one wanted to argue the fine point on a motorway services motor caravan might come in handy?
We have stopped at Wetherby Services a couple of times when an attendant has been on duty and we were just directed to the lorry parking which is almost opposite which suited us as it was fairly empty and it had its own Costa so we could have a coffee.
David
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