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19/7/2018 at 10:08am
Location: Preston
Outfit: None
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Due to old age but thankfully not poverty we have decided to buy a small motorhome. We have been looking at van conversions between 5.5 mtrs and 6 mtrs with a high top. We don't intend to use the vehicle as our main year round transport. We will however be using it to get about whilst on our travels. We are checking out using a drive away awning to store items such as chairs etc during the day whilst we are out. We are quite happy to park on the outskirts of towns and catch a bus.
Can any one give advice please on the merits of each with regards to parking in street parking bays, supermarket car parks, park and ride and open car parks etc. Thanks in advance any advice would be welcome as we are complete newbies to the world of motorhoming.
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19/7/2018 at 5:43pm
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
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Welcome to the wonderful world of
Unlike continental Europe, much of the UK is not motorhome friendly. Some of this has been brought about by people abusing parking facilities etc, but some is just down to not wanting our custom in towns. Be prepared to be met by height barriers and other parking restrictions in many places.
If you're pensioners, then hopefully you will (like us) have bus passes and be ale to use them to get from outside some camp sites and into town.
Leaving things in awnings is mostly OK, but I wouldn't leave anything of value.
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Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
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19/7/2018 at 6:31pm
Location: Gloucestershie
Outfit: Fiat Ducato campervan
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We have just got back from Southport are van is longer at 6'4 meters we use supermarket parking bays keep the wheels in the bay if you can find a bay at the back where there is over hang so you can get less over the front
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19/7/2018 at 10:13pm
Location: Preston
Outfit: None
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Thanks for your replies. From your comments Kenles am I right in presuming a van measuring approx 5.5mts should fit in a normal parking bay without having too much overhang? Normally whilst away we havent needed to go in carparks with overhead barriers or high rise car parks so Im not anticipating having to do so with a motorhome. Im coming to the conclusion it may be simpler to go for a smaller van below 6mtrs in length as we only intend to use for a few days at a time.
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20/7/2018 at 7:34am
Location: Lancashire
Outfit: Leisuredrive VW T6 campervan
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Our VW short wheel base fits into normal parking spaces, though sometimes it can be difficult to open the front doors. However it is possible to exit via the side slidy door.
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20/7/2018 at 7:59am
Location: Turriff Aberdeenshi
Outfit: Romahome R30 Dimens
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My Romahome R30 is based on a Citroen Relay and is only 5 mtrs. long. It fits neatly into most car parking spaces.
Fortunately in this end of the world, outside the major cities, there's plenty of free parking and few restrictions.
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Two drifters off to see the world.
I'm tired of reality, so I'm off to look for a good fantasy.
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20/7/2018 at 8:44am
Location: North Wales
Outfit: Bessacarr E540
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If you go onto the web page for whatever local authority you’ll be visiting, most of them have parking information which tells you which car parks have barriers etc. MMM magazine also produce a booklet from time to time with parking information for motorhomes.
Our motorhome is 7 metres so we do struggle even in some large supermarket car parks where we actually use 4 spaces so try to get right in a corner somewhere out of the way.
Nora
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20/7/2018 at 3:44pm
Location: Ayrshire
Outfit: Auto2DSleeper+MHs
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Another reason to keep shorter than 6.0m is ferry fares. If you fancy going over to any of the Scottish islands, the fare is determined by the length of the vehicle and over 6.0m takes you into the next price bracket.
We're about 5.7 and it's overhead gantries we have to watch out for, they're in the most unexpected places. That'll apply whatever you get unless you buy a car conversion.
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2025=3 sites, 5 nights; 2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.
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21/7/2018 at 4:03pm
Location: Staffs Cheshire bord
Outfit: None Entered
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We had a 6 metre motorhome and it wouldn't fit properly in a parking bay. Width filled the bay so couldn't get out if vehicle alongside parked central in its bay. Di try and park with back overhang over land at the back but was told by a warden that you can't park with it overhanging onto any footway (however wide it is). Supermarkets who are not managed by a private company are usually fine.
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Jean
Sometimes a little rain must fall before you reach a rainbow.
The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow, but the rainbow won't wait while you finish the work.
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22/7/2018 at 6:44am
Location: Norfolk
Outfit: VW Nexa camper
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We have had both 5.5m and 6m van conversions and my preference would be something like the AS Symbol at 5.5m as it was easier to manoeuvre in tight carparks. We now have a VW Camper with rising roof as our only vehicle and are loving it for both everyday use and long away periods.
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Topic: Parking
