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Subject Topic: Motorway services or van ??
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24/5/2011 at 5:30pm
 Location: Cornwall
 Outfit: Swift Challenger 620 - Shogun 3.2 lwb
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Just a question for curiosity. We have travelled many an hour up the motorway with the van and whenever we stop at the services we always use the facilities in our van. I'm just curious why there are so many caravanners that get out of their car and then all wander off to use the facilities in the services.....   leaving their van and car alone in the car park.

I would have thought that the loo in the van was more hygienic than the one in the services and that it was a lot cheaper eating your own food than buying it at extortionate prices...    what do you do...   use your van or the services???


24/5/2011 at 5:36pm
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I guess others would rather take a dump in somebody elses' bog, using somebody elses' bog paper & then buy a Burger King. If you can afford an £18k caravan you can afford it.


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24/5/2011 at 6:00pm
 Location: Lancashire
 Outfit: Caravan now Sold
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after being charged £5 for a bacon butty many years ago we now have other arrangements.when i asked why she said bacon was 80p a slice.3 slices = £2.40 bread roll £2.60.we now take coffee and sandwiches and one person stays with the car and van while the other goes for a wee.

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the only silly question is the one you do not ask.


24/5/2011 at 6:03pm
 Location: West Mids
 Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0
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We use the services for s rest break and use the facilities only, we don't eat from them as too costly.

I don't use the loo in the van as I wouldn't condone travelling with any fluids in the flush tank; unless you don't flush the pan on these impromtu visits...

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Paul

Every day's a school day!


24/5/2011 at 6:06pm
 Location: Gloucestershie
 Outfit:  Fiat Ducato campervan
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We go over to get a paper and use the loo and one of us stops with the caravan all the time at motorway service


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24/5/2011 at 6:17pm
 Location: West Midlands
 Outfit: Jeep Grand Cherokee
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ditto, also use facilities but go one at a time, never leave caravan unattended.

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Tony C


24/5/2011 at 6:20pm
 Location: North Wales
 Outfit: Bessacarr E540
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We would do the same, go one at a time to use the loos, but never buy food.

When I was towing I would always take food from home or, if I wasn't towing, I'd get a sandwich at Asda on the way out, but would never buy food at the services.

Nora


24/5/2011 at 6:25pm
 Location: Shopshire
 Outfit: None Entered
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We never leave our van at the services, normally our 2 lads stop with it while we go to the toliet or to buy a paper and then they go when we come back.
Always take sandwiches with us, have to watch what foods i eat.

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2013.
Time to say goodbye















24/5/2011 at 6:41pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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2 cups of tea 2 cups of coffe and 1 cake £11 only ever done it once never again, and that was a few years ago only use as above posts (cheese toasty and coffe £8 each)

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alpiner


24/5/2011 at 7:20pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Bailey Maru transit mk7
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 we dont travil with watre in the loo so have to use the services  we have our own buttys but hubby ususly goes and gets coffee for us but we never leave the car and van as the dogs are in the car and i wont leave them alone. i know some do

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Dyslexic not stuped
It's nice to be important but its more important to be nice   


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24/5/2011 at 7:24pm
 Location: West Berkshire
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn Seville
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We use the loos at the services (one at a time so that the caravan is never left alone) but we eat our own food and usually have our own coffee. We don't want to be towing the caravan with the contents of the loo sloshing about!!
Also walking to the loos (which are usually as far away as possible so that you have to walk past all the shops and food outlets etc) stretches the legs a bit which after sitting still for so long is usually needed!
FB


24/5/2011 at 7:41pm
 Location: pyle bridgend s. wales
 Outfit: swift alpine sport
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i am a hgv driver as well as a caravaner, and i can tell you that the motorway servies are total rip off, dont give them your custom.

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its easy enough to be pleasant when the world rolls along like a song.but a man is worth while if he can smile when every thing goes f------ wrong.


24/5/2011 at 7:48pm
 Location: Liverpool
 Outfit:  Honda CR-V
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Similar to others - we use the loos at the services, in relays but have our own food and drink in the van.  Very occasionally we buy a couple of coffees,



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24/5/2011 at 8:04pm
 Location: Norfolk
 Outfit: Lunar DeltaTL Sorento Khyam Rigidome
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I do think some of the comments on here are a little unfair, whilst I appreciate that the food at service areas does seem costly they are run by companies that are there to make money. I have worked at one and during the early and late shift restaurants and facilities etc are still open even though there is very little custom, so at these times the companies are making a loss, so they have to make their money somewhere. If no-one bought anything then they wouldn't exist and then we wouldn't have the option of using the toilets etc.

We do use the facilities but take it in turn now that we have the caravan so that it is never left unattended. Sometimes we will get a snack, but we tend to bring our own sandwiches etc. Like others have said we always travel with the toilet empty so would never use the one on board.



24/5/2011 at 8:06pm
 Location: Cheshire
 Outfit: Outwell Idaho xl 8
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Why don't you leave your Caravan/Car unattended?? Don't any of you use an hitch lock whilst you go to use the services?? I've never left ours alone but just wondered why people won't leave them with a decent hitch lock fitted?


24/5/2011 at 8:11pm
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We normally use the facilities at a motorway services for a few reasons. Not least the fact we used to keep our aquaroll and waste container in the loo of our old caravan, but even with our new caravan which had plenty of room elsewhere, I would rather use Burger King's plumbing than have a half full toilet sloshing around in the back of the caravan.

As has already been pointed out, the services are hideously expensive, but in addition to Hes1923's comments, the rent they have to pay is horrific too. I don't blame the company's that are running the outlets, the land lords are the ones that are really fleecing us (are they still owned by the Highways Agency? Once again, it's the government dipping into our pockets)

I normally only use the services if I am towing, otherwise I'll turn off the motorway and look for the nearest supermarket.



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