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Just what I was going to say Ethel610 - we avoid motorway services as far as possible when towing as towing vehicles are always directed to the truck-parking area.  This is a pain for several reasons (some just annoying, some down-right dangerous) - it's always the furthest away from the facilities (just an annoyance, but a double annoyance if you want to use the facilities in shifts as you don't want to leave to outfit un-attended), you have to manouver the outfit between the wagons to park, then you are invisible and in danger of being bumped, there are very few 'designated' walkways through the truck parking areas, so you have to walk (often with small children in tow) across an area through which a 38-tonne wagon could be driving at any minute, and just to make the whole experience complete, the ony fuel you can access from the truck parking area of some services is the high-speed diesel pumps - absolutely no use to us (even those of us who tow with a diesel vehicle).

Don't get me wrong - (most) truckers to a sterling job and keep the country running, and I'm not having a go at them - just the planners of motorway service areas.  But please don't have a go at us caravanners for parking in the only place we are allowed to park - if you (truckers) don't like us being there, have a go at the managers and planners of the service areas.

Billyboy,

Not sure if you are a member of either the Caravan Club or Caravan and Camping Club, but I would personally recommend looking towards a CL site, as they are dotted right across the country.  A bit of careful working out based on your average speed on motorways will give you a rough time / destination area.

Nothing against truck stops or motorway services, but by the pure virtue of these, they can be noisy places (even right through the night), and the last thing you want to be doing is attempting to complete your journey the following day not having had a good nights sleep.

Dave.

As both a caravanner and as an employee of the emergency services I would suggest that pulling into a layby if you are tired is a damn site safer than than attempting to carry on to your destination.

Went to a job a few weeks ago in my area. The driver (driving a very large 4x4 with an equally large twin axle tourer) had been on the road withou a break for nearly 6 hours! Openly admitted that he was tired but wanted to get home rather than stop on the way (indeed he was less than 5 miles from home when the incident occured). Basically he fell asleep at the wheel, drove straight across a major motorway traffic island and plunged 30ft down the side of the island ending in a field. Thankfully this occured very late at night and involved no other vehicles (I also hasten to add that the driver was OK). Just think that this should serve as a reminder to us all (both when towing or going solo) to take breaks and if we need to, take a nap (although preferably not at the wheel!).

Take care everyone!

Quote: Originally posted by scooby61173 on 12/6/2006

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Billyboy,

Not sure if you are a member of either the Caravan Club or Caravan and Camping Club, but I would personally recommend looking towards a CL site, as they are dotted right across the country.  A bit of careful working out based on your average speed on motorways will give you a rough time / destination area.

Nothing against truck stops or motorway services, but by the pure virtue of these, they can be noisy places (even right through the night), and the last thing you want to be doing is attempting to complete your journey the following day not having had a good nights sleep.

Dave.

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Thanks everybody 

Quote: Originally posted by MOONIE on 12/6/2006

PLEASE GET OVER YOURSELVES AND STOP PARKING IN THE TRUCK AREA.WHEN I ROLL IN THERE WITH 26 TONS MINIMUM ON MY ARSE THE LAST THING I WANT TO COME ACROSS WHEN I ENTER A TRUCK PARKING AREA AT 2AM IS SOME PLANK WITH A CARAVAN BLOCKING AN AREA FOR 3 WAGGONS.

 

what about the hgv drivers who park in the areas for caravaners

we travel from scarborough to loch lomond every year and do a overnight stop half way it means we are only on the road 3 hrs at a time the site we stay at on the borders is £10 for the night and i think that is a small price to pay for a safe unrushed journey

mat anna & little suzi

Yes I totally agree with that!!!!

Were looking to pay £11 on our way to Cornwall this year, in a lovely spot next to the river behind a pub!!! with hook up water etc.....

The person above who just slammed into the room and shouted at everyone!!! wow you really do need to get over yourself!!!

open your eyes everytime I pull into services it says cars one way and HGV/caravans the other!!!! where you been for the last 10 years lol

My dad drives HGV's and he also tells me to go into the HGV spots as its easier, he tells me where all the best truck stops are when were about to set off!!!! if were not supposed to go on them we would get moved!!! I have NEVER been asked to move!!!!we too have long vehicles as well you know, and we pay our road tax!

and if you cannot find room or have trouble getting round us then you shouldnt be driving because whenever I go in there theres always loads of room so if your having problems maybe a manouvering course may help!!!!

YOU DO NOT OWN THE ROAD OR THE SERVICES!!!!! we can stop were we like we deserve a break as well!!!!!!

Can I also add to everyone that not all HGV drivers are like this, get the chip off your shoulder Moonie, your letting your fellow drivers down - BADLY!!!!!

Could I add my twopeneth.

On our way to our holiday destination we planed to do a stop over. Our options depended on what time we were able to set off from home. If (as it turned out) we managed to set off early enough we could get to a site close to our route and arrive at a reasonable time to get set up for the night and get the best from a nights fee. The alternative was to leave much later and use a motorway service station. To arrive about 9ish get a bight to eat then bed down and get as much REST as possible and set off early the next day. Having used service stations before we can confirm that there is a lot of noise and goings on through the night but at least if you are off the road the rest is well worth while. I would dare bet that there will always be some kind of charge for an overnight stay at the services, if you look there are signs advising of the the charges.