I am taking my caravan into Europe for the first time next year. But I have been told that twin axles are not very popular over there, and some sites refuse to let them on there sites. Can anyone advise me if they have had any of these problems? Or any other problems in Europe with twin axles.
The simple answer is that a few sites in France ban them & some charge extra for them but most don't so there is no reason for you to encounter any problems.
The only problem we ever had in France was that the site owners perception of how big our van was. In Blois, one yr, good size pitch with tree in middle...okay for single axle which could be manhandled into place not so a twin. I tended to check out size first before driving onto site after that
If you know what sites you will be staying on you could always check before hand. It seems that its mainly some Municipals that don't like twin axles but then guidebooks/reviews might well have this information. Some sites don't allow them because they are difficult to get around the site. As Opensauce said some charge extra although that might be a discouragement. It seems mainly an issue in France but having said that there are thousands of sites so you are bound to be able to find somewhere.
We have toured in Europe for 13 years the last 10 with an 8 my. Twin axle and have never been refused and never had a problem in 14 Countries we have visited. I must admit we have not visited France since touring with the twin except for stopping at Guines the night before returning to the UK.
I can give you a list of campsites we have stopped at throughout Europe, too long to put in a post, if you send me your email address I will gladly forward this. My email is dvphillips14 at hotmail.com
The one thing I always do, if we are visiting, a new to us campsite, is email ahead 3 or so days to check availability for large van on pitch and access roads etc. Never not been able to visit any site of our choice due to Twin Axle.
Oh and we visit mainly ACSI Camping Card campsites out of season.
We stayed on three different sites earleir this year on our first visit and never had any issues except on one site, the pitch allocated was a bit small however they gave us a another larger pitch. When booking give the length of the caravan so you get an appropriate pitch.
We have camped extensively throughout France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg and Germany, all with twin-axle caravans and have never had a problem. As other posters have said, sometimes the pitch size is your only enemy, but AWD movers are a great bonus here.
The only occasion where we wanted to stay on a particular site was in France outside Paris. Their website stated no TA vans, but I called then to assure them that I was not of a particular travelling fraternity, and was warmly welcomed.
Quote: Originally posted by checkley1973 on 13/9/2016
We've never been refused and have travelled all over France.
Same here - never even had mention of the van being a TA.
I would certainly check out the websites of your proposed destinations, to establish pitch sizes. Sizes are also in the CC overseas brochure and their website. I would only go for a pitch that is 10 x 10 metres. Some are 8 x 10 and that is too small for a TA, awning and car. Google Earth reveals what else is nearby too...
As mentioned quite a lot of French pitches have a nice shady tree on the pitch - if you can manoevre round it. If the pitch isn't suitable, just ask for another!
Get a site map and have a walk round to mark off pitches you like, in case you want to go again.
All the sites we used were ACSI and all three did not allow twin axles according to theACSI website however on contacting them, there was no problem and we never actually booked.
My parents have toured in their twin axle caravans for many years (now on their 4th) the only time they were refused was when the owner thought they might be travellers, but when they saw their outfit and realised they were tourists, they were warmly welcomed.
------------- Doing whatever the rice krispies tell me to.
Yes, I think this is the reason some French sites do ban twin axles which is ironic because municipals were originally intended for itinerant workers. So UK reg outfits with owners that are obviously tourists will be admitted.