Caravan friendly service stations

[zhulme]

Can anyone recommend a book or website that shows caravan friendly service stations in the UK?
Thanks
We hate pulling in to the services only to find that there is nowhere to park the Caravan!

 

[otherclive]

Can anyone recommend a book or website that shows caravan friendly service stations in the UK?
Thanks
We hate pulling in to the services only to find that there is nowhere to park the Caravan!

I know the problem. There is a website I will try and find it, but I now tend to know the good and the bad. Also if you look on Google you can see where the HGVs park. Try and find one where the HGV park is after the caravan area. Then if the caravan motirhome area is full (if WVM and those who throw the caber) you can at least park up amongst the HGVs. Not ideal but not a penalty offence either.

Edit try this: http://www.motorwayservices.info/

 

[Parksy]

Hi Zhulme
There was a discussion on this forum with regard to motorway services a few months ago .
Click Here to read previous comments submitted by other forum members

 

[CustardAvenger]

After a bad experience at Lancaster North on the M6 (the Caravan parking was signposted but pointed into the Hotel parking area, with 2 foot high kerbs on the narrow entrance) I always pre-plan my stops where possible when towing. Using Google satellite and street view images can show you where best parking areas/services are. Doing this avoided a services on the M5 which was off at a regular junction; it had a caravan parking area with one way in and out with opposing bays ie not drive-through.

Even so, you can guarantee that cars, small vans and sometimes arctics will want to share the caravan area.

 

[CustardAvenger]

Can anyone recommend a book or website that shows caravan friendly service stations in the UK?
Thanks
We hate pulling in to the services only to find that there is nowhere to park the Caravan!

I know the problem. There is a website I will try and find it, but I now tend to know the good and the bad. Also if you look on Google you can see where the HGVs park. Try and find one where the HGV park is after the caravan area. Then if the caravan motirhome area is full (if WVM and those who throw the caber) you can at least park up amongst the HGVs. Not ideal but not a penalty offence either.

Edit try this: http://www.motorwayservices.info/

Also this website: https://motorwayservicesonline.co.uk - they are useful for finding the services.
Has some interesting history/trivia but neither seem to detail the caravan parking sadly.

 

[camel]

Service areas are very badly sign posted for anyone using them never mind caravanners, if in doubt just park up with the heavies I do, I feel more comfortable there if you don't mind the smell of urine,

 

[Anseo]

Service areas are very badly sign posted for anyone using them never mind caravanners, if in doubt just park up with the heavies I do, I feel more comfortable there if you don't mind the smell of urine,

"Park up with the heavies" ,

When you say you feel "more comfortable", is it that for safetysecurity reasons?

Cheers, John

 

[camel]

Anseo, it is actually, but then again in this world out on the road who do you trust, we normally take split breaks on a service area just to keep an eye on everything, but what do you do on your caravanning travels when it comes to parking up,

 

[Anseo]

Anseo, it is actually, but then again in this world out on the road who do you trust, we normally take split breaks on a service area just to keep an eye on everything, but what do you do on your caravanning travels when it comes to parking up,

Same as you do camel

Protect our assets in the best way that circumstances allow.

That's the way it goes :lol: .

Cheers.

 

[otherclive]

Anseo, it is actually, but then again in this world out on the road who do you trust, we normally take split breaks on a service area just to keep an eye on everything, but what do you do on your caravanning travels when it comes to parking up,

We never leave the outfit unattended whilst parked up at services.

 

[Raywood]

The risk of theft from a service area is small but real. The thieves do however need to be very fast and unobtrusive to do this, so a simple hitch lock fastening the caravan to the towing vehicle or a Nemisis Ultra wheel lock are quick and easy to fit and should prevent any theft.

 

[Hutch]

Zhulme, are you in Europe and thinking about a visit to the UK, if so we can give you answers better. ?

 

[CustardAvenger]

Anseo, it is actually, but then again in this world out on the road who do you trust, we normally take split breaks on a service area just to keep an eye on everything, but what do you do on your caravanning travels when it comes to parking up,

We never leave the outfit unattended whilst parked up at services.

Never left the caravan unatended until this year, but applied the hitchlock... thought I was being paranoid...
http://twitter.com/gmptraffic/status/1003254333931163648
and then...
https://mobile.twitter.com/gmptraffic/status/1003624679775653888

 

[otherclive]

Anseo, it is actually, but then again in this world out on the road who do you trust, we normally take split breaks on a service area just to keep an eye on everything, but what do you do on your caravanning travels when it comes to parking up,

We never leave the outfit unattended whilst parked up at services.

Never left the caravan unatended until this year, but applied the hitchlock... thought I was being paranoid...
http://twitter.com/gmptraffic/status/1003254333931163648
and then...
https://mobile.twitter.com/gmptraffic/status/1003624679775653888

Thanks that reinforces my approach which we have used ever since we started caravanning. In the early days it wasn’t so much theft of the caravan but theft from the caravan or car as they were incredibly easy to get into. And the former still are.

 

[CustardAvenger]

Anseo, it is actually, but then again in this world out on the road who do you trust, we normally take split breaks on a service area just to keep an eye on everything, but what do you do on your caravanning travels when it comes to parking up,

We never leave the outfit unattended whilst parked up at services.

Never left the caravan unatended until this year, but applied the hitchlock... thought I was being paranoid...
http://twitter.com/gmptraffic/status/1003254333931163648
and then...
https://mobile.twitter.com/gmptraffic/status/1003624679775653888

Thanks that reinforces my approach which we have used ever since we started caravanning. In the early days it wasn’t so much theft of the caravan but theft from the caravan or car as they were incredibly easy to get into. And the former still are.

I think I will apply the wheel lock too! But we always have the dog with us, so one of us would has to stand outside the building anyway (lest the dog be nicked too!). Normally taking turns is the best approach.

Regarding "caravan friendly" services, visited Strensham South on the M5 in April - they were in the process of renovation/building work. there was a new (finished) dedicated caravan area but it confused me (although I got it right) and many others whilst I was parked. Cars go to the right with Trucks/caravans/coaches/fuel & exit to the left. You then immediately drive past the exit to the caravan area, but it looks like it could be the entrance. You then see the sign pointing into the parking bays so to get it 'right' you do a 180 degree turn into the bay. Many caravans & motorhomes came in the exit as I was stopped. Looking at google earth, they have moved the caravans into their own area (Near the local exti) where it used to be part of the truck parking bays. Of course we then had to run the gauntlet of traffic due to the construction blocking off the walkway.