My point was that for towing stability, the nose weight needs to be as close as possible to the lower of the two quoted maximum figures for caravan and tow bar. If loaded correctly, occupying the caravan without the legs down must raise the noseweight above the recommended maximum figure.

But of course you are no longer towing it then, and you can drop the nose wheel to ease the load
Dave

I will ask at the Mairie today and see if there is any local laws, will post the response

Although I played devils advocate I do agree with you, and in fact while never using an aire for overnight, have many times put the legs down to have a snack or drink both in France and Spain.
Dave

Excuse me, Jobberwock

We have never stopped overnight at aires and equally have never put the steadies down if parked for a toilet break or coffee stop. The Puck remains hitched.

We have stayed overnight on a couple of motorway aires. We only used the ones a good distance away from major cities or interchanges. I believe that the autoroute peage sections are safe to use at night because of their inherent unnatractiveness to thieves.

I've expressed my thoughts and what I hoped had been simple and helpful advice based on my extensive experiences of using these facilities the length and breadth of France and also limited but frequent use in Spain. If anyone should need further clarification then I would be happy to help and by all means PM me however as to a forum topic it seems as controversial as the application of laws in France itself and raises as many questions as answers.

Out of interest I 'googled' and from other forums found similar issues identified :

I was told early in my usage that
nothing on ground but tyres
The only restriction I have seen was a rather awkward policeman advising the next door MH that awning legs are not allowed to touch the ground
Several aires had signs forbidding camping i.e. no tables and chairs, awnings or steadies allowed on threat of punishment by the mayor (not sure if levelling blocks are allowed!).
Caravans using 'aires du campingcar' has been discussed on French forums & the concensus is that caravans can legally use aires provided nothing is placed on the ground, ie water carriers, steps etc. This is the letter of the law but in practise it probably would'nt matter.

now you can all argue that one out

we are using aires at the moment no problem yet, we was told don't unhook

French aire. ... If you do- stay hitched and dont put anything on the ground (legs, table or chairs ) ...

The definition of camping includes having nothing more than the vehicle wheels on the ground, so I guess a caravan with its steadies down is camping,

The Municipal laws that are generally used to enable aire de camping car being opened specifically exclude any form of camping in many cases,

that includes caravans, tents, trailer tents, awnings on camping cars, the use of rear steady legs by camping cars and even the placement and use of table and chairs as that is deemed camping. At La Alberca in Spain this year there is the usual notice about no steadies, tables chairs etc (are ramps allowed?) or you will be punished by the mayor.



Ian

It is plainly obvious that anyone entering a front or rear located door while hitched up will greatly exceed the noseweigt limits of both van and towing vehicle (specially if like me you weigh about 70 odd kilo's) or create a negative noseweight in the case of a rear door.

Therefore unless you rely on inbuilt safety margins (limits unknown) you need to do something to negate the strain on both towed and towing vehicles.

Either steadies or jockey wheel or a combination of both, also useful to lower the steadies while at a roadside service station while having dinner .... not easy to pinch it with all feet on the ground.

Quote: Pepé Le Pew wrote in post #26

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Well said, Nev.

Except that instead of having dinner in the van at a service station, we'd have a sarni sitting in the car. The car's a much more comfortable place to sit

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Ian, I have never towed in France so all my references apply to the UK however from reading the topic it seems a reputable campsite is the way to go.

Hob,
Please don't get the wrong impression from what I or others may have said or advised in using Aires in France.
They are in my experience a wonderful way of mixing and enjoying the French way of life. They are often in the heart
of a town/village/rural community. You will be shopping in the french shops or markets, drinking in the bars,enjoying meals,
watching boules and overall having a very relaxing and carefree time. We love the river and canal walks that stretch for miles.
We don't tend to spend a great deal of time actually in or around the caravan unless the weather is poor.

Having the legs/steadies up, having been advised, and whilst parked up has not been a problem for us when it felt prudent to be careful.

As for fear of crime ....I'd feel less safe in th UK these days !

As for the gendarmes...well they do look scary...but perhaps I have a guilty conscience

Ian

PS...Just remembered. We never travel during school/holiday periods.

Well thank you all so far for the useful info. Just one last question. I hear that it's dangerous to stay over night on the Aires on motorways? any comments anyone? Of course we would not unhitch. We would only unhitch at a campsite.
Thank you again.