I thought the reason was likely to be for safety in an emergency.
I've never come across it, but then I haven't travelled as much as some of my fellow GN's.
A CP I stayed in at Charters Towers had a big section of drive through sites where mostly camper trailers etc were parked. Across from them, against the fence was where the caravans were packed in rather tightly. I think it would have been a bit of a bun fight to get out, if there'd been an emergency.
Thanks for the replies. Interesting.
-- Edited by Beth54 on Thursday 7th of November 2013 08:16:41 PM
Has anyone ever heard this rule/law? That you must park with your draw bar to the road.
Friends just came back from holidays and one CP insisted it had to be done this way. I thought well a caravan wouldn't really have a choice, but they have a camper trailer so can easily turn it another way it suits them better. Which is what their mate alongside had done. He was begrudgingly told he could stay where he was, but they left the site behind him free.
I have stayed in a few van parks that have the rule that the drawbar (towball socket on van) must be facing the road, and in some cases, when there is more of a 'paddock/park' appearance to the sites, the van needs to also be facing toward the main gate.
Apparently, at least they said it was, because of their "fire emergency plan" which meant that vans were all facing the 'one way' to allow quick hitching and movement out in case of an emergency.
However, of the 100 van parks I have stayed in, probably only four or so have had this rule.
Cheers - John
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I think its because it makes it quicker to hitch up and get out if there's an emergency Beth. Can you imagine the hassle if there was a fire and people couldn't get out easily?
Has anyone ever heard this rule/law? That you must park with your draw bar to the road.
Friends just came back from holidays and one CP insisted it had to be done this way. I thought well a caravan wouldn't really have a choice, but they have a camper trailer so can easily turn it another way it suits them better. Which is what their mate alongside had done. He was begrudgingly told he could stay where he was, but they left the site behind him free.
I've never heard of this.
That would be a little hard if the sites we not in line with the road as is the case with lots of parks..lol
Having said that in some cases fire regulations require ALL vans and MHs to be parked in such a manner that they can be hooked up and shifted independently without having to move another unit first..
Yes Beth I have heard off it. My late wife and I had two caravans "on site" over the years one in Kilcunda, near Phillip Island and a different one in Yarram, South East Gippsland, both Victoria. Both had to be located with the A frame to the road/driveway and the A frame had to remain fixed the the van. I have heard of some parks allowing the A frame to be cut off but an unsafe and dangerous thing to do.
Tourist sites are the same, van must have the A frame as mentioned above, motor homes etc are the same.
The reasoning is, they must be able to be removed in an emergency situation with ease and speed. I remember many moons ago looking at a on site van in a park along side the great Murray River and part of the agreement to sign was giving permission to the park so they can remove the van in a flood situation or any other emergency, AT MY COST. The van had to remain with the A frame to the road/driveway. I didn't buy the van.
I have been told by cv parks that it is "The Law" but haven't seen it in writing except for the Annual Agreements of having a van on site on a annual basis.
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In Victoria (can't say elsewhere), whilst on private property you can park it anywhere you like and in any position as far as the road rules go. Some Victorian councils have a local law (By Law) which doesn't allow vehicles in front gardens etc and caravan parks can have their own 'in house' regulations for the good order etc of their park. You cannot park ANY VEHICLE of more than 6 metres in a built up area (suburbs, towns etc) for longer than one hour without a council permit or unless within specific parking areas. A tug and van when connected are classed as a SINGLE VEHICLE for the purposes of parking (and some other regs). When parked in a built up area for more than an hour, then two units must be separated and be no more than 6 metres each. When tug and van are connected and parked in marked roadside parking bays, they must each occupy one space only with no overlap (this is pretty much impossible so generally a blind eye is turned unless there is a dedicated tug and trailer parking area in the vicinity). BUT IN YOUR PRIVATE DRIVEWAY (not the cross over section) you can park your caravan, trailer, yacht, dog hauler, heavy combination, semi or any other vehicle registered or unregistered on any angle, direction, upside down or whatever you like. There is no Victorian traffic/parking legislation to govern this in any way. The council can have a go if it's an eyesore (rusted hulk, graffiti'd or similar) but that's it.
P.S. Be aware that some shopping centre car parks are private property and some are public roads. Some caravan parks are council owned and become public roads by definition.
We have a rear door Corromal van, with a annex on the rear. We have at times parked the van with the A frame away from the road so we get the best view from our annex.
At times it has made it difficult to leave if we get other vans parked later on. but it just requires a manual push of the van to turn it around . being light it is no problem.
My Nipper is a rear entry too, and I've only heard that nickname recently.
I don't put the annex on, but I do use the rollout awning which is over the door. I know what you mean grahamg, about the view. But as I mainly free camp it's not often an issue.
I'm changing to a camper an in the near future, so that'll be a whole new kettle of fish.
Makes sense to park draw bar to the road. Like motels you should never back in to your at door parking bay I'm informed this is to avoid filling the room ( confined space) with carbon monoxide fuel, all a necessary safety feature to protect us from those brain dead who come out and start the vehicle well in advance of leaving.
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I believe it is also so that most entry doors will not be facing each other and gives privacy - I know this does not sit true with the rear openers. I personally don't like to reverse in as my living area is at the rear of my motorhome so I like to at least look at the road rather than the backside of my neighbour. I have only once been asked to change and that was in Buronga. Another reason why I free choice camp most of the time. I can generally position the van the way I want and look at what I want.
Many caravan parks are situated on flood liable land so caravan parks need to be evacuated hopefully before floodwater inundates the park.
In some cases, particularly around here the floods are "flash floods" which means there is less than 6 hours warning. In this area the warning time is less than 1 hour.
Bushfire prone areas have much the same rules for much the same reasons and the warning times can be very short.
It really does pay to be "situationally aware" and that means keep an eye on the country around you so if the warning comes you are ready.
frank
-- Edited by KFT on Saturday 9th of November 2013 04:10:30 PM
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Kathy and Frank currently at Home near Quirindi NSW
I believe it is also so that most entry doors will not be facing each other and gives privacy - I know this does not sit true with the rear openers. I personally don't like to reverse in as my living area is at the rear of my motorhome so I like to at least look at the road rather than the backside of my neighbour. I have only once been asked to change and that was in Buronga. Another reason why I free choice camp most of the time. I can generally position the van the way I want and look at what I want.
Had same problem so normally asked for a corner site that way I could reverse in and the annex faced the other road also gave me room to park the canoe on it's dolly
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Pets are welcome but children must be leashed at all times
We are in SA too, and its been this case in every CP we have been to. I thought it was always the way to do it. There are some spaces for larger buses and motor-homes and their front always faces the road.
Ed
But we were out and about playing tourist, so I didn't need a view.
