Why are caravans not allowed on many motorhome pitches? Are caravanners second class campers or is there even a legal basis for separation? Does the parking space operator make any difference at all? Many factors play a role. That's why we asked.
Balanced relationship, different reasons
In search of answers, we thought about how we can find out the various aspects of this topic and what could be better than asking the operators of the mobile home parks directly. That's why we asked over 1,000 mobile home park operators and received an enormous number of answers, ranging from "Caravan trailers are very welcome" to "We don't want a camping atmosphere." We have summarized all the feedback and can now provide solid answers.
First of all, among all the answers, the number of pitches that allow caravans is exactly the same as those that don't. At least here you can't say that most of the motorhome parking spaces do not allow caravans. Very few of the positive answers included a “but”. The most common restriction is that the towing vehicles have to be unhooked and parked separately because the parking spaces would be too small for the entire trailer. Some operators have also reported back to us that the parked caravan must be self-sufficient and that camping in the classic sense is not allowed (e.g. tables and chairs out). This undesirable camping atmosphere brings us straight to those pitches that generally do not allow caravans. There are often reports of country travelers who stay for several weeks and who generally do not seem to be ideal guests for many people. Parking lot operators often use this to justify the ban on caravans.
Campsites and laws: main reasons for “not allowed”
One of the most frequently cited reasons is that there is a campsite nearby that offers better conditions for caravans. The operators within a location also do not want to compete with each other's target audience and therefore work with bans. The legal situation is also similar in some regions. The political will often seems to go in the direction that caravans belong on the campsite, while motorhomes are allowed to stay on their own parking space. Theo Dammertz, himself a motorhome site operator, parking space supplier and consultant , explains that in some federal states there is a limit of three caravans. As soon as a parking space allows more caravans, the extensive requirements of a campsite must be met. A general ban on caravans therefore prevents this limit from being violated. Nevertheless, despite this restriction, some motorhome sites still accept caravans if, for example, the nearby campsite is full and provided they are registered.
Other reasons given for not using caravans are the lack of self-sufficiency, although these are no longer as relevant and, above all, reasons for space are cited. The Marina-Rünthe mobile home port also reports problems here. The 18 parking spaces there are arranged in a semicircle and are therefore unsuitable for caravans that do not have the space required for maneuvering.
People, not vehicles, make the difference
Nevertheless, the tenor of supporters of caravans on their pitches was that it doesn't make much difference whether there is a motorhome or a caravan there. Consideration and respectful behavior on the pitch are the most important criteria for whether a guest is welcome, as Marina Wendenschloss and other operators told us.
Finally, we can report that the most common statement was a positive one: “We welcome all campers!” Overall, we were surprised by the number and variety of answers and also the balanced ratio of “allowed” to “not allowed”. Of course, we have also entered these answers into our system and hope that the remaining parking space operators will do the same. So that caravan drivers also know where they can stay while on the road.
Image source: Minipony Ranch parking space
Addendum:
Our question on this topic attracted a lot of attention and also resulted in some subsequent answers. We received a particularly detailed comment from Thomas Schröder, who runs a management consultancy for parking spaces called Schröder & Partner . He reports that in North Rhine-Westphalia the minimum size of a parking space with permission for caravans must be at least 70 square meters. However, very few offer this minimum area. The fire protection requirements are also much higher if caravans are also to be parked. Reduced mobility is crucial here. Mr. Schröder reports that the costs for creating a motorhome parking space that is also suitable for caravans are around 30% higher than parking spaces only for mobile homes. Anyone who does not meet these requirements and still allows caravans is liable, especially in the event of damage. A note from Stellplatz.Info: We cannot check whether those motorhome parking spaces with “caravans allowed” on our platform meet the requirements, but we appeal to the operators’ common sense. Safety and fairness in the camping industry come first!
We would like to thank all providers of motorhome parking spaces who supported our research with their answers: mobile home parking space Schneckenlohe, mobile home parking space Johannisberg , terrace parking space on the shores of the Diemelsee , parking space at Stadtwerke Biedenkopf , parking space for mobile homes in Uckermark , parking space for the Moselle area in Enkrich , Störtebeker leisure pool , parking space at the IFA holiday park , Car park at the Südpfalz sports and leisure hall, Kreiselmaier winery , Seilheimerhof winery , Aggsbach bathing beach, car park at the natural brine pool, Bad Bentheim castle car park, car park at the Vitusbad, Im Feldchen / Neuhäusel, Löhne car park, Bad Salzdetfurth brine pool , car park at the Mühlentor / Bodenwerder , mobile home parking spaces in Rotenburg ad Fulda , Löningen mobile home port , Unterkirnach motorhome parking space , Dammertz parking space technology , Grüner Weg Eckernförde car park, parking space at the Pillichsdorf tennis club, Pottenstein mobile home park, Helmut Schreieck winery , Motorhome park on the Main Kitzingen , Paderborn parking spaces , parking spaces at the Dragon Cave in Syrau , Hotel-Restaurant Molitors Mühle , water friends Ruhrmühle, Wörner's Castle , mobile home site Am Frauenberg , Mohndorf Armschlag , Marina Lauenburg , parking space at the harbor hotel , Gasthaus Peters , Gasthaus zum goldenen Anker , parking space at the industrial villa , Bleiche parking lot , Steinerne Eiche parking lot, parking space at the Pappelsee amusement park, Mühlenstraße Bad Laasphe parking space, holiday farm Folger , mobile home parking space at the Einersheimer Tor , Pfötchenhotel Resort Berlin , mobile home parking space at the Sole-Therme , Landgasthof Alte Post , Preetz mobile home park , Eifgen sauna , parking space at the festival site / Jork , mobile home parking space at the Zielfinger lakes , Erich Braun & Sohn winery , at the swimming pool Bad Hersfeld , Kalkar motorhome site , Hotel-Restaurant Graues Schloß , parking space at Schiffertor , Restaurant Zum alten Quitzow , Köpenicker Hof motorhome parking space , Lübeck motorhome meeting point , RV parking space for RV Oasis on the island of Rügen , motorhome parking space at the Franken Therme , MINI parking space in Dornbirn , Kapellenhof winery , Kleve parking spaces , Minipony Ranch parking spaces , caravan park at the Technik Museum , Seehausen mobile home parking space, Bad Düben spa area parking lot , parking lot at the reservoir , Karpfenplatz parking space, Müller-Kern winery , Im Jaich water holiday world , Erkrath mobile home parking space, Höper holiday farm , Am Rheinufer / Braubach , Müller riding stable, Hof Weseloh, Gasthof Humler-Hof, Thulbatal camping and motorhome parking space, parking space at Aquadies, Hüttenberg parking space , Schlösslwiese parking lot , Neuenstein holiday farm, Hansa Park , Wiesau parking space, Alfeld seminar parking lot, AquaMagis parking space, Elbe Torgau parking lot , Bayerhof , Weilburg mobile home station , An the Mainlände , Wässering car park, Olper Bäderbetriebe GmbH - Olpe leisure pool , Freudenthal hunting lodge, space on the banks of the Moselle / Kinheim , Büsum caravan site / harbor , motorhomes at the Barßel boat harbor , Weilburg motorhome station , wine cooperative of the Cochem-Zell district , car park at the Burggarten / Hachenburg, Womopark Am Aasee , Horumersiel marina, Rasdorf parking space , Wendenschloss marina , mobile home port on the Rhine, Damp mobile home park, P3 at the Körse-Therme , Hilchenbach parking spaces , Vilshofen parking spaces , motorhome parking space at the natural pool, Am Nohfels motorhome parking space , mobile home parking space in Gründlein, Landgasthof Neugebauer, Marina-Rünthe mobile home harbor . _ _ __ _ _ _ Mobile home park Erding , Nagelerhof - parking spaces on the farm , city agency Haltern am See, parking spaces Otterndorf, parking space Dingolfing , parking space at the Cloef Atrium and parking space Burgdorf Ovelgönne
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