trickydicky Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 as we have a five hour drive to dover we don't want to leave home with a full tank of water (110ltrs) purely because of the extra weight and cost.does anyone know how easy it is to get water from a filling station in france. we thought we could just get a few litres every time we fill up with diesel . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry1956 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Hi, its getting harder and harder to get water from filling stations, If I was you take some water with you from the start. We travel with a 1/4 tank full to start with and fill up 100% when we can. Water is on the meter in france and most of europe and for this reason a lot more places are removing outside taps, or turning off the water to them. Hve a look at the hgv SIDE of service stations if possable, some of them will be usable, but check first if their is water at the tap before getting all the gear out. michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter42 Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 I guess that getting water from a filling station in France is not a lot different to getting water at a filling station here. However, I personally would not contemplate getting drinking water from either. Forecourt water dispensers are provided for topping up cooling systems and will not necassarily be of drinking standard. You are much better advised to visit an Aire de Service, where drinking water will either be free or at a nominal fee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianR Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 The best place to get water in France is from the cemetries. They all seem to have a tap near the entrance for filling flower vases. The only problem is that many of them are turned off when it is frosty. The water is drinking water unless marked otherwise (non potable) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Dicky ... I don't think that carrying a full tank of water will make that much difference to you cost wise. We always go with a full tank as its not always convenient to find an aire when you want it, especially as some are vandalised or have been removed altogether (depending on where you're going of course). There is an aire de service borne at Auchan in Calais but then you'll have to spend time travelling to it and buy the water so any possible saving you will make by not carrying the water would be far outweighed by this. Also, if there is a cold snap, you could find that you might have problems getting the water out of the aires de service borne! For long distance/time travel, it is also probably safer to travel with either a full tank or an empty/almost empty one because the water can't the slosh around so much inside as you go along at high speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peejay Posted December 16, 2008 Share Posted December 16, 2008 Hi; If you're going to fill up with fuel anyway when you get across the other side then I would recommend a visit to the Calais Auchan... http://www.auchancalais.com/shopping_centre.asp The filling station is opposite the supermarket on Ave Roger Salengro. The relevance being that there is also a motorhome service point there as well as diesel and LPG, a true one stop service point...... quote from a Calais aire review on another forum... Aire de service only, (no overnight parking) located at the Auchan Filling Station just across the road from the main Auchan Store. When entering keep to the extreme lefthand lane and the M/Home service point is next to the HGV diesel pump. Lpg is also available here. Jeton for fresh water available from the kiosk. Handy place to service your van before or after your ferry journey. Leave A16 at junc 41, down to roundabout, turn right, to next roundabout, turn right, through Coquelles village towards calais (N1), Auchan can be seen on the left. Tight exit through the pay booths so not suitable for RV's Just to add that the 24/7 pumps here accept all UK credit cards with no problem and the menus are available in English. Fuel is cheap here, usually one of the cheapest fuel stations in Calais. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curly Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Hi Trick I agree with Mel B the cost of mpg with a tank full or just part full is negligible, it is not worth the hassle of searching for water at this time or any other time of the year. We never travel without a tank full and where and when I am able to fill up I will do so. The power of these engines will not make a lot of difference, piece of mind, hassle free is our way of thinking, so that minute cost of diesel doesn't come into the equation, I would guess like most of us we carry something we never use so if cost is a major factor then offload these bits. :-D :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rapido-lass Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 We always start our journey with a full water tank. If travelling long distance at an even speed it will not make a big difference to your diesel costs. However, it will make a big difference to your holiday if you are wasting time looking for water (probably costing more in diesel than the initial journey) and also the water from home is drinking standard, so you won't loose time sitting on the loo if other places are not! The other alternative is to book into a CL at Dover the night before your crossing and fill up there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handyman Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 BrianR - 2008-12-16 7:47 PM The best place to get water in France is from the cemetries. They all seem to have a tap near the entrance for filling flower vases. The only problem is that many of them are turned off when it is frosty. The water is drinking water unless marked otherwise (non potable) the side of a nice big campervan to look at when your putting flowers on your wifes grave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 BrianR, I recall reading in one of the French motorhome magazines a savage letter from a local authority. This criticised the magazine for printing advice similar to yours, saying that it was sad when the authority had provided a camping-car aire de services at considerable cost and then found that certain motorcaravanners were unprepared to pay the small fee necessary to use that facility, preferring instead to fill their vehicles' water-tanks for free from the cemetery tap. Even worse, a few of these motorcaravanners had become abusive when challenged over their actions, claiming that local authorities were obliged to provide taps at cemeteries and everybody had a right (presumably God-given!) to use the water for whatever purposes they chose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terry1956 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Hi, its not just water the french don,t like paying for, have you ever seen the number that leave just before the man or women comes round for the 4 euros parking fee. You see must of them later parked up by the road side having their breakfast. I drive on french plates and get some very odd reactions from people when they see we are still parked up after 9 o clock. and have the euros ready by the door. And a few have just walked off with big smiles leaving us be for the remaining time we are at the site with no payment at all. sometimes its just nice to be english michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handyman Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 People (some) on here will be exactly the same ie doing their best to pay nothing to camp........I suppose they have a 50K van and need to save as much as possible to recover the high costs of running. Cant see that the french are any worse than the british. Height barriers everywhere to keep you out is the indication of freecampers infesting an area. It makes me feel very sad that anyone would feel it morally correct to take water from a cemetery...........with the main objective is to save a few euros *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 trickydicky - 2008-12-16 2:15 PM as we have a five hour drive to dover we don't want to leave home with a full tank of water (110ltrs) purely because of the extra weight and cost.does anyone know how easy it is to get water from a filling station in france. we thought we could just get a few litres every time we fill up with diesel . Yes it is easy if you only want a few ltrs, but why bother? I to do not travel with a full tank to avoid overload on rear axle but always have about a quarter tank for an emergency. You can always fill up at campsite or at most aires so why bother messing about. I do not agree with the scrooge types who expect everything for nothing and get motorhomes a bad name, so please avoid the places where free water is availible but are not intended to fill 100ltr m/h tanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handyman Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 i find the performance of the engine is sluggish when cruising 75-85mph when the water tank is full When appropriate, i always travel with minimum water required (be it fresh or waste) and this is normally only on the big drive to get where the holiday is to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I find that laden or unladen makes no appreciable difference to any van I have ever had (and I've had a few!) regarding top or cruising speeds or indeed fuel consumption. Where it can suffer a bit is acceleration - never a motorhome strong point - and uphill pulling power but even that is very minor when compared to the sheer convenience of not having to worry about where tomorrow's water is going to come from! In reality as far as we are concerned any potential for time 'lost' on a long haul by the extra weight - if indeed any is lost - is more than made up for by the sheer joy of not having to faff about looking for water every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handyman Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 correct tracker, its the high speed acceleration thats affected, and all I'm doing is driving all day for 2 days, so when i arrive, normality begins! Drives me mental when i cant maintain 85 as soon as a slight hill appears Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 handyman - 2008-12-17 5:59 PM correct tracker, its the high speed acceleration thats affected, and all I'm doing is driving all day for 2 days, so when i arrive, normality begins! Drives me mental when i cant maintain 85 as soon as a slight hill appears What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trickydicky Posted December 17, 2008 Author Share Posted December 17, 2008 the general concensus seems to be, travel with a full tank.as we have never travelled like this before (in a motorhome) it is all new to us,so i appreciate what you are saying about not having to worry about finding a water supply. finding an aire will be nerve racking enough. (even though we have just received our "aires in france " book).preparing for our first trip abroad is stressful, especcially worrying about finding somewhere to stop at night.you lot out there seem so "clued up".thanks for your advise,it is appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tracker Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 The best bit of advice I would give (if asked!) is try and find a site/aire/parking spot before nightfall even if you locate it early and go off for a meal or whatever then return later as it is next to impossible to find a decent spot to spend the night once darkness falls upon you in a strange and unknown area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
handyman Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 Tracker - 2008-12-17 6:08 PM handyman - 2008-12-17 5:59 PM correct tracker, its the high speed acceleration thats affected, and all I'm doing is driving all day for 2 days, so when i arrive, normality begins! Drives me mental when i cant maintain 85 as soon as a slight hill appears What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. No time to stand beneath the boughs And stare as long as sheep or cows. No time to see, when woods we pass, Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass. No time to see, in broad daylight, Streams full of stars, like skies at night. No time to turn at Beauty's glance, And watch her feet, how they can dance. No time to wait till her mouth can Enrich that smile her eyes began. A poor life this if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare. dont give a hoot about a poem............i need to get to where we are going to holiday. The wife flies out, and i do the drive and meet her at the airport. Pisa was last year. Completely different when you have unlimited or large amount of holiday to take from work/are retired. i too will then take my time getting somewhere, and even may slow down to 65 mph and make poems up as well. Might take up painting :-> one things for sure when i retire............i would be taking water from a graveyard *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I would take water for my motorhome only from places where you are meant to take it for that very purpose, ie at an aire, campsite etc. I certainly wouldn't take it from a cemetery, toilet block etc, quite apart from it possibly not being drinking water, it's not what they are meant for and I would be horrified at the thought of upsetting those tending to the graves/grieving relatives etc. If I got that despareate for water I'd buy a few lots of bottled (we usually keep a sealed 5ltr bottled water with us for emergencies just in case). I've seen some disgusting habits in France where people have been too tight to pay for water and have used the waste water/toilet disposal rinse tap water instead to fill their tanks ... that to me is just asking for trouble and probably what they deserve! It is rediculous to risk the type of illnesses that doing this could cause for the sake of a few euros for clean safe water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maggyd Posted December 17, 2008 Share Posted December 17, 2008 I would just take a small amount for flushing and washing for a day and take bottled water to drink, once on the other side water in the supermarkets is cheap! and there is plenty of Aires to fill up each day even the campsite you can fill up at for a small charge. And we have only been Once I worried for nothing before we went. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 terry1956 - 2008-12-17 10:40 AM Hi, its not just water the french don,t like paying for, have you ever seen the number that leave just before the man or women comes round for the 4 euros parking fee. You see must of them later parked up by the road side having their breakfast. I drive on french plates and get some very odd reactions from people when they see we are still parked up after 9 o clock. and have the euros ready by the door. And a few have just walked off with big smiles leaving us be for the remaining time we are at the site with no payment at all. sometimes its just nice to be english michael Not just the french, used to be able to park in castle car park in southsea, overnight. all the other m/homes used to get up and be gone by 8am when the parking charges started. (it was £4.00 for 12 hours in those days) they would go and park in castle avenue, which was free, but resticted parking, these days it,s no overnight parking anywhere in southsea. Which is a shame, as theres only one grotty campsite in the town and it's exspencive. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 How much water you really need on board will, inevitably, depend on how you use your van, and your domestic preferences. However, it is now winter, and not all aires maintain their water supply through cold weather, for obvious reasons. I would say, therefore, travel with at least two days supply always available: preferably, for peace of mind, more. Besides which, you cannot guarantee the water supply point won't have been vandalised, even if it is still nominally working. You can't be absolutely certain to be able to connect your hose at every supply point. You can't be absolutely certain that if you don't like the look of the available hose when you arrive (because someone has clearly flushed out their toilet cassette with it, for example), you will be able to disconnect it and connect your own.In short, getting water is not guaranteed, and it is wise to plan for the unexpected. Failure to do so is liable to cause far more irritation, or even cost, than a very small increase in the fuel consumption of a, say, 3.4 tonne van, that might be caused by adding 100 litres of water (100Kg) to its weight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianR Posted December 18, 2008 Share Posted December 18, 2008 Derek Uzzell - 2008-12-17 8:28 AM BrianR, I recall reading in one of the French motorhome magazines a savage letter from a local authority. This criticised the magazine for printing advice similar to yours, saying that it was sad when the authority had provided a camping-car aire de services at considerable cost and then found that certain motorcaravanners were unprepared to pay the small fee necessary to use that facility, preferring instead to fill their vehicles' water-tanks for free from the cemetery tap. I don't defend people using sources such as cemetries just to avoid paying for water. However, if through no fault of your own you - e.g., taps frozen up or vandalised, you are in desperate need, I can't see that you do any harm by just filling up a 5 litre container at the cemetry tap. This is all I was suggesting. Travelling in the winter the problems of frozen and vandalised taps are frequently encountered. I deplore the "freeloading " mentality many 'vanners display. If services are provided then we should be happy to pay for them or they will disappear - provided, of course, they represent value for money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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