Parking challenges

apforrest · Oct 7, 2023

Hi all.

We’re on the cusp of buying a van and thought to check one of our local car parks. Unfortunately it looks like the van is too high.

Being that this will be our sole vehicle, how have others found getting around/parking? We live in Bristol and concerned we may end up making things harder for ourselves, especially when driving into city centres.

Any experiences/opinions people can offer here that may help us have a clearer picture with what to expect?

Thanks

WelshGas · Oct 7, 2023

apforrest said:
Hi all.

We’re on the cusp of buying a van and thought to check one of our local car parks. Unfortunately it looks like the van is too high.

Being that this will be our sole vehicle, how have others found getting around/parking? We live in Bristol and concerned we may end up making things harder for ourselves, especially when driving into city centres.

Any experiences/opinions people can offer here that may help us have a clearer picture with what to expect?

Thanks

My California is my daily driver and the family car. Over the past 9 yrs I've rarely had any problems parking anywhere. 2m or higher, no problem.

Calimili · Oct 7, 2023

I don't live in Bristol, but the high of a Cali at 199cm in order to use it as a car and park it everywhere is it's main unique feature. I would guess that 199cm height is 95% of the reason people choose a Cali.

Azteccamper · Oct 7, 2023

Hell of lot of 1.9m barriers appearing around the country now - especially popular coastal / country areas. Huge increase in 1.8m / 1.9m in France was noticeable this year as well.

andyinluton · Oct 7, 2023

I went back to a 2m Ocean because of the lack of parking for a GC600, nowhere near the station at home that I could park due to height barriers & the chances of finding anywhere in central London near to work were close to zero. It meant that the GC was not used other than for holidays wheres the Ocean is used as a daily.

If I think parking is going be a problem I take a different car as the wife is happy to drive an ocean but wouldn't dream of taking a GC to the shops etc

Paulro · Oct 7, 2023

apforrest said:
Hi all.

We’re on the cusp of buying a van and thought to check one of our local car parks. Unfortunately it looks like the van is too high.

Being that this will be our sole vehicle, how have others found getting around/parking? We live in Bristol and concerned we may end up making things harder for ourselves, especially when driving into city centres.

Any experiences/opinions people can offer here that may help us have a clearer picture with what to expect?

Thanks

I’m in Bristol and have never had a problem?

colintfcolintf · Oct 7, 2023

there‘s an option to lower them by 30mm. mine was spec’d that way when new

vmaxkiddy · Oct 8, 2023

Using this web site (or app) you can search for parking and find out any height restrictions before you go.

Find Parking, Car Parks, Street Parking, Private Garages - Book Parking

Find your perfect parking space using our growing database of thousands of car parks, street and metered parking and even private garages!

www.parkopedia.com

Gàirnealair · Oct 13, 2023

National Trust also starting to put 1.9m barriers in some popular car parks.

Corradobrit · Oct 13, 2023

Azteccamper said:
Hell of lot of 1.9m barriers appearing around the country now - especially popular coastal / country areas. Huge increase in 1.8m / 1.9m in France was noticeable this year as well.

This was evident to me too. And they were exactly 1.9m when I measured them with a laser. Zero overage.

Cali Phillip · Oct 13, 2023

Gàirnealair said:
National Trust also starting to put 1.9m barriers in some popular car parks.

That going to upset a few members.

andrew bazeley · Oct 13, 2023

Things may have changed since I bought mine 15 years ago, but the stated "below 2M" does not account for the awning, which - in the case of the older, bigger awnings - takes it up to just over 2 metres. I found out the hard way!

Anthony1 · Oct 13, 2023

apforrest said:
Hi all.

We’re on the cusp of buying a van and thought to check one of our local car parks. Unfortunately it looks like the van is too high.

Being that this will be our sole vehicle, how have others found getting around/parking? We live in Bristol and concerned we may end up making things harder for ourselves, especially when driving into city centres.

Any experiences/opinions people can offer here that may help us have a clearer picture with what to expect?

Thanks

There's 2m and there's 2m.

Cath&Stef · Oct 13, 2023

Indeed -

Anthony1 said:
There's 2m and there's 2m.

View attachment 115423

View attachment 115424

Indeed!
I wouldn't rely on the sign. The fitter may have had a bad day when measuring or the surface may have changed since the 'barrier' was fitted.
My converted Transporter comes in at 2.10m and one reason I fitted Air suspension is the Parking mode it offers. This reduces the van's height to 1.97m (as measured against my garage door). I have, VERY carefully(!), passed under 2m barriers, but probably won't try a multi-storey car park, unless I'm sure I can get in AND out on the same level. The up and down ramps between levels might cause me to scrape the bottom or top with just 3cm to spare.

Hedley Wright · Oct 13, 2023

Phillip T said:
That going to upset a few members.

Not just Cali owners - Landrover Defenders are over that and Discovery owners will have squeaky bums.

Perfectos · Oct 13, 2023

The train station carpark at Bristol city centre has sufficient height allowing a Cali to park !

PeteS · Oct 14, 2023

You can park in Trenchard Street car park in Bristol but it is tight and I think that the underground car park by At Bristol is ok but that car park does have some tight turns to get in. I have parked my Caravelle in there.
Cabot Circus has a high vehicle section as you enter from the M32 but it is first come first served so might be full up.
The open air car park by the SS Great Britain is always good and you can get the river boat into town or walk from there.

AlanC · Oct 14, 2023

I had VW lowering springs fitted to my Cali which dropped the height by 3cm so parking barriers were not an issue.

Alan

Cali Phillip · Oct 15, 2023

Hedley Wright said:
Not just Cali owners - Landrover Defenders are over that and Discovery owners will have squeaky bums.

Indeed, sorry I was a little vague, I meant NT members in general with larger vehicles.

CaliGem · Oct 15, 2023

apforrest said:
Hi all.

We’re on the cusp of buying a van and thought to check one of our local car parks. Unfortunately it looks like the van is too high.

Being that this will be our sole vehicle, how have others found getting around/parking? We live in Bristol and concerned we may end up making things harder for ourselves, especially when driving into city centres.

Any experiences/opinions people can offer here that may help us have a clearer picture with what to expect?

Thanks

My van is my everyday vehicle. It does fit in a multistory (but I prefer not to.... The ramps I take wide as it does feel a bit too close in most instances!) I avoid anything too low (2m!)

I never struggle to find a space which suits, even if I have to drive past the first carpark I come to.

Parking challenges

apforrest

WelshGas

Retired after 42 yrs and enjoying Life.

Calimili

Azteccamper

andyinluton

Paulro

colintfcolintf

vmaxkiddy

Find Parking, Car Parks, Street Parking, Private Garages - Book Parking

Gàirnealair

Corradobrit

Cali Phillip

andrew bazeley

Anthony1

Too young to be old

Cath&Stef

Hedley Wright

Perfectos

PeteS

AlanC

Traveling

Cali Phillip

CaliGem

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