Planning a motorhome route: allowing for height, length and weight

A sat nav designed for cars has no idea your motorhome is three metres tall. The result: a bridge that is too low, a car park with a height barrier, a village lane where you can go neither forwards nor backwards. Your vehicle's size is the first constraint on any motorhome route, well before distance.

Know your real dimensions

Before you leave, write these down somewhere visible, on the dashboard for example:

• the total height, including roof box, aerial, air conditioning unit or solar panels;
• the length, including a loaded bike rack;
• the width, with mirrors unfolded;
• the maximum authorised laden weight (PTAC in France), shown on the registration document (carte grise).

Height is the measurement most often underestimated: a few centimetres of roof box are enough to turn a pass under a bridge into an accident. On a hire vehicle, ask the rental company for these figures: see our guide to renting a campervan or motorhome.

Height: bridges, tunnels and car park barriers

Underpasses, some tunnels and many town-centre or supermarket car parks have height limits. The sign shows a maximum height: if it shows less than your real height, turn round. Many car parks have height barriers precisely to keep motorhomes out.

Length and width: old town centres and mountain roads

Historic town centres, hilltop villages and some mountain roads with tight hairpins quickly become a struggle beyond seven metres. Signs sometimes restrict the permitted length or width. A good habit is to park on the outskirts and explore on foot or by bike.

Weight: the 3.5-tonne line

The PTAC changes a lot of things:

• Up to 3.5 t, a motorhome can be driven on a standard car licence (permis B in France) and mostly follows the rules for light vehicles.
• Above 3.5 t, a car licence is in principle no longer enough, and the vehicle is subject to heavy goods vehicle rules: specific speed limits, signed driving bans for heavy vehicles, bridges with weight limits.

On motorways, the toll class also depends on height and weight. Check which category your vehicle falls into before a long journey.

Overnight stops have size limits too

Size doesn't only matter on the road. A motorhome aire may have pitches too short for a large motorhome, be restricted to vehicles under 3.5 t, or sit behind a height-restricted entrance. Better to know before you arrive at nightfall. To choose the right type of place, see our guide service area, aire or campsite.

A route calculated for your vehicle

In Pakvia, you choose your vehicle size: campervan (2.6 m high, 6 m long, 3.5 t), motorhome (3.2 m, 7.5 m, 3.5 t) or large motorhome (3.6 m, 9 m, 5 t). Above 3.5 t, the route follows heavy goods vehicle rules, and overnight stops that are off-limits or too small for that size are left out. If your vehicle exceeds these benchmarks, choose the next size up. Each day then opens in Google Maps.

To round off your preparation, read where to sleep in a motorhome in France, then plan your first route for free.