No longer a French virgin

From the outset, apologies for the cheeky title, may the moderators will censor me, but change the title if you want.
As I stated in a different post, we were in France in August for our first trip in the MH. The main issue that I encountered with the MH was the lack of payload weight. We run a 6.4 metre chausson built on a 3500kg ford transit. With 2 adults and 2 kids on board and 4 iron bikes on the back and after the second grape juice purchase, the rear bumper was lower than the front bumper.
The steering felt light especially when travelling on non motorways roads. Don't get me wrong here, the french roads are far superior than what is here.
I noticed that alot of the European campers towed a small car/ box trailer with bike racks fitted.
I understand that I would be limited with speed restrictions like a truck but that would help my fuel economy.
Our MH has a towbar and we have a car trailer, which with minimal fabrication would be turned into a box trailer with bike racks on the roof.
Irish Ferries only charge an extra €60 per sailing for the trailer.
My main question is, how will an aires operate with a trailer been tow as my overall lenght will be approximately 8.6 metres?
Will I be too long to fit into a standard space?
Will general parking in a supermarket, etc be a nightmare ?
My biggest concern is the 20 mg breathizer for towing a trailer or driving a vehicle more than 3500kg. It could be a dry holiday, with booze I mean.
Any thoughts are welcome.
Malcolm
Ps, I am licensed to pull a trailer and the MH is rated for 1000kg towing.

Aire's are not a standard size so I would assume it would depend where you were although I think there is sizes in the aire book if you look in the index

Our car trailer is single axle with a 3'×5' floor, 16" sides, so it's approximately about 180-200 kg. While it meets all the road regs for lights, mudguards etc , it is not plated.
To buy a proper new setup is about the bones of €1000 which to be honest is not worth it.
I am not sure as to what to do.

Your starting point is that the Transit 3,500kg chassis cannot be up-rated unlike for example the FIAT and Merc. chassis which can.
While the trailer option will result in reduced speed limits what is permissible is still fast enough for a fully laden motorhome + trailer.
But, there are benefits.
You won't need a C1 Licence (+doctors cert.) and if the total weight MH+Trailer does not exceed 4,250kg you don't need a trailer (+E) licence either.
You won't be affected by over 3,500kg GVW access restrictions to areas limited to vehicles <3.5t
You will be in the 'car'+ trailer/caravan class for toll's in places like France (class 2), Austria and Switzerland etc.

As regards Aires, a small trailer shouldn't cause problems but if space is a bit short you could always shorten your overall length by unhitching the trailer and reversing over the A-frame right up to the trailer body.

As regards supermarket car parks and the like, your overall length should still be within the length of two spaces back to back which you probably already select, being 6.4m long plus the bike rack

Happy motorhomming

Small trailers behind a Motorhome can be a pain to reverse, I think if I was going down the Trailer route I would go for a close coupled two ball hitch trailer with swivel wheels

Only buy the Juice before you get on the boat , then you can spread it all over the floor and drive all the way home without stopping overnight

I will never take the trailer to France again. Bicycles re sufficient in France. We have used the bicycles more than the Mehari. I have been pestered by the French to see the Mehari and did a run through the village for them yesterday. But definitely the trailer is up for sale when I get back and that's from years of experience.

John, that would be nice I must say. There's just one problem, the right numbers have not come up for me?

France is brilliant for cycling - we cycled around the South West of France and even around the city of Nice - pic attached of cycle path down one of the main streets in Nantes (don't know who the two in front are).

trailers are a right pain, extra thing to secure, negotiate, maintain etc...I took trailer with kayaks last year and first thing I did on return was built a roof assembly to avoid trailer again. Like jack there were numerous aire where, at best, it was very streesfull to get in/out. What about a roof box set forward for some of your stuff?

I have no first hand experience Malcolm, but once you are legal on the road and use common sense its a handy way out of your problem,
Worst case senario give it a try and see what happens,
If kayaks and bikes are in the trailer and you get a tight aires or site it should be easy enough to handle

I am not doubting my ability to tow a trailer behind the MH.
The car trailer that we have at the moment is 1.4 m at the widest point and 2.4 m at the longest point.
This gives me the option when faced with a short parking bay, to unhitch and push the trailer across the bay and then back in the MH making our lenght at just over 8m.
With the axa insurance policy through dolmens, there is standard third party insurance on a trailer behind the MH. A comprehensive policy is available for the trailer at a cost of €100.
Excuse the pun, there is a slight hitch with the comprehensive policy, the trailer needs to plated with made/model number and running mass weights.
Someone here also highlighted a possible police inspection for the same info plate.
I will inquiry as to see can a info plate be issued afterwards by means of an engineers report.
I will let you know with what happens.
Thanks folks,
Malcolm

Just to update the thread, irish ferries has been booked for next July. We included a trailer in the booking for €50 extra each way. At the moment that's the plan but if at a future date, we change our mind it is easy to amend the booking and drop the trailer. We just paid the €100 deposit.
We have managed to strech the holidays from work to 3 weeks and booked according.
Over the next few months we have the joy of organising our route and possible destinations. It's great to have something to look forward to.
Malcolm