Camping in France

[T'Onion]

Ok we are off to France in the van of doom in the summer and it will be the first time i've taken the van across,
so the question is wadda things i should take ?
and wadda the things that need doing/be in the van ie beam benders, first aid box, emergency triangle....

TA

[jed the spread]

i understand you need a waist container of sorts for campsites when ive been reading up on it for our france trip. will you need an overnight stop off on the way to the ferry? we are an hour and a half from dover

jed

[T'Onion]

will you need an overnight stop off on the way to the ferry? we are an hour and a half from dover

jed

Cheers for the offer Jed, we havent got that far with our plans yet ,

mmm waste bucket (yes mejulie BuKet) , i think towsure do a collapsable one .. will have to look into that ..

any good info websites to look at ?

[jed the spread]

got a few pointers off ukcampsites.

jed

[Jolly Boy A]

You need to carry a full set of spare bulbs when driving in France.

Also bear in mind that some French campsites have reversed polarity on the hook ups. Buy a polarity tester and have a small extension lead made up that effectively reverses the pins on your hook-up lead.

[stuckin88]

Hi 'Un---where are you goin in France?--cos you cant go to all of it at once-get a Michelin road atlas-one off a boot sale will do-Toll roads are dear-classe 2 wiv yer hi-top so use N roads where yer can-you can travel long distances in France using a combination of N roads & Autoroutes where the N road is too slow--7 yrs of drivin around France stop-start thru the towns is what done for me gearbox in't end--check everthing on you van 'cos its hard getting a T25 repaired in France--a VW dealer the worst place to go-they will bleed you till you scream & then some more--breakdown/recovery insurance a must-I got away with it for 7 yrs but needed it in the end-The French T3 forum is http://vw.transporter.free.fr/ register on it & post using babelfish-it will make you feel like a French T3er--if you want cheap campsites-use Municipals, one in most towns--always clearly signposted as are all campsites-includin the naked ones--autogas is fairly well available-but different fitting-I think------for yer cookin gas take Campingaz bottles-the only ones exchangable thru out Europe--but a couple of Calor ones will last if yore only goin for a fortnite-its safe enough to wild camp on seafronts & in towns-with loads of others-but dont sleep on motorway services there crap & possibly not safe--if your goin south-dont leave your van unattended in supermkt car parks-one shops one stay with van-------------I'll think of some more stuff soon--

[ringo]

You need to carry a full set of spare bulbs when driving in France.

Also bear in mind that some French campsites have reversed polarity on the hook ups. Buy a polarity tester and have a small extension lead made up that effectively reverses the pins on your hook-up lead.

I've got a english plug adapter that i use at home. If i ever find the polarity is reversed (i havent yet) then i take the back of the uk plug, change the polarity and then use a travel adapter. Sweet.

You need hi vis vests now in the car in case of a breakdown - hmmmm nice.

Breakdown insurance kills me. I've had 8 weeks in france (including a 6 week trip down the west coast which was awesome) and not needed it yet (local garages were sufficient). I've stopped getting it nowadays but only really because my missus speaks the lingo a bit. If i were to go for a few weeks i would get it inclusive with my insarance - they seem to be cheaper than the AA.
Also, if you breakdown, what they going to do ? Lend you a car until your van gets fixed ? That sucks - i want a replacement camper van!

Get the map as mentioned above - its awesome.

I've heard some horror stories about vans getting robbed (and seen the upset people) but its just the same as here really. Use you noggin and you'll be fine.

Where are you going ?

Ringo

[owlets]

Mark

Ignore all the scare stories about people getting gased, load of "Balls". There was an article on the BBC website recently about it. When we went last year the sites we stayed at had the standard hook up connection, waste faciliities etc. In fact its much better over there, most supermarket car parks have aire de service where you can empty your waste tank, fil up your fresh water, empty the porta potti and charge up for a bit too.

Its great........we did Brittany, like Cornwall without the sweaty northerners and good food.

[littlepixel]

Adding to the list of queries - is it true that you can't take vehicles with LPG tanks on the EuroTunnel trains? Is that an issue that basically means blanket denial of campers or can you do it as long as the tank's empty? I guess the ferry is easier in the long run.

[stuckin88]

You cant take lpg powered vehicles on Eurotunnel--you can take campers with gas bottles for cookin----the Eurotunnel experience is rubbish tho--take the Dover/Calais ferry-much cheaper as well--

[plymat]

Mark
Its great........we did Brittany, like Cornwall without the sweaty northerners and good food.

lovin that one.

Anyway back to he thread. France in a camper...love it. Already booked for the third year on the trot.
Basic items that you WILL need, triangle, fluro waistcoat,spare bulbs, beam benders to name some, the AA / RAC does a list somewhere including a 'desirable' list too.
I have never had a problem with the reversed polarity, nor a waste bucket been needed.
Fresh food is cheap in the markets / supermarkets but tinned items like baked beans are not, it's worth taking some items like these with you.

Depending on when you are going some campsites only accept bookings from Saturdays to Saturdays, for this we get a late afternoon ferry and then drive overnight, for a few reasons i.e. cooler in the summer, quiter roads, and we get there when the site opens firs thing in the morning and have a complete day there.

I have written a bit on my website re our trips there, including some photo's.

[plymat]

Mark
Its great........we did Brittany, like Cornwall without the sweaty northerners and good food.

lovin that one.

Anyway back to he thread. France in a camper...love it. Already booked for the third year on the trot.
Basic items that you WILL need, triangle, fluro waistcoat,spare bulbs, beam benders to name some, the AA / RAC does a list somewhere including a 'desirable' list too.
I have never had a problem with the reversed polarity, nor a waste bucket been needed.
Fresh food is cheap in the markets / supermarkets but tinned items like baked beans are not, it's worth taking some items like these with you.

Depending on when you are going some campsites only accept bookings from Saturdays to Saturdays, for this we get a late afternoon ferry and then drive overnight, for a few reasons i.e. cooler in the summer, quiter roads, and we get there when the site opens firs thing in the morning and have a complete day there.

I have written a bit on my website re our trips there, including some photo's.

[T'Onion]

Cheers All , keep the stuff coming ....

Billy no to naked campsites

plymat will have a look at your website this week

Map i have a tom tom for that

[Ian Hulley]

Remind me at Pickering and I'll talk you to death on it

Re the gassing issue ..... we were given some good advice by some very experienced middle-age Franglais campers ... DO NOT use the rest or service aires near the ferry ports. We sleep on this side of the channel and drive as far away as possible on the other side before we need to stop for kipingtons.

I think France is like the UK in that people near the ports are sick of bl%dy tourists. However in France the coastal areas actively encourage campers with special,free Camping Voiture car parks as opposed to our height barriers and No Camping signs

Ian.

[gazza]

Got a froggie two pin convertor thingy and a polarity tester thingy and a
triangle but you carnt ave me spare bulb kit you Wessie git think I can make Pickering so can give you your loot there.