Advice...camping trip to France

[DaveB]

Tea
Cheddar
Wadworths 6X
Marmite

[mwheatley]

Simple but effective Dave, very effective

[plurker]

Errrr you forgot "BEER"

English beer is pooh compared to French, so I'll buy my Pelforth over there

I've added 'accelerator cable' to my list now!

[plymat]

What about breakdown cover (hoping not to use it!), where's best to get it from and quick as going Friday!

[ding-dang-dhu]

What about breakdown cover (hoping not to use it!), where's best to get it from and quick as going Friday!

I have european cover in my insurance. 90 days worth, RAC I think. The documents are in the van.

We Sail on Friday too. Norfolkline from Dover to Dunkirk. Maybe see you there We leave tomorrow night, driving from Aberdeen to Manchester then on to Dover Thursday afternoon.

Just packed the van, fingers crossed.

Hope you have a great time

Pete

[Red Westie]

Haven't booked it yet but are planning to sail on Sunday evening...also Norfolk line, heading to switzerland...very slowly.
To add to your list:
One of those canister tyre seal and inflate jobbers
Washing line
Beam deflectors for driving on the WRONG side lol
A few cans of RED BULL! most important when driving.
A few mixed terminal ends (spade connections etc)
A trailing 4 gang extention for the odd time you have hook up and need to charge umpteen things at once.
Tow rope
Jump leads
Make sure your spare is OK! I've just dropped and checked mine...it was flat! and needed a new tyre valve fitting.

Does anyone know exactly what documents you NEED to have if stopped by the feds?
Martin

[Steve P]

Have a safe trip everyone. We've decided to head towards the Loire Valley, just waiting to hear back from the campsite now.

Must go and gets some spare bulbs and beam deflectors today, although my friend says he can do the same with some black tape.

Good point to make about the spare Red Westie. I have just had to replace mine as the side walls were perished. Looks like it's been under there for years.

Regarding documents, someone suggested:
Both parts of your driving licence.
Insurance Certificate - let them know you are travelling as well. Bev phoned A Flux and they said good job she had phoned because otherwise we wouldn't have been covered
Log Book
MOT certificate.

On the suggestion of someone else I've also had to let my bank know that I may need to use my debit card whilst in France. They've made a note on the account as apparently it would have been declined otherwise, something to do with cloning issues in France.

Steve

[Nicola&Tony]

My list so far is the following, please add on anything i've forgotten

Legal necessities to drive in France:
1 x warning triangle
1 x hiviz jacket for each person travelling
1 x spare bulb kit

Essentials for van maintenance / in case of need:
Haynes manual
trolley jack
footpump
tow rope
some lengths of water hose
cable ties, jubilee clips, gaffa tape
jump leads / charger pack
fan belt
ratchet straps / bungies
vulcanising tape
tools - full socket set and variety spanners, screwdrivers, pliers, snips, hammer
tent (in case van needs to go into garage for any time)

Other:
1st aid kit
a selection of fuses and electrical wire
maps
guide des aires de services
guide des campings
french dictionary
5 gallon petrol tank
oil

and put the number for JustKampers in the glovebox - they deliver to campsites in France

If you're taking a trolley jack how about trying to find some space for at least one axle stand and a pair of chocs? Maybe carry some brake / clutch fluid (dot 4) and coolant as well?

Tony

[ding-dang-dhu]

If you're taking a trolley jack how about trying to find some space for at least one axle stand and a pair of chocs? Maybe carry some brake / clutch fluid (dot 4) and coolant as well?

Tony

Top tip there Tony, will pack my dot 4 when I get home. Chocs and axle stand will have to be left behind. My boys, it seems, NEED every power ranger that they have to come on holiday with us.

Thanks

[widdershins]

I'm going for a 3 week trip in France too, leaving on August 7th. This thread is mighty useful, cheers!

[plymat]

Doh! Forgot the deflectors! Will get some tomorrow.

I'm heading to Bordeaux and then heading out to Lacanua-Ocean. Driving from Roscoff via Vannes, Noirt, Saintes over night.

Looking good on here - http://magicseaweed.com/Lacanau-Ocean-Surf-Report/66/

[Red Westie]

All booked...10pm crossing Sunday evening, Norfolk line..anyone else?


And as a matter of interest to others...YES! Adrian Flux did need contacting, they are posting out a green card.
Also
The bank agreed that they also needed to know because of a recent spate of fraud abroad with debit cards.

Just fitted a new F45Ti Fiamma...lovely.. all ready to go.
Martin

[Nicola&Tony]

Make sure your spare is OK! I've just dropped and checked mine...it was flat!

I must make a point of doing this . . . haven't seen mine for a while (shouldn't say that, it's just asking for trouble! )

That reminds me, might be worth checking all your wheel nuts to see if they're too tight! The torque should be 180Nm iirc. When we first got the van I was driving it back up m1 from Leicester and a tyre went. I had hell of a job getting the wheel nuts off because they either hadn't been off for a while or had been done up far too tight with an air gun thingy in a garage. Nasty back pain for two weeks afterwards as a result of all me pulling, pushing, stamping trying to release the blighters!

Tony

[moojw]

no one mentioned GPS, gas bottles, heater (It was -6 in Spain when last there), chargers.. for all elec bits, and flashlight, your miss that when something goes wrong and it's really dark

[b1llyf1sh]

Some campsites have old fashioned euro plug power stands, came across these twice last year. I have a euro westie so I was fine, but might be worth checking to make sure you have the correct cabling if you have a van with the big blue 3 pin jobbies.

Also if you wear specs, you need 2 pairs in case badgers steal them, or something.