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superted4
Member Since: 06 Sep 2013
Location: South Yorkshire
Posts: 46
  
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| Towing and camping in France |
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Towing for the first time abroad next week and going for a 2 week break in Bressuire. Apart the obvious and driving on the opposite side and spending euros is there any other tips for towing and setting up abroad.
Thanks in advance Previous Owner:Back LED lights,Reversing Camera, Spoiler, Colour Coded Wheel Arches, Supercharger Grill and Vent, Re-mapped (but not sure what to), EGRs Blanked Off, Ipad Mini in Dash
Me: 13 Pin Single Towing Electrics, Clear Side Repeaters, D4 Alloys (no tyres as of yet)
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 8th Aug 2014 8:27 am |
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bsm
Member Since: 14 May 2012
Location: Ellikom
Posts: 232
 
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Get a decent travel insurance, car + passengers!  2017-...: Disco II Td5 auto, 1999, BAS remap, HD TC and auto box Ashcroft, Allisport IC, ACE, 2" lift only coils, BF goodrich KM2 265/70R17, FF front and rear bumper, TF steering guard and tree sliders, nanocom.
2013-2017: Disco 3 TDV6 HSE aut. of 2008, Britpart treesliders, IIDTool, RLD sump guard, BFG KM2 265/70R17, adj. rods, BAS remap + EGRs blanked, silicon IC hoses.
2010-2013: Disco II Td5 of 2000, ACE, front Bearmach HD coils, rear SLS, GG AT2
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| 8th Aug 2014 9:43 am |
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cmyers_uk
Member Since: 10 Apr 2005
Location: Near Bristol, UK
Posts: 433
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Agree with BSM. From our current experience - decent breakdown cover which includes repatriation, warning triangle, hi-vis jackets to hand for everyone. Have numbers to call saved in phone. Plug convertor in case you end up in a hotel unexpectedly. Be prepared for rain, it always rains on us in August. Sharon
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| 8th Aug 2014 9:59 pm |
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Wolfpack
Member Since: 28 Jul 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 121
 
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| Re: Towing and camping in France |
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superted4 wrote:Towing for the first time abroad next week and going for a 2 week break in Bressuire. Apart the obvious and driving on the opposite side and spending euros is there any other tips for towing and setting up abroad.
Thanks in advance
Toll booths...remember your trailer width.
Watch your speed...they don't paint speed cameras yellow and it's illegal to have camera warning active on the sat nav.
If paying for anything by credit card, pay in euros not sterling....or shops apply THEIR exchange rate.
Make sure the campsite has euro plug or take two pin adapter..rare these days but some have them still.
Arrive on site at 2:30.....after lunch break but before Dutch arrive and take best pitches.
If you travel at weekend there are blissfully few lorries on road, except essential ones. BUT the aires and service stations car parking areas are full.
Fill up at fuel stations after unhitching. Many service station (excluding motorway ones) can have tight turns and narrow exits for car and caravan.
I use this site for cheapest fuel locations ...
http://www.prix-carburants.economie.gouv.fr/mobile/
If you have Internet access try google street view for the location to see access.
We use CC Red Pennant for overseas breakdown and health insurance. Expensive but the best.
When we had a head on crash in Italy in May totalling my Volvo...Red Pennant sent me a brand new Disco 4 out from UK, to tow caravan home. I bought my D4 as a result of that towing experience!!!
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| 8th Aug 2014 10:44 pm |
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DerbyshireDisco
Member Since: 12 Mar 2012
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 1397
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Don't sleep in the tin tent at service stations as you may waken up dead and robbed, Eastern European scum are gassing tourists as there is no security. Displaced Yorkshireman.
=^:^=
SDV6 Auto obviously, Loire blue/Ebony, ugly kid glass, RLD wheel protector, private plate and maybe side steps.
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| 8th Aug 2014 11:46 pm |
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Washwipe
Member Since: 19 Apr 2013
Location: Bucks Oxon Herts Border
Posts: 3169
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Think you may be the first person to have woken up dead though 
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| 9th Aug 2014 8:16 am |
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M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8244
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When driving on the right wrap a band of white electric tape round the right side of the steering wheel and move it to the left on return
Very easy to forget which side you should be on particularly after taking a break  It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
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| 9th Aug 2014 8:37 am |
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Wolfpack
Member Since: 28 Jul 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 121
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I have a wife to shout "left" when we come back home....dont have problems remembering right over there, as you tend to concentrate more.
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| 9th Aug 2014 9:41 am |
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dubbs
Member Since: 18 Apr 2012
Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 3626
 
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We have just come back... things to recommend:
1. Hi Vis vest need to be for everyone!!!
2. Take 2 alcohol breathalysers as they're cheap and saves hassle ( no fine but gendarme will certainly frown and look harder for something else)
3. Warning Triangle
4. Jump leads and tow rope (I've used mine on almost every holiday to help someone at some point!
5. Bulb kit
6. First Aid kit
7. Travel insurance - I already have adequate cover through a card but if you don't then get a decent one
8. Breakdown cover for you and the van/trailer - check dimension carefully as you may be able to get a cheaper cover than those of us with a Disco and an 8m caravan!!
9. on the subject of 8 I researched extensively and went for CCC's cover rather than CC - I could get the top cover from CCC for less than standard Red Pennant from CC and reports were good all round from those that used it
10. Check tyres and age of them - they rot from inside out (we risked our 5 year old ones this time but they're being changed end of this year as a bit of an overhaul on the van in a few months)
11. Bit late now but for next year get a toll tag from APRR.FR, means you can get through tolls quicker and not worry about either waking the wife to do it or try to get close enough to machines.
12. Take your own coffee facilities - French service stations have yet to understand what a decent sized coffee looks like, even a 12oz cup will only get half full with a Cafe au lait grand! MY15 DIY Black Pack (Better than factory and half the price!)
Prospeed rock/tree sliders w/steps
HSE Winter wheels
TransK9 B24
Travall Cargo Guard
Hatchbag
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| 10th Aug 2014 6:07 pm |
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DavidSally
Member Since: 31 Oct 2012
Location: Chesterfield
Posts: 565
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We returned from camping in France yesterday. Get an autoroute tag. Saves time and hassle at the peage. This was the first time I had one. Well worth it. No queuing or even stopping at the barriers.
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| 11th Aug 2014 1:24 pm |
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davidedwardmawer
Member Since: 11 Oct 2012
Location: Gironde
Posts: 174
 
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And if continuing to Spain you'll need a second warning triangle (to put in front of car!) and any extension of length (think bike rack etc) will require a red/white striped board attaching).
As I understand it the alcohol testers are not compulsory in France any more so don't buy expensive ones if you do take some. 33370 Fargues Saint Hilaire
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| 11th Aug 2014 2:19 pm |
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disco305
Member Since: 01 Jan 2013
Location: brussels
Posts: 137
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Sorry, but WASHWIPE you got me in tears, so true ! 
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| 12th Aug 2014 2:39 pm |
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DerbyshireDisco
Member Since: 12 Mar 2012
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 1397
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Washwipe wrote:Think you may be the first person to have woken up dead though
That was a joke. Displaced Yorkshireman.
=^:^=
SDV6 Auto obviously, Loire blue/Ebony, ugly kid glass, RLD wheel protector, private plate and maybe side steps.
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| 12th Aug 2014 4:57 pm |
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