One week to go before our first venture.we're off to the dordogne in France (would've preferred first journey nearer but caravan was delivered late)
What's your best advice???
What's your best advice???
1 week to go nervous!!!!
- Thread starter MckieS1806
- Start date
Check all car and caravan tyre pressures and torque all wheels a day or so before you depart.
Ensure your loading is correct.
Ensure you have all your paperwork breathalyser and spare specs if you need them.
Always double check the hitch attachment.
I'll leave the main checklist to you.
Have a great time.
Ensure your loading is correct.
Ensure you have all your paperwork breathalyser and spare specs if you need them.
Always double check the hitch attachment.
I'll leave the main checklist to you.
Have a great time.
The main things are covered by DD but it's a good idea to have a full packing check list. We keep ours on the computer and just change the amounts of some things before printing and ticking off.
Dustydog said:
According to some French friends, the breathalyser thing is a wet squib - the law has never been enforced. It's a bit like the days, when visiting France, we would paint our headlights yellow because we thought we had to.... we actually never did need to at all.
Remember Most of France is closed between 12 and 2 pm for lunch including petrol stations. Except motorway fuel stations.
This sounds adventurous. Before setting off do make sure everything works, I would video the handover if possible so you can check back if you need to. We did get a caravan delivered late and got to France in a heat wave to discover the fridge did not work. We use ice packs in the fridge when crossing the channel to keep it cool.
I assume you have all the gear you need, gas, fresh and waste water containers, towing mirrors and toilet fluid. You need yellow jackets for everyone on board in France, a warning triangle and GB sticker or on number plate and registration document plus proof of insurance.
Break down cover and travel insurance are an essential and you need to inform your insurer you are going abroad or the cover will be limited to the French equivalent of RTA. I would also tell them you have fitted tow bar as some insurers regard this as a modification.
Enjoy though.
I assume you have all the gear you need, gas, fresh and waste water containers, towing mirrors and toilet fluid. You need yellow jackets for everyone on board in France, a warning triangle and GB sticker or on number plate and registration document plus proof of insurance.
Break down cover and travel insurance are an essential and you need to inform your insurer you are going abroad or the cover will be limited to the French equivalent of RTA. I would also tell them you have fitted tow bar as some insurers regard this as a modification.
Enjoy though.
tentmonster said:
That is not an excuse to ignore the legal requirement. Its a bit like saying your supposed to have uk road tax , but you've never been caught.
Sadly many foreigners if stopped are put through the wringer adn teh local police will finad as many non conformaties as they can. Its not worth risking it.
Martin24 said:
Yes - I'm a great one for lists too - also kept on the computer and printed off before every journey. After more than 50 years of caravanning my "caravan packing list" has grown to four columns on A4. Then there's another list of things to do before moving off. That's fixed inside a van cupboard door. A third list mentions all the things needing to be done before leaving the house.......................... And don't worry about being nervous. I too have tummy butterflies for a day or so before my journeys. Funnily enough, they disappear before I'm a mile down the road.
The French park anywhere on their autoroute Aires. Even if it's marked for caravans they will still park their cars for shade it to be a bit nearer the toilets. We tend to stop for lunch around 1130 so as to get a chance of a parking spot. Failing that they tend to be more relaxed about parking among the HGVs than in UK . Take care over speed limits they are hot on enforcement. They do random breath checks. I was stopped when solo at around 1030. So don't overdo the vino the night before. You can use one of their breathalysers if you have any doubts before driving after a good night. Lastly make sure you understand their speed limits as they relate to gross outfit weight NOT actual weights. The C&MHC have a table showing French limits.
Use beam deflectors even if only for show. Take some copies of the EU accident form. You can get English and French versions for free from several websites. Makes it so much easier if the worse happens.
Enjoy your holiday France and Dordogne are great.
Use beam deflectors even if only for show. Take some copies of the EU accident form. You can get English and French versions for free from several websites. Makes it so much easier if the worse happens.
Enjoy your holiday France and Dordogne are great.
if your car is equipped with these modern lights check the manaul to see if it has auto adjustable lights for the continent my 11 plate insignia has and you dont loose any brightness performance it just adjust the normal light to piont straight ahead instead of to the left as the do in the uk.
ProfJohnL said:
Daft as it seems here is no fine for not carrying a breathalysers, the plan to fine you 11 Euros for not having an in date one was shelved in 2013 after several postponements.
ProfJohnL said:
According to the RAC website accessed today:
"Breathalysers/alcohol test (as of January 2013 the French government announced that the introduction of an €11 fine for not carrying one has been postponed indefinitely)"
So don't bother buying them!
The breathalisers cost next to nothing in Halfords so for me I would get a couple just to avoid any hassle.
Mel
Moderator
1. Drive on the right
2. Enjoy the wine.
3. Do not do 1 and 2 at the same time.
Otherwise, keep calm and take your time; getting wound up and in a lather never helps.
Have a lovely time.
Mel
2. Enjoy the wine.
3. Do not do 1 and 2 at the same time.
Otherwise, keep calm and take your time; getting wound up and in a lather never helps.
Have a lovely time.
Mel
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