First time towing in France

[Charlie56]

Hi, whilst I have driven in Europe I have never towed in France and would welcome any tips from those experienced members.

 

[otherclive]

Hi, whilst I have driven in Europe I have never towed in France and would welcome any tips from those experienced members.

There so much to know that I would buy the Caravan and Motorhome Club touring guide of France. It gives so much information we found the guide invaluable even when we were experienced. It also contains details of a lot of sites too including municipals. Non members can buy one for small extra fee.

My main advice would be to use good caravan and car recovery service in case anything goes pear shaped. We used CMHC Red Pennant for vehicles and travel insurance as it is a one stop shop with an excellent reputation.

Enjoy your venture

Touring Europe 2026

www.caravanclub.co.uk

 

[Charlie56]

There so much to know that I would buy the Caravan and Motorhome Club touring guide of France. It gives so much information we found the guide invaluable even when we were experienced. It also contains details of a lot of sites too including municipals. Non members can buy one for small extra fee.

My main advice would be to use good caravan and car recovery service in case anything goes pear shaped. We used CMHC Red Pennant for vehicles and travel insurance as it is a one stop shop with an excellent reputation.

Enjoy your venture

Touring Europe 2026

www.caravanclub.co.uk

Thank you

 

[Woodentop]

For the record, they are now the CAMC - not the CMHC.

 

[otherclive]

For the record, they are now the CAMC - not the CMHC.

Thanks always nice to receive a public correction from members. I’m sure other members that have recently used CMHC will be so grateful. I look forward to future long technical postings on the UK telecommunications systems and why our mobiles don’t work too well in many areas we visit.

 

[Buckman]

For the record, they are now the CAMC - not the CMHC.

I still refer to it as the CC and everyone knows which organisation I am referring to.

 

[RogerL]

For the record, they are now the CAMC - not the CMHC.

Abbreviations are unofficial - officially it's "The Caravan and Motorhome Club" - also known as and trading as the Caravan Club - so abbreviate to whatever floats your boat, it's still CC for me!

Edit - I got it the wrong way round.

According to their own website - Caravan and Motorhome Club is a trading name of The Caravan Club Limited, registered in England and Wales no. 00646027

The Caravan and Motorhome Club

Join us with your caravan, motorhome or roof tent and explore the UK's largest network of sites from the Caravan and Motorhome Club (formerly The Caravan Club)

www.caravanclub.co.uk

 

[IanB1485]

one thing to watch are the sign that state "radar for your safety and protection" (or something similar) are actually warnings for a speed camera ahead!! and a lot of petrol stations are fully automatic and some in the smaller villages are a bit difficult to get a caravan in. The roads are a lot smoother.Enjoy the trip

 

[otherclive]

French police have the right to stop you and require a breath test. I was stopped on a quiet rural back road around 0930 one time. All very polite and efficient. Clearly looking for alcohol carry over from previous evenings.

 

[Andy Norfolk]

We took our motorhome to France and Luxembourg 2 years ago. The roads are quieter. If you do drive from France to Luxembourg through Belgium the road is atrocious, more pot holes than the moon!

How are you crossing the channel? We used the tunnel with the motorhome. Now we have the caravan my wife, who tows, isn't prepared to tow a long caravan and tow car onto the shuttle. Unfortunately she gets very sea sick so the ferry isn't an option. Good luck with your trip.

 

[otherclive]

We took our motorhome to France and Luxembourg 2 years ago. The roads are quieter. If you do drive from France to Luxembourg through Belgium the road is atrocious, more pot holes than the moon!

How are you crossing the channel? We used the tunnel with the motorhome. Now we have the caravan my wife, who tows, isn't prepared to tow a long caravan and tow car onto the shuttle. Unfortunately she gets very sea sick so the ferry isn't an option. Good luck with your trip.

I had similar concerns to your wife when we first used Le Shuttle with a 7.5m caravan. But it is made so easy to load from the platform into the carriage. In fact easier than many manoeuvres that are required in normal driving or getting onto a site. If you wife is confident enough to tow the caravan she wouldn’t have any difficulty on the shuttle.

 

[Devonboy]

1st remember it's a holiday 2nd France is a big country. Visited France for 30 yrs or more never got furthur south than the Dordogne and more often than not we stayed in Brittany where we are still finding new places and quite beaches.

 

[Hutch]

Remember your towing speeds, the last time I went over with the caan probably 8 years ago, the speed limit on payages for caravans was 130 mph if your GTW was below 3.5t, if above 3.5t then the speed limits were 90 kph. .
Relax and just take it steady.

 

[otherclive]

Remember your towing speeds, the last time I went over with the caan probably 8 years ago, the speed limit on payages for caravans was 130 mph if your GTW was below 3.5t, if above 3.5t then the speed limits were 90 kph. .
Relax and just take it steady.

A very good point as in France speed limits will also change with weather, and on autoroute downhill stretches caravans are sometimes limited to lane 1 and speed limits applicable.

 

[cencerrita]

Have a good trip. Get the 123 fuel app which has updated fuel prices and you will save a lot of money. Don't buy fuel on motorways as very expensive as in the UK. Using the app you can find cheap fuel next to motorway junctions. You will be a Class 2 toll price with the caravan. Get the Bip&Go app and badge to sail straight through toll booths. This saves time and great to see the look at amazement on the French who have changed toll booths thinking you will cause a problem and you leave them behind. I have mine linked to my euro Wise account so no exchange rates. The app will also tell you the tolls prices in advance using route planning.
Check the overhead toll booth signs for lanes with full height auto payment lane and if in doubt use lorry booth.

Newhaven/Dieppe car and caravan prices very low and Sunday mornings can be down to £80 to Dieppe.

You have not said where you are going but there are many good routes away from the toll motorway and you have to keep your speed down anyway with a caravan.

I also have a cheap Chinese camera fitted under the back of the caravan for rear views which helps overtaking or anyone too close to you. No problems being so low and it means you do not have to put a cable through the caravan roof - I use the bathroom sink hole and seal up again.

Check petrol stations on google street view have enough room to exit after the pumps - we have been caught and had to unhitch the caravan as a sharp immediate turn - Asda has this problem in many places as well in the UK