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Going on Le Shuttle to Belgium at the start of April. Well, it's so close to Brexit day, I may just be sitting in a lorry park on the M20 for 5 days, but assuming I make the train my van is 15mm over the height limit for the cheaper double decker carriages.
Would you risk the roof for the sake of 40 quid? I assume there's a margin for error, but it won't have anything approaching max payload on. Anyone previously taken that gamble?
I didn't pay any extra when booking my car with roofbox and bikes, they put us in with the caravans.
Would you risk the roof for the sake of 40 quid?
I'd turn that round - will they risk their multimillion pound train plus the disruption of it beign out of service for the sake of 15mm?
They have fixed height restrictors on the entry ramps. If you rip your roof off on that it costs them nothing.
I'd pay the £40.
let some air out of the tyres.
The 1.85m barriers on the approach to the train ramps will let you know if you're the right height or not. Our van is 2.1m we've never had a problem seeing as we admit to it when booking.
You going to Gent Wevelgem? We looked at doing it but realized that it was the weekend of Brexit and would probably be an immense ballache.
buy an e-bike and throw it in the back, the extra weight will sink the van 15mm on it's suspension 🙂
They just send you to the correct part of the train. We had a T5 on the single decker part without any extra ££ being spent. Same with using the ferry
You going to Gent Wevelgem?
No, The Ronde, which is the following weekend I think.
Wasn't a problem in previous years, the last van was plenty over but I can't stop my inner tightarse kicking in. I think you are all right though, I should just stump up the extra and travel with the real men.
Wasn’t a problem in previous years, the last van was plenty over but I can’t stop my inner tightarse kicking in. I think you are all right though, I should just stump up the extra and travel with the real men.
It seems a bit odd that you have to pay extra for a van, but not for a car with a roofbox, given that they put you in the same carriage.
It's also odd I pay the same for my Caravelle as a car, even though it's pretty much a van.
why do I find that video so satisfying?
I've been screwed with delays so many times on the tunnel, that I don't bother anymore and just take the ferry. Generally a chunk cheaper, much more laid back, and only really 45 minutes longer....
It’s even worse that you have to pay motor home rates for a t5 camper... £250 for me on the Chunnel, £80 for the caravelle and £150 for the van last time I looked, at £250 for the same bloody sized vehicle I took the ferry instead!
that 11foot8 is ace 🙂
It might be cheaper for Penske to pay to have the road lowered 6" than keep repairing their trucks...
That video is ace.... some of them aren't even close!
It also appears that in a similar phenomenon to relativity, where mass increases as velocity approaches c, the faster you try and go under the bridge your truck apparently reduces in height. Perhaps this is where the phrase 'flat out' comes from?
It seems a bit odd that you have to pay extra for a van, but not for a car with a roofbox, given that they put you in the same carriage.
That is indeed odd - the price checking page on the Eurotunnel website asks if you have a roofbox or bike carrier or if your car is over 1.85m. If you answer honestly it should put the price up as you are in the single deck carriages. A T5 weather a camper, van or minibus is definitely over.
I wonder if there are secondary seller websites that are a bit less clever and I'd get away with it? Hmm....
edit - I've watched that tin-opener bridge vid before. Some of the RV and caravan towers appear quite oblivious they've neatly sliced off their air-con. 🙂 Brilliant.
If you're being a skinflint, don't you have any Tesco Clubcard vouchers?
That is indeed odd – the price checking page on the Eurotunnel website asks if you have a roofbox or bike carrier or if your car is over 1.85m. If you answer honestly it should put the price up as you are in the single deck carriages.
I've booked twice (directly on their website) with an ordinary car plus roofbox and carrier, and both times it has quoted me the same price as without having them. As you say, on both occasions I was sent to the single deck carriages.
I took a 50mm overheight chance on Red Funnel as I'd already stumped up about £40 extra as my van is about 80mm over the 6m length limit. The van is within the limit but the rooflights take it over, but 50mm is nothing, right? Plus I'd filled the van with people, bikes and tents so it would have been less than 50mm over anyway. I balanced a level over the rooflights and measured both sides to the ground so I know it was accurate 🙂
On the way out it was fine as the movable decks were raised and we were alongside the lorries. On the way back, thankfully the staff were on the ball and called me on before everyone else, I parked in front of the deck which they then lowered. Now...I was standing there thinking that if I had parked under the deck, it really didn't look like it would fit...plus I might have already gone upstairs and not even seen them lowering the deck...
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I never paid extra for taking my bike on the roof? As has been said before, I just got put in with the caravans etc.
I've never paid extra for overheight, but overheight spaces often sell out before all the 1.85 slots have gone fro a particular departure, and the software can bump you onto a more expensive time slot- are you sure this isn't what's happening? Unless they've changed the rules, a departure at a specific time should be the same price irrespective of whether you're under or over 1.85m.
By the same token, I wouldn't try booking on as normal height if you're over- you obviously run the risk of being bumped onto the next departure with available space, which in busy times might be quite a while....