France 1st timers in the MH

[Bruchel]

It's also worth getting a 16 amp to uk 3 pin converter as some uk pub stops offer electric but dont have 16 amp sockets.

Got one of those!! It's plugged in on the drive.

 

[Suenliam]

I seem to remember reading somewhere long ago that a first aid kit was needed. We always carried one anyway so didn't really bother to remember the details.
Sue

 

[spendian68]

Currently sat in the aire at Gravelines and returning to the UK tomorrow morning by Eurotunnel. (Wissant is shut for two days or we would have been there) we have been here just a week.
Nobody checked anything on the way out except the gas before getting on the train.
We did everything by the book as it was our first visit post Brexit and wasn’t sure how things would be done so NO meat, dairy, plant (that could be planted and grown) and went shopping as soon as we got here.
UK number plate stickers and headlight beam deflectors, even got a new single use alcohol breath test kit. Already got warning triangle, bulbs and hi visibility vests.

One thing to note if you are using aires, a few in Normandy Etretat and Le Crotoy now have automatic barriers that read your number plate when you go in, you only pay just before you leave, it knows how long you have been there so charges you accordingly. The barrier then opens automatically when you drive towards it and reads your number plate again.

We also had problems with Nationwide Credit and Debit cards not working at some 24/24 petrol stations, but no issues with Lloyds, never had this before.

 

[Mike Rivers]

Get the EHU adaptor. Always good to have just in case. If you haven’t already then an extra 10m cable will come in handy in addition to your 20m. They can be joined together which I’ve found useful on more than one occasion. Wouldn’t bother with the headlight stickers. Make sure you have hi-viz vests and breathalyser tester kits (never been asked to show mine yet!). E-movis Tag for toll roads is a good idea, not least because you may not have the right cash or find paying at the machine a bit of a faff.

 

[ToBoldlyGo]

I second what Mike said, I bought an ATMB autoroute tag 2 years ago and we're in France on our first trip with it. Coming up to our first toll area I looked and found a lane marked 't' and 30 which I thought meant you could go towards the barrier at 30 km/h, quite glad I didn't as I was only doing 5 km/h and the barrier was getting very close - but voila it opened automagically and wow that is going to save a lot of time and hanging out of windows.

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[GeeCee]

Bonjour!

We’ve just booked to take the MH to France - it’ll be our first trip outside of the UK in it.

• I know I need a ‘UK’ sticker now (rather than a GB one)
• I think I need headlamp converter sticky things.
• We’re not over 3.5t so don’t think we need ‘Angles Mortes’ stickers.
• We’ll have 4 bikes on a tow ball mounted rack, but it seems the Red/White stripey board is ‘recommended’, not compulsory.
• I’ve got 2 full 6kg gas bottles and we’re only going for a week…
• I’ve ordered a ‘Crit Air’ sticker even though we’re not intending going anywhere near Paris or any of the other Cities.

BUT, what do we do about EHU cables? Am I right thinking that my standard blue 16a EHU cable won’t fit anywhere? What sort of adapter do I need? Is it one of these? https://www.12voltplanet.co.uk/continental-conversion-lead-240v-site-plug-to-2-pin-plug.html

Have I missed anything else, or got anything above wrong? (Am I allowed anything in the fridge on the way out? )

Thank you, oh learned ones.

Four bikes, on a towbar. Are you sure you're not over 3.5t, i.e. been to a weight station with your van loaded with everything you're taking, including passengers, water and fuel?

 

[Bruchel]

Four bikes, on a towbar. Are you sure you're not over 3.5t, i.e. been to a weight station with your van loaded with everything you're taking, including passengers, water and fuel?

The kids are small, and so are their bikes! I've put Mrs Bruchel on a diet. But yes, I probably should get to a weigh bridge. We're saving 50kgs not taking the dog and all her paraphernalia!
I can't afford to put fuel in it too so we'll save another few kgs there... Mrs B will have to go behind, pushing...

 

[GeeCee]

Yes fuel's a real bummer. €2.20 on the motorways in France. We topped up at a Carrefour Express near Bordeaux and it was just over €2. Well good luck and enjoy your trip.

 

[Tigertom]

Get the EHU adaptor. Always good to have just in case. If you haven’t already then an extra 10m cable will come in handy in addition to your 20m. They can be joined together which I’ve found useful on more than one occasion. Wouldn’t bother with the headlight stickers. Make sure you have hi-viz vests and breathalyser tester kits (never been asked to show mine yet!). E-movis Tag for toll roads is a good idea, not least because you may not have the right cash or find paying at the machine a bit of a faff.

Breathalyser kit law was thrown out some time ago.

 

[yodeli]

Hi,
Just read the title so, sorry if this has been said before.
From the 1st of April 15cts by litre will be taken in charge by government.
Total stations will take off your bill 10cts more, and I think it's from 1st April too....not sure though.
Also some stations associated to supermarkets might offer you the price of ( whatever you use for your engine, be it petrol or diesel ) 1 euro the litre.
In fact you will pay the same price BUT, with your petrol station invoice, you will be offered the difference at the till for your shopping in the supermarket, which will endly give you the litre at 1 euro
I hope you understand what I mean.

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[Gillygrim]

Re - Warning Triangle. Hope it never happens to you but if you do ever break down on a Motorway in France you are not allowed to put the warning triangle out (don't know about other EU countries). There are emergency phones every kilometre so never very far away and they are amazingly fast to respond. When we had a catastrophic blow out the breakdown got to the moho before I got back from the phone !!

 

[Tombola]

France you are not allowed to put the warning triangle out (don't know about other EU countries).

Huh ?
what do you mean, its a requirement ot place it 30 metres for the vehicle isnt it ?

 

[Gillygrim]

"Huh ?
what do you mean, its a requirement ot place it 30 metres for the vehicle isnt it"

We had the tyre blowout on the A8 motorway just outside Aix en Provence and the tyre tread peeled off and wrapped round the shock absorber making it impossible to get the Motorhome off the carriageway and on to the hard shoulder. I rang our breakdown (in UK) and was told they are not allowed to come onto French motorways and we had to be recovered OFF the mway and call them again. We put the triangle out, I raced to the nearest emergency phone and explained the situation to the responder. (Fortunately I speak fluent French having been to boarding school in Nantes many years ago). The french breakdown crew beat me back to the van and the first thing they did was remove the triangle and explain that they are not allowed to be used on the motorways. They in fact had a 2nd vehicle with the very large illuminated orange arrow directing traffic away from our lane. In the event the mechanic risked his life changing the wheel ON the carriageway as the van could not be moved. Of course, the warning triangle should still be used on non-motorway roads. Following that experience my nerves were shredded and as soon as we got home I insisted on selling that Motorhome and we bought a classic Hymer to replace it. Covid struck and we've still not used it !! I shall still not be driving on motorways when we do finally get away !!

 

[HelixA5]

Hi…. We are also looking to make our first trip to France and have read many posts giving sound advice. However I haven’t read anything so far on water connections…. What am I likely to encounter please? Having only used UK facilities I think I have only ever seen 1/2” BSP type connectors or Hoselock connectors on fresh water taps.

in general, is grey waste disposed off with a bucket or MSP? If the former I need a better bucket!

Thank You ….

 

[ChrisL]

Hi…. We are also looking to make our first trip to France and have read many posts giving sound advice. However I haven’t read anything so far on water connections…. What am I likely to encounter please? Having only used UK facilities I think I have only ever seen 1/2” BSP type connectors or Hoselock connectors on fresh water taps.

in general, is grey waste disposed off with a bucket or MSP? If the former I need a better bucket!

Thank You ….

Some water taps are of the push type with no thread to screw a hose lock fitting to and you may need a watering can for those, all the threaded taps i've found take a standard hoselock attachment. Grey water disposal have all been drive overs so far.

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[Landy Andy]

There are three screw on tap connector sizes. 3/8, 1/2, and 1”. Most are 1/2 inch though and I suggest you take a couple of fitting as you may forget one at some point. Some are also male hoselock fitting but don’t see them often.

 

[Dave Scadding]

We’ve just booked to take the MH to France - it’ll be our first trip outside of the UK in it.

• I

Don’t forget to check that your number plates are UK and not the old GB Europe type?

 

[HelixA5]

Thanks to ChrisL and Landy Andy… hoselock and a watering can it is!

 

[yodeli]

Re - Warning Triangle. Hope it never happens to you but if you do ever break down on a Motorway in France you are not allowed to put the warning triangle out (don't know about other EU countries). There are emergency phones every kilometre so never very far away and they are amazingly fast to respond. When we had a catastrophic blow out the breakdown got to the moho before I got back from the phone !!

Sorry... But never ever heard of that. We are supposed to put the triangle out. May I ask where you got this info from??

Amicalement
Frankie

 

[ChrisSue]

Don’t forget to check that your number plates are UK and not the old GB Europe type?

Double check but I believe the requirement is to have a UK sticker if your number plates have anything but UK on them.

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[yodeli]

Sorry... But never ever heard of that. We are supposed to put the triangle out. May I ask where you got this info from??

Amicalement
Frankie

Re-triangle

After a few quick searches this is the law
On a road the triangle must be set at 30 metres ahead of the breakdown
On a motorway the triangle must be set at 150 metres ahead of the breakdown

NOW : You must not put your life in danger if your bearkdown has happened on another lane than the emergency one (hardshoulder). So it is adviced not to put it in this precise situation.