Necessities for Europe

[irnbru]

Hi please can someone point me in the right direction if there is a list somewhere of essential things we will need before touring Europe...hopefully next year. Just been reading some threads and now know we need a continental adaptor for power supply. What else will we need?

Thanks

Sandra

 

[jonandshell]

First Aid Kit.
Warning Triangle.
Beam Deflectors.
Hi-viz vests for all occupants.
GB sticker if you haven't EU-type number plates.
A marker board for your bike rack.
Enough gas to see you through the trip, a refillable system, or be prepared to buy foreign bottles and hoses.
A socket tester to check for reverse polarity.
A water hose.
Watering can.
Levelling ramps.
Snowchains for mountainous regions in Winter.
European breakdown cover.
Travel insurance. (don't rely on the EHIC!)
Map!
Satnav.
Aires/stellplatz/campsite guide.
The ability to ask for a beer in every European language!
I think that's it!

Happy Travels!!:thumb:

 

[voyagerstan]

just go everthing is every where , it half the fun finding things , wheres your sence of adventure . enjoy .:yeah::yeah::yeah: stan

 

[vwalan]

you missed the most important one .fray bentos pies .
seems jj and me are the only ones that understand how usefull they are . hee hee

 

[voyagerstan]

do you use them for leveling your van to stan

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[Parcverger]

Parc Verger's satnav coordinates!!!
Bob
www.parcverger.com

 

[ukbill]

you missed the most important one .fray bentos pies .
seems jj and me are the only ones that understand how usefull they are . hee hee

usefull for what posing as road kill

 

[sdc77]

Pot noodles and spare bulbs

 

[Merle]

You will need a spare set of vehicle light bulbs, and I was told at Malvern you now have to carry 2 warning triangles. I must admit I'm confused over the breathaliser buisiness for France....and I also saw recently that the hi-viz have to have two stripes not one like they sellon most market stands:Sad:

 

[vwalan]

also if you are over 3,500kg you must have wedes available for using on steep hills when you stop for parking . using the kerb or stones isnt allowed . spain can be funny on this one .

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[Popeye]

also if you are over 3,500kg you must have wedes available for using on steep hills when you stop for parking . using the kerb or stones isnt allowed . spain can be funny on this one .

Hi Alan, I assume you mean wheel chocks or wedges, but tell me how does one define steep?

 

[gradyp]

Original insurance doc
Original logbook
Both parts of driving license
Sense of adventure

 

[irnbru]

Thanks for all the replies. Looks like we will have some shopping to do...once I twist mums arm to go away for a few months

Isn't there an adapter or something I can buy that will fix the polarity. I'm not very good with electricity. Will I blow something if I don't do it right?

How do I know if we weigh over 3500kg?

Our gas I think is propane. Orange bottles. Can these be refilled in Europe?

 

[vwalan]

yes . the spanish doc.. 08/v-74
on page 4 only says a marked slope . .remember this is spain best just do it .
but for years i have seen trucks etc with big chocks in frames on the chassis and chocks etc . it seems other countries also require it but its never mentioned by rac /aa etc .
just thought if spain are being awkward best mention it .could be a money earner for them .
some people do fill orange gas bottles abroad with adaptors .

 

[lorger]

The gas will depend on how long you go for and at what time of the year, if its summer we can last 2 weeks on one 6kg bottle.

We have never taken a polarity tester with us so far and never came across any problems, I'm not an electrician so placese seek proper advice. I think the reverse polarity will be fine unless you try to work on it while still plugged so if ever doing anything electrical unplug your lead which I would do in the uk also. I'm sure someone will be along to correct me.

With a name like your dont forget to take a few bottles as it is hard to find

Also take photo copies of all your documents and keep them well hidden just incase anything goes wrong, we even photocopy our passports and have them well hidden in the van.

Don't forget a bottle opener

If you have a dog and your taking it then make sure you start its jags on time I think its 6 months in advance.

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[mid4did]

Here,s one I made earlier,note the irems in RED :
CHECKLIST

1. FUEL
2. FRESH WATER CONTAINER CLEANED AND TOPPED UP
3. GAS BOTTLES FILLED AND CHECKED
4. PASSPORTS
5. FERRY REF NUMBER AND TIMES
6. MOTORHOME paperwork
7. EUROS
8. KETTLE PANS DISHES CUPS PLATES
9. BOTTLE OPENER
10. CAN OPENER
11. WASHING UP LIQUID
12. CHEMICAL TOILET FLUID(or Bio Or not)
13. ELECTRIC CABLES CHECKED AND PACKED
14. WATER HOSE CHECKED AND PACKED
15. RADIO CHECKED
16. TV AND REMOTE
17. SAT SYSTEM AND REMOTE
18. MAST FOR TV AERIAL
19. LARGE SATELLITE DISH+LNB+CABLES+TRIPOD
20. OIL WATER AND FILTERS CHECKED
21. SPARE BULB/FUSE KIT
22. SPARE FUEL FILTER
23. REFLECTIVE JACKETS
24. GENERAL CONDITION OF WHEELS /TYRES/BRAKES
25. SAT-NAV WITH AIRES ADDED AS FAVOURITES
26. SPARE SAT-NAV
27. LARGE SCALE ATLAS OF FRANCE,Other Maps as needed
28. LAPTOP
29. CYCLONE MEDIA PLAYER FOR FILMS
30. TABLES CHAIRS
31. B-B-Q
32. SECURITY LOCKS CHECKED
33. SOLAR PANEL CHARGING?
34. SUNGLASSES
35. READING GLASSES
36. FOOD & DRINKS
37. Folding trolly

 

[smiffy502000]

and a bloody great trailer to stuff it all into!!!!

 

[vwalan]

and a bloody great trailer to stuff it all into!!!!

you mean like mine .ha ha .

 

[smiffy502000]

that's the one

 

[magicsurfbus]

..if you end up on an aire where the loo disposal point is a grid, and not a hole.

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[Brisey]

If you wear prescription glasses you need to carry a spare pair.

Brisey.

 

[cmcardle75]

Isn't there an adapter or something I can buy that will fix the polarity. I'm not very good with electricity. Will I blow something if I don't do it right?

No, it will work, but if you don't have a DP RCD in your system, it will be dangerous if you develop a fault as nothing will cut the power.

How do I know if we weigh over 3500kg?

You really need to know this. The law (even in the UK) is totally different above and below 3500kg. You may not even have a driving licence for it and thus be uninsured if you are above 3500kg and passed after 1993. OTOH, if the vehicle is rated under 3500kg, you are almost certainly overloaded.

You can tell by looking for the VIN number plate on your vehicle. As well as the VIN, you'll normally find 4 numbers. The largest will be the GTW, which is the maximum the vehicle and its trailer combined can weigh. The next largest will be the MAM, which is the maximum the vehicle itself can weigh. The next largest is the rear axle loading, which is the maximum you can put on the rear wheels. The smallest is the front axle leading, which is the maximum you can put on the front wheels.

3500kg MAM motorhomes in particular, come out of the factory weighing almost their maximum weight. Full tanks, a few cans of food and a couple of passengers is often enough to break the law. You should load up your vehicle and take it to a weighbridge so you know what it actually weighs, as all motorhome manufacturers lie obscenely about the expected empty weight. Getting caught overweight in this country is a 4 figure fine and forced dump of extra weight. In Europe, it may be even worse.

Our gas I think is propane. Orange bottles. Can these be refilled in Europe?

No, at least not without breaking the law and having specialist filling equipment. Either take enough or buy a refillable bottle.

 

[irnbru]

Ok so I've gone and looked the van, the numbers are listed in this order

3000kg
4600kg
1600kg
1650kg

So is my maximum weight including luggage etc 3000 or 4600kg.?

What kind of bottle is a refillable one.?

Many thx

 

[mitzimad]

3000 is your gross weight in kilos

 

[vwalan]

What kind of bottle is a refillable one.?
all the exchange ones are refillable . they dont throw them away when they get them back.

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[irnbru]

3000 is your gross weight in kilos

Oh that's a bit of a bummer. I guess we need to go on a diet and take the bare necessities.

 

[cmcardle75]

Ok so I've gone and looked the van, the numbers are listed in this order

3000kg
4600kg
1600kg
1650kg

So is my maximum weight including luggage etc 3000 or 4600kg.?

Your maximum weight is 3000kg, which would be low for a coachbuilt motorhome. It suggests you may have a camper or a small 2 person motorhome. 4600kg suggests you can tow a trailer up to 1600kg. Technically it could be more, but you are unlikely to ever have significant underloading of the vehicle to allow that.

Your (presumably) front axle can only take 1600kg and the rear axle can take 1650kg.

The next step is to load up your van with personal effects, fuel, water and passengers and go to a weighbridge and get the thing weighed, both in total and each axle. This will give you an idea how much weight you have to play with (or have to lose). You can often get it weighed free if you don't want the results printed. They did this for me at the local tip.

As you have 500kg left to the 3500kg limit, if you find that you are overweight, or would like to take more stuff (i.e. bicycles) but haven't the capacity, you can get the vehicle uprated to the higher value. This can range from a paper exercise, through replacing the tyres with stronger ones, to a very major operation. Specialist companies such as svtech can help you.

What kind of bottle is a refillable one.?

Refillable cylinders have special valves that enable them to be refilled at petrol stations throughout the world. This includes a device to prevent it becoming more than 80% full, which would be very dangerous.

There are many makes. Gaslow and Alugas are some of the more well known ones. You'll also need to get a few adapters, as there are 3 or 4 types depending on where in the world you are.

Refill cost is about half the price of a Calor swap. You don't even have to empty them fully before refilling, so you can get away with having a single cylinder and refilling more often.

 

[Bailey58]

Snip

Your maximum weight is 3000kg, which would be low for a coachbuilt motorhome. It suggests you may have a camper or a small 2 person motorhome. 4600kg suggests you can tow a trailer up to 1600kg. Technically it could be more, but you are unlikely to ever have significant underloading of the vehicle to allow that.

Your (presumably) front axle can only take 1600kg and the rear axle can take 1650kg.

As you have 500kg left to the 3500kg limit, if you find that you are overweight, or would like to take more stuff (i.e. bicycles) but haven't the capacity, you can get the vehicle uprated to the higher value. This can range from a paper exercise, through replacing the tyres with stronger ones, to a very major operation. Specialist companies such as svtech can help you.

Are you sure on that? I agree that at 3000kg the plate looks low for the McLouis but the figures for the individual axles suggest otherwise. If either axle is loaded to it's max, more probably the rear, then the weight on the other axle must be reduced to keep within the 3000kg. I'm no expert, but I thought there was usually a wider weight margin between axles on coachbuilts.

 

[cmcardle75]

Snip
Are you sure on that? I agree that at 3000kg the plate looks low for the McLouis but the figures for the individual axles suggest otherwise. If either axle is loaded to it's max, more probably the rear, then the weight on the other axle must be reduced to keep within the 3000kg. I'm no expert, but I thought there was usually a wider weight margin between axles on coachbuilts.

I'd think the margin between MAM and total axle maximums is pretty generous. Mine is actually a lot tighter. I've got axles with 3,500lb and 8,000lb, with maximum of 11,000lb (4990kg), so my margin for loading correctly is much lower, although the MAM, being pretty high for a 7.5m 5 berth, means I don't need to approach fully loaded anyway, even with the 250 litre water tank full.