Problem with my length

what should we do?

  • Play dumb and just do nothing

    Votes: 32 48.5%

  • Phone P&O and pay the extra (if any)

    Votes: 6 9.1%

  • Put the bikes in the garage for the crossing

    Votes: 27 40.9%

  • Just leave them at home

    Votes: 1 1.5%
  • Total voters
    66
Craig Rogers

Craig Rogers

Free Member
Joined
Nov 9, 2011
Posts
646
Likes collected
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Location
Midlands, UK (Welsh!)
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18,827
MH
Coachbuilt
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Newbie!
We are booked with P&O in April and from memory when I booked I selected up to 6.5m.

Our MH is just short of 6.5m, so no problems there.

However, that was before we decided we are going to take the bikes.

So, we have 4 options, what do you think?

EDIT: Forgot to mention, we have a bike rack so will be over 6.5m
 
I can't see them getting the tape out.
 
Ermm, they do get the tape out sometimes and can be rather funny on a busy crossing - you may get away withit but equally you could get a bill for the extra length.
I would put them in the garage just in case.
 
Travelbug1 said:
Ermm, they do get the tape out sometimes and can be rather funny on a busy crossing - you may get away withit but equally you could get a bill for the extra length.
I would put them in the garage just in case.
Click to expand...

I didn't realise that:Eeek:

I will bear that in mind from now on:thumb:
 
Never seen them measure.. I'd play dumb.. which aint hard :Laughing:

I did try that trick on way back, never mentioned I had a trailer, but that's trying it on .. :Laughing:

got rumbled.... Link Removed

and had to pay the extra.. can but try ..

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Hi Craig
From past experience of the same there has never been a prob, we are with P & O this sunday bikes under the bed but bike rack down and loaded with stuff, van 7.4 mt, in the past with bikes on never a prob, just go for it. Pete :thumb::thumb::thumb:
 
Yes I'm the one who voted to own up. Turn the question on its head, what if they wanted to charge you as a 6.5 metre plus but your van was only 6.49 metres, would you argue it or accept it? Be honest with yourself.

To anybody who is of the "its a huge company tey can afford it" school just think on, SeaFrance have just gone tits up and they weren't a twopenny outfit. If you would like there to be a P&O this time next year then be honest.

D.
 
And I am the other, a clear conscience is what should help you sleep at night you made a mistake now you realise that you should do the right thing.Sorry but you did ask what we think:RollEyes:


Ps I thought this was going to be another medical post
 
On all my ferry trips they always seem too busy to be checking to that detail and the odd vehicle another 2ft longer on such large vessels is a drop in the ocean , no pun intended. For me I never take the risk, can't relax if looking over my shoulder :Smile:

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Hi

Believe me they do get the tape out, when we sailed from Hull to Rotterdam in september, we got charged an extra £42 as we were 1.5 ft longer than stated on the ticket, their fault not ours and the ferry was only half full and the loaders didnt realise we were left hand drive and were watching the wrong side as they parked us up resulting in damage to our awning cover which we had just had replaced, we were not happy . So dont play dumb fes up.

Mick
 
JJ said:
Do they ask the length of the van?

or

Do they ask the length of the van with a bike rack on it?

JJ :Cool:
Click to expand...

As JJ mentions here they ask for van length and also ask if there are any roof mounted bikes.

I always put length of van in without the bikes and never been questioned yet using ferry and tunnel. They did get the tape out when crossing to the isle of cumbrae once so had to pay £10 extra but didnt have bikes on either.
 
At Portsmouth I believe they have metre makings on the ground at the front of the lines where you queue up to wait to ship, so it's quite easy to check your actual length.

When I was driving an RV to Le mans for a company they came out and measured us all (there were over 8 of us)!

Having said that, I have never been measured at Dover Newhaven or Pembroke/Fishguard.

Regards Pat
 
Be practical if stopped remove bikes from carrier and put inside van for duration of crossing,
unlikely to happen but theres the solution ,you wont be using rear of van during crossing.
:thumb:

by the way the booking page says on right hand side please state length of your vehicle to nearest 50 cm ,thats half a metre your bike rack is unlikely to protrude more than that!!
regards
Steve
 
spannermanwigan said:
Be practical if stopped remove bikes from carrier and put inside van for duration of crossing,
unlikely to happen but theres the solution ,you wont be using rear of van during crossing.
:thumb:
regards
Steve
Click to expand...

+1 for that.
Take a chance , you've nothing to lose, just say what you told us and if they question it offer to put the bikes in the garage or hab .

edit
from P&O site under Motorhomes
information

Some of our sailings have limited space for larger vehicles. Please specify the length of your vehicle / trailer to the nearest 50cm.
6ft = 1.83m approx. well you measured at 6.5m approx didnt you .......

and
include any roof rack, roof box or roof mounted cycles - No mention of rear mounted racks

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truth or dare

Well stuff leaving them at home :RollEyes:. I've crossed on a few routes and never been checked. I have only ever told them the length without including the rack. If I had been challenged I'd have put them inside before boarding.
 
watched 4 motor home owners fork out money to dfds about 5/6 weeks ago,,, they checked all the m/h's going to england from france 2 eu ones and 2 gb ones ,and the english were told you pay doulbe ,eh whent one guy,,they said you came with us you pay for this on the way here and you pay to go home ?? no pay no go ,,, AND FORGET TAPE MESURES LAZER BEAMS hight lenth withh ect ...good job they got my details on file :Eek!::Eek!:
 
novawight said:
Bet you did,nt know I was a p.o motorhome measurer by trade:Rofl1:
Click to expand...

I knew Del, Roger told me, he also told me he's been openly lying about his length all his adult life......I bet he's not the only one..........Griff :Blush:
 
Looking at this another way you are booked for a certain time ferry everyone in front of you is slightly over length you are at the back of the queue,because the ones in front lied there is no room for you at the back!

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I have know them measure vehicles as well as not, I would give them the correct length, but up to you as more chance of not being measured than being measured, but if it is a full ferry then could have problems.

All the best Rick
 
Ferries are never full ! , All cross channel services run with space on the freight decks, they never completely fill those up :Wink:

how do i know this ?, as an HGV driver doing European work . In fact ive looked round a few MH's on the bottom decks over the years whilst waiting to disembark.

Its down to the individual what they choose to pay for, or not pay for , but reading P&O own rules there is no mention of rear mounted bike racks, and they ask for the length of the MH , not for anything demountable that overhangs the rear.
 
no jim,,,,, you now with m/h have to go through the lorry check lane at dun'k and they scan the whole m/h for llegal Immigrants under neath.. inside.. and top ,also use the gas probe in the lockers ?? when i asked why the change its because the english immagration is now in charge off all the dock ,.before it was the french,so now they have made it tighter,the bonus for dfds is it prints all the len/hight/with,,,,and weight simples she said it makes our job easy and should make check in easyer :thumb::thumb:
 
carry on then said:
Ferries are never full ! , All cross channel services run with space on the freight decks, they never completely fill those up :Wink:

how do i know this ?, as an HGV driver doing European work . In fact ive looked round a few MH's on the bottom decks over the years whilst waiting to disembark.

Its down to the individual what they choose to pay for, or not pay for , but reading P&O own rules there is no mention of rear mounted bike racks, and they ask for the length of the MH , not for anything demountable that overhangs the rear.
Click to expand...

I have worked and actually loaded the vehicle decks for both P&O and Stena as well as P&O Stena Line when they merged for a while.

Ferries do get full, mainly at peak times though, school hols etc.

I have seen cars loaded at different angles to maximise the use of space by the bow or stern doors, and also called for small (toad size) cars so as to load all the remaining space.

Callum

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Although an old thread, I thought I'd post what I have done.

With the crossing coming up in just over a week and we have decided to take the bikes. I phoned P&O this morning and told them that the length has gone up to around 7m from 6.5m and they ammended the booking.

The cost......................................................................























.........was £0.00! :BigGrin:
 
It always pays long term Karma is a wonderful thing

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