4250kg to france

[Dandm]

I am considering uprating my MH to 4250kg. Will that affect travel on ferries or Eurotunnel to France /Spain. Any advice welcomed.

 

[martin2603]

Only if you extend it lengthwise for the Ferries , all charged as camper for tunnel

 

[Paul1958]

Have u checked the MAM on your V5. I uprated. DVLC only uprated the revenue weight. Was a waste of time. Used SVtech

 

[Dandm]

Have u checked the MAM on your V5. I uprated. DVLC only uprated the revenue weight. Was a waste of time. Used SVtech

There is no MAM shown on the V5 only assume there is a 3500kg limit as the taxation class is stated as PLG

 

[Dandm]

Only if you extend it lengthwise for the Ferries , all charged as camper for tunnel

I had heard that any van over 3500 was classed as freight

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[GAVLAD]

No, it won’t affect travelling on a ferry or Eurostar - both charge by length. Some ferries take height into consideration such as a Fast Ferry but none will be bothered about your weight up rate.
With regards to France, the only difference maybe weight restriction signs entering some village roads or aires but I don’t think you’ll have any issues.
I uprated from 5000 to 5250kgs with SV Tech. Simple exercise. We can now get another 20 pairs of shoes in it seems.

 

[GAVLAD]

I’ve never gone as freight on a ferry and I’m 9m, 3.3m high and 5250kg

 

[Dandm]

No, it won’t affect travelling on a ferry or Eurostar - both charge by length. Some ferries take height into consideration such as a Fast Ferry but none will be bothered about your weight up rate.
With regards to France, the only difference maybe weight restriction signs entering some village roads or aires but I don’t think you’ll have any issues.
I uprated from 5000 to 5250kgs with SV Tech. Simple exercise. We can now get another 20 pairs of shoes in it seems.

Thanks for the reply, we are upgrading to 5 pairs plus 3 handbags!

 

[Allanm]

I had heard that any van over 3500 was classed as freight

No, it’s a motorhome and classed as a camping car.
You will have to obey lower speed limits in France and Spain though, and also in the UK where any 3.5 tonne speed limits are in force

 

[Dandm]

No, it’s a motorhome and classed as a camping car.
You will have to obey lower speed limits in France and Spain though, and also in the UK where any 3.5 tonne speed limits are in force

Thanks, are the speed limits much lower in France and Spain?

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[tuscancouple]

No, it won’t affect travelling on a ferry or Eurostar

But you will struggle to get the motorhome on the train at St Pancras and off at Gare du Nord Eurostar is the passenger train ?

Mick

 

[Dandm]

But you will struggle to get the motorhome on the train at St Pancras and off at Gare du Nord Eurostar is the passenger train ?

Mick

That’s no problem I will get on at ebbsfleet ?

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks, are the speed limits much lower in France and Spain?

France same as cars 80kmh some departments have put the car limit back up to 90kmh but you are still limited to 80.
100 on dual carriageways and 110 on Auto routes as far as I can work out.

Spain not sure if its 80 on normal roads (gus-lopez) but motorways its 90 (under 3500 its 120).

 

[Dandm]

France same as cars 80kmh some departments have put the car limit back up to 90kmh but you are still limited to 80.
100 on dual carriageways and 110 on Auto routes as far as I can work out.

Spain not sure if its 80 on normal roads (gus-lopez) but motorways its 90 (under 3500 its 120).

Thanks Lenny?

 

[GAVLAD]

Ha ha suppose that’s where you’d struggle with the weight

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[Madcaravanner]

We are 4.25T and apart from the Ahem lower speed limits there are a few quirks

Autoroutes go by Height so if you are under 3m you MAY be charged class 2 instead of Class 3 that you are and if you are really cheeky "" Je suis une camping car "" works as well most of the time but not always

Watch for the road signs that are JUST weight ie 3.5T in a red circle you should obey them
but the ones superimposed by a lorry symbol are for trucks only

Also the Autoroute do not have scales BUT the Gendarmes DO and if they are after over weights they WILL weigh you

One thing we did notice was on some dual carriageways had temporary Speed cameras in the median barrier especially on the N10 where anything over 3.5T is not allowed to overtake and must stay at 80kph trouble is they are just that moveable so may appear and disappear at a whim

 

[Chris-n-Leeka]

We are 4.25T and apart from the Ahem lower speed limits there are a few quirks

Autoroutes go by Height so if you are under 3m you MAY be charged class 2 instead of Class 3 that you are and if you are really cheeky "" Je suis une camping car "" works as well most of the time but not always

Watch for the road signs that are JUST weight ie 3.5T in a red circle you should obey them
but the ones superimposed by a lorry symbol are for trucks only

Also the Autoroute do not have scales BUT the Gendarmes DO and if they are after over weights they WILL weigh you

One thing we did notice was on some dual carriageways had temporary Speed cameras in the median barrier especially on the N10 where anything over 3.5T is not allowed to overtake and must stay at 80kph trouble is they are just that moveable so may appear and disappear at a whim

We are taking our 4.2 Hymer to the ski slopes on Monday and reading about the speed restrictions etc for >3.5T, it seems a nightmare getting it right.

Is it really that hard to find what the speed limit is on a road?

 

[filopastry]

France same as cars 80kmh some departments have put the car limit back up to 90kmh but you are still limited to 80.
100 on dual carriageways and 110 on Auto routes as far as I can work out.

Spain not sure if its 80 on normal roads (gus-lopez) but motorways its 90 (under 3500 its 120).

In villages where the speed limit is marked at 70kph rather than the standard 50 kph as a vehicle over 3500kg you are still restricted to 50kph. Many villages add extra restrictions of 40kph through their zones for over 3500kg, as many town centres ban all 3500kg+ vehicles except buses and local deliveries.

These are the regulations, whether you choose to follow them is your choice, your MH will to all intent and purposes look exactly like a 3500kg MH and no-one will know unless they have cause to check, accident etc.

Know the rules, make your informed decision. Not saying I personally would follow them all, but, hey ho

phil

 

[Pete5996]

We are taking our 4.2 Hymer to the ski slopes on Monday and reading about the speed restrictions etc for >3.5T, it seems a nightmare getting it right.

Is it really that hard to find what the speed limit is on a road?

No, it really isn't so don't worry yourself too much. It will become clear once you're travelling on the roads. All you need to remember is that >3.5T, your speed limit is dictated by your vehicle classification, as Lenny HB said - 110 on autoroutes, 100 on dual carriageways and 80 on all other roads - unless there is a lower, signed, limit in force. Exactly the same principle as in the UK.

Just need to add what Jetlag03 mentioned above - In villages where the speed limit is marked at 70kph rather than the standard 50 kph as a vehicle over 3500kg you are still restricted to 50kph.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Chris-n-Leeka]

Thanks Pete and Phil (and Lenny) for those replies; feel a bit more relaxed and informed now

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[peterc10]

I had heard that any van over 3500 was classed as freight

You have been told wrong. We are 4500 kg and go in with the coaches SUVs and vans in the single deck carriages used for high vehicles.

Freight is very different with their own dedicated trains. Open carriages and drivers do not stay with their trucks

 

[IanF]

I’ve never gone as freight on a ferry and I’m 9m, 3.3m high and 5250kg

You're a big boy aren't you !!!!!! lol

 

[Dandm]

You have been told wrong. We are 4500 kg and go in with the coaches SUVs and vans in the single deck carriages used for high vehicles.

Freight is very different with their own dedicated trains. Open carriages and drivers do not stay with their trucks

Thanks?

 

[Lenny HB]

One problem we often come across is that as you enter a village there is a 3.5t sign and nowhere to turn off so you have no choice but to carry on but as nearly every French Motorhome regardless of weight is registered at 3.5t you are unlikely to get stopped.

You also come across 3.5t limits when you need to go through a village to the Aire that is acceptable.

You will also get flashed on dual carriageways & autoroutes by speed cameras as they sense height, I got flashed twice this afternoon on the A75, don't worry when they see the pic and see its a Motorhome they won't follow up.

 

[filopastry]

Lenny HB the late or no warning of weight and height restrictions is one of my pet hates here in France. Having driven HGV's here for a living it can be a nightmare.

As with the 50kph limit when all others are at 70kph through some villages, I and most other heavy vehicles travel at the 70kph. Naughty boy am I

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[Pete5996]

You will also get flashed on dual carriageways & autoroutes by speed cameras as they sense height, I got flashed twice this afternoon on the A75, don't worry when they see the pic and see its a Motorhome they won't follow up.

I've been flashed as a large vehicle several times as above when my 4T Cheyenne was on UK plates - never any follow up. In November last year I re-registered it on French plates so they now know my weight - I'll let you know if they follow it up if I get flashed this year.

 

[GAVLAD]

You're a big boy aren't you !!!!!! lol

Yes, need to diet ?