Choosing the Right Ferry Length

[Pechris]

Hello. I have a Chausson motorhome overall length of 6.35m
A scooter rack is fitted on the rear that measures 800mm. My question is, when booking a channel ferry do I select the "up to 7m option and add the rack or book up to 8m motorhome.
Overall length of van +rack is about 7.25 m
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Barriesimpson]

The way I understand it is the length must include any fittings on the back. So 6,35 plus the 0,8 of the bike rack - 7,15 or as you put, 7,25.

 

[Brian/April]

On a recent Irish ferries crossing with tow bar rack I was advised to book overall length mine was up to 8 m. If there's a difference in price I would look at 7 m if it is just over. As it was nobody checked or measured.

 

[royandsharont]

I’m pretty sure they ask for your vehicle length and then if you carry’s such as a tow ball mounted rack you say you have that so in my case would by up to 7m + bike rack.

If they don’t have a drop down to add bike rack, as BF do, then I’d just give the overall length with the rack fitted

On my old coach built the rack was part of the van so I gave them the vehicle length including the additional distance for the bikes on it.

 

[Lenny HB]

Newhaven/Dieppe only have 7m or 10m option when we had a 7.5m van always booked as 7m as that ferry is rarely busy.

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[Whippet93]

I suppose if everyone under estimated their vehicle length by 10% it could cause an issue when loading a ferry, as they obviously have to plan how vehicles go in, and finding that they need 10% more space to load everyone wouldn't work. If you have a 7m van plus a 0.5m bike rack on the rear, you can't get it in a 7m space.

 

[Lenny HB]

I suppose if everyone under estimated their vehicle length by 10% it could cause an issue when loading a ferry, as they obviously have to plan how vehicles go in, and finding that they need 10% more space to load everyone wouldn't work. If you have a 7m van plus a 0.5m bike rack on the rear, you can't get it in a 7m space.

As Newhaven/Dieppe only has the option of 7 or 10m there will quite a few of vans between say 8 - 9 m booked as 10m so there will be loads of space. Likewise with cars up to 5 or up to 7m.

 

[Lizbiebrowne]

At St Malo last November, Brittany Ferries were measuring vans’ heights with a wooden device.

 

[royandsharont]

I’ve heard of BF also measuring length and making people pay more

 

[Abgs]

I was measured for the first time, in Portsmouth a few weeks ago.

My Hymer is 6.97 according to the spec sheet but I do have a rear wall mounted spare wheel which probably protrudes 15cm beyond the bumper.

The spare wheel overhang is sufficient, that in Spain I have to display a warning board. However the Brittany Ferry’s guy wasn’t bothered. He didn’t question the height which is about 3.10m to the top of the dish. I think their limit is 3m on the ticket I bought.

I’d go with the book 7m and wing it approach…

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[Bear]

I have been measured once on our local Pirate ferries and was in

He looked dissapointed!

 

[DangerMousy]

At St Malo last November, Brittany Ferries were measuring vans’ heights with a wooden device.

We're thinking of taking the St Malo ferry for the first time later this year and aren't sure whether to book 3m or 4m height......what do people usually do if like us the MH is under 3m, but you have things on the roof?

We're 2.89m, but not sure how much the sat dish on top sticks up. Is the 3m vs 4m due to lower deck heights (in which case we'd probably need to book 4m to avoid damage), or is it just a fares thing (in which case we should be fine at 3m).

 

[Abgs]

We're thinking of taking the St Malo ferry for the first time later this year and aren't sure whether to book 3m or 4m height......what do people usually do if like us the MH is under 3m, but you have things on the roof?

We're 2.89m, but not sure how much the sat dish on top sticks up. Is the 3m vs 4m due to lower deck heights (in which case we'd probably need to book 4m to avoid damage), or is it just a fares thing (in which case we should be fine at 3m).

I've always booked 3m. They will always put you in with the lorries and vans so no need to worry about height clearance inside. I think the only ferry you can't use is the fast boat between Cherbourg and Portsmouth as that is really tight inside.

If you use the autoroutes in France at the toll booth might try to charge class 3 - if you are over 3m. If so just press the help button and say that you have a camping car - they will reduce the toll demand to the class 2 rate.

 

[DangerMousy]

I've always booked 3m. They will always put you in with the lorries and vans so no need to worry about height clearance inside. I think the only ferry you can't use is the fast boat between Cherbourg and Portsmouth as that is really tight inside.

If you use the autoroutes in France at the toll booth might try to charge class 3 - if you are over 3m. If so just press the help button and say that you have a camping car - they will reduce the toll demand to the class 2 rate.

Thanks, that's really useful. The toll gates always detect us as class 2 so that's not an issue. We actually travel far more abroad than we do in the UK, but have always used tunnel (where height isn't an issue) but are considering using the ferry this time for a change.

 

[barryd]

Check it with both lengths. I bet there isn't any difference in price. Personally I would go for over 7m if that is what yours is. I recently booked with Irish Ferries and our van is over 8.5 metres with our scooter rack so I just included it in the overall length. I think it came up the same price as sub 8 metres anyway

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[olley]

I've always booked 3m. They will always put you in with the lorries and vans so no need to worry about height clearance inside. I think the only ferry you can't use is the fast boat between Cherbourg and Portsmouth as that is really tight inside.

If you use the autoroutes in France at the toll booth might try to charge class 3 - if you are over 3m. If so just press the help button and say that you have a camping car - they will reduce the toll demand to the class 2 rate.

Tried that in the RV, didn't work but at 3.7h and 9.5t I can't say I was surprised.

 

[68c]

Schoolboy French time, would that be "Nous somme un campingcar", or " Nous avons un campingcar"?

 

[Guigsy]

I booked my stubby a-class on to the ferry with a 6m ticket. I pulled up to the booth to check in, and they told me I'd bought the wrong ticket. I think they assumed that as it was an a-class, it would be longer. I'd even taken off the bike rack before the trip as it was mentioned in the small print. Took about 10 seconds of me insisting I know the length of my van before they relented.

 

[PlacidoD]

Schoolboy French time, would that be "Nous somme un campingcar", or " Nous avons un campingcar"?

"Campingcar Classe Deux s'il vous plaît"

 

[TheTwoOfUs]

We went Newhaven/Dieppe last year. M/h is 7.4M, trailer 2M so I rang and asked them if I could book on as 10M outfit. No, I had to book as 10M m/h and 4M trailer.

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[The Old Man]

A waymarked when, who cared, story!

I used to make four or five Newhaven to Dieppe trips to sports events in my VW Transporter, twelve foot long? Carrying delicate sports equipment that was 20ft long other roof racks!

I only ever booked and paid for the van length, never a query.

Until, there I am at the head of a large queue for the check-in so an ever helpful official waves me into the lorry line.

Where the check-in person, in a very officious tone point out that I'm 20ft long and need to pay extra!


I point out that I've never, ever, paid for the over hanging equipment and as I was in a van and it was a roof load it made no difference as the car infront and behind could still be loaded close to my bumpers and I took up no extra room.

No joy, pay or go home!

So I demand a document not allowing them to load other vehicles under my overhang!

No movement.

Now the Artic driver behind is getting irritable and letting rip with his airhorns.

After some time he strides up, Susses what's going on and without a word releases the straps holding my load, goes back to his van, he and his co-pilot get out a couple of ladders and shift my 20ft load onto the top of his trailer!

Walks back to the jobs-worth and says, "Problem solved."

And to me, "Once on board we'll switch them back!"

"FINE." I say.

So I pull forward chuckling. I'm a bit surprised the he didn't appear but didn't worry thar he had five grands worth of my sports kit on his roof, these things always work out, after all.

Eventually he rolls up and he's tamping, so I asked what's up.

It transpires that as he pulled up to jobs-worths booth who is on the phone calling a Customs officer, to whom he explains that the lorry drivers T documents were incorrect! Pointing out that the driver had undeclared goods on the roof of the trailer!

The driver told me that there was nearly murder done!

Fortunately the Customs Officer was much more laid back. His first question to the Ferry Official was, "How did he know that there were goods on the trailer?

And so the whole story came out! Apparently the Customs Officer went off laughing!

I think the cost of drinks, food and a bung to the Lorry Driver and his mate was probably more than what the ferry excess would have been didn't matter!