First ferry trip (1 Viewer)

DBK

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The fridge will be fine turned off overnight but make sure everything is nice and cold in there before the trip. We typically turn ours on the day before, then load it on the day. For the long ferry to Spain a frozen meal and/or a bottle of frozen milk put in the main compartment keeps everything cool - though I do take out the ice cube tray just in case.

We also turn the gas off at the taps which are under the worktop in our vehicle. We have an underslung tank which has a valve on it you can use to isolate it - but we've never bothered with that though we would for the Chunnel.

Other does and don'ts? Make a note of the deck number the vehicle is on and staircase you used to get up to the main decks. This avoids the frantic "where is it?" search I've seen many times! Brittany Ferries have folk handing out cards with this info but I'm not sure everyone does.

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Jan 28, 2008
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how much do you realy need in the fridge? I assume your travelling to europe everything is available once you dock
we travel with very little in the fridge
 
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DBK

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Thought of another one. Turn the water pump off. Not essential but if something sprung a leak it avoids coming back to a flooded vehicle.
 
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MikeD

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Fridge will be ok. We leave ours on the Spanish 24 hours ferry and never had any problems

But buy a travel kettle and two pin adaptor so u can make a brew in the cabin (on the longer crossings of course).

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Emmit

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In addition to DBK's good advice about putting a frozen bottle of milk in the main compartment, it also helps if you fill the freezer compartment completely with frozen food. Do not put in the fancy packaging the stuff comes in. Take it out of that,(keep the instructions if you must) but essentially turn the freezer compartment into one solid block of iced food.

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DanielFord

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You are required to turn off the gas supply before boarding. On our last crossing, to Hook Of Holland, the security were pulling all motorhomes out of line and asking them to turn off gas whilst they watched you do it.
Simple answer, don't have anything in the freezer that will spoil, and put ice packs in the fridge. that will keep it cool for the whole crossing :D
 
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You are required to turn off the gas supply before boarding. On our last crossing, to Hook Of Holland, the security were pulling all motorhomes out of line and asking them to turn off gas whilst they watched you do it.
Simple answer, don't have anything in the freezer that will spoil, and put ice packs in the fridge. that will keep it cool for the whole crossing :D
I've never been asked or seen anything like that.
 
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DanielFord

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I've never been asked or seen anything like that.
It's a first for me also I have to say, although, amusingly the guy stood by the toilet cassette door when I exited, and I had to say to him "actually the gas is the one with the LPG sign on it!" :D

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As a former ferry company employee I can assure you I insisted on it whenever I saw a motorhome or caravan in the marshalling area. Please read the conditions of carriage and it should be very clear. Propane and butane are heavier than air, this doesn't matter too much outside but the car deck of a cross channel ferry is an enclosed space. Where would any gas leak to and disperse? If you have the fridge on gas where are the products of combustion meant to go?

Please turn off the gas.
 
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Oct 1, 2013
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As a former ferry company employee I can assure you I insisted on it whenever I saw a motorhome or caravan in the marshalling area. Please read the conditions of carriage and it should be very clear. Propane and butane are heavier than air, this doesn't matter too much outside but the car deck of a cross channel ferry is an enclosed space. Where would any gas leak to and disperse? If you have the fridge on gas where are the products of combustion meant to go?

Please turn off the gas.
in 30 years of ferry travel I've never been on a closed deck.
 
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Theonlysue

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Not long enough!
I asked for hook up and got it. :)

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Feb 9, 2008
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I'm interested in not traveling on a 'closed deck', all cross-channel ferries are, all sea-cat style and only CalMac have open decks where I live. It's irrelevant anyway, the regulations prevent even Oxy-acetylene gases being carried in the engine-room, it is considered too dangerous.
 
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Hi,

The answer is no. Just pack lots of ice in the fridge or rather ice packs.

The food will stay cool or go to a restaurant or supermarket when you get there.

Would you want to be responsible for a ferry fire in the middle of any stretch of water?.

TM

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Hellski

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Newbie question alert, if the gas is turned off and your not on ehu, wouldn't the fridge switch to 12v?
 
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TheBig1

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Newbie question alert, if the gas is turned off and your not on ehu, wouldn't the fridge switch to 12v?
Only if the engine is running.

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nekarsulm

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I've only ever been on Irish Ferries "Oscar Wilde" to Roscoff and Cherborg, and at the ferry port check-in they hand you a card notifying you to turn off gas at the cylinder. El. hook up is available if requested.
 
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Jun 16, 2013
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Our Hymer uses the engine battery when driving but it does not switch off when the ignition is turned off. Our fridge has the switched off or it will flatten the batttery on the ferry. :eek:
 
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EyUp

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I mentioned switching to leccy for the crossing on post 5 but it didnt get answered. Seems like a sensible solution to me.

Surely a healthy leisure battery or two can cope with a channel crossing? Your not crossing the pacific ocean !
 
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