Paris - Tunnel A86 height restriction

[BeeHappy]

Some background, 2 adults+ 2 kids, second summer holiday in France, Brittany and Normandy last year… and this year Normandy, down to the coast in vendee and then head up the Loire valley. We camp up for a night just south west of blois on the return leg. Then have a day in between that stop and 2 nights near Calais. Two options, for the last leg north… the wife says we head toward dreux and do a French passion then head on the next day Calais direction. I say we head to orleans, around Paris and via Amiens to an aire at Le Portel. I won the battle, but not the war!

Google maps paints a nice picture of the route from blois via Paris, 4hr55, much better than 6hr route via Rouen. Off we go… and all goes well until the A86 just west of Paris which has a 2m height limit. 1hr30 behind plan we make it to le portel.

Google it appears doesn’t really warn you of height or weight limits, the French don’t seem to give much warning on major roads of height or weight limits until the last 2km.

What’s beats google maps for route planning when in a bigger vehicle!? Any other pearls of wisdom on routes/roads to avoid in France in a motorhome?

 

[Nanniemate]

Eurowag
You can put in your dimensions

 

[rb62]

You'll soon loose the hour that you allegedly 'save' going anywhere near Paris.

 

[BeeHappy]

You'll soon loose the hour that you allegedly 'save' going anywhere near Paris.

A lesson we have now learned!!

 

[rb62]

A lesson we have now learned!!

Well you can't say I didn't warn you

 

[Saucer]

We certainly avoid Paris

 

[Jon Stuart]

Magic Earth and others will take on height restrictions but generally don't seem to do width (since most roads don't actually have width data).

In France we look at road type and the number digits after it, plus a bit of streetciew.

Google maps silliness is taking a corner off on a completely unsuitable road.

Your point about road signage is spot on.

Went over a bridge on the Loire near Villebernier (near Saumur), where weight and height were appropriately signed in advance, but width was only indicated once you had committed up a narrow road to the bridge.
2m max. We're 2.35m plus the (coach) mirrors makes it 3m. Would have been less of a problem in a differently designed bridge.

We met two cars... It was a bit of a squeeze.

 

[Brains]

Get a proper GPS unit designed for motorhomes.
(Like this one)

The £300 it costs will be saved by the retention of the roof of your motorhome.

 

[Kirsten]

Went over a bridge on the Loire near Villebernier (near Saumur), where weight and height were appropriately signed in advance, but width was only indicated once you had committed up a narrow road to the bridge.
2m max. We're 2.35m plus the (coach) mirrors makes it 3m. Would have been less of a problem in a differently designed bridge.

We met two cars... It was a bit of a squeeze. View attachment 1244821View attachment 1244822

Been there .... sat in terror dithering with cars hooting behind me ... went over it weeping .... sigh Pictures bring back the trauma but couldn't edit them out

 

[Jon Stuart]

Been there .... sat in terror dithering with cars hooting behind me ... went over it weeping .... sigh Pictures bring back the trauma but couldn't edit them out

That was my wife!

 

[JockandRita]

Google it appears doesn’t really warn you of height or weight limits, the French don’t seem to give much warning on major roads of height or weight limits until the last 2km.

Unlucky. Whilst I like Google Maps for route planning, I never never use them for navigation.

What’s beats google maps for route planning when in a bigger vehicle!? Any other pearls of wisdom on routes/roads to avoid in France in a motorhome?

As Nanniemate Lois suggests, the Euro Wag App which never put me wrong during the limited time I was using it. Magic Earth on the other hand, tried to send me down 7.5t weight restrictions 3 x times in the same day............. in a 44 x tonner.

Whilst It's still working fine, I use my trusty Xgody 9" Truck Sat Nav in the MH. It has the proper truck files, which I update annually for free. Available online for about £80 - £90. You enter all the dimensions and weight, plus number of axles and their weights.

Good luck finding what suits your needs.

Cheers,

Jock.

P. S. I've just replaced the battery in mine, giving it another few years of life.

 

[TrophyJem]

Been there .... sat in terror dithering with cars hooting behind me ... went over it weeping .... sigh Pictures bring back the trauma but couldn't edit them out

We’ve also been over it. Much fun when a truck came the other way and we both had to fold our mirrors in to get past

 

[HowardB]

We were travelling up through Paris on motorbikes a few years ago. The satnav took us to the A86 tunnels. We didnt see any restrictions for motorbikes until we got to the pay booths at which point it was too late as we couldn't see any other route out.
Was a bit hairy riding through the tunnel with the roof literally inches above. It also seemed an age until we hit the first off ramp.