Motorhome over 3m high
Hi, I have never owned a caravan or motorhome before and I am looking forward to many the adventures ahead, at home and abroad. I am purchasing a new motorhome in March. I am thinking of adding an AC unit but this may take me over 3m in height. I have been told that this will put me in a commercial vehicle category on toll roads on the continent. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? What will the difference in toll charges be?
Many thanks in anticipation.
Comments
-
I’m sure someone will be able to answer your question properly, FJ, but I’ll just urge you to make sure you have sufficient payload to allow for the AC unit as well as all your other gear as some MHs have very small allowances.
Welcome to you.
0 -
I believe this information may be correct. Have you tried Googling for a more precise answer?
0 -
Can’t help with cost as never use toll roads. Maybe also consider when/where you would use an AC unit – many continental sites electricity are less amps than UK’s which may be an issue dependant on what other electrical items you want to run at the same time. Good luck and enjoy.
0 -
500kg isn’t a terrific amount, FJ, although better than many. It’s going to need some careful calculation. Good luck.
0 -
The vagaries of the European toll systems!!! Sometimes its height, sometimes its weight and sometimes its both!!! In France I am not sure how they determine weight as I am unaware of being weighed whilst using the French Autoroutes. They do measure the height but I am not sure how sensitive the sensors are and how they are placed. You could always ask whether you should be Class 2 and they might relent?
David
0 -
If you think you will need cool air,then you could go for a motor caravan that has the Truma blown air heating system, as that can also just run on the fan without the heat setting, we have found it worked this year with the exeptional heat we had,in the uk,where as the Aldi system does not have that facility,
0 -
I know that A/C has it's benefits but we've managed very well without one.
It was heading up to 40 degs last year in France and we coped quite well despite the temperatures.
The extra height, weight and initial cost seem to out way the minimal benefits and trying the MH first to see if it is beneficial to you before you buy might be a reasonable option.
If you only travel in the UK I doubt if it's worthwhile, others may disagree, but you are more likely to need or use it abroad.
If you go over 3 metres high the Toll fees in France for Classe 3 are about 50% higher than Classe 2 and if you use Toll roads a lot that's a very big hike in price.
Some French and Spanish Supermarkets and urban Fuel stations have 3, or just over, metres barriers which can catch you out.
If I was you I'd see how you go without A/C before spending your money on one.
0 -
Going off topic a bit but with the reduced speed limit in France (80kph / 50 mph) the normal roads may be quieter but it does take a heck of a long time to get from A to B on them and the Motorways can speed up your journey through France considerably - but a price.
0 -
I have read the height sensors on the French toll roads check the front vehicle height and anything mounted further back is ignored. They do not check weight. My current vehicle is over 3m at the front so I have never had chance to prove the above but I only ever paid class 2 with my last 3.8 ton vehicle which was only just 3m high.
peedee
0 -
What ever you do, please don't leave your airconditioning unit running all day and night, especially on a terraced site. You'll annoy the neighbours. If you need to cool down, go to SuperU or similar and enjoy some cool spray next to the veg, or hang around the chilled food section
0 -
It’s not just the motorway tolls you need to consider but the bridge tolls in particular as the mark up can be even higher as we found out with our old van which was over 3m. For example the Millay viaduct is 8.30€ off peak and 10.40€ peak for <3m and 36.70€ at any time for >3m.
There are a few small ferries which will not accept vehicles over 3m.
Envoy your new van whatever you decide.
0 -
John, which van do you have?
upplating to 3850 will give you an 'apparent' extra 350kg of 'payload', hence your 500+ kg comment...
however, if it's a Fiat, the 3850 upgrade is only a paper one which incorporates the two axle maxima of 1850kg front, 2000kg rear.
so, physically, the rear axle still has the same limitations it had when it was plated at 3500kg...
the 'extra' 350kg can only be made use of if you have spare capacity on the axles and can spread it exactly to match that capacity.
in nor,al use, the rear axle is the most vulnerable, and if your van is over 7m (say) and has a ear locker/garage where all your stuff will go, each kg loaded will knock around 1.2kg off the payload....
so, it would be useful to know which van you have, any other heavy options....auto box, sat dish, solar panel, twin leisure batteries, etc....
also, the payload almost certainly include a full tank of water not the passenger.....around 175kg....
im getting a bit worried now.....your 'payload' at 3500kg would have been only 150+ kg ......if it's 500 with a 350kg upplate....
take out. 175 for water/passenger and your overweight...
ok, you have an extra 350 in ypur back pocket but on.y if the rear axle isn't already tight...
im getting the feeling this is a large 7.5m type van, upplated to make it 'work' in the brochure....
you need to factor in all your kit, from cutlery to bedding, clothes, tools, bikes, computers, leads, water kit, boots, pots, pans, plates, cups, bottles etc, etc....
a few more details please..... I reckon you need to weigh this van and pay particular attention to the rear axle loading.....
0 -
This is usually the case for obvious reasons and usually there is a Pèage on the approach to a town followed by a free by-pass section e.g. Lyon.
Two notable exceptions: if you take the Autoroute South from Calais (a sensible choice as the N road alternatives are tedious) the new Autoroute around Reims is a toll road. Also, if you take the Autoroute approaching Rouen travelling North the best road to Calais is to stay on the Autoroute until Calais is signposted. It takes you over the river and connects straight to the dual carriageway but will cost around 3 Euros. Sounds daft.
0 -
Hi FJ,
I don’t quite understand this statement above. “ If you are over 3m, with ac fitted or over 3.5t”. Remember, it is either or. With your ac you are over 3m and this does affect your toll charges and ferry charges. There are also some sites you will not get onto as well. I went to one at Moissac in France last Sep where it had a 3m height limit. My van is 2.98m high so I am always checking. At some point in the future I might have changed my Kon-tiki for the new 2019 version which has some exciting new bits on it, but the downside and killer is that it is now 8.11m long and 3.06m high. Both of these stats incur huge increase in running cost. What are Swift thinking about?!
BillC
0 -
Just came back from France at New Years Eve with my MH which is including roofbox 3.4 m. Therefore it is under 3.5t I have been charged the normal rate on the motorway and tunnel tolls. So I believe the toll will be charged on weight not height. Hope this helps.
0 -
my MH which is including roofbox 3.4 m. Therefore it is under 3.5t I have been charged the normal rate on the motorway and tunnel tolls
I don't quite follow the logic there: height is 3.4, therefore it is under 3.5t ???
Tolls are not charged on weight, how can they, where and how would they be able to weigh each passing vehicle? Earlier on in this thread, on page 2, peedee stated: "I have read the height sensors on the French toll roads check the front vehicle height and anything mounted further back is ignored." Therefore, your roofbox, which presumably sits much further back than straight above the cab, wouldn't be measured.
Our previous MH was a 5t tag-axle model. We only ever paid Classe 2 for that, even though it was obviously well above the magic 3.5t, and should definitely have been a Classe 3. But it was below (just) 3m and that is all that's measured.
0 -
Don't forget that in Slovenia its the height of the windscreen measured along a line running through the front wheel bearing. If this is more than 1.8 metres the vehicle is classed as a class 3. This causes problems for 'A' class vehicles.
0 -
Don't worry about it. The guys that run the autoroute don't understand it either. As far as teyre concerned if it looks like a motorhome it is a motorhome as long as it spends euros in their country. So just get the ordinary car vignette.
0 -
It seems a pretty ridiculous criteria in that it would be very difficult to measure in a real life situation.
0
