First time on a ferry
We are taking our caravan to France for the first time on Sunday next week using the Newhaven Dieppe crossing. The caravan is a single axle Coachman and it strikes me that it might be a good idea to put the corner steadies down on the van once parked on the ferry to stabilise it for the crossing. Does anyone have any advice/experience of doing this? It is a good idea or a really stupid one in practice? Comments either way welcomed.
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All you need to do is make sure you fold your mirrors in if possible as some folk seem to be blind to them. Enjoy your trip.
Colin
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For what it's worth, we never deployed the corner steadies on ferry crossings. I feel it better to let a van ride on its suspension, as it would on a bumpy road, than to jar on the steadies.
In practice, I doubt the crew would allow you to use the steadies and they chain vehicles down if a rough sailing is expected.
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I’ve definitely seen the crew chaining down vehicles, Burgundy. I doubt they’d leave it to drivers for H&S and insurance reasons. Liability rests with the ferry operator if something goes wrong.
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Oh Lord…….just reading this makes me feel queasy. I wish I was a good sailor🙁 Discussed Ireland with OH, he’s of opinion it’s best if he takes MH over while I fly, and then meet up.
All the best for your trip….
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The crew usually decide what needs to be done, our motorhome has been chained to the deck on a couple of trips, not particularly rough crossings but a fairly empty ferry meant it wasn't a loose cannon. Also when everything is very busy there won't be much room to get at steadies, things can be very cramped on busy crossings.
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Like AD; handbrake on, disconnect electrics and alarm off. Just remember to plug in electrics and brake off when you get back to your car! A couple of other points to remember; you will not be allowed back on the vehicle deck until you arrive at Dieppe and remember to make a note of which stairwell you need to take to get back to your car!! I have never lowered steadies nor have I every seen it done, let the suspension do its thing if the sea is choppy. You will be guided to a parking slot by the crew so all you need to do is follow their directions. Enjoy your trip.
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Where chains have a different use 😀
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Once attached to the car it can have an effect on the cars alarm system. If it wobbles then the cars alarm can be activated.
When you return to your car you can usually hear a number of alarms going off.
Colin
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used the Santander - Portsmouth ferry January this year, should have sailed 8th Jan, cxld due to bad weather, we did sail out on the 9th Jan, still very rough, advised to stay in our cabins for at least 4 hours, i put the dog on one of the bottom bunks and wrapped him in a towl to stop him rolling off, i used the other bottom bunk.
we were advised not to put the steadies down, but to ensure car handbrake was firmly on, in park, and caravan brake firmly on, and to chock the caravan wheels if we had suitable chocks, i used the leveling ramps x 4, and to ensure alarm switched off, have never disconnected the electrics and even on a 48hrs crossing never had a problem. After approx 4hrs things did calm down, i went down for dinner, only six people in the dinning room, had a great dinner, i am ex RN
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Everyone going on a ferry crossing should study their car manual and learn how to disable the alarm system vibration sensor properly, but on a temporary basis (not things like unlocking the door, removing fuses, disconnecting battery, etc, as suggested on google). For those with pets it's an essential, otherwise the alarm would be set off every time the pet moves in the car. Don't just google it, because some of the ideas don't work - read your own manual and do it properly.
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Exactly the problem I had on when using my new car!
. Not reading the car handbook to understand how to partly disable the sensors is a silly error.It only happened once.
Not sure if disconnecting the caravan is necessary but it is simply playing safe. I definitetly don't want to risk someone stepping over the hitch and ripping out the wires - that would be a disastrous start to your holiday
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+1, I’ve used ferrys Home/Europe & worldwide without personal issues nor heard of them from others. Valid point IS👍🏻
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