Channel Tunnel Advice
Author
Discussion

djtex

Original Poster:

446 posts

214 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
Not strictly a road but I am on the euro tunnel next month and have booked my car in as waving above the 1.85m threshold. It won't be, it's far lower but I did this to try and ensure I am in the wider section as in the double deck bit it seems way too easy to kerb a wheel.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can best ensure that's where I end up?

TooMany2cvs

29,008 posts

142 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
djtex said:
Not strictly a road but I am on the euro tunnel next month and have booked my car in as waving above the 1.85m threshold. It won't be, it's far lower but I did this to try and ensure I am in the wider section as in the double deck bit it seems way too easy to kerb a wheel.

Does anyone have any advice on how I can best ensure that's where I end up?
Ask the nice man very nicely when he loads you. Or learn how to drive without hitting things.

audidoody

8,598 posts

272 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
I've steered a Mercedes E-Class Estate (B-I-G car) onto the train many times without bashing anything. Just take it slow and it will be fine. There's room.

djtex

Original Poster:

446 posts

214 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
It's not the length im worried about, it's the width and having previously kerbed wheels even when taking great care I'm obviously nervous. Especially as I'll be in my brand new M4 with huge diamond cut wheels.

People like Shmee150 regularly use the tunnel and are always in the wider bit, just try to work out how to ensure I am as well.

Truckosaurus

12,686 posts

300 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
Just drive into the oversize vehicle lane, the worst that can happen is they insist you join the normal sized queue.

CoolC

4,339 posts

230 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
Truckosaurus said:
Just drive into the oversize vehicle lane, the worst that can happen is they insist you join the normal sized queue.
This. Just drive into the over height section (left lane after passport control). The man will check your booking and see you are booked in the double height section.

f1_dragon

310 posts

240 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
When you check-in, make sure the 'boarding pass' you get printed to hang on your rearview mirror has a chevron symbol on it and then as said follow the signs for the wide load lane. Never had an issue when I've booked above 1.85, but they do check for that chevron symbol and boot you out if you don't have it in my experience.

PositronicRay

28,079 posts

199 months

Friday 3rd June 2016
quotequote all
djtex said:
It's not the length im worried about, it's the width and having previously kerbed wheels even when taking great care I'm obviously nervous. Especially as I'll be in my brand new M4 with huge diamond cut wheels.

People like Shmee150 regularly use the tunnel and are always in the wider bit, just try to work out how to ensure I am as well.
That's just like a normal size car, right? Just take the normal carriage, you'll be fine.

Silver993tt

9,064 posts

255 months

Saturday 4th June 2016
quotequote all
CoolC said:
This. Just drive into the over height section (left lane after passport control). The man will check your booking and see you are booked in the double height section.
Actually that isn't what happens. The staff guiding vehicles onto the train will see you have a normal car and put you in the appropriate floor/carriage. If you have issues driving onto the train then the best advice is to use the ferry.


Edited by Silver993tt on Sunday 5th June 11:49

don logan

3,750 posts

238 months

Sunday 5th June 2016
quotequote all
I've done this LOTS of times in a regular height car!

You book a ticket for a high car

You drive through passport control

You head for the over 1.85 sign

You then stop at the control box where you get told which lane to queue in

IF, IF the person at that control box tells you that you could fit it the regular carriage you just tell them that you want the extra width not the height!

That is the end of the story, I don't have enough fingers to count how many times I've done this!

Last week I shared a carriage with an Ultima on the way out and an SLS on the way back

Just book a high ticket and follow the signs, you'll be fine

2.5pi

1,086 posts

198 months

Sunday 5th June 2016
quotequote all
I'd go for the extra height/width option, iirc diamond cut alloys don't have much rim protection from the tyres and the mini kink as you pass the toilets in the normal carriages can be enough for a crunch. I know this because my old seven series needed the mirrors folding to get past without curbing the alloys and I even scuffed a 20" alloy on my x5 whilst not paying attention, not my fault Mrs 2.5pI had just opened a bottle of fizzy mineral water that had been in the sun too long.