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Mean Green



Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: South Ayrshire
Posts: 278

Scotland 
Heading to Europe... what do i need to know?
I am taking my caravan on to the continent for the first time. I am comfortable enough with the driving side of things, but what else do i need to know?

What has caught people out when travelling in to Europe? Or any helpful tips?

We will be in Germany, Denmark and Holland.
Post #712554 15th Jun 2018 9:52pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 16808

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
Beware that they drive on the wrong side of the road. It will take courage and determination to show them the error of their ways and set a good example!




Perhaps you already knew this though.
Post #712555 15th Jun 2018 10:04pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10353

United Kingdom 
You need a hi-viz, warning triangle and a breathalyser kit too.

Beware of staying in service areas overnight.
Post #712570 16th Jun 2018 4:44am
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wyvern



Member Since: 13 Dec 2009
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 2066

United Kingdom 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red
Enjoy the trip - you are there to have some fun so take your time to stop and absorb the event.

food it available everywhere, as it alcohol so dont over stock before you go, have road side recovery service - just in case,
take maps as well as your sat nav ... and watch your speed ... some roads are faster than the UK, others are very much slower!

You don’t need all those clothes, try and have layers rather than big bulky items,
Spare parts should be kept to a minimum - greases and oils can be bought there!
Make sure you can change your own wheels and have the right wheel lock key with you .

have fun!! Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold
Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126
Post #712575 16th Jun 2018 5:31am
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Mean Green



Member Since: 15 Sep 2011
Location: South Ayrshire
Posts: 278

Scotland 
blackwolf wrote:
Beware that they drive on the wrong side of the road.


?? Really - is this a new thing? I have never noticed before - any time I have driven on the continent before I have always been impressed at how friendly the locals have been - veering in front of me to wave, toot horns and their lights. Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes
Post #712578 16th Jun 2018 6:20am
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shropshiredefender



Member Since: 05 Jun 2017
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 832

England 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
French speed limit to be cut within days… find out when, where and how to avoid the risk of fines up to £650 .

The friendly French are cutting speed limits on rural roads from (I think) July 1st.

No doubt an Englishman towing a caravan will be a legitimate target for Les Gendames Rolling with laughter

Maybe you're going from Harwich to the Hook to avoid this.

I'm taking the Defender over tomorrow but I'll be back before 1st. July Exclamation


Last edited by shropshiredefender on 16th Jun 2018 12:09pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #712611 16th Jun 2018 11:54am
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gilarion



Member Since: 05 Dec 2013
Location: Wales
Posts: 5084

Wales 2007 Defender 90 Other CSW Trident Green
Re: Heading to Europe... what do i need to know?
Mean Green wrote:
any helpful tips?

We will be in Germany,


Whatever you do, don't mention the war Laughing

 For those who like Welsh Mountains and narrow boats have a look at my videos and photos at..

http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1
Post #712613 16th Jun 2018 12:01pm
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nosnibod



Member Since: 15 Aug 2007
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 365

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
Regarding the lowering of the speed limits in France; it applies to single carriageway roads that used to be 90km/h - 56mph. They've reduced the speed limit to 80km/h - 50mph for vehicles under 3.5T[1].

However the speed limit for units over 3.5T has always been 80km/h so in reality nothing has changed if you are towing a decent-sized caravan. What it does mean is that everyone is limited to the same 50mph so this should make things a little more relaxed if you are towing.

Weirdly if you are under 3.5T on autoroutes you can tow at 130km/h - 81mph. At 3.5T or over you can only do 90km/h - 56mph hence you get people towing trailers or small caravans tearing past. I've never understood that huge disparity and after seeing the aftermath of a few tail-wagging-the-dog incidents I reckon France would do well to look at that limit too.

[1] France uses the maximum weight for this, so if you have a 110 at a shade over 3T maximum and a van at 1.5T then the total of 4.5T takes you over the 3.5T limit. Dave
Gracie - 2015 110 XS County Station Wagon
Post #712632 16th Jun 2018 2:40pm
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FEU DE FER



Member Since: 22 Mar 2014
Location: Sutton, Surrey
Posts: 28

England 2012 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Java Black
Re. your Europe visit.
Check out the area you are travelling through for "Green Zones" i.e. low emission zones.

Fairly recently a system of pollution rating stickers has been introduced across most EU Countries & it would be expensive to get caught out.

The French "Crit Air" sticker is €5 including postage, the fine for not displaying €30.

If you have a Smart Phone, the App that show the areas is "Green-Zones"
Post #713060 18th Jun 2018 6:49pm
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strang



Member Since: 16 May 2012
Location: Happy Valley
Posts: 1361

United Kingdom 2009 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Galway Green
If you are driving around small villages be aware of the Priority road system. If you are not on a priority road, you have to give way to the right, so you could be driving along a small street, but any vehicles approaching from side streets have priority over you. The same with some Dutch round abouts - you sometimes have to give way to vehicles joining the roundabout. Just something to be aware of if you get off the main roads.

If you are on a road with the sign below they you are on a priority road. If there is a diagonal bar through the sigh, then be aware of traffic from the right.


Click image to enlarge
 Euro-Leafing to infinity and beyond.....
Post #713241 19th Jun 2018 5:48pm
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Siwynne



Member Since: 04 Nov 2016
Location: West lancs
Posts: 552

England 
How did you get the crit air for €5 it seems to be nearly €30 on the site.
Post #713273 19th Jun 2018 7:41pm
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macfrank



Member Since: 05 Nov 2015
Location: somewhere in the north
Posts: 983

Germany 2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Keswick Green
blackwolf wrote:
Beware that they drive on the wrong side of the road.

That's not a problem. We have lots of elderly and/or sleeping drivers crawling on the left lane on the Autobahn. By "crawling" we mean driving below 100mph. If we can't wake them up, we just overtake them on the right hand lane. So, you will feel at home Wink

earnestly, please, before you overtake on a motorway, take your time assessing the speed of cars in the rearview mirror; where there is no speed limit there might be cars or motorbikes driving 80mph faster than you. Let them pass first. And don't start to overtake miles before you reach the car you're overtaking; try to miminise the time you are on the left lane. However there are not many motorways left with no speed limit. You will find a lot of 75mph (120 kph) limits (see "crawling").

hi-viz are not required but recommended; breathalyzer kits are provided by the police for free if they think you might need one - no need to carry your own.

have fun
Post #713559 20th Jun 2018 9:06pm
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Ramsay



Member Since: 30 Sep 2015
Location: Moffat, Dumfries & Galloway
Posts: 623

Scotland 1995 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Auto Keswick Green
For a check if your vehicle qualifies for Crit Air and to apply see here.

https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/

Cost is €3.11 plus postage. 1995 Defender 110 CSW
1971 SIIA Lightweight
Post #713564 20th Jun 2018 9:15pm
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Martin
Site Admin


Member Since: 02 Apr 2007
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 6460

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Montalcino Red
Siwynne wrote:
How did you get the crit air for €5 it seems to be nearly €30 on the site.


https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/  1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW
Post #713565 20th Jun 2018 9:17pm
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Tdi4



Member Since: 24 Oct 2014
Location: Houten
Posts: 513

Netherlands 2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Stornoway Grey
Don’t forget the safety vests! If, Or better said when you break down hou have to wear one. Pack one for every occupant in the car. And by occupant i also mean the dog Rolling with laughter

Allthough almost every country has different rules. Ie Holland only the driver has to wear a vest. Germany has the strictest rules. Every occupant including the animales have to wear a safety vest in case of a breakdown. a defender from 1984 pretending to be a puma with a touch of Range Rover
Post #713589 21st Jun 2018 4:19am
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