Help please, is my car too low for the Ferry?

[jaybee]

I'm getting the Ferry from Portsmouth on our way to Le Mans.

I was hoping to take the Porker, but I'm a bit concerned it's too low to get onto the Ferry.

I have trouble getting over speed humps, the front always scapes, so I don't hold out much hope.



Anyone else have any experience of this? Or, should I just take a more sensible car?

[RossG]

Contact the ferry company direct and ask them about this.

Last year, there was a GT2 in our convoy, and it is very very very low at the front.

The driver had called P&O in advance - and was put into the truck lane to go into their garage on the boat. Because it was on a lower level, there was no approach / departure angle issues :-)

HTH

[morebeanz]

In my experience the Ferry lads are very good when it comes to low cars. Just have a quiet word, and I am sure they'll help make sure you don't mess up the spoiler as you get on/off.

[dicky]

never once had aproblem, the amount of sports cars that make the le mans trip I'm 100% sure you will be fine

[crazy of cookham]

I did not have a problem with a Ulima Canam on same route. I followed the Ferrari club on board. The loading guys just sectioned us off on lower deck with trucks.

[RichUK]

They are generally very good at loading the cars on the ferries, I dare say they will be expecting some very low cars.

[jaybee]

Cheers everyone.

I had heard it was it easier to get low cars through the channel tunnel, but as I live about 3 miles from the Ferry Port it's not really an option.

Looking at some of the other cars going I should be ok.

[///m-power]

I followed an F40 owner on last year and he seemed OK. As others say, the ferry boys know what they're doing and are particularly used to helping the odd petrolhead on board during LM week

[neilsie]

you need to tell the ferry company in advance though - as this space tends to be premium.

and the Kuntari party have such reservations

[shagga]

The cars in our convoy all look about the same height as yours and we have never had a problem. The last few times the guys loading have had some form of coconut matting put down to prevent any contact with the ramps. At LM time there is so much exotica heading across the ferry compaies are generally well prepared and expect a lot of low cars.

[alt]

Are you including the Frenchie ferry boys for the return journey in that statement?

[dave_newcastle]

The three times that I have used the ferry they have always been careful with the low cars, giving them time to approach the ramps in one go so that you dont have to stop on the incline and putting us on the lower decks.

The train - well, used it twice in 1999 and 2004.

The first year the inclines getting off the train at calais, caught an exhaust clamp and broke the exhaust in two.

The second time was euro footballchamps. Again on way there, We were picked out for the full car search going over since they thought we looked like footies holigans. You had to park in a bay with a ramp the size of everest in front of it. The police insisted I had to drive over it despite my protest that it was too high. Result - bottomed out on the sump and tore the engine up of off one of its engine mounts - the rubber teared/failed. I wont use the tunnel again.

Still got there and back on each occasion.

Dave

[steve_D]

Had no problem with my Ultima GTR. This is set at 110mm under the front axle line.

You don't need to contact them in advance. You will be one of many who will be sent to another queue as soon as they spot a low car. On one of the ferries they fitted an extra set of boards to the ramp to ease the angle. On 2 occasions the guy was laying on the ground to watch under the car as he waved me forward.

Steve

[//j17]

They normally have a small pile of wood blocks sitting around to help low cars on/off the ferries and are normally experienced enough to spot a car that's going to have a problem, stop them and build a ramp for them.

If your worried stop and tell them and they will normally look after you.

[schwarzpm]

last time we went in a standard 996 Turbo and it went into the ferry with no probs at all - although we did get in VERY slowly

[jon b16]

I drove my black Radical SR3 supersport down last year.

My car has a front spoiler/ splitter clearence of no more than 7 to 8 cm. I own a GT3RS and comparing the two - the Radicals front clearence is much lower and further forward from the front axle to that of the RS.

So you will have no prob - just ensure you drive across the entry lip slowly and at an angle.

My SR3 was the lowest car the ferry master or anyone else had ever seen - bl*ody close call

[Davi]

As above, I took a modded Beetle with 65mm clearance under the front on the ferry - I called ahead, had no problems (well, Ok it wasn't easy but the ferry boys got it on there without a scratch!) That was followed on by a friends '62 camper that was even lower - that was trickier, we just jacked it up and put a block in the beam so the body couldn't drop back on the suspension!!

[mike888]

You must phone ahead and they will sort it for you. I managed to get a Lambo SV on so yours is no problem.

[alt]

When you say phone ahead do you mean in addition to telling them when I made my booking?
I'm crossing with Norfolk Line and my Tamora's clearence is now down to 3".
Cheers.... Andrew

[mike888]

I went Norfolk line last weekend to Dunkirk. They have some new boats , very nice but I would not have got a decent car on it - too steep. I had a banger this time so I did not need to contact them. When I had the Lambo I used P & O or Sea Chance ! I would rather swim than use P& O now as I had loads of problems with thier lack of flexibility on more than one occasion ie - flat tyre - late and they wanted extra to travel at a different time.
When I travel with a nice car I call them on the day as well as when booking for sure. The boats are not all the same and some have a better facilities than others.

Good Luck