Low cars and ferry crossings
Discussion
Hi
We're off to Europe soon in our 360 and are looking at avoiding the tunnel and Calais altogether for obvious reasons. We're looking at Dover - Dunkirk as a ferry option, or perhaps into Belgium or Holland but I've never used the European ferries and have only taken standard saloons onto ferries elsewhere during my travels.
As I mentioned, we have a lowered (slightly - Challenge Stradale height) Ferrari 360 and I wonder if we should have any concerns with getting on & off the ships. Any pointers, reassurance or advice will be greatly appreciated!!
Cheers
M
We're off to Europe soon in our 360 and are looking at avoiding the tunnel and Calais altogether for obvious reasons. We're looking at Dover - Dunkirk as a ferry option, or perhaps into Belgium or Holland but I've never used the European ferries and have only taken standard saloons onto ferries elsewhere during my travels.
As I mentioned, we have a lowered (slightly - Challenge Stradale height) Ferrari 360 and I wonder if we should have any concerns with getting on & off the ships. Any pointers, reassurance or advice will be greatly appreciated!!
Cheers
M
OK Not a problem, recently did Dover Dunkirk, now the boarding ramp going onto the ferries can be tricky! Where the flaps of the ramp touch the ferry take the ramp at an angle and ease down onto the boat very slowly. the ferry guys are good and will guide you on but if you drive up the ramp dead straight you are likely to have problems (the angle is key)
The ferry guys will not direct you up the additional ramps to the upper decks but will tell you to stay on the lower deck with the lorries and coaches.
My car is seriously low (I even have trouble getting over domestic speed ramps) so as long as you take it slow and at an angle all will be good
On board Dover Dunkirk Ferry
As you can see in this pic the front splitter is bloody low! (pic taken in Bruge)
Note: On your return, as you come off the ramp at dover, be careful, the bottom of the ramp where it meets the dockside is steep and again the angle is needed
The ferry guys will not direct you up the additional ramps to the upper decks but will tell you to stay on the lower deck with the lorries and coaches.
My car is seriously low (I even have trouble getting over domestic speed ramps) so as long as you take it slow and at an angle all will be good
On board Dover Dunkirk Ferry
As you can see in this pic the front splitter is bloody low! (pic taken in Bruge)
Note: On your return, as you come off the ramp at dover, be careful, the bottom of the ramp where it meets the dockside is steep and again the angle is needed
Edited by fatboy18 on Sunday 2nd August 18:18
br d said:
I'd forgotten how low the splitter is on your car Mark, I have no idea how you cope! I've done lots of trips of the last few years and without nose lifts I would've got nowhere.
What on earth do you do in underground car parks, especially in France?
Sadly I can't use them What on earth do you do in underground car parks, especially in France?
I normally pick a nice Chateau where I can park safely.I thought I was going to have a problem getting into the inner paddock at Spa this year as there is an underground tunnel but thankfully I got through the tunnel OK.
The cobbled streets of Brugge were fun
Had to drive very, very slow 
Just to put a spin on this - leaving Poole in the Mas last year they put us on a ramp with a 25% slope on it and chocked the wheels and refused to let us go on the flat half empty truck deck underneath (which really was half empty, didn't fill up later).
On the way back on the Fastcat we got stuck going up the ramp and had to unload the car and arse about with planks under the wheels to get up the ramp to the upper level again. I'm sure I could still smell clutch in there when we arrived.
P
On the way back on the Fastcat we got stuck going up the ramp and had to unload the car and arse about with planks under the wheels to get up the ramp to the upper level again. I'm sure I could still smell clutch in there when we arrived.
P
DevonPaul said:
Just to put a spin on this - leaving Poole in the Mas last year they put us on a ramp with a 25% slope on it and chocked the wheels and refused to let us go on the flat half empty truck deck underneath (which really was half empty, didn't fill up later).
On the way back on the Fastcat we got stuck going up the ramp and had to unload the car and arse about with planks under the wheels to get up the ramp to the upper level again. I'm sure I could still smell clutch in there when we arrived.
P
Very surprised to hear that! In the past when I have been on the fastcraft ferry (Portsmouth to Cherbourg) the ferry guys have been great, I followed a F40 onto the fastcraft, the ferry guys were armed with additional planks to help us onboard On the way back on the Fastcat we got stuck going up the ramp and had to unload the car and arse about with planks under the wheels to get up the ramp to the upper level again. I'm sure I could still smell clutch in there when we arrived.
P
Great service Again, We both were on the lower deck mhh said:
Sorry to stray slightly off topic, I'm heading (one way) to Germany in 3 weeks. Is the tunnel currently running OK in this direction?
No idea, but for the record I got my car stuck between carriages last time I was on the train! (as you cross each carriage there is a difference in height), My car got stuck! People behind me were wondering why the traffic had stopped! Had to get out of the car to see what was catching, it was the heads of the bolts on the transmission cover centre of the car!
mhh said:
Sorry to stray slightly off topic, I'm heading (one way) to Germany in 3 weeks. Is the tunnel currently running OK in this direction?
I think the tunnel is generally running ok but who knows how the situation will progress in both the short and long-term. We're taking no chances and have avoided both Folkestone and Calais altogether, opting for Dover>Dunkirk instead. We had the option of selecting a 'low clearance' car during the booking process but be aware it's getting booked up quickly due to the current situation.We're off to Italy in two weeks and decided to avoid Dover Calais completely by choosing Harwich to Hook of Holland (it actually knocks 150 miles off the trip to Maranello) so an added bonus.
Would be interested to hear any feedback from anyone that has done that crossing previously?
GG
Would be interested to hear any feedback from anyone that has done that crossing previously?
GG
Just to add to this, when we are touring about Europe in our Maseratis, we regularly pay for the private car park but can never get in them due to the ramp.
Ive had a look round on ebay for some sort to rubber risers we can use to get us over the hump but cant find anything?
If anyone has any experience of this that we could buy something to save us wasting valuable beer drinking time bu99ering about breaking up pallets to use the wood, it would be appreciated.
Oh and Hi DevonPaul, moonlighting I see
Ive had a look round on ebay for some sort to rubber risers we can use to get us over the hump but cant find anything?
If anyone has any experience of this that we could buy something to save us wasting valuable beer drinking time bu99ering about breaking up pallets to use the wood, it would be appreciated.
Oh and Hi DevonPaul, moonlighting I see
Edited by Conaero on Tuesday 26th June 14:16
Conaero said:
Just to add to this, when we are touring about Europe in our Maseratis, we regularly pay for the private car park but can never get in them due to the ramp.
Ive had a look round on ebay for some sort to rubber risers we can use to get us over the hump but cant find anything?
If anyone has any experience of this that we could buy something to save us wasting valuable beer drinking time bu99ering about breaking up pallets to use the wood, it would be appreciated.
Oh and Hi DevonPaul, moonlighting I see
Have you looked at the ramps that racing teams use to get up on scales?Ive had a look round on ebay for some sort to rubber risers we can use to get us over the hump but cant find anything?
If anyone has any experience of this that we could buy something to save us wasting valuable beer drinking time bu99ering about breaking up pallets to use the wood, it would be appreciated.
Oh and Hi DevonPaul, moonlighting I see
Edited by Conaero on Tuesday 26th June 14:16
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