Driving onto the Eurotunnel with a long vehicle

[wilksy61]

So I have used the Eurotunnel many times and have always used it in either my car(s) or campervan, no problems loading at all, however this year I shall be taking my campervan, 6.84M long plus a car trailer with an overall length of 5M.

When I drive the camper which uses the double height carriages its easy but how difficult is it with 13M long in total - don't want to make a dick of myself with, of course, loads of people ready to take video's.

[SuperPav]

i mean i once saw a minibus with a helicopter (!) on a trailer behind it go on and manage just fine.

As long as you're booked into the coach wagons, you should be ok. Take your time and don't stress when loading, the staff will normally be very helpful if you need a bit of guiding etc.

[Truckosaurus]

Indeed. There always seems plenty of space around the double height bit, not like having to squeeze in the side door on the normal carriage.

I bet trundling around the one-way system to get through passport control will be a bigger headache.

[richhead]

if you are worried, try and book on the hgv train, its not as tight. But ive taken a lwb sprinter with a enclosed car trailer on the back on the normal train, it was fine.

[wilksy61]

Thanks for the replies, my plan is to catch an early morning train (1am ish) so hopefully not too many people watching me.

[idealstandard]

When you board just drive across the loading / open portion and slightly out onto the other road surface, then swing hard back to the right/left (depending on what side you're boarding from) - then that tows the trailer / back of vehicle back in line. I have gone on there with american style coach motorhome / large van towing tri-axle trailer etc.

Hope this helps.

[harrycovert]

This. I've done it several times with a rig the same size as yours

[wilksy61]

Thanks everybody, I'm sure I can do it towed cars for years but never on the Eurotunnel.

[greygoose]

idealstandard said:

When you board just drive across the loading / open portion and slightly out onto the other road surface, then swing hard back to the right/left (depending on what side you're boarding from) - then that tows the trailer / back of vehicle back in line. I have gone on there with american style coach motorhome / large van towing tri-axle trailer etc.

Hope this helps.

The loading carriage is pretty long, as idealstandard says go onto the other platform and straighten up before you enter the first carriage like the artics and larger coaches do. Skip to 1 m 26 in this clip and it shows a large coach doing it, albeit he has to reverse a touch

[Busa mav]

I was behind 2 of these loading, the first one also had a large trailer attached.

You will be fine, the full height cars are very generous in size.

[Busa mav]

The last 2 journeys we have made this year, we have had to reverse off as the forward doors wouldn’t open, luckily there wasn’t a towed caravan behind us !

[wilksy61]

Thats a bit snug

[-Cappo-]

I don’t know that the truck entrances are any longer than the “normal” carriages but I took this to Switzerland (and back) via the tunnel recently to help a mate out:



There is literally about 3-4” clearance either side of the tyres once you’re in, but you do have to get it lined up right.

[Jaguar99]

I’m a coach driver and have put coaches (between 12m and 15m) on the Shuttle hundreds of times

You board on a flat wagon which you drive across so your front wheels ago onto the platform on the other side of the flat wagon. When your back wheels are on the flat wagon you make a tight turn to bring the front round towards the entrance to the carriage. Straighten up and drive in. There’s little kerbs all the way through the train so you shouldn’t get anywhere near the walls once in

If you don’t make it in on the first go there is actually plenty of room to reverse/shunt a bit and get the angle right

I think it looks harder/tighter than it actually is