Discussion
I had a problem the first time on the Fishgarde - Rosslare Stena Line ferry the Europe; The knee at the top of the ship's ramp onto deck 5 (where cars usually go) is very sharp, she grounded.
Also at Fishgarde the side-loading off-ramp has a very severe knee.
Every time I use that route now I ask the loading crew very nicely if I can go on deck 3 with the big trucks, they have always let me, and no problems down there.
Apart from the little Cerb being dwarfed by the big artics!
Also at Fishgarde the side-loading off-ramp has a very severe knee.
Every time I use that route now I ask the loading crew very nicely if I can go on deck 3 with the big trucks, they have always let me, and no problems down there.
Apart from the little Cerb being dwarfed by the big artics!
The Staff on the Chunnel are really book.
Last time I crossed, the Customs and Excise man warned me to beware of the ramp !! And getting on the train they always let you stay on the ground floor.
Speedferries are a bit dodgy on turning in tight circles. You really need to be good at doughnuts !!
Last time I crossed, the Customs and Excise man warned me to beware of the ramp !! And getting on the train they always let you stay on the ground floor.
Speedferries are a bit dodgy on turning in tight circles. You really need to be good at doughnuts !!
Speaking as someone who used to work on Ferries, the biggest variable is the staff loading you on the car deck. ( Although I appreciate at some locations / state of tide etc the ramp angle will be worse than others. ) However, remember they don't want you claiming for a new exhaust. They also have a lot of time pressure, so they don't want you blocking the ramp iether. There are exceptions, but most crews are very profesional, and will try to be helpful and accomodating. It does help to ( politely ) say that you are concerened about it, but when they see the car they will probably allready know its one to be careful with. On the route I was on the lads kept large boards to put down for low cars to improve the ramp angle. During Le Manns week they were used all the time.....
I peeled the chassis plate off my 4.5 on the Liverpool/IoM ferry - ripped the bolts clean out of the tubes. It was a return to Blackpool job to sort. Despite my best efforts to hammer flat the bent plate by grounding the car at 130 on a long straight in the middle of the IoM! It was the ridge at the top of the [upwards] ramp that did it.
On the Liverpool to Belfast ferry, I scraped and bent one of the tailpipes on the Boss. This was a downwards ramp.
On both occasions the cars had a lot of luggage and 2 people in them. I don't think the problem would be so bad with only the driver and a weekend bag in the car.
On the Liverpool to Belfast ferry, I scraped and bent one of the tailpipes on the Boss. This was a downwards ramp.
On both occasions the cars had a lot of luggage and 2 people in them. I don't think the problem would be so bad with only the driver and a weekend bag in the car.
DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER IT!!!!!
i make the Dover to Calaise run every 2 weeks, either Sea France or P&O, depending on availability and i find in my hire cars, A clas Merc, Focus etc that i have dificulty sometimes not grounding on entry /exit to the ferry bay.
I really would not recomend in a Cerbera. Take Le Shuttle instead.
i make the Dover to Calaise run every 2 weeks, either Sea France or P&O, depending on availability and i find in my hire cars, A clas Merc, Focus etc that i have dificulty sometimes not grounding on entry /exit to the ferry bay.
I really would not recomend in a Cerbera. Take Le Shuttle instead.
pddmac said:
DO NOT EVEN CONSIDER IT!!!!!
i make the Dover to Calaise run every 2 weeks, either Sea France or P&O, depending on availability and i find in my hire cars, A clas Merc, Focus etc that i have dificulty sometimes not grounding on entry /exit to the ferry bay.
I really would not recomend in a Cerbera. Take Le Shuttle instead.
There's a couple of us on this thread who've done this route without problems - in fact last time I travelled on Sea France, I took nine other tivs (including two Cerbs) with me. I've very surprised you have any problems with regular cars on this route.
Steve.
SeaCat are also fine we found last year, and all 24 cars in our Le Mans party were fine on Speed Ferries, although I had a moment of panic when I thought they were going to park me on a ramp, but thankfully they must have guessed that Cerby hand brakes are hopeless 
We called SpeedFerries in advance to warn them after seeing a Ferrari ground in the BBC2 documentary about them and they made sure they had additional ramps on that crossing just in case.
Le Shuttle in 2003 was fine, just watch the sharp speed bumps before passport control, as that caught the exhaust on my S quite badly.
>> Edited by Tripps on Tuesday 6th December 15:52
We called SpeedFerries in advance to warn them after seeing a Ferrari ground in the BBC2 documentary about them and they made sure they had additional ramps on that crossing just in case.
Le Shuttle in 2003 was fine, just watch the sharp speed bumps before passport control, as that caught the exhaust on my S quite badly.
>> Edited by Tripps on Tuesday 6th December 15:52
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