General 5700km Road Trip

[TwyRob]

Hi!

I'm going on a long trip around Europe in my Doblo in Feb/March 2008. I'll be fully loaded with wheelchair, clothes, equipment etc and will be travelling through France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Czech Republic, Austria, Italy and Luxembourg covering a circular route in around 8 weeks.

Is there anything that I should do to the car to prepare? (except for a full service etc) I was wondering if anyone has any experience in any of these countries in terms of snow chains (and how to use them), bull bars (maybe, in case of deer? I dunno) and vitally, what to do if the car breaks and I find myself in a foreign land and unable to use my pigeon French to get by!

Hope someone has some advice, this is a little daunting as well as being very exciting! It's just that the last thing I want is for the car to leave us stranded for a stupid reason that I could prepare against. There is nothing worse than negotiating a motorway on foot pushing a wheelchair - very vulnerable!

Thanks

 

[RichDoblo120]

I've done a fair bit of driving in France and Spain and I only speak a tiny bit of French and even less Spanish and I've always got by as English is very widely spoken.
Broke down on a French motorway once (not in a Doblo). You have to use their official motorway mechanics if this happens as they don't allow private breakdown trucks to assist people on their motorways. You have to pay for repairs on the spot then claim on your Euro breakdown cover afterwards. If you can make it off the motorway you can call your normal AA/RAC number, on the motorway you must use the emergency phones.
Try the AA website for advice on what to carry in your car and different regulations in European countries.

 

[TwyRob]

You have to use their official motorway mechanics if this happens as they don't allow private breakdown trucks to assist people on their motorways. You have to pay for repairs on the spot then claim on your Euro breakdown cover afterwards. If you can make it off the motorway you can call your normal AA/RAC number, on the motorway you must use the emergency phones.
Try the AA website for advice on what to carry in your car and different regulations in European countries.

Cheers Rich, that helps with the breakdown worries. Just gotta find out if there is any extra equipment that I need and whether it fits on the car now.

Much appreciated.

 

[RichDoblo120]

It's a legal requirement in most of Europe to carry a first aid kit, a spare set of bulbs, a fire extinguisher, a warning triangle and a reflective jacket. Oh and a basic tool kit. The one that comes with the car is fine.
You must also display a GB plate, the one on a Euro flag background is now the recognized standard. You must also use headlamp redirection stickers,
All of these are available in Halfords.
Maybe Ozzie can get you FF member discount .

 

[RichDoblo120]

Oh yes...
you will also need the EU health insurance card

and you probably won't need a green card but here's their website just in case

Sounds like alot of hassle but it doesn't take long to sort out.

 

[TwyRob]

I should be ok with the legally required items, my local mechanic will be giving the car a good going over before the trip and will fit any items like fire extinguisher, first aid kit etc to the car (velcro or bolted) to stop them coming loose and being a danger. He has worked on cars before they did the Paris - Dakar Rally so should be up to this!!

More worried about any major mods required...

Cheers!

 

[TwyRob]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone has seen any product that allows luggage/bikes to be carried on the rear of a doblo without having straps blocking the other rear door (I have an SX with 2 rearmost doors) a bit like the ladder systems for the cargos. I can't get any product that requires a towbar because the towbar would get in the way of the portable wheelchar ramps that I use.

This is related to the post by sludgeguts at https://www.fiatforum.com/doblo/112795-new-fiat-accessories-web-page.html .

 

[RichDoblo120]

There's a ski carrier for double rear doors on the Fiat accessories page. Maybe that could be adapted to carry other luggage?
The roofbox co seem to have a very good range of options for carrying extra luggage but I couldn't see a cycle carrier that didn't fit to either a tow bar or a spare wheel carrier, worth a look though.

 

[TwyRob]

There's a ski carrier for double rear doors on the Fiat accessories page. Maybe that could be adapted to carry other luggage?.

I had also thought of this, I'll give it plenty of thought before I make any purchases due to the cost!

 

[randomizered]

Make sure your fuel tank doesn't leak at the seams like mine did after 4 days and 800 miles, arriving in chamonix, france. Turned round 'cause of it, and I had planned France, Italy, Austria, Germany, Belgium, France, UK

Make sure you have all the safety gear as above, GB sign and light adjusters.

breakdown (AA was cheapest for me, online, as I am currently with them)
EHIC - Free
Seperate insurance cover - www.insurandgo.com (this covers medical, contents etc)
Let your insurance know (£21 additional for my trip )
GPS (tomtom one XL Europe was my choice) ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE and worth every penny!!!

Driving on the toll roads in France isn't cheap, about £150-200 in 4 days, but i did do 1600 miles. The road are fast, easy and there are loads of petrol stations, rest stops etc.

Paris is MENTAL, especially the centre after a 10 hour drive there, save it for when you are calm and collected

If you are going to Switzerland (not that you listed it), there is no Euro, and you need to pay a one off, yearly £18.50 charge to enter the country (can do it at the border.

make sure you carry your original....V5, passport, PHOTO ID driving licence, insurance and breakdown docs, and possibly your paper licence counterpart.

All over though, enjoy, its a great experience

Kristian

 

[TwyRob]

...GPS (tomtom one XL Europe was my choice) ABSOLUTELY INVALUABLE and worth every penny!!!

Driving on the toll roads in France isn't cheap, about £150-200 in 4 days, but i did do 1600 miles. The road are fast, easy and there are loads of petrol stations, rest stops etc.

Paris is MENTAL, especially the centre after a 10 hour drive there, save it for when you are calm and collected

If you are going to Switzerland (not that you listed it), there is no Euro, and you need to pay a one off, yearly £18.50 charge to enter the country (can do it at the border....

Thanks Kristian. I'nm a Geography Teacher so I think a GPS might be cheating a bit, besides I like maps! Thanks on the info about France, I'm not doing too much driving in France though as I have visited many times before, just between Geneva (Switzerland, well spotted that I missed it out) and Luxembourg really, shouldn't be a huge toll! I'm definately avoiding Paris too, been there and know about the mentalism. When it comes to the £18.50 to enter Switzerland I recall that this is a motorway vignette, I'm approaching Geneva from France (from Chamonix incidentally) and leaving the same way and not using any Swiss motorways, hopefully I wont have to pay!

I'm glad that people are giving some input on this thread, I think that I will be well informed by the time that I leave!

Does anyone (tescoman?) have any info about Blue (Disabled) Badge rules in Europe? I've downloaded a booklet but have no knowledge of any experiences.

Thanks

 

[Ozzie1989]

I had also thought of this, I'll give it plenty of thought before I make any purchases due to the cost!

The most cost effective way to carry extra luggage is on the roof, although I assume you have the high roof model and this is not possible?

 

[TwyRob]

No, not the high roof version. I had to buy the car myself rather than motability so I bought the only one I could find in South Wales at the time. Looks just like the pic below. Roof mounted carriers have occurred to me, concerned about fuel economy though.

I'm lucky, I don't need the high roof version. I can easily carry my partner into the front passenger seat and use portable ramps to put her electric wheelchair in the back. The car is so versatile that there's no need for expensive conversions or even a higher roof in my case.

I may have to give in and use a roof mounted carrier, but it would be nicer if there was an alternative - dropping even 5mpg over the course of the trip would be expensive, perhaps enough to make me reconsider taking any kind of bike.