France Roadtrip. What To Take?

[roccorich 16]

Off for a 2 week holiday in the CTI driving down to Bordeax via the dordogne and up the coast then back via Le mans with various stops along the way.

Since I bought the car last September I have replaced, Starter motor, HT Leads, Battery, Rotor arm, Dizzy cap, Plugs, Radiator, Heater matrix, Coolant pipes, Fan switch, Handbrake cables Alternator, Fan belt, Clutch cable and various other parts I cant remember as well as wiring out the brown plug of doom.

So I am struggling to think of any parts worth carrying just as I think all the usual suspects have already been covered and being France if anything did go wrong I'd like to think i could source some parts fairly easily.

 

All I was thinking was oil, coolant, hose clips, few bits of hose, cable ties, fuses and bulbs, Jumpleads and towrope.

 

I'm a bit torn on how many tools to take though as I would hate to have to pay someone to do a simple job for me if anything did go....

 

Anyway any advice you feel like offering would be appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Rich

Edited July 15, 2014 by roccorich

[welshpug 1,657]

Adac card, hi vis jacket, breathalyser, Halfords toolkit, jump leads and a rope or towing bar, bulb kit is useful as it seems motorfactors dont really exist and service stations are extortionate.

 

in all honesty if its in roadworthy condition you should not need anything else.

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

We do lots a trips across France.

Aside from what have to carry by law all you'll need is a small toolkit and European breakdown cover. Your list of little things sounds reasonable. Don't bother wth oil, you can buy it there and it's much cheaper.

End.

 

Motor factors do exist.

[roccorich 16]

Im gonna get breakdown cover, but odds are they would write the car off rather than tow it back....

I assume you mean those Halfords proffessional toolkits that come in the black case. If I had one then yes that would be ideal, mine are all separate socket sets.

 

Cheers

[Nath88n 37]

Breathalyser is not needed.

[Anthony 1,003]

Worth bringing RHD specific bits as you're unlikely to be able to easily/quickly source them there if you have a problem - a spare clutch cable would be a good bet even if yours is fairly new.

 

Normally I take something along the lines of the following (for an 8v 205):

• Selection of common tools, including a multimeter
• Clutch and throttle cable
• Alternator
• Coil and ignition amp
• Dizzy cap, arm, set of plugs and a long HT lead.
• Alternator belt
• Pair of rear brake pads and retainer clip
• Selection of fuses and relays (inc fuel pump relay)
• Few lengths of wire and some crimps
• Cable ties, tape, and a handful of nuts/bolts/jubilees

The above will let me fix at the roadside a fair number of things that'll stop the car running but doesn't take up much room at all if carefully packed. You can't bring spares for everything, but most other bits I can either get around or I should be able to source locally easily enough if it came to it.

 

It goes without saying that prevention is better than cure so spend time going over the whole car with a fine tooth comb and replacing/fixing anything that's even vaguely iffy. That slightly perished hose for example will quickly become a massive headache if it splits.

 

Obviously you've got the legally required bits and bobs on top of that.

[roccorich 16]

I'll take the old clutch cable and a throttle cable is a good shout.

 

Otherwise thats probably it for RHD specific parts.

 

Bits of wire and crimps are a good idea, could bypass the fuel pump relay if needs be.

 

Cheers

[Goliath 94]

Get yourself a liber-t Sanef tolling tag from here https://www.saneftolling.co.uk/subscription

 

If you travel on any motorways then you don't have to stop for the tolls, just stick it on your windscreen by the rearview mirror and it will buzz you through the 'fast lane' of all the tolls so you don't have to queue in the peasant lanes. Then it bills you by direct debit at the end of the month.

 

Very handy!

[roccorich 16]

Cheers but were taking it steady on the back roads.

[roccorich 16]

And breathalyzer is still a legal requirement even though there is no punishment for not I would rather not annoy the coppers for the sake of £3

[Nath88n 37]

It wouldn't but suit yourself.

[hoodygoodwood 70 3 Cars]

I have just come back from 6 days in Northern France/Belgium and Normandy visiting many of the famous WW1 and 2 battlefields , I had assumed the bulb set was a legal requirement but it isn't . Don't forget to disable the speed camera warning feature on your Sat nav as the UK is about the only country that allows this .I forgot to bring a high vis from work so we stopped at Screwfix on the way and got one for £4 .

If you are near Ypres at 8pm try to take in the Menin Gate ceremony that has taken place everyday since the end of the First World War , something I had wanted to do for years and very touching .

[omega 82]

so what stuff do you need to be legal in france?

[roccorich 16]

High Vis

Triangle

GB Sticker

Headlight stickers

Breathalysers

V5

Insurance certificate

Edited July 28, 2014 by roccorich

[GilesW 41]

Hi vis needs to be accessible from within car, and isn't it one for every passanger now?

[roccorich 16]

From my understanding of this

 

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/overseas/compulsory_equipment.html

 

Technically you only needto carry one.

 

However if you breakdown on motorway then whoever gets out must wear one so best to have one for each passenger too.

[harryskid 193]

A spare pair of pants for when you sh8t your self when you meet the other drivers on the wrong side of the road!

[lagonda 42]

Driving license as well. The gendarmes are quite keen on waving people down simply to check their documents, so essential to carry log book, license and proof of insurance.

 

I offer discounted accommodation to forum members; if interested let me know dates and how many people...am in Chalandray, which is in the Vienne, 30 minutes west of Poitiers.