Taking a bike in a van through the tunnel ...

[Gaz]

I'll be offroading in the Dordogne in June and want to try the chunnel rather than the ferry.

It seems vans have to be booked as freight. Will I get any customs hassle over having the bike in the back? On the ferry it's cursory at best but not sure about 'freight' on trains ?

Any tips welcome,

cheers

G

 

[Fanum]

Make sure you have the V5, although in 8 years of taking a trailer with 8-10 bikes in it across the channel, I was never asked for them even once

Also make sure you have the fuel tank EMPTY.....don't ask me why, it's no different from riding a bike across with fuel in the tank than having it in a van, but they insist on having empty tanks (including in jerry cans )

If it's not your own bike, make up some BS bit of paper with a BS signature from the owner saying you have permission to take it across....again, we were never ever asked to produce these, but in theory, it could happen

Make sure it's ostentatiously tied down if that makes sense....even if it is 100% secure with 4 straps, make sure they are all visible and to a totally untrained eye, that it looks VERY secure....saves any delay if some clipboard wielding H&S person queries how secure it is

In short, no, you won't have any problems
The fuel is the biggest (non)issue

 

[Keith Chapman]

How big is the van? could it not go as a normal vehicle but be booked in as a high vehicle?

 

[Gaz]

Cheers for the info


I phoned them up and it seems it can go as a tourist vehicle if it does not contain more than 3 cubic meters of goods.
And apparently the fuel tank on the bike can be up to 80% full.

 

[Noddy]

Used the train 5 times last year with my DRZ in the back of my Transit, never had a problem. Nor over the years with a couple of bikes an my old Sprinter.

Nobody has ever looked in the back or asked about the fuel in the bike.

Was asked if I had any containers of Diesel in the back last year when it was cheaper here, but again no problem.

Tip for you
If its very busy suggest that you would go on the freight wagon to give them more space. Park van on train, get a lift in the bus to the freight drivers carridge and have coffee and a meal whilst chugging through.
You also get see a xray picture of your van when they check it for stowaways. Still havn't worked out why they do that leaving England yet.