Fully loaded for France

[cleve]

5 people, 5 bikes, quechua Base tent, boogie board & goodness knows what else. Off to France for 2 weeks, couldn't imagine packing without the mft box on the back!

 

[Eileen]

Where ever do you all sleep? I am sorry to say that does not look like fun

 

[Hotel California]

Hope you get a good vacation!

Did you by chance can get the Cali to weight it....beware it could well be overloaded?
Ok if it is a beach guess it weighs less than a SE but still..
And is your gasbotle closed ? In case you take the ferry they can ask to check it before boarding , does the booth still opens...?

 

[Alan]

Hi Cleve
Fantastic photo,you really look like you mean business
I couldn't help noticing the cracks in the road under the van,I hope it's nothing to do with the weight of your van ( just joking )
Enjoy your holiday and be sure to tell us about it when you get back

Alan

 

[Wolfsburg]

I would say this is overloaded especially with 3 passengers in the back, with luggage, bikes and the box, you may find the steering is very light. If I was you I would find a weight bridge in the UK to check because if you are stopped in France and are over loaded they will make you leave items at the road side

 

[MadMechanic]

depending on the size of the passengers that is possibly borderline, I think the max weight you can carry is 700kg ? You need to include the weight of the bike rack in this figure as well

 

[cleve]

I think it looks worse than it is! The trunk is mostly filled with kids shoes, toys, lightweight stroller & the gas bottle is all accessible & disconnected. Arrived at the eurotunnel with no delays, just waiting to board.

We sleep with 2 up top, 1 in the cab & 2 on the lower bed. We used to sleep 5 of us in a tin top so we're used to making the most of the compact space.

Yes the box tilts to allow tailgate access but we now pack so that we shouldn't need to open the tailgate until we're on a campsite. Our luggage can be accessed by lifting the multiflex.

3 very excited children on board, usually head to the med so looking forward to shorter distance this year with ile de re the furthest destination.

Wonder where we'll end up tonight!

 

[Hotel California]

As said above have a good vacation , if loaded with common sense you'l be fine...
Was just beeing helpfull giving info
Off you go.....!

What region you wil be visiting , campsites , camperspots...?

 

[cleve]

Booked camping le St nicolas in Port maneche near concarneau & second half on la grainetiere ile de re. Nothing booked either side so will find an aire tonight & a couple of days on the return journey.

If we're overloaded & have to leave things behind I'll leave the boxes of nappies, baby wipes, water, tinned food & whichever child is being the noisiest!! All under 7yrs old so not much weight between them & all lightweight bikes, even the kids ones are half the weight of a normal kids bike so we think we've been sensible!

 

[jts46]

You can buy nappies, etc in France similar prices as uk, i know as we have our grand daughter staying with us at our house in france.

John

 

[stevieb]

I think it looks worse than it is! The trunk is mostly filled with kids shoes, toys, lightweight stroller & the gas bottle is all accessible & disconnected. Arrived at the eurotunnel with no delays, just waiting to board.

We sleep with 2 up top, 1 in the cab & 2 on the lower bed. We used to sleep 5 of us in a tin top so we're used to making the most of the compact space.

Yes the box tilts to allow tailgate access but we now pack so that we shouldn't need to open the tailgate until we're on a campsite. Our luggage can be accessed by lifting the multiflex.

3 very excited children on board, usually head to the med so looking forward to shorter distance this year with ile de re the furthest destination.

Wonder where we'll end up tonight!

Have a great trip...stay safe.....the children will have wonderful memories of their childhood.

We are thinking of a similar trip for our very first venture abroad possibly next year.....will watch thread with interest.

 

[Zebedee]

We were on that beach last week. We are back in Devon today and heading off for our road trip tomorrow. I hope you enjoy it. Might see you on your next stop.

Have a great time.

 

[Skylark2.0]

Looks like great fun and an adventure waiting to happen

 

[Archie]

Have fun on the Ile De Re
We have just left after another great week there.
If you see this while you are away, fill up with diesel at the Intermarche outside Saint Martin - 1.03 a litre! Cheapest we saw on our journey there and back by about 10 cents.

 

[motacyclist]

You forgot the the stuff on the roof

Enjoy your trip

 

[reserves]

Enjoy!

 

[cleve]

Finally figured out the campsite WiFi for an update. Had a fantastic week in brittany although the chilly mornings & evenings was a bit of a shock when we've been used to camping in the med in previous years. Loved the area & peaceful campsite.

Now on ile de re, much warmer & love leaving the van parked up & cycling everywhere. Wishing we'd found a bit of space for the bike trailer to make supermarket & beach trips easier by bike but have used pretty much everything else we brought!

Staying near la Flotte which is beautiful. Finding the road noise a bit annoying but it's a great campsite & the location perfect for cycling to St Martin & la Flotte with its child friendly beach.

Will post some pics on my return but so far it's been a very chilled holiday staying in both Aires & campsites. We've adjusted nicely to life in the cali with our 3 young children having a wonderful time. We're down to 1 hour from arrival at campsite to tucking in to our dinner which isn't bad.

 

[Speedbird]

Another Cali fully loaded for France. Hey it's a commercial van underneath it can take a little weight. Six bodies to also include somehow!

 

[Dave bee]

Wow, we have just come back from a 16 day trip to France with 3 kids. We managed to get everything in the van, no bikes though. Having made it back through the tunnel with no stowaways I think we still took too much kit, less is more, easier day to day.

 

[cleve]

Found it quite interesting seeing other calis along the way & how everyone packs! Just on our way back from the most fantastic 2 weeks. Definitely recommend the app park4night to find Aires with photos and reviews.

We were glad of the extra supplies we took as once it ran out it wasn't easy carrying water, nappies etc on the bikes.

The children made lots of friends along the way & we're returning feeling very chilled. Probably one of our best trips to France so far & we've been annually for many years.

 

[MKRW]

Would love to know how you pack 5 bikes on a 4 bike rack.

We are going for 4 on the back and 2 on top. Will post a picture when I work out how!

 

[2into1]

As someone (One man and one small dog trying a T5 Cali) who has just struggled with the packing to manage a night away in a local pub car park, I doff my cap to you Sir!

 

[Topman]

Sounds Brilliant
We've just returned from a 2 week Tour of the Loire then Brittany with a final day in Normanday visiting the D DAY Beaches

 

[MKRW]

As promised! 6 bikes and a roof box. Just need the family!

Off the the French Alps.

Fully Loaded....

• MKRW
• Aug 13, 2015
• 1

Ready to travel. Just need the family.

 

[cleve]

do you have to pack a stepladder to get the bikes on top?!!