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#1 2018-08-10 00:41:33

kenbw2
Administrator
From: Preston
Registered: 2017-11-26
Posts: 1,265

The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Took my Dispatch 1.9D camper on my family's holiday in Southern Germany near Offenburg. My girlfriend had said before she'd love to see the Alps and Italian Lakes, and considering it was only a few hours away, I thought it'd be rude not to.

One camper conversion, 2300 miles, 9 countries, and for the Alpine trip, free accommodation. Pretty consistent 37MPG going a steady 60ish mph, where gradients allowed (or didn't).

HvHJXkg.png

Obviously had to take it for a blast on a level, straight bit of Autobahn, reached an eye watering 85mph! Other times I struggled to maintain 50mph, thank god for crawler lanes =/.

Went through France, Belgium (dodging them French tolls), Luxembourg (stocking up on cheap diesel), Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, nip into Austria just because, and Italy.

And it didn't miss a beat. Even going up the steep windy Alpine back roads, where I feared for my clutch, and even more watching the temperature gauge climb. But it pulled through.

And you know what? It was the only vehicle on the holiday to have a flawless trip. My mum's 9 year old Volvo had an ABS fault, and my brother's Galaxy blew its turbo, and all the engine oil with it.

dP2HLAz.jpg

A few highlights from the trip:

iyNowWn.jpg

7qMN82N.jpg

aBHVXxh.jpg

1RRT36a.jpg

E0upn9b.jpg

HKjwr7G.jpg

Last edited by kenbw2 (2018-08-10 00:48:22)


2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD XUD9 Camper Conversion
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8 Disassembled Camper Conversion
1996 Peugeot 806 1.9TD XUD9 Spare vehicle
1998 Citroen Synergie 1.9TD XUD9 Snapped timing belt

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#2 2018-08-10 05:58:03

cliffo
Member
Registered: 2017-08-04
Posts: 128

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Nice one and great pics!

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#3 2018-08-10 17:28:14

Casper
Member
From: East Lothian
Registered: 2015-12-20
Posts: 2,114

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Well done you. Did you price the Hull overnight to Zeebrugge compared to extra fuel, hours driving and crossing at the chunnel?

I took my wee 1.9D down the Black Forrest two years ago. This was out first night on the border with Belgium and Luxembourg. We always head to Luxembourg for the cheap tobacco.

image.jpg

image.jpg

They like a large Clock in Germany

image.jpg

Had to have a shot on this

image.jpg

Some stunning views down that way

image.jpg

This is a random shot up the Mossel Valley heading for Cochem.

Always take the all day breakfast in a tin big_smile

image.jpg


Aye we just plodded along also but stuck to 70 on the motorways. Think due to some of them hills we worked out an average 35MPG for the trip. I could not live with the plodding engine doing them miles and having to pull over on hills to let trucks past was embarrassing big_smile Loved the wee Pug though and if it was larger i would still have it but you may have noticed we took the dog. It was cheaper to get her a passport than kennels so as we take the dog we needed a larger van.

Meet TinTent 2

This is on the Hull Ferry

image.jpg

Did Belgium and Luxembourg then down to France for a night.

image.jpg

From there headed East along to South Germany, into Switzerland and also down to Italy for Como. I did Como town years ago and found it full or pretentious arseholes and i understand its full or professional beggars and eastern Europeans now compeating with the begging cup so headed to the North side of the lake.

This is the view from the back of the campsite

image.jpg

Cant remember the name of the wee town just now but it was nice to relax for a couple of days after the drive down in the heat

image.jpg

From there back up through Switzerland to Lake Constance for the night. Then back to the Mossel for two and up to Holland for a bike rally before home.

Aye, as some of you may know there is a long wheel base version of the Exper/Scudo/Dispatch in Euroland. Its only about 12-13" longer but had we this van here i would have hunted one down with a larger engine and just cut the roof off and built up for more storage rather than a roof box. Must admit though the old LDV is amazing for space inside. Mine has the later 2.4 Transit engine what is great as i still get 35MPG but when needed i have the extra oomph for them hills. Was pushing a newer Pug Boxer up the hills in Switzerland. No way i could have done that the year before.

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#4 2018-08-10 18:52:24

Ricko
Member
From: SW Lancs
Registered: 2017-01-18
Posts: 334

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

So jealous!!
I so want to take mine abroad.
I might try a sneaky trip to Ireland at some point.
But travelling around continental Europe looks great.


2004 Citroen Dispatch 2.0 Hdi

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#5 2018-08-10 18:55:44

kenbw2
Administrator
From: Preston
Registered: 2017-11-26
Posts: 1,265

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Casper wrote:

Well done you. Did you price the Hull overnight to Zeebrugge compared to extra fuel, hours driving and crossing at the chunnel?

Yea I did it once on a trip to Holland. It was nice to not have to do that long slog across France/Belgium. But it's damned expensive.

In this case though it made basically no difference when going to the Black Forest so Calais it was. As a tall car too, not a van/camper.


2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD XUD9 Camper Conversion
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8 Disassembled Camper Conversion
1996 Peugeot 806 1.9TD XUD9 Spare vehicle
1998 Citroen Synergie 1.9TD XUD9 Snapped timing belt

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#6 2018-08-10 18:56:46

kenbw2
Administrator
From: Preston
Registered: 2017-11-26
Posts: 1,265

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Ricko wrote:

So jealous!!
I so want to take mine abroad.
I might try a sneaky trip to Ireland at some point.
But travelling around continental Europe looks great.

I'd love to take mine to Ireland, but have you seen the ferry prices?! Much cheaper to go across the Channel


2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD XUD9 Camper Conversion
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8 Disassembled Camper Conversion
1996 Peugeot 806 1.9TD XUD9 Spare vehicle
1998 Citroen Synergie 1.9TD XUD9 Snapped timing belt

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#7 2018-08-10 19:12:58

Ricko
Member
From: SW Lancs
Registered: 2017-01-18
Posts: 334

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

kenbw2 wrote:
Ricko wrote:

So jealous!!
I so want to take mine abroad.
I might try a sneaky trip to Ireland at some point.
But travelling around continental Europe looks great.

I'd love to take mine to Ireland, but have you seen the ferry prices?! Much cheaper to go across the Channel

I'll be honest, I haven't looked.
I did you with the IOM to see the Classic TT in Aug but didn't follow it up.
It's the drive down to the south coast that puts me off. I might have to look at a Hull sailing.


2004 Citroen Dispatch 2.0 Hdi

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#8 2018-08-10 19:57:53

Casper
Member
From: East Lothian
Registered: 2015-12-20
Posts: 2,114

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Where do you stay Ricko? You can also cross at Newcastle what sails into Ijmuiden. 150 from then you are on the dutch south border. My mate lives down the south and i can do door to door in around 230 miles. Not much difference in price between the two and me being East Lothian its six and two threes whether i add the extra 130 miles on in GB or Holland. My LDV last year was £380 return for two and the dog. This was the Hull crossing. You get a room and breakfast. Think DFDS (Newcastle) with my PUG was around £320. Yes i can get through the tunnel for a fraction of that price but the travel south, hours, food and fuel makes crossing up north a no brainer.

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#9 2018-08-10 20:59:16

tee_cee
Member
Registered: 2016-03-18
Posts: 573

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

kenbw2 wrote:
Ricko wrote:

So jealous!!
I so want to take mine abroad.
I might try a sneaky trip to Ireland at some point.
But travelling around continental Europe looks great.

I'd love to take mine to Ireland, but have you seen the ferry prices?! Much cheaper to go across the Channel

In Ireland at the moment and ferry prices are expensive compared to the channel, where I usually pay ~£50 each way the day before travel. The shortest route via Stranraer/Carnryan is oddly the most expensive. Usually go from Liverpool day crossing with Stena to Belfast, which is very comfortable. This time went P&O to Dublin which was about £120 but it's a very basic boat, mainly freight, with little comfort in the small lounges. Took a cabin for £17.50 and all was well. For whatever reason they chucked in free brekky & dinner for the price.
Heading back to France & that's a killer @ £275, but its similar to cost of going back to Liverpool/Dover/Calais.
Prices do drop a bit later on, and October can be just as good as the summer (we had a fire going in Donegal last week)

Last edited by tee_cee (2018-08-10 21:00:35)

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#10 2018-08-10 21:04:55

tee_cee
Member
Registered: 2016-03-18
Posts: 573

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

kenbw2 wrote:

Took my Dispatch 1.9D camper on my family's holiday in Southern Germany near Offenburg. My girlfriend had said before she'd love to see the Alps and Italian Lakes, and considering it was only a few hours away, I thought it'd be rude not to.

One camper conversion, 2300 miles, 9 countries, and for the Alpine trip, free accommodation. Pretty consistent 37MPG going a steady 60ish mph, where gradients allowed (or didn't).

https://i.imgur.com/HvHJXkg.png

Obviously had to take it for a blast on a level, straight bit of Autobahn, reached an eye watering 85mph! Other times I struggled to maintain 50mph, thank god for crawler lanes =/.

Went through France, Belgium (dodging them French tolls), Luxembourg (stocking up on cheap diesel), Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, nip into Austria just because, and Italy.

And it didn't miss a beat. Even going up the steep windy Alpine back roads, where I feared for my clutch, and even more watching the temperature gauge climb. But it pulled through.

And you know what? It was the only vehicle on the holiday to have a flawless trip. My mum's 9 year old Volvo had an ABS fault, and my brother's Galaxy blew its turbo, and all the engine oil with it.

https://i.imgur.com/dP2HLAz.jpg

A few highlights from the trip:

https://i.imgur.com/iyNowWn.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/7qMN82N.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/aBHVXxh.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/1RRT36a.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/E0upn9b.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/HKjwr7G.jpg

Just curious if you drove through the middle of Freiburg. It's almost unavoidable and you are actually not allowed there with Euro3 vans.
I assume you had vignettes for Austria & Switzerland - or did you wing it?

Last edited by tee_cee (2018-08-10 21:05:27)

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#11 2018-08-10 21:41:04

kenbw2
Administrator
From: Preston
Registered: 2017-11-26
Posts: 1,265

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

tee_cee wrote:

Just curious if you drove through the middle of Freiburg. It's almost unavoidable and you are actually not allowed there with Euro3 vans.
I assume you had vignettes for Austria & Switzerland - or did you wing it?

No we didn't go through Freiburg, just past it. Strasbourg we had to get one of those French stickers for - Category 5!

Got the Swiss Vignette:

JhXHQbB.jpg

We didn't go through enough of Austria to need one of theirs.


2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD XUD9 Camper Conversion
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8 Disassembled Camper Conversion
1996 Peugeot 806 1.9TD XUD9 Spare vehicle
1998 Citroen Synergie 1.9TD XUD9 Snapped timing belt

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#12 2018-08-10 21:42:29

kenbw2
Administrator
From: Preston
Registered: 2017-11-26
Posts: 1,265

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

tee_cee wrote:

This time went P&O to Dublin which was about £120 but it's a very basic boat, mainly freight, with little comfort in the small lounges. Took a cabin for £17.50 and all was well.

£120 - is that one way or return?


2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD XUD9 Camper Conversion
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8 Disassembled Camper Conversion
1996 Peugeot 806 1.9TD XUD9 Spare vehicle
1998 Citroen Synergie 1.9TD XUD9 Snapped timing belt

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#13 2018-08-10 22:02:38

tee_cee
Member
Registered: 2016-03-18
Posts: 573

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

kenbw2 wrote:
tee_cee wrote:

This time went P&O to Dublin which was about £120 but it's a very basic boat, mainly freight, with little comfort in the small lounges. Took a cabin for £17.50 and all was well.

£120 - is that one way or return?

One way - even off peak will be  close to £200 return for longer trips.
For Strasboug non comercial drivers don't need a sticker just yer, but better safe than sorry. Just fitted my class 4 today for the trip back next week

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#14 2018-08-11 08:48:30

Casper
Member
From: East Lothian
Registered: 2015-12-20
Posts: 2,114

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

I dont mind that Swiss system of the Vignette. €40 for the year where you can do that just cutting through France. I was €6 just cutting through the north east border. I would hate to think what it was cutting through heading down to Spain.

http://www.autoroutes.fr/index.htm?lang=en

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#15 2018-08-12 18:54:04

luthier
Member
From: Eyemouth
Registered: 2017-06-17
Posts: 99

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

What a fantastic trip smile I'm in awe of you lol,  and ever so slightly jealous hahaha lol

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#16 2018-08-12 21:23:17

Casper
Member
From: East Lothian
Registered: 2015-12-20
Posts: 2,114

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

luthier wrote:

What a fantastic trip smile I'm in awe of you lol,  and ever so slightly jealous hahaha lol

You have a ferry only 75 miles south from you. Get yer finger oot big_smile Great weekend coming up in Holland first weekend of October if you like Motorbikes, Rock music and lots of beer big_smile

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#17 2018-08-15 19:51:24

tee_cee
Member
Registered: 2016-03-18
Posts: 573

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Casper wrote:
luthier wrote:

What a fantastic trip smile I'm in awe of you lol,  and ever so slightly jealous hahaha lol

You have a ferry only 75 miles south from you. Get yer finger oot big_smile Great weekend coming up in Holland first weekend of October if you like Motorbikes, Rock music and lots of beer big_smile

Good advice?

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#18 2018-08-15 23:15:23

Casper
Member
From: East Lothian
Registered: 2015-12-20
Posts: 2,114

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

tee_cee wrote:
Casper wrote:
luthier wrote:

What a fantastic trip smile I'm in awe of you lol,  and ever so slightly jealous hahaha lol

You have a ferry only 75 miles south from you. Get yer finger oot big_smile Great weekend coming up in Holland first weekend of October if you like Motorbikes, Rock music and lots of beer big_smile

Good advice?

Worked for me. My first Euro trip was a long weekend in Germany (Kassel) what was just a fast as possible bike ride to destination and back to ferry. It was enough to make me decide i enjoy the organising as much as driving/riding in Europe so started to look at longer trips and do some sight seeing. Now i go to Euroland  and  for the sightseeing and now visiting more due to meeting new friends. I still finish up with a weekend at a bike rally.

May not be your bag but is mine

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#19 2018-08-16 18:09:32

luthier
Member
From: Eyemouth
Registered: 2017-06-17
Posts: 99

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Casper wrote:
luthier wrote:

What a fantastic trip smile I'm in awe of you lol,  and ever so slightly jealous hahaha lol

You have a ferry only 75 miles south from you. Get yer finger oot big_smile Great weekend coming up in Holland first weekend of October if you like Motorbikes, Rock music and lots of beer big_smile

   

Aye but I'm skint mate  lol  lol  lol   can't even afford to drive to the garage to put a fiver diesel in at the moment  wink

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#20 2018-08-16 18:12:17

kenbw2
Administrator
From: Preston
Registered: 2017-11-26
Posts: 1,265

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

luthier wrote:

Aye but I'm skint mate  lol  lol  lol   can't even afford to drive to the garage to put a fiver diesel in at the moment  wink

Got a 1.9 with Bosch pump? Veg oil is 90p a litre, chuck that in instead smile


2000 Citroen Dispatch 1.9TD XUD9 Camper Conversion
1999 Citroen Dispatch 1.9D DW8 Disassembled Camper Conversion
1996 Peugeot 806 1.9TD XUD9 Spare vehicle
1998 Citroen Synergie 1.9TD XUD9 Snapped timing belt

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#21 2018-08-17 09:25:03

tee_cee
Member
Registered: 2016-03-18
Posts: 573

Re: The van's longest trip yet. Germany, and through the Alps to Lake Como

Casper wrote:
tee_cee wrote:
Casper wrote:

You have a ferry only 75 miles south from you. Get yer finger oot big_smile Great weekend coming up in Holland first weekend of October if you like Motorbikes, Rock music and lots of beer big_smile

Good advice?

Worked for me. My first Euro trip was a long weekend in Germany (Kassel) what was just a fast as possible bike ride to destination and back to ferry. It was enough to make me decide i enjoy the organising as much as driving/riding in Europe so started to look at longer trips and do some sight seeing. Now i go to Euroland  and  for the sightseeing and now visiting more due to meeting new friends. I still finish up with a weekend at a bike rally.

May not be your bag but is mine

Sorry, hit the ? mark instead of !. Too many beers I guess

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