 Poster: A snowHead
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Has anyone booked a non-roofbox spot then rocked up with a roofbox? We're got a 3 series estate and I think we're probably low enough to get away in the non-roofbox section even with the roofbox on, but to date I've always just booked with a box. Each time though they've measured us as we pass through the queueing section, as though deciding whether to send us into the "full height" section
This year I've booked both trips without roofbox and i'm just wondering what might happen if I decided to just turn up with one (i've used the black friday offer so I can't add one via the booking itself as that bit is not amendable once booked). I suppose I might be asked to pay the difference?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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I used to have an estate car that was under 1.85 with roofbox as the bars were bolted directly to the roof rails. I did not specifically book with the box, just ticked the under 1.85 box and had various results. Got directed down the overheight lane and put in the over 1.85, got stopped and told "you are not over 1.852, cross over into the under 1.85, went through on under 1.85 then stopped just before train "you have got a roofbox on" answer correct, I have but it's only 1.84m to the top, waved onto under 1.85 section. All this was a couple of years ago and I think they have changed the tickboxes now (?) so that you cannot simply choose "under 1.85m".
Maybe just message them and see what they say.
Edit :- I didn't think there was a price difference ?
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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You don't get asked about height any more by the looks of it
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@skitow, if you select roofbox there is an increase in price.
And I seem to remember someone on here saying they always select nothing on their roof even though they have a roofbox. I have never tried it myself - I am just too honest I think!
And yes it doesn't ask about height just whether you are towing, have something on the rear or on the roof. I just experimented and it seems towing is a big price increase.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@Layne, Yes well, to be honest my last trip was just before my final, covid extended, multitrip ticket expired. Maybe they get the height automatically when you put the reg in and confirm car type ? I knew trailers had a big surchage but then the tunnel has gone up a lot post covid anyway.
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| Layne wrote: |
@skitow, if you select roofbox there is an increase in price.
And I seem to remember someone on here saying they always select nothing on their roof even though they have a roofbox. I have never tried it myself - I am just too honest I think!. |
That may have been me; my car is 1.75 with roof box. I can understand why they charge extra for those who need to use the single deckers because clearly they only have half the capacity, but since I’m effectively a normal car and use the double decker carriages, I don’t see any need to pay extra!
I’ll let you know how it goes in a few weeks time.
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@skitow, good question about the car height.
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@snowdave, sure I think it makes sense if you fit in the double decker that you don't pay extra.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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That was my thinking, that we might be ok, but I wondered if they're tightening up to rake in the extra cash becuase "roofbox = overheight" even when it isn't. As above, you don't get asked about height, you get asked if you have anything on the roof / rear, and the price seems to go up about 10% for a roofbox
@snowdave, let us know how it goes - I'm not planning to take a box on the january trip but am considering one in March
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I wouldn't wish to defend the company in question but I guess if you ask people for the height it's difficult as many don't know or misjudge it.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@spyderjon, nice plate!
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The above pic was a from a good few years ago and we were booked on an 'oversize' train but got there early and was told if the car passes under the height measuring bar we could catch an earlier 'regular' train. The bar just kissed the top of the rook box so I asked a staff member when queuing to board and was told that the height of the train door the ceiling were a couple of inches higher than the bar so I good to go.
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You know it makes sense.
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For years booked a car with roof box and then realised that after a while it was not needed as we were under 1.85cm. Then started just booking normal tickets which is far more flexible especially when it’s busy. No questions and Had no issues ever since.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Just let the tyres down or bung a few big water carriers in the back of the car to weigh you down enough to get under the barriers. Empty once you are on the other side.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| Rob_Quads wrote: |
You don't get asked about height any more by the looks of it
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They may change the wording, but the height of the carrier should still be the same…
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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They don't ask for height these days, but I am pretty sure they use car data to derive the height and book you into single/double decker.
Try it yourself:
1. Turn on browser private mode
2. Instead of entering a reg, enter manually Volvo XC90. It's above 1.85m
3. Don't select any roof boxes
4. Select a specific date, e.g. I did Monday 9th of December
5. Note the minimum price, for me it was £129 for a midnight crossing
Now do the same thing but enter Vauxhall Corsa. I get £106 for the same crossing. A difference of 20%.
Adding a roof box automatically books you into a single decker. I am guessing depending on the mood of the marshall, you may or may not get away with not specifying a roof box if you know you are still under 1.85
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Oleski, pricing also depends on length of vehicle not just height. We had our X-trail booked on there a couple of winters ago, and changed the car to a Skoda Superb before travel. Price increased due to length of car- I did it by phone or live chat, so I asked why there was a difference. Not by much, and it wasn't due to time before departure.
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I've no idea about the roof box scenario. We take our Merc van so we're always in the single deckers.
But.... this thread did prompt me to book a return crossing for 2025 last night and saved me about £50. (20% off  )
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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| Hells Bells wrote: |
| @Oleski, pricing also depends on length of vehicle not just height. We had our X-trail booked on there a couple of winters ago, and changed the car to a Skoda Superb before travel. Price increased due to length of car- I did it by phone or live chat, so I asked why there was a difference. Not by much, and it wasn't due to time before departure. |
I get length more than height (assuming you're still low enough to fit in the normal car carriage).
Longer cars = fewer cars on each train. If everyone is driving a Citreon C1, they can probably get 40% more cars on than if everyone is driving a Skoda Superb or a Volvo V90 or something super long.
I always assumed the height one was just to make sure you were in the right place and not crashing into the roof as opposed to a cost differentiator.
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I think with height it's just a case that they can't rely on customers to specify their height correctly. Easier to assume anything on the roof makes them higher (than the limit).
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@paulhinch, yes, so did I. I've just compared the Skoda plus roofbox price to that without, and there's £6 difference.
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My current car is nearly 2m wide so even without a roofbox I choose the single decker train to avoid kerbing my wheels.
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| spyderjon wrote: |
| My current car is nearly 2m wide so even without a roofbox I choose the single decker train to avoid kerbing my wheels. |
You'll have to downgrade the Porsche then Jon....? I'll take it off your hands for a reasonable fee.
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I have a Volvo Xc60 c165cm and add roof bars and snowboard total c175cm. When I fist drove and used erna low my booking was a low height car fits in double decker no issues. When I booked myself i clicked equipment on roof (not roofbox) and was immediately given higher car (presume tunnel can't differentiate). Few years ago whilst queuing for high vehicle a sensible french worker said 'you're under 185' and promptly directed me to low car lane. Now I book the xc60 but do not say I have anything on top as I am under 185cm, so the low car ticket is right for me.
Car in front of me this year was a bmw m340d with roof box they were also in the low car lane and I'd say they were tighter than me for roof space. But no ussue in lowcar Lane for either car.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@James77, I've already booked my trips (with roofbox), so have automatically been added to single-deck train. I'm guessing Skoda plus box will be below 185 though. I just booked last week and we usually book for roofbox but there will only be 2 of us, so can probably leave it at home.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@nbt, just got on the tunnel with no problems. Didn’t book with a roof box, just as a normal car below 185cm, went through all the low lanes as usual.
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@snowdave, winner, thanks for confirming. I'll check whether the roofbox DOES take me over 185 before deciding if I should take it or no
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You know it makes sense.
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| Oleski wrote: |
They don't ask for height these days, but I am pretty sure they use car data to derive the height and book you into single/double decker.
Try it yourself:
1. Turn on browser private mode
2. Instead of entering a reg, enter manually Volvo XC90. It's above 1.85m
3. Don't select any roof boxes
4. Select a specific date, e.g. I did Monday 9th of December
5. Note the minimum price, for me it was £129 for a midnight crossing
Now do the same thing but enter Vauxhall Corsa. I get £106 for the same crossing. A difference of 20%.
Adding a roof box automatically books you into a single decker. I am guessing depending on the mood of the marshall, you may or may not get away with not specifying a roof box if you know you are still under 1.85 |
Just done that, Easter journey (11th - 21st), first crossing of the day;
Volvo XC90 - £133
Toyota Corolla (my car) - £120
Toyota Corolla with roof box - £144
So it's a roof box tax basically. My Corolla with a roof box is most likely lower in total height than an XC90 yet the cost is more.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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XC90 also fits in the double decker (we had one in front of us at the weekend).
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Poster: A snowHead
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@Specialman, As above, I don't mention the roof box when booking (I'm below 185cm with the box) and it's never been a problem - I just follow the low car route. Including 5 days ago.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| snowdave wrote: |
| @Specialman, As above, I don't mention the roof box when booking (I'm below 185cm with the box) and it's never been a problem - I just follow the low car route. Including 5 days ago. |
Just measured mine - 195cm with the roofbox fitted. Forgot to add the roof box option to the booking..... now it's another £70 but annoyingly, I can't add it for my booking at the time I intended so have to go on the earlier train
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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ohh that reminds me - I panicked a little on the outbound and went through the "tall vehicles" lane. The guy in the booth measured the clearance and had a conversation with someone on his radio, but indicated I should stay where I was. On the way back I went through the "small vehicles" lane and was absolutely fine - you can see there's LOADS of room above the roofbox here
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@nbt, did they seem fussed about the not being booked with a roof box thing?
Last edited by You need to Login to know who's really who. on Tue 8-04-25 13:40; edited 1 time in total
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Booked late August trip yesterday with no roofbox or things on the back but just realised hubby will want to take bikes, so I guess I'll be paying an amendment fee.  . I'm going to leave it for now.
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@Hells Bells, I took bikes on the roof a couple of years back but I'm not sure I'd do it again; I'm planning to get a tow bar mounted rack or just put them in the car. I know two people who've totalled their bikes by forgetting they were on the roof and driving into obstructions. The extra cost on the tunnel, plus the lower fuel economy (I lose about 15%) probably pays for the towbar rack in 2-3 trips.
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@snowdave, there's two dogs inside the car, so that isn't an option and we don't currently have a tow bar as we've used the campervan for bike related trips until recently. We've got some decent racks for the roof bars in the garage, so there was no cost involved in using them but We'll still have to amend the booking even if we put a towbar rack on it, as it does ask if you are carrying anything extra on the car, either the roof or the back.
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@Specialman, not in the slightest on the return journey, no one mentioned anything at all. On the way out the conversation was more about "this chap has loads of clearance, shall I send him round to the double decker queues", to which the answer was apparently "no we have loads of room onthe train, just leave him be"
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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| snowdave wrote: |
| @Hells Bells, I took bikes on the roof a couple of years back but I'm not sure I'd do it again; I'm planning to get a tow bar mounted rack or just put them in the car. I know two people who've totalled their bikes by forgetting they were on the roof and driving into obstructions. The extra cost on the tunnel, plus the lower fuel economy (I lose about 15%) probably pays for the towbar rack in 2-3 trips. |
Now you know three
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@Scooter in Seattle, 
It’s clearly quite common- some insurers don’t cover roof mounted items.
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FAQ
