A few of us are considering booking a euro trip to Almeria in March next year and I was hoping to get a few tips on what can feasibly fit in an FE stillage, and how to best prep the bike / kit, if anyone cares to oblige? Is the drop off still East/West Sussex? I remember that being an effort last time (08-09) Not interested in any of the NL vs FE vs ?? bollox that seems to have been going on since cavemen started doing trackdays (hence why I have asked here as opposed to some of the ‘entertaining’ groups on FB) Cheers
Fe have the biggest stillages I've used. You'll get bike, kit ,tools tyres and chair on. They use greedy boards at the front which helps. Tool bags are easier to pack than boxes
Last time I did a Euro with FE it was before stillages so I have no reference, if they are bigger than NL's stillages you'll get everything you need on. Typically on a double stillage we get (x2) Bikes Paddock stands Leathers/helmet/boots/gloves/back protector etc Tools (in a soft bag) Fold up chair Fold up table Tyre warmers + various extensions/adapters Spare tyres (usually 2-3 per bike) Bag of clothes (so you don't have to put/pay for luggage on the plane)
I’ve fitted an ungodly amount of admin on stillages in the past. If you get creative you can get a fair bit on them. My mate dave is the king of admin and his stillages look like a sky scraper. It’s all about how you pack it. take Cellophane wrapping.
I was impressed with the size of the FE stillages when I used them last year. But I would still make sure your handlebars are inside the stillage. You can certainly get more than you really need on them
Drop off is RH20 3EW, Coolham Road, Pulborough, England FE are the most obsessive about carnet, as you can see in the attachment. They also like your name on everything.
I just did the NL carnet thingy and despite being a pain in the ass, it wasn’t ultimately that much aggro on top of the usual shipping manuscript I’ve often done. Basically the same thing really.
FE stillages are huge. The NL ones in recent years appear to have shrunk a tad. Handlebars and screen inside the given area and use clear wrap, there was a roaming FE opo overseeing last I went. Take your own wrap and label, or FE will hard sell you some.
Having now done euro events with three TDOs, it seems the anxiety around carnets may be more in the mind of the TDO rather than anything the authorities come up with.
Be careful with FE about valuing your stuff. They charge a % on top for the carnet insurance. Get yourself a "bike blanket" to protect your paintwork, you never know who your stillage buddy will be.....
Slightly off topic but due to go to Andalucia with NL in November. They say you must remove the screen from the bike or they wont pay for any damage. Any idea why removing the screen makes any difference. its a bit of a pain to do so.
Do it if you can. I had an unfortunate "screen" experience with NL and amazingly generously they paid for all of the damage. It's just not worth ruining your trip for the sake of some small bolts.
It’s due to height and because often the stillages are stacked. I’ve never removed a screen before but I am this time. Mainly because after the year I’ve had, I just know if I don’t it’ll arrive in pieces
They stack stillages on top of each other, each stillage has posts in each corner to enable them to be stacked, the posts are at a set length/height and the highest part of your bike is usually the screen, so it may come into contact with the underside of the stillage on top thus they advise to take it off. It's usually tall/aftermarket screens in my experience. If in doubt take it off, or be able to remove it when you load the bike, you may get lucky and be the stillages on top so no need to worry, or as daft as it sounds let the front tyre down.
I've never removed my screen, many do though. The NL driver/loader can be a little 'enthusiastic' so if you can remove it, it's probs for the best.
Any Idea on the ceiling of value before charges are incurred? The bike is worth, say £12k? The rest is just standard, as per Paul’s Carnet spreadsheet
Any stillage spotters on here have images of their pride and joy loaded? Joking aside, I imagine images of the bike loaded on the stillage would be your only form of evidence in the case of a claim?
