Has anyone come across any clever storage options for emergency gear?  I know that there are cubbies in the boot but when this is full, I'd like easy access to the stuff I need to carry in France.  Both to keep the police happy and in case I actually need it.

I was thinking of some sort of bag that attaches to the inside of the tailgate?  So that it was always easy to get to, regardless of how much other stuff is in the boot.

5 hours ago, dg360 said:

Has anyone come across any clever storage options for emergency gear? ...I'd like easy access to the stuff I need to carry in France

What stuff? Is this your first trip abroad? Don't get too paranoid about what you need to carry...

 

Reflective vests, which are compulsory, must be stored inside the passenger compartment and be readily accessible. Having them in the boot is considered the same as not carrying them at all. The covered recess at the rear of each door bin is intended for storing these vests.

The warning triangle, which is compulsory, has its own cubbyhole just below the tailgate/hatch. Try to pack something soft/pliable or easily removable in front of it if you have the need to pack to the gunwales and cannot afford an inch or two of space.

An approved alcohol breath kit remains a legal requirement on the French statute books only. It carries no penalty. The intended spot-fine penalty has been indefinitely postponed, so why bother?

Spare bulbs are a recommendation, not compulsory per se in France. You may be liable to an on-the-spot penalty if you are stopped for a blown bulb and have no spare to replace it but it's not unlawful to not carry them if your bulbs are all working, so not something that's going to be asked for in a police roadside check. If you want to keep them 'handy' rather than in the intended slot in the wheel well then remember you also need the tools from the wheel well to remove the rear light assembly. I've replaced the incandescent rear indicator and reversing bulbs with LED so hopefully that's no longer a concern for me.

Fire extinguisher and first aid kit are not compulsory items.

(This applies only to France. Other countries have different rules, i.e. a first aid kit is a legal requirement in Germany.)

 

I may just be lucky but in 40 years of driving regularly through France I've only ever been stop-checked by the police once and that was for a 'customs check' at night where every car with non-yellow headlights was being stopped - "Whisky, Coffee, Fur?" - that indicates how long ago that was (it was 1978)! And this was just outside Calais as I was approaching the port to leave the country, not entering it!!!

And in that 40 years of travelling abroad I've had one puncture, no breakdowns and no blown bulbs. But as the banks say, past performance is no guarantee of future success!

In a negative answer to your original question; I've not come across any additional clever storage options for emergency gear because I've never actually felt the need for it.

My boot is always full, so I keep the towing hook in one of the side cubbys in the boot, rather than the wheel well. 

The last thing I want to be doing is emptying my boot onto the hard shoulder in the (hopefully) unlikely event that I break down. 

Lots of froggies here drive round here like one eyed monsters, never seen anyone stopped for that, the jolly gendarmes are more interested in speeding but with a uk plate costs more to collect than the actual fine. however beware at junctions where you have to stop, as, rolling stops are not allowed, you need to definitely stop and count to 3 then proceed - they usually stop / stand by these sort of junctions and it is an immeadiate fine/trip to an atm to get the dosh - usually in my experience sunday afternoons from about 3pm onwards when they hope to catch drivers after a 'good' lunch when the alcohol meter is used!

Enjoy your trip shouldn't be any probs only been stopped once in 15 year living here and that was to check my documents!

Edited 4 November, 20178 yr by Frenchtone

23 hours ago, dg360 said:

Has anyone come across any clever storage options for emergency gear?  I know that there are cubbies in the boot but when this is full, I'd like easy access to the stuff I need to carry in France.  Both to keep the police happy and in case I actually need it.

I was thinking of some sort of bag that attaches to the inside of the tailgate?  So that it was always easy to get to, regardless of how much other stuff is in the boot.

There is a net that attaches to the underside of the parcel shelf so will raise with it as the boot opens, might be a solution for lighter items. Seen here as part of a net set, don't know if its available seperately.

Combi: http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/SUPERB-III/Superb-III-Combi-original-Skoda-boot-netting-system-SILVER

Hatch: http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/SUPERB-III/Superb-III-limousine-original-Skoda-boot-netting-system-SILVER

2 hours ago, MaddicIrl said:

There is a net that attaches to the underside of the parcel shelf...

 

Thinking about this one? It was supposedly for the Hatchback's stiff boot cover but never materialised.

 

 

Although it was shown in the manual for my MY16 hatchback (as above) it was not included as part of the two "Net Programme" bundles I received with the car, which is also the same as the Superskoda package.

I raised this a couple of years ago and it seems no hatchback came with this net. The underside of the boot cover of my hatchback is also devoid of any attachment points for such a net.

As the OP doesn't clarify but refers to his 'tailgate' rather than hatch I'm guessing it's possibly a Combi/Estate in which case it's a moot point.

Yeah it's for the combi.  However, that's exactly the kind of thing I had in mind.

42 minutes ago, BillyJim said:

 

Thinking about this one? It was supposedly for the Hatchback's stiff boot cover but never materialised.

 

 

Although it was shown in the manual for my MY16 hatchback (as above) it was not included as part of the two "Net Programme" bundles I received with the car.

As billyjim says, this is not an option in the Uk. Oddly though it can be ordered at build in the likes of France and Germany for €20. It's all in there confugurator.  I've tried looking for the part number, but I can't see it anywhere.

 

26 minutes ago, roo said:

for €20... I've tried looking for the part number, but I can't see it anywhere.

That's €20 + €270 for the mandatory rear and side blinds.

You'd need a replacement cover with the correct mounting points in addition to just the net and from the configurator I'd assume it would be a cover that includes the built-in rear blind.

My boot cover includes the rear blind but there are still no mounting points for a net.

 

41 minutes ago, dg360 said:

Yeah it's for the combi.  However, that's exactly the kind of thing I had in mind.

Do you not have this for easy access storage of small items? Or, like the hatchback boot cover net, did that fail to materialise too?

It's at 30:00 in the video...

 

56 minutes ago, roo said:

I've tried looking for the part number, but I can't see it anywhere.

Found it:-

3T5 867 769 A - for hatchback boot cover with built-in underside net without built-in rear blind

3T5 867 769 B - for hatchback boot cover with built-in underside net including built-in rear blind

 

It appears the boot cover underside net is an integral part of the boot cover which explains why there's no mounting points on the non-net versions.

I imagine they won't be cheap to replace but there's no point in going for the included blind version unless you have the magnetic mounting points at the top of the hatch.