Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) +4 GDI ground clearance

Hi all

Has anyone taken their new +4 on a ferry yet I'm going abroad next month and a bit worried about the ramps.

Ask to go on with the lorries, they are normally accommodating, the ramp up to the car deck can be a bit dodgy for a low car.
I have always asked and been put with the lorries, no problems. But you can always get a jobsworth who left his brain cell at home that morning.

I've driven both 4/4 Sport and Roadster onto a number of ferries without any issues. My main worry was more about the narrowness between parked cars on the ferries...they pack them in!

I always used priority boarding and got there early, that way your at or near the front of the first on lane. The guys were always very helpful often saying pop it over there and no one will be near you. Often right next to the exit ramp where it's more triangular and they pop 2 cars there at an angle with loads of room.....first in line for Fish and Chips as well ;-).

I've taken the Roadster on the Supercat service to Jersey a couple of times - before the MulFab sump was fitted.
The crew were really good, they knew what the car is and as it has a fly off handbrake they always strap Mogs down, not just chock them.

I had no issues with the ferry ramp, but exiting in Jersey at low tide the car grounded as I drove off the ramp, which is why I had the MulFab sump fitted.

We will take the Plus 8 next year, it has better ground clearance than the Roadster.

Off to France next month via the tunnel but back Caen to Portsmouth on the Ferry three weeks later. Am a bit concerned about the Ferry as the Plus 4 has less ground clearance than either the 4/4 or Roadster but cutting the two gearbox mounting bolts back to the locknuts has helped a lot, must have gained about 1cm. The big ferries are OK as the ramps are fairly gentle but some of the smaller ones can be a bit challenging. I would check to see if the bolts on your car are like mine were as its a quick and cheap improvement.

I have a 2008 plus 4 Duratec. I increased its ground clearance by about 1 cm by changing from 195/60 to 195/65 tyres. Since then I have had no ground clearance issues.
Harald

I am thinking of doing the same. The 190/60 tyres are the lowest of the whole trad series: 16mm lower than the tyres fitted to the 4/4.

I prefer to be the last on the ferry - that way you are first off

I always tell them I am worried about ground clearance and they put you on with the trucks an buses. Also means you don't have a million idiots draging their bags down the side of your car. As above this tends to mean you load near the last and you are off amongst the first.

No on a roll-on roll-over

When we went by Brittany from Portsmouth to St Malo on a ferry like that the load-master put us right up the front on the starboard side. We had to wait for a truck and a bus to go then we were signaled off.