Slamming doors

nicko
nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
edited October 2016 in Motorhomes #1

just spent an enjoyable week at sutton on sea, however we were joined by a campervan on the next pitch mid afternoon whereby the occupants spent the next 3 hours opening the side sliding door and slamming it shut, believe me this was not just a couple of
times but almost an obsession for allsorts of reasons absolutely no consideration for other campers, is it normal? and do they alllways have to slam them shut so hard? and do they not come equipped with any form of heating had to suffer the vehicle being started
at 7.30am and engine running for 1.5 hours fairly new auto cruise never had this problem before

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Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #2

    What did they say when you mentioned it?Wink

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited October 2016 #3

    Know exactly what you are saying!

    This type of vehicle seem to have doors that need an almighty slam to close them. You would think that this would mean that they would avoid shutting them as much as possible (rather like we avoid opening and closing the car doors as much as possible if
    setting off early morning).

    But no, as you say, they seem to be in and out all the time, at all times.

    Are these little vans so claustrophobic that the occupiers need to get out of them every five minutes?

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #4

    many of the latest panel vans have 'powered' soft close doors.

    amazing as it may seem to some, they also have similar heating systems to caravans...Undecided

    i dont know why they would need to start their engine and leave it running (i would certainly have asked....they might have had a problem with their charging from mains, despite  eing on ehu?).....

    ...they may have been using their door regularly to get back in their van, as everytime they left it, someome was spying on them....Undecided

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited October 2016 #5

    What did they say when you mentioned it?Wink

    yes hear what you say but not wanting to upset fellow campers for another days stay for us we bit the bullitt how do you approach something like that diplomatically?without causing upset?

  • IanH
    IanH Forum Participant Posts: 4,708
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    edited October 2016 #6

    What did they say when you mentioned it?Wink

    Is that what you would have done, JVB?

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited October 2016 #7

    They are difficult to close from the inside, its a van, designed to be closed only from the outside. Perhaps the guys Truma heater was faulty, perhaps the door was faulty, why would anyone come in and out for the fun of it. Sounds like there was something
    wrong to me.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #8

    What did they say when you mentioned it?Wink

    yes hear what you say but not wanting to upset fellow campers for another days stay for us we bit the bullitt how do you approach something like that diplomatically?without causing upset?

    Sorry but did not understand it was just one day ,But i would have said something to them about it and definately with the not unusual engine running with M/vans (clearing condensation off windscreens )

    Ps Wardens know them as "Slammers" or "Whiz Bangs"

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited October 2016 #9

    What did they say when you mentioned it?Wink

    yes hear what you say but not wanting to upset fellow campers for another days stay for us we bit the bullitt how do you approach something like that diplomatically?without causing upset?

    Sorry but did not understand it was just one day ,But i would have said something to them about it and definately with the not unusual engine running with M/vans Yell

    didnt realise it was common for small motorhomes to do this for heating do they not have any form of heating apart from van engine? excuse my ignorance as i am a carravaner and thought m/homes were similarly constructed

  • Chris102
    Chris102 Forum Participant Posts: 84
    edited October 2016 #10

    I now have a panel van conversion and confirm that the sliding door is difficult to close properly from the inside. You need to pull the door inwards and yes it makes quite a noise. In my van there is nothing to grip to pull the door inwards so this makes
    it even more difficult. I am very conscious of the noise it makes but if the door isn't closed properly rain gets in and wets the fabric on the inside of the door.

    I am not defending the inconsiderate owner just explaining the problem.

     

  • QFour
    QFour Forum Participant Posts: 442
    edited October 2016 #11

    We were parked at Whitby the other weekend. Just settled down about 9pm to watch a bit of Tv when a generator started up. It ran for about 5 minutes before I walked round and asked them to turn it off. They were heating soup up
    Undecided ...

    The only way sometimes is just to go and say your piece. Otherwise they will never know. Running an engine at 7.30am is a definate no-no. Personally I would have gone round and said something.

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited October 2016 #12

    I now have a panel van conversion and confirm that the sliding door is difficult to close properly from the inside. You need to pull the door inwards and yes it makes quite a noise. In my van there is nothing to grip to pull the door inwards so this makes
    it even more difficult. I am very conscious of the noise it makes but if the door isn't closed properly rain gets in and wets the fabric on the inside of the door.

    I am not defending the inconsiderate owner just explaining the problem.

     

    sure understand that i know from delivery vans, the difference is obviously when you are on site you are  a bit less tolerant (you just want peace and and quiet)and i know you have to get set up so you will be in and out,in this instance it was excessive
    and continuous

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited October 2016 #13

    Our first "camper" was an Auto Sleeper Rhapsody ,and one very cold winter visit to our usual bolt hole, wondered why we were really cold,the cause was that I must have stretched out and pushed the sliding door,which had slid open Surprised

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #14

    We had the same thing on a site in Germany this year, but we had TWO such vans, both Swiss, packing to leave at 7am.

    We were glad when they did go!

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #15

    We always avoid 'slidyvan man' where possible when arriving on sites, of course this doesn't always work as they can arrive later and pitch next to you. 

    Some are very inconsiderate and like the OP we have suffered it for hours, with a constant coming and going.

    Others are silent and thoughtful, not closing it fully when they go out to the facilities or when sat inside watching tv and only closing it fully when retiring for the night. This of course is weather dependant.

    I will still avoid them though if I can just incase they are a slammerWink

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited October 2016 #16

    It is indeed difficult to choose a pitch sometimes.... We try and avoid any outfits with dogs in case they are  yappers, and outfits with children in case they are screamers, or outfits with smokers in case they are  stinky puffers... We try to be silent
    and thoughtful and only become slammers when needed. Embarassed

  • Briang
    Briang Club Member Posts: 670 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #17

    We always avoid 'slidyvan man' 

    I like the name  

  • Doug n San
    Doug n San Forum Participant Posts: 92
    edited October 2016 #18

    This is just a case of simple lack of consideration for others. one of the reasons why we prefer to wild camp and get away from the rabble.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
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    edited October 2016 #19

    That's what panel van side doors do....obviously the owners become immune to the noise....or grit their teeth and do it anyway!.  

    It's nearly as bad as the caravan and MH doors that get slammed, trouble is you are always surrounded by those!Surprised

  • peegeenine
    peegeenine Forum Participant Posts: 548
    edited October 2016 #20

    Many years ago I had an Autosleeper Renault Trafic panel van. The side door was hinged so was no different to closing any other type of door. They don't make 'em like they used to, LOL

  • KeithandMargaret
    KeithandMargaret Forum Participant Posts: 660
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    edited October 2016 #21

    Justus2 - No dogs, no children, no smokers – isn't that nimbyism?

    Who do you allow to park near you?

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,684 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #22

    We have only once experienced this behaviour and that was this January at Chatsworth.  Such a motorhome pulled up next to us and sometime in the evening they went out. They came back at 1.30 in the morning and they woke us up.  Ok - so no big deal - but
    then, for the next half hour continued to continually slide the side door and slam it shut and then open and slam the front door shut, talking in loud voices all the time. Totally inconsiderate at that time in the morning and goodness knows why they found
    it necessary. To cap it all, when we were packing up to leave at a respectable 9 am, the motorhome owner came out of his van and just stood there and glared at us, presumably my opening my car doors was disturbing him!.  Given that we were leaving anyway,
    I wasn't going to get into an argument with him - he was obviously spoiling for one - just gave him a cheery 'Good Morning' and got on with the task in hand.Laughing

  • young thomas
    young thomas Club Member Posts: 11,357 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #23

    .....agreed, 9 am is a frighteningly unsociable hour to be leaving and starting your car.....Laughing

  • Justus2
    Justus2 Forum Participant Posts: 897
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    edited October 2016 #24

    Justus2 - No dogs, no children, no smokers – isn't that nimbyism?

    Who do you allow to park near you?

    It was a very tongue in cheek comment K&M, as others were labelling slidy van man and door slammers etc  I thought I would have a go at labelling others just to see what it was like.. I couldn't really care less who is next to us....
    Smile The underlying problem, as others have said is that the doors are not designed to be shut from the inside and it is impossible to do without
    being quite heavy handed.. If anyone wants to demonstrate a quiet way to do it I am happy to learn..
    Wink

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #25

    Our previous autosleeper van conversion had a noisy sliding door, we were very aware of it and tended to use one of the rear doors as much as we could. It also made a noise when the diesel/electric heater was running. This summer we were on non ehu alongside someone who kept charging their battery via the engine. I haven't yet dicovered any way of outdoor living that is really quiet...a tent on Dartmoor maybe, but no thanks!

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #26

    I think most people will accept some noise on sites, lets face it apart from climbing in through a window how else are you going to get in a caravan/motorhome/camper slidy door van. Its the inconsiderate ones that as stated open and close the doors continually,
    WHY can't they go to the block and leave the door almost closed without the inevitable BANG. If we are up and about early (rarely) we don't close the motorhome door fully just let it close too, but not catch fully this saves the BANG. when we caravaned we
    did so with a Kia Sedona which has a slidy door and yes it did make a noise on the slide but we didn't need to slam it to shut it, when loading the Kia we used to leave the door open not close it after ever piece of luggage was put in. Come on have a bit of
    respect for others on site, strangely we seem to suffer this type of thing more in the UK than when we spend months abroad.

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #27

    Closing our car doors fully does mean a bit of a slam, but the caravan door is easy to close so that there is just a small "click", just need to remember to do it that way.

  • Elmetts
    Elmetts Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited October 2016 #28

    I might have to slam my slidey door extra hard this evening on site, unless of course I post my husband through an open window no doubt that will please you. Find the next thing to moan about you miserable lot

  • KENNYG
    KENNYG Forum Participant Posts: 215
    100 Comments
    edited October 2016 #29

    Justus2 - No dogs, no children, no smokers – isn't that nimbyism?

    Who do you allow to park near you?

    I didn't think you had a choice who came to park near you if you don't like the party who parked next to you move.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited October 2016 #30

    I might have to slam my slidey door extra hard this evening on site, unless of course I post my husband through an open window no doubt that will please you.
    Find the next thing to moan about you miserable lot

    Probably the view of the rear end of your husband being posted through the open window
    Surprised

  • briantimber
    briantimber Forum Participant Posts: 1,653
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    edited October 2016 #31

    I might have to slam my slidey door extra hard this evening on site, unless of course I post my husband through an open window no doubt that will please you.
    Find the next thing to moan about you miserable lot

    Probably the view of the rear end of your husband being posted through the open window
    Surprised

    Hee Hee, oh dear, that made me laugh Dave. Love it !!!.....Laughing