Where to buy a caravan with door on off-side?

brissle
brissle Forum Participant Posts: 46
edited September 2017 in Caravan & Motorhome Chat #1

Hello,

I'm interested in buying a caravan with the door on the off-side.

I've tried a Google search with no success for dealers who specialise in this type of van.

Can anyone please suggest any such dealers?

Many thanks

Comments

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited September 2017 #2

    The smug answer is abroad. 

    The less smug answer anywhere that specialises in continental brands, such as Hobby Hymer, etc.  I'm interested why do you specifically want an offside door?

  • Merve
    Merve Forum Participant Posts: 2,333
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    edited September 2017 #3

    As far as I know bristle, you'd be looking at a foreign van. I couldn't even get a British manufacturer to put in a 4 burner gas job instead of a 3 burner and 1electric induction ring and that could not have been that difficult.

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,864 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #4

    Ambergate or Lowndons  might be worth a look.

    David

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #5

    Also Automotive Leisure at Poole - they sell nothing else.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited September 2017 #6
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • JayEss
    JayEss Forum Participant Posts: 1,663
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    edited September 2017 #7

    Have a look for your local Knaus dealer on the knaus uk website. All ranges except starclass have offside doors 

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #8

    How about looking for an export Swift via Holland?

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited September 2017 #9
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  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,145 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #10

    Have met a few Europeans with them.  No idea if they are built under licence or not.  I have seen truck loads of them leaving Harwich though.

  • brissle
    brissle Forum Participant Posts: 46
    edited September 2017 #11

    Thank you everyone - loads of useful leads there, which I will follow up tomorrow.

    As someone asked "why buy a van with door on off side" I'll try for the simple answer.

    The plan is to ship the van to New Zealand (where my son lives) as a replacement for his ancient van and as a van my wife and I can use for touring when we visit early next year, rather than hiring an expensive Campervan (which we have done on previous visits).

    The cost of buying, shipping and (minimal) conversion to get roadworthiness approval in NZ is very considerably less than him buying a van out there.

    The reason for buying a van with offside door is that for 4 months each year the van will be sited at a remote lake where son goes windsurfing and the area is liable to extremely strong winds.  He wants to park the van so that the lounge windows have a lake view with the awning positioned on the sheltered side of the van.

    Ideally I want to buy within reasonable towing distance of Portbury docks (near Bristol) from where the van will be shipped.

    Thank you again, everyone.

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited September 2017 #12

    Friend of ours a few years ago shipped an Elddis to his son in NZ.  Apparently it just fitted in a container.  By coincidence he is shipping a MH to NZ at the moment.  

    One, point to consider, get a few continental caravans have the lounge at the rear, which of course negate having an offside door.   You don't say what size of van you are looking for and what your budget is. 

  • brissle
    brissle Forum Participant Posts: 46
    edited September 2017 #13

    Yes, if we can find a model with lounge at the rear and fixed bed at tow bar end, that would be fine.

    The budget we have in mind is to find an older van at around £8K to which will  be added the shipping cost plus 20% import duty in NZ.

    Size doesn't matter - larger the better in fact - but he doesn't need a high spec, just a basic van.   We're looking to see if we can find a package privately to save money - often an awning is included which would be a great help.  But it has to be a good quality (strong) awning, probably preferably with steel poles.

    So if anyone knows of such a van, I'd be interested to hear!

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,428 ✭✭✭
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    edited September 2017 #14

    wouldn't you need EHU for that Merve?

  • young thomas
    young thomas Forum Participant Posts: 11,356
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    edited September 2017 #15

    Merve, im guessing you wanted the 4-gas hob as you DIDNT want to use the electric hob?wink

    ...and i suspect you dont.....as its not that easy (read difficult) to wire a hob into an inverter circuit.

    so, due to you not being able to get a supplier to swap hobs, im sure you only use the gas ones......and remain resolutely to your non-EHU patternwink

    thankfully, we dont have an electric hotplate on our hob, all gas ones. IMHO, far more controllable and faster.....

    ...but fine, im sure, for those who wish to pile multiple pots on a single leccy hob as 'theyve paid for it'?wink

    back to the OP, there are Hobby/Hymer dealers scattered about the uk so getting a viewing should be fine.

    also, the NEC is coming up and there should be plenty of 'foreign' brands on show...smile

  • Dave Nicholson
    Dave Nicholson Forum Participant Posts: 408
    edited September 2017 #16

     Its a long way for you to go but J.G. Trading in Annan (Hobby Agents)have  a number of used Hobby and Fendt c'vans for sale. We bought our Fendt from them from new and they were excellent to deal with.

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