Door on the “wrong” side
I have been looking at a caravan with the door on the “wrong” side.
Im wondering what are the pros and cons of having this layout.
All your views appreciated😀
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whats the 'wrong' side?..
i guess it depends where you go. you might think our van has its door on the wrong side but with (normally) 20 weeks or so on the Continent each year, it might disagree😉
we also use the van for about 8-10 weeks in the UK but have no issues at all with the location of the door....just park the other way around if its more convenient.
i guess its the same with a steering wheel (though not applicable to your van)... whats the wrong side....we prefer RHD in Europe to LHD over here.
neither is right....or 'wrong'.
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Im a caravaner so I was looking for replies from caravaners.
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Whilst I would agree with BB if you intend to do any trips abroad it might be different if all of your touring will be in the UK.
Do you want to have to face inwards on all Club sites? You may decide that you want to erect an awning and will have to face inwards. If you don't want an awning then you'll be getting out of your caravan next to your car. Some wardens might allow you to park the car on the other side but some may be sticklers for the rules.
How would you feel stepping out of the caravan in a lay by that is not far off the road?
I can't say I would let it put me off buying such a unit if I felt it was the one I wanted but we do tend to spend most of our time on CLs which will usually have the extra room we require and like.
There are plenty of left hand Motorhomes in the UK and they seem to manage fine.
Overall i would buy the best unit I could afford, left hand door or not.
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I have only owned "wrong side" door Eriba caravans and had no issues. I usually spend most of my caravan time on the continent but had no issues in the UK.
I find having the caravan door on the same side as the car drivers door perfectly logical as I do not generally park on an open road.
You do not have to park in a set manner on any C&MC site, as long as you keep your fire break distances. Several Eriba owners now carry a personal letter from the club after encountering "unhelpful" wardens requesting they par nose in, etc.
I would not however as above choose a van based on where the door was, but make the decision based on which was the best overall package. Having said that I do believe continental vans have in surveys come out as having a better build quality than UK vans.
Colin
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Hi, Back in 2004 we bought a Hobby new, In Germany. If we considered the door being on the offside I don’t recall it.
Neither do I recall, in the 7, trouble free, years we had it any issues when using it.
Back then we always pitched across the pitch on club sites so no issues arose, we don’t use the van enroute so that’s not an issue and having a mover meant pitching nose in was not a problem if required.
In short, buy the van that appeals and don’t worry about the door.
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I am not intending going abroad at any time☹️
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Dribbler, the door will only be on “the wrong side” when you are travelling. You can pitch your van either rear end in, or A frame end in on Sites.
So the question you need answering is whether or not you can cope on British roads, in a van that doesn’t allow you to enter or exit it on the ‘Safe’ side, when it is hitched up. I think only you can answer that really, as we don’t know how mobile you are, if you have children to consider etc.... I am sure that thousands of van owners do cope successfully with such a set up, as do the many thousands of overseas visitors who come across to the UK for a van holiday.
Getting a quality, trouble free van with a layout you really like, all the interior stuff you like, at a price that gives good value for money is the main priority. There will always be some sort of compromise no matter what you get.
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when on a site, arent the (perceived) issues the same as for a motorhomer?
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The only "problem?" would be from those with Uk spec LVs who have been noted posting on here, that they do not "like" looking at others if the door is facing their LVs door side, but then some UK spec site users who "want to be together" are known to ,if on adjacent pitches to turn one round so doors face each other
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Since the OP has no intention of travelling "abroad" his concern may be possibly be confined to the north of Hadrian's Wall at some time in the future.
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I have been to the UK many times with my caravan with the door on the right and have never experienced any problems. Sometimes I have been asked to pitch my caravan the other way round, but actually that suits me better anyway because the lounge is at the back so we sit inside the same as if we were in a UK caravan.
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It makes no difference whether it's a caravan or MH. A door's a door and, as pitching on club sites is permitted either way around, just buy what you're comfortable with.
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Now if you want two awnings, what about this, easily allowed in France.
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It’s allowed over here as well, you just choose your CL wisely.😁 It’s all to do with space.
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Very strange to find this post appear today, nearly 3 yrs after the last post, guess someone "liked" one of the comments.
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