LHD Motorhome (1 Viewer)

[TheDentons]

We've been looking into purchasing a burstner elegance 810
There are considerable savings on LHD, we were given the salesman talk about being able to sell it in Europe and not restricted to the uk market as a rhd,
Just wondering how many of you own a LHD and what are the advantages and disadvantages ?
Thanks in advance

 

[scotjimland]

I have a LHD Hymer .. not found any disadvantages... last van was also LHD (36ft RV)

I wouldn't want a RHD Hymer as the drivers door is then on the passenger side..

 

[Judge Mental]

Cheaper... Cheaper...cheaper! If not you need to buy in Europe!

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[Dave and Ginny]

That's a big beastie but very nice indeed.

The only time I have any difficulty is in the UK when turning left out of a junction. As you approach and start to turn left you will have some obscured vision to the right. But this is only anything of a slight issue when on your own! But I find I can see through the RHS habitation window, although on the longer Burstner this may not be so easy.

If you travel abroad then it comes into it's own!

I don't know the Burstner that well, but certainly with a Hymer it's advantages all the way...from the single cab door being on the drivers side to the windscreen wipers giving the driver the correct wipe pattern.

 

[Chuns]

Advantage of LHD - it is great outside the UK. Disadvantage - not so good in the UK.

Advantage of RHD - it is great in the UK. Disadvantage - not so good outside.

Apart from the points you make, it might boil down to how much time you are going to spend where.

 

[Jaws]

Used to have LHD Hobby.. had it a couple of years in fact
No real disadvantages at all to be honest
Not as if the average motorhome is gonna have enough oomph to over take on single carriageway roads anyway, and that would be the time I would worry !

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[Dave and Ginny]

Cheaper... Cheaper...cheaper! If not you need to buy in Europe!

yeah, that's a real biggy as well

 

[Armytwowheels]

All of our last 3 vans have been left hand drive. Unless you are going to stay in the UK all the time, it makes sense to have a lefty.

 

[JockandRita]

Just wondering how many of you own a LHD and what are the advantages and disadvantages

Another left hooker owner here, and it's as the others have commented.

Cheers,

Jock.

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[Clarky]

Had our LHD Carthago since March and love it, particularly in France.
But, if it's your first A class and LHD it did take a bit of getting used to. The navigator was constantly yelling at me to move over particularly when trucks were heading in her direction.
As soon as we got to France I had no problem and now it's second nature to keep well to my side of the road.
When we were looking I really didn't fancy having the only cab door on the passenger side. It is so much easier when refuelling and using toll booths etc. to be able to just nip out rather than having to go round the sun to meet the moon.

Richard.

 

[mustaphapint]

We have a LHD too and I agree with everything said above. A little awkward at times when pulling out to turn left in the UK if you're on your own. I wanted it because most of our travelling will be in Europe, but I haven't found it much of a problem in the UK.

 

[Dorwyn]

We have a LHD too and I agree with everything said above. A little awkward at times when pulling out to turn left in the UK if you're on your own. I wanted it because most of our travelling will be in Europe, but I haven't found it much of a problem in the UK.

If your reversing system has a second input, you could aim a second camera through the passenger's window, it's not so good for judging speed and distance of an approaching vehicle, but at least you could see it coming.

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[dabhand]

Never had a RHD, 3 motor homes over 20 years, wouldn't really consider a RHD one now, no disadvantage really in the UK apart from the occasional offset junction as others have posted, but you learn to face a bit straighter at these, and a definite bonus when in Europe.No lack of buyers here either. If you like the van, the layout and the price, get it bought!

 

[Granjan]

We have a RHD 810 elegance 3 litre auto and love it, we do most of our holidays abroad and husband does not struggle with it. To be honest if it was LHD I would constantly be asking him to get away / out of the ditches I always have to remind him in a hire car.
Unless the angles are extreme the mirrors are so good that he rarely needs my help pulling out. (So will probably be just as good in Uk in a LHD). It is my job to deal with the toll booths, though we could get a toll tag. A new model is coming out next summer, the range are going more light weight. From what I have seen of the other new models so far I prefer ours. We have replaced the huge table top in ours with a smaller one. Unless you are very light weight / travel light the payload is not high enough for 2 extra adults in the additional belts but you can get an uprate on this. The dealer might do it for you. If you want any more info on how we find it just PM me.

 

[Lenny HB]

I'm another Lefty wouldn't have anything else now, 80% of our mileage is over the water. A big advantage is when it comes to changing vans, you can sell or trade in any country. With a RHD only saleable in the UK.

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[Mr B]

Me too. No real problems at all. And you don't get told off for being to close to the kerb!!!

 

[TheDentons]

Thanks for all your information. very helpful. Will go and take another look

 

[Lofty1]

RHD are cheaper to insure, apart from that I find driving them about the same, except you can admire the young ladies walking in the UK at a closer distance with a LHD . lol

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[Charlie]

Owners of LHD vans will sing their praises. Owners of RHD will sing thier praises .
Cheaper to buy but cheaper come sell time and less people wanting to buy.
It's the same with all vehicles with the exception of yank metal.

 

[Judge Mental]

I dont think much difference in insurance at all.....my company safeguard don't charge more. 9 vans over 25 years we have saved over £100,000..

Its a no brainer IMO if you only want European manafactured vans...as prices here well over the top for vans that should be £2000 more tops. You see some at £25,0000 more for identical rhd. And I'm talking about 3500 kg vans, larger luxary vans can be £50,000+ cheaper lhd

 

[Manic]

I've got a LHD Hymer and don't find any problems but my wife sometimes winces when HGV's come the other way on country roads.
I find it OK because I can judge how close to the kerb I am.

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[funflair]

More than happy with LHD as I can get well over to the left side of the road in the UK where traffic is much busier, if there is a blind spot occasionally turning left I always have a co driver. The blind spot is made worse the further back you sit to drive so another argument for the forward position of vans built on the IVECO daily chassis.

Yes I would say that as we have LHD but if I ordered a new van it would be LHD also.

Martin

 

[funflair]

I've got a LHD Hymer and don't find any problems but my wife sometimes winces when HGV's come the other way on country roads.
I find it OK because I can judge how close to the kerb I am.

I was typing as you posted but agree 100%.

 

[Judge Mental]

I've got a LHD Hymer and don't find any problems but my wife sometimes winces when HGV's come the other way on country roads.
I find it OK because I can judge how close to the kerb I am.

Formally known as the suicide seat!

Buy her a kindle....they get used to it believe you me

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[EssexBoy]

The only negative I have found with our LHD is that I have to do the tolls on the motorway in France that I didn't have to do before

 

[Shrimp]

I've got a LHD Hymer and don't find any problems but my wife sometimes winces when HGV's come the other way on country roads.
I find it OK because I can judge how close to the kerb I am.

Formally known as the suicide seat!

Buy her a kindle....they get used to it believe you me

I'm the wife in the 'suicide' seat, I do get used to it but it's difficult to not wince when you see how close some of the lorries get and some car drivers that think they can get thru any gap!
I love it when i get the 'look' from oncoming traffic I always think I ought to put my hands over my eyes or something-they think I'm the driver!

 

[Judge Mental]

I'm the wife in the 'suicide' seat, I do get used to it but it's difficult to not wince when you see how close some of the lorries get and some car drivers that think they can get thru any gap!
I love it when i get the 'look' from oncoming traffic I always think I ought to put my hands over my eyes or something-they think I'm the driver!

For toght gaps I just pull in tight (easy with lhd) and let the vehicle coming towards us do the manovering...never has s bump yet.

Must admit on the few occasions Mrs M drives I don't like the suicide seat either...

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[scotjimland]

Owners of LHD vans will sing their praises. Owners of RHD will sing thier praises .
Cheaper to buy but cheaper come sell time and less people wanting to buy.
It's the same with all vehicles with the exception of yank metal.

I didn't, I said I hadn't found a disadvantage of driving a LHD and pointed out the fact that a RHD 'A class' will invariably have the cab door on the passenger side.. a distinct disadvantage, irrespective of using in the UK or the continent.

My insurance wasn't loaded for being LHD

If you go abroad more than you tour the UK, a LHD is a distinct advantage

 

[Puddleduck]

Have had a few LHD vehicles in my time. The main disadvantage is when you make sharp turns at junctions and with modern camera systems that can be overcome. It can be a bit tricky overtaking at times until you get the hang of it but again a decent camera and you are fine.

If the right van was available at the right price LHD would not put me off

 

[Puddleduck]

The only negative I have found with our LHD is that I have to do the tolls on the motorway in France that I didn't have to do before

Yes, forgot about tolls and having to get out to do them in the UK with no co-pilot.

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