LHD vehicle on UK roads, advice please. (1 Viewer)

terryandelaine

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If all goes according to plan we should be collecting our first motorhome in the next week. ::bigsmile:
Mobilvetta Euroyacht 180x.
As it is LHD are there things we need to do or extra things we need to have to use it on UK roads?
Thanks!
Elaine
 

mariner

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Having had 3 LHD Motorhomes I would say that an additional rearview mirror especially on your off side (ie Righthand side), to cover all blind spots is essential.

Other than that, I can't really think of anything else.



:Cool:
 
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Jan 22, 2014
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Be careful at roundabouts get your angle a bit more acute wen over taking watch out for bikes. Remember slower u go less damage u do..:thumb:

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some one in the right hand seat you can rely on and get them to say good to go and STOP NO and GO can sound the same good communications
essential especially on those awkward junctions :thumb:
 
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terryandelaine

terryandelaine

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Be careful at roundabouts get your angle a bit more acute wen over taking watch out for bikes. Remember slower u go less damage u do..:thumb:

Will make sure Terry reads this when he gets home, 3 speeding fines in 18 months nearly led to divorce!! :Doh:
 
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mariner

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Bill and Fylingscotsman are right about road positioning, especially at junctions but this comes with practice.

Leaving the habitation side windows clear can be useful at times.



:Cool:

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Nov 18, 2011
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Bill and Fylingscotsman are right about road positioning, especially at junctions but this comes with practice.

Leaving the habitation side windows clear can be useful at times.



:Cool:
I a thinking of putting a hab door with windows in it or putting in a window at the blind spot
 
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Wildman

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That seems a bit extreme bill, I have an extra mirror each side that has a 140 deg view, works a treat, no blind spots and can see at awkward y junctions
 
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Nov 18, 2011
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That seems a bit extreme bill, I have an extra mirror each side that has a 140 deg view, works a treat, no blind spots and can see at awkward y junctions
each to there own roger
I dune it on a old van of mine and it worked a treat I am changing the hab door any way so putting one with windows in is the way forward for me
bill

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Allanm

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I don't see any difference to driving a RHD vehicle on the continent. Take your time and its easy.
Regarding the person in the passenger seat looking out for you, I had a friend who travelled a lot in France with a RHD MH. When ever he wanted to overtake, he would ask his wife ( in the passenger seat) if it was clear. When she said yes, he would pull out and overtake.
One day, he asked if it was clear and looked over to his wife who was looking in the passenger door mirror.
" What are you looking in the mirror for?
" I always do, to see if its clear behind"

He had to stop for a while.........

Allan
 
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Tootles

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Got to admit, I prefer LHD, especially taking LH bends in tight towns. Not only that, you get a much better view of the lady shoppers..........

QUESTION: Have been told that to emit exhaust on the left hand, (pavement) side is ILLEGAL..........Is this correct?? :Eeek::Eeek:
 
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terryandelaine

terryandelaine

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I don't think the speedometer was in mph and kmph. Does it need to have both? If so how do we rectify this?

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No & Go

some one in the right hand seat you can rely on and get them to say good to go and STOP NO and GO can sound the same good communications
essential especially on those awkward junctions :thumb:

We use Stop & Clear (ex military) avoids the No & Go confusion that you rightly point out.
 
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cruiser

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tootles no it not illegal.most trucks face the pavement.

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Puddleduck

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We use Stop & Clear (ex military) avoids the No & Go confusion that you rightly point out.

Same here.

My second motorhome was LHD and the only problem was positioning at some junctions but you soon got used to it.

My minibus was km only and again it was soon second nature to convert. To start with I had a crib list taped on the steering wheel.
 
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JeanLuc

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I believe it is a requirement for a UK registered vehicle to have a speedometer that displays MPH. It is not necessary to show as much detail as the manufacturer's original equipment may do, but the marks should be there. Some importers used to overcome this by attaching stickers to the clear 'glass' cover. This, however, does not pass the requirement that the mph markings must be visible at night. The only practical way to overcome this is to fit an aftermarket replacement dial face. I did this a few years ago although the previous owners had managed with simple stickers on the speedo face. I know the importer had affixed these. Regardless of the law, I found it unsatisfactory to be unable to check my speed at night.
I got the replacement dial face from Lockwoods - their web page is linked below in which they set out the regulatory position (I guess they would, wouldn't they).

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Puddleduck

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Interesting JeanLuc..... my minibus went to the scrappy over 15 years ago but only had kph and always passed it's MOT. Perhaps that's a new(ish) ruling. It wasn't a problem for me anyway

30 = 48 (50 as a rough guide)
50 = 80
60 = 95
70 = 112

or near enough, err on the side of caution.

Th odometer was in km as well!

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JeanLuc

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I don't think it will cause a 'fail' in an MOT test but I believe it is still illegal to have a kph-only speedo. If involved in a RTA I think the police might have something to say about it, or if an insurer checked following a claim, it might be a reason to reject the vehicle as uninsured (unless the kph-only speedo had been declared at the time of taking out the insurance).
I am not an expert, but I would not take the risk.

My odo displays kimoletres - that is not an issue.
 
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Puddleduck

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I don't think it will cause a 'fail' in an MOT test but I believe it is still illegal to have a kph-only speedo. If involved in a RTA I think the police might have something to say about it, or if an insurer checked following a claim, it might be a reason to reject the vehicle as uninsured (unless the kph-only speedo had been declared at the time of taking out the insurance).
I am not an expert, but I would not take the risk.

My odo displays kimoletres - that is not an issue.

The insurer did know - it was an imported vehicle and not on the database so needed specialist one-off insurance. It was declared as kph speedo and odo. The police also knew, it was even noted on the V5! My then neighbour was the assistant chief inspector and he checked with me at the traffic section before I bought the bus. He supplied me with a letter saying that the traffic section were aware and as it was insured in the UK they were happy with that. It was a digital display not the more usual dial. Thinking about it , it would probably have been just a simple switch to change it to mph if we'd known how to. I had the bus for 17 years and did 300,000 miles in it. It went to the scrappy as we could no longer get parts at a price that would have made economic sense.
 
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Tootles

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A new MOT type ruling has recently come in about speedo markings, and what you can and cant have.

Vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1984 the speedometer should be capable of indicating the speed in miles per hour and kilometres per hour. Vehicles may instead comply with EC Regulation (Community Directive) 97/39 or ECE Reg 39.
These directives stipulate the markings, graduations of the speedometer and refer to 75/443/EEC which specifies the tolerances.

The new rulings apply to the MOT, not sure just what at the mo.

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Techno

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Mine was kph only until I bought it and changed it
It passed the tests before I took it.

The previous owner pointed out the blind spot on handover

My remedy
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Techno

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When buying for UK check that it either has dual rear fog lights or one in the centre. Some continentals have one on the left which is no good for our MOT

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funflair

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Got to admit, I prefer LHD, especially taking LH bends in tight towns. Not only that, you get a much better view of the lady shoppers..........

QUESTION: Have been told that to emit exhaust on the left hand, (pavement) side is ILLEGAL..........Is this correct?? :Eeek::Eeek:


I was re-routing the exhaust to side exit and I asked the question would it fail UK mot exhausting at the pavement side and I was told all was OK.

Regarding LHD I like it in the UK as it's easy to drive right in the gutter if you have to, only junctions that you approach at an angle are a problem so keep that it mind and hit them a bit straighter and all is OK.

Martin

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JJ

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I strongly advise against using the words "GO" and "NO" when giving instructions.

They sound too alike.


"Wait" "Go" and in emergencies "Stop" is what I would use.


The Americans were laughed at for using phrases like "Extra Vehicular Activity" (EVA) instead of "Going outside" on their space missions but these were especially planned to avoid misunderstandings, especially when communications were subject to radio interference.

(Ask Jock and Rita about radio interference.)


JJ :Cool:

 
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ojibway

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When we bought our German, LHD Sprinter James Cook from Deepcar they installed new UK headlights, obviously as they face left rather than right.

I'm told that insurers won't cover you on the continent if you are not using headlight beambenders/deflectors. Would this also apply here if you have continentally aligned headlights?

As for me, I re-installed the continental headlight as we mostly tour over there and just change them over for the MOT
:winky:
 
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Techno

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I have LHD headlights with stick on adjusters (for UK)
It passes MOT with "a product has been applied to the headlight" end of

Previous owner had RHD beam adjusters on ROFPML

Can get a pair of new RHD headlights around £120 delivered if needed but I don't yet
 
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