Buying a European van in the UK

[GBM]

The only time I've ever bought a new motorhome, it was from continental Europe. I did this - at the time - for two reasons:
1. It was cheaper
2. The sole UK Hymer importer could only sell me a stock van
I wasn't prepared to spend a lot of money buying new only to have a spec someone else had chosen (it's half the fun choosing all the options). I was told that if I wanted to spec my own vehicle I would have to wait until the end of the production run later in the year (i.e. just as the new model year was about to be announced) as the factory could bolt on some UK market vehicles at the end of 'last year's' production run. Apparently UK vehicles are dealt with early in the production run and the dealer has to buy his allocation then in order to have anything to sell for the upcoming year.
Does anyone know if this is how it still operates? What about other European brands, is it the same for them too?

 

[Lenny HB]

I have imported 3 new Hymers but we have now ordered from a British dealer but we ordered LHD, it was one the dealer already had allocated but they had the spec changed for us.

I know with Hymer they only build one or two batches of RHD a year but you can often change the spec up until a few weeks before the build date however you need a cooperative dealer.

 

[GBM]

I have imported 3 new Hymers but we have now ordered from a British dealer but we ordered LHD, it was one the dealer already had allocated but they had the spec changed for us.

I know with Hymer they only build one or two batches of RHD a year but you can often change the spec up until a few weeks before the build date however you need a cooperative dealer.

Brexit?

 

[Lenny HB]

Brexit?

I don't see how that would make any difference.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

I have imported 3 new Hymers but we have now ordered from a British dealer but we ordered LHD, it was one the dealer already had allocated but they had the spec changed for us.

I know with Hymer they only build one or two batches of RHD a year but you can often change the spec up until a few weeks before the build date however you need a cooperative dealer.

Lenny HB
Lenny, I think you like to do most of your touring in Europe,but just wondered how you get on with LHD in the UK when travelling.
Am looking for an A class to replace our coachbuilt as we need a better layout and I am not able to buy new. But......
Have seen quite a few s/h LHD models that tick all the boxes ( german), in my price range, and very few RHD ones.
We will predominantly be in the UK. But LHD might tempt travel further?
Appreciate yours and others thoughts on LHD in UK.
Cheers
Iain

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[GBM]

I don't see how that would make any difference.

You mentioned you'd imported 3 previously so I wondered why go through a UK dealer this time. I'm not getting political on here, just curious why you've done it different this time.

 

[Lenny HB]

Lenny HB
Lenny, I think you like to do most of your touring in Europe,but just wondered how you get on with LHD in the UK when travelling.
Am looking for an A class to replace our coachbuilt as we need a better layout and I am not able to buy new. But......
Have seen quite a few s/h LHD models that tick all the boxes ( german), in my price range, and very few RHD ones.
We will predominantly be in the UK. But LHD might tempt travel further?
Appreciate yours and others thoughts on LHD in UK.
Cheers
Iain

Probably even easier in the UK, as you can tuck yourself into the hedge on narrow roads. I don't really notice the difference when jumping from the RHD car into the van because the visibility is so good and you are up high. Angled junctions can be a bit difficult if driving solo, I fitted a Fresnel Lens on the passenger window.

LHD is much better with an A class RHD is a bit of a bodge.

 

[Folkranger]

Lenny HB
Lenny, I think you like to do most of your touring in Europe,but just wondered how you get on with LHD in the UK when travelling.
Am looking for an A class to replace our coachbuilt as we need a better layout and I am not able to buy new. But......
Have seen quite a few s/h LHD models that tick all the boxes ( german), in my price range, and very few RHD ones.
We will predominantly be in the UK. But LHD might tempt travel further?
Appreciate yours and others thoughts on LHD in UK.
Cheers
Iain

I do most of my touring in Europe with a RHD A class and find it no problem at all. Same as LHD wil be in Britain.

 

[Lenny HB]

You mentioned you'd imported 3 previously so I wondered why go through a UK dealer this time. I'm not getting political on here, just curious why you've done it different this time.

Previous 3 were Hymer's if I was buying a Hymer I would have probably imported but it's a Carthago this time and would have hardly saved anything importing, so not worth the hassle.

 

[GBM]

Lenny HB
Lenny, I think you like to do most of your touring in Europe,but just wondered how you get on with LHD in the UK when travelling.
Am looking for an A class to replace our coachbuilt as we need a better layout and I am not able to buy new. But......
Have seen quite a few s/h LHD models that tick all the boxes ( german), in my price range, and very few RHD ones.
We will predominantly be in the UK. But LHD might tempt travel further?
Appreciate yours and others thoughts on LHD in UK.
Cheers
Iain

Go for it. I've bought LHD before and had no issues driving in UK, and when you're abroad on unfamiliar roads it's good to be on the correct side.

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[GBM]

Probably even easier in the UK, as you can tuck yourself into the hedge on narrow roads. I don't really notice the difference when jumping from the RHD car into the van because the visibility is so good and you are up high. Angled junctions can be a bit difficult if driving solo, I fitted a Fresnel Lens on the passenger window.

LHD is much better with an A class RHD is a bit of a bodge.

Agree.

 

[Folkranger]

LHD is much better with an A class RHD is a bit of a bodge.

Depends on the layout. I've had three A classes and none were a bodge. All allowed full movement of seats etc. I don't often use the "driver's door" as it's too high a step, so no loss there.
RHD on all vehicles is a bodge as most of the controls are in the centre designed for use by your right hand, not your left.
I find visibility at roundabouts so much easier in a "wrong side of the road vehicle" as you have full visibilty of the oncoming traffic as opposed to straining to see over your shoulder.

I couldn't have negotiated the narrow roads around Orta in Lake Garda in a LHD. In my RHD I was on the same side as the adjacent rock face that I had to pass with inches to spare.

 

[GBM]

Previous 3 were Hymer's if I was buying a Hymer I would have probably imported but it's a Carthago this time and would have hardly saved anything importing, so not worth the hassle.

So had you wanted rhd, is Carthago more flexible with spec than Hymer would have been? That's what I was trying to establish in my original post - to understand if my experience with Hymer was typical.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Lenny HB
Lenny, I think you like to do most of your touring in Europe,but just wondered how you get on with LHD in the UK when travelling.
Am looking for an A class to replace our coachbuilt as we need a better layout and I am not able to buy new. But......
Have seen quite a few s/h LHD models that tick all the boxes ( german), in my price range, and very few RHD ones.
We will predominantly be in the UK. But LHD might tempt travel further?
Appreciate yours and others thoughts on LHD in UK.
Cheers
Iain

From my point of view, now on our second LHD Motorhome is this.

Occasionally, I can't see what's coming at certain junction angles. Traffic or Pedestrians. Usually, if I crane my neck or look out of kitchen window, I can just about. But usually have a passenger with me. Today I am going for LPG and the weigh bridge which both have awkward junctions.

The other issue I have is that some sites in the UK, will not accept continental door openings. That or, if you could not park any other way than hab door - hab door, neighbours can get a bit narked. All of our Motorhomes RHD and LHD have had continental side habitation doors.

Thats why, when I bought our caravan, I waited for one with a UK Handed habitation door. That way I can use it here in the UK and of course the continent where I have never had an Issue.

 

[Lenny HB]

So had you wanted rhd, is Carthago more flexible with spec than Hymer would have been? That's what I was trying to establish in my original post - to understand if my experience with Hymer was typical.

Our first Hymer was a RHD Tramp (low Profile) bought in Belgium no problem ordering it but delivery was a couple of months longer than LHD. As I said depends on the dealer unfortunately a lot of UK dealers are a PIA.

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[Lenny HB]

The other issue I have is that some sites in the UK, will not accept continental door openings. That or, if you could not park any other way than hab door - hab door, neighbours can get a bit narked. All of our Motorhomes RHD and LHD have had continental side habitation doors.

Thats why, when I bought our caravan, I waited for one with a UK Handed habitation door. That way I can use it here in the UK and of course the continent where I have never had an Issue.

I park for the view not to please the neighbours. Our last caravan the hab door was on the RHS it was a Hobby we imported from Germany. We hardly ever use sites anyway.

With the Motorhome of our 8 - 10k miles a year only about 1k of them are in the UK.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Probably even easier in the UK, as you can tuck yourself into the hedge on narrow roads. I don't really notice the difference when jumping from the RHD car into the van because the visibility is so good and you are up high. Angled junctions can be a bit difficult if driving solo, I fitted a Fresnel Lens on the passenger window.

LHD is much better with an A class RHD is a bit of a bodge.

Thanks for the reply Lenny HB.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

From my point of view, now on our second LHD Motorhome is this.

Occasionally, I can't see what's coming at certain junction angles. Traffic or Pedestrians. Usually, if I crane my neck or look out of kitchen window, I can just about. But usually have a passenger with me. Today I am going for LPG and the weigh bridge which both have awkward junctions.

The other issue I have is that some sites in the UK, will not accept continental door openings. That or, if you could not park any other way than hab door - hab door, neighbours can get a bit narked. All of our Motorhomes RHD and LHD have had continental side habitation doors.

Thats why, when I bought our caravan, I waited for one with a UK Handed habitation door. That way I can use it here in the UK and of course the continent where I have never had an Issue.

Very interesting re hab door.
Ours is currently a " continental" door albeit a RHD.
Never had an issue on sites; either drive in or reverse in if they want it uniform, but never been asked to conform.

 

[cyberyacht]

The van is RHD but I'm left-handed and have no problems with the controls. I find the raised driving position offsets the RHD when 'over there'

 

[funflair]

If we never went abroad again I think I would still have LHD, in fact only ever had LHD motorhomes so not prepared to risk a change now without a good reason, as Lenny says LHD seems to suit A class better or maybe it just suits continental layout better as the van is very often still LHD layout even when the steering wheel is on the other side so if you have the "bar version" lounge it would be all wrong with the drivers seat and steering wheel in the way.

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[Minxy]

If we never went abroad again I think I would still have LHD, in fact only ever had LHD motorhomes so not prepared to risk a change now without a good reason, as Lenny says LHD seems to suit A class better or maybe it just suits continental layout better as the van is very often still LHD layout even when the steering wheel is on the other side so if you have the "bar version" lounge it would be all wrong with the drivers seat and steering wheel in the way.

Our Carthago is RHD and if the steering wheel was on the LHS it would be a pain as that's where the dinette table is, much better to have the passenger seat on the LHS so no issues at all with turning it round.

 

[funflair]

Our Carthago is RHD and if the steering wheel was on the LHS it would be a pain as that's where the dinette table is, much better to have the passenger seat on the LHS so no issues at all with turning it round.

Is that exactly the same layout as if it was LHD ?

 

[Minxy]

Is that exactly the same layout as if it was LHD ?

Yup, driver's door on the LHS and hab door on the RHS, just as it would be on a LHD version, only things that move are the driver and passengers positions.

 

[Baggydave]

Lenny HB
Lenny, I think you like to do most of your touring in Europe,but just wondered how you get on with LHD in the UK when travelling.
Am looking for an A class to replace our coachbuilt as we need a better layout and I am not able to buy new. But......
Have seen quite a few s/h LHD models that tick all the boxes ( german), in my price range, and very few RHD ones.
We will predominantly be in the UK. But LHD might tempt travel further?
Appreciate yours and others thoughts on LHD in UK.
Cheers
Iain

Hi
we recently bought a lhd Eura mobile integra 2002 & is a really nice drive. No problem at all using in uk & insurance didn’t bat an eyelid. (Adrian flux)
inside is in first class condition & everything works as it should. A class so has two blown air heating systems, front & rear. Even has aircon in the cab & it still works!
german Engineering I suppose.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Very interesting re hab door.
Ours is currently a " continental" door albeit a RHD.
Never had an issue on sites; either drive in or reverse in if they want it uniform, but never been asked to conform.

Never been to a club site ?

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[claude et maude]

Never been to a club site ?

I recently stayed on a CAMC site and they had no issues which way round I parked.

 

[Soycd]

Two things put me off importing a LHD for our next van having had 4 LHDs in the past. As I think Lenny mentioned earlier the price differential is no longer as it was. A weak exchange rate and the fact prices in Europe although lower, don't really make it worthwhile, for me. The other is that there is much more 'red tape' to deal with since the first one I imported in about 1998. I'd have preferred a LHD for our next van but we are going RHD for the first time.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Never been to a club site ?

Yes, that's all we have used, in both clubs and have not had any issues.
Have reversed in and driven in depending on where we wanted the Quest pro 4 screen house, usually to the rear of the pitch.
So if driving in we would be hard over to the LEFT of the pitch, with the screen house at the bonnet end on the RIGHT of the pitch, with the hab door at the front of the pitch, opening on the right hand side, same as the screen house, with the rear of the van at the front of the pitch.
Vice versa if reversing in, but the screen house is at the REAR of the pitch and the bonnet at the front facing out into the site.
Either way, still have a suitable fire break gap as required on both club site regulations.
Why some pitch users only feel they have to go right to the back of a pitch baffles me, but have only really observed this with caravans, not motorhomes.
Usually ask the wardens on arrival which way they prefer, than ask about the pre booked screen house ( booked as an awning) and it's position on the pitch.
Polite conversation, a smile and a friendly approach to the often stressed site staff at booking in time on arrival, goes a LONG way.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Yes, that's all we have used, in both clubs and have not had any issues.
Have reversed in and driven in depending on where we wanted the Quest pro 4 screen house, usually to the rear of the pitch.
So if driving in we would be hard over to the LEFT of the pitch, with the screen house at the bonnet end on the RIGHT of the pitch, with the hab door at the front of the pitch, opening on the right hand side, same as the screen house, with the rear of the van at the front of the pitch.
Vice versa if reversing in, but the screen house is at the REAR of the pitch and the bonnet at the front facing out into the site.
Either way, still have a suitable fire break gap as required on both club site regulations.
Why some pitch users only feel they have to go right to the back of a pitch baffles me, but have only really observed this with caravans, not motorhomes.
Usually ask the wardens on arrival which way they prefer, than ask about the pre booked screen house ( booked as an awning) and it's position on the pitch.
Polite conversation, a smile and a friendly approach to the often stressed site staff at booking in time on arrival, goes a LONG way.

must be my Face they don't like.

 

[cyberyacht]

There is no actual CAMC requirement on which way round you pitch but some do get rather exercised over it. If you want privacy then perhaps campsites are not for you.