Continental MH's with habitation door on the 'wrong' side. (1 Viewer)

[rrusty]

Well my one and only door is on the wrong side and it has only been a problem twice when I had no option and had to stop on the hard shoulder of the motorway and it was scary opening the door and putting the steps down and getting out with all the lorries thundering past.

 

[Tea Bag]

Hi.
Since '73,only had to turn a unit around once on site for the door on the continental side................... Pinewoods. Wells next the sea...... PRIVATE Yes,Private site. So,"Get it Bought !!"
Tea Bag. User of all types of sites and drinker of Stella Artois/Conde Noble Vinho tinto and whatever else is going...Hic!

 

[Phill D]

not an issue under normal circumstances. did end up on the motorway ( UK ) hard shoulder on an occasion and had to be mindful of exiting the van via passenger door. but you would consider the same from the drivers door.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[hilldweller]

To those who have vans with the habitation doors on the 'wrong' side how much of a problems is this in practice?.

No problem at all. We also have a pair of cab doors.

 

[Deleted member 29692]

Never had any issue.

 

[Forestboy]

Last 3 vans all had door on the wrong side as you call it never had a problem in 9 years and we used to use CC sites a lot never use them nowadays but even in RVs never had a problem with door position.
Don't worry about it buy the van that suits you best.
Some people just love imagining problems bit like LHD is a problem or LHD is worth less money. Yeah right don't listen to em.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Cobweb]

No problem at all with our Rapido since we spend much time on the Continent . Every now and then in the UK a CC warden will instruct us to park differently but that has never been a problem either since in the UK we mostly use CL s .

 

[MJG1959]

Thanks all for your responses.

This is a good forum.

 

[Wombles]

Well my one and only door is on the wrong side and it has only been a problem twice when I had no option and had to stop on the hard shoulder of the motorway and it was scary opening the door and putting the steps down and getting out with all the lorries thundering past.

Eeek! Ours has 2 cab doors as well as hab so won't have that problem but made mental note now that if we do change motorhome one day that we need a door on each side.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[maison]

Our door is on the "correct" for UK side, but we spend a lot of time in France, where it is the "wrong" side.

Never really found any problem. As others have said, if you have to stop at the roadside, use the cab doors. I realise this may not work with some A class units but, with panel vans and C class, it should be no problem.

Enjoy!

 

[davidbaldam]

A non issue and we have never had a problem on a CC site, I never understand why some on here let CC wardens tell them how to park their motorhomes, they just need reminding who the customer is. Oh and welcome to FUN.

 

[English Springer]

During a six week tour of Europe last year we only had one issue on a Swiss site. On that one all plots were planned for MHs to reverse onto them leaving room on the right to exit hab door and pull out an awning. As our hab door is on the left (the proper side) we would have exited onto the next plot. Fortunately the site was quiet so the owner allowed us to use two plots because MHs weren't permitted to park nose in. I was very surprised when they said that this was the first time they had had a MH with a door on the left. Other than this occasion we have not had any problems at all.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Puddleduck]

It's a non-issue except for one club site warden - who wasn't very happy until he realised we could still reverse on to the pitch (as per policy) and not compromise the spacing as we weren't going to put an awning up.

If we are parked in a layby or on the side of the road we exit via the cab doors - usually the passenger door.

 

[joncris]

Some years ago an EU caravan with the door on the wrong side visited Dartmoor and a female occupant stepped out straight into oncoming traffic and was killed. Other than that I've not heard of any other such incidents. However each week when parking I do try to park facing the wrong way so the door is kerbside making it easier (and safer) for my BH to load and unload.

 

[Puddleduck]

double edit = the smoking reference was not a wind up, I really don't like it

If people want to smoke that is up to them but I don't like tobacco smoke around me as I have a lung problem and would prefer not to take risks I can avoid. If someone is smoking it is me that has to avoid them as it is me that has the problem

This is a good forum.

Totally agree!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DanielFord]

If people want to smoke that is up to them but I don't like tobacco smoke around me as I have a lung problem and would prefer not to take risks I can avoid. If someone is smoking it is me that has to avoid them as it is me that has the problem

Ironically, smoking is the only time I park up road side. As I may have previously posted. I will stop and have a cuppa and a crafty smoke about halfway on my journeys. Strangely the only time I smoke is whilst driving, and I hate the smell, so I always stop and go outside.

So maybe there's the answer, if you smoke, the habitation door must be on the correct side

 

[Puddleduck]

Ironically, smoking is the only time I park up road side. As I may have previously posted. I will stop and have a cuppa and a crafty smoke about halfway on my journeys. Strangely the only time I smoke is whilst driving, and I hate the smell, so I always stop and go outside.

So maybe there's the answer, if you smoke, the habitation door must be on the correct side

If I saw you smoking I would just move on But with the light breezes we get up here (generally blowing a hoolie) I don't think it would affect me that much anyway.

 

[DanielFord]

If I saw you smoking I would just move on But with the light breezes we get up here (generally blowing a hoolie) I don't think it would affect me that much anyway.

I never smoke at site, only on the road ;-) my last act of rebellion

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[sedge]

LOL - I well remember going on a local CC rally, and when the Marshall realised we were continental he said 'Hang on!' and just moved ours and all the remaining pegs over a bit. I miss that abroad now with the Pilote as with the Swift we always got to know our neighbours wherever we were, a lot easier and quicker than when doors don't face.

 

[westy77]

Ours is on the wrong (right) side. Never had an issue.

 

[Bertie Bassett]

Can be a bit of an issue when pitching on Caravan Club sites or CC rallies with some wardens other than that never had any problems with our Chausson.

You beat me to it W!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Bertie Bassett]

As I might have said before most CC and C&CC wardens are just grateful I haven't demolished too much of the site getting to the plot, and wisely don't insist on too much more manoeuvring on my part

Nice!

 

[Bertie Bassett]

Thanks all for your responses.

This is a good forum.

You're right it is, only been here for seven months and came on thinking I knew it all..............210 school days later and I'm still learning something everyday!

Won't ask which forum you've been to previously

 

[Bertie Bassett]

A non issue and we have never had a problem on a CC site, I never understand why some on here let CC wardens tell them how to park their motorhomes, they just need reminding who the customer is. Oh and welcome to FUN.

Like the post David and I'm no shrinking violet but the options on the three occasions it's arisen have 'appeared' to be move or move on. Mrs BB is sometimes a wilting flower so I don't like to upset her by questioning why a paying guest is being forced to adopt acceptable 'caravan' practices in a motorhome that clearly doesn't fit the particular inflexible rule being enforced.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Lenny HB]

Both our van have been Hymers never had any problems. Which ever side of the channel try to avoid stopping laybys that are directly on the road as if having a brew not pleasant the van rocking with every car that goes by.
If going for an A Class, a drivers door is an optional extra on most, well worth having otherwise you only have a single habitation door.

 

[JeanLuc]

Just to add to the wind-up, I know that now, just 5 or so years after the recession, is not the time to afford it, but I think the UK should switch to driving on the right, like most of the world does.

Some might think it useful to maintain old ways and drive on the same side as the 'colonies' so that there is no moment of angst when visiting the far side of the world, but let's be realistic; wouldn't it improve road safety if continental lorries didn't have a huge blind spot when pulling out on motorways (and ours when over there); increase efficiency if the European motor industry didn't have to run two production formats.
Surely common sense dictates that many more British drivers are likely to drive in France Germany or Spain etc., than are likely to drive in India, Japan, New Zealand, Australia or Samoa? Let's make life easier for ourselves.

I just wish we had switched at the same time as Sweden in 1967.

 

[Theonlysue]

Having had both, I don't think it really matters what side your door is on

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Sandancers]

Our Chausson with door on French side has caused no problems at all. In fact it, sits the right way on the drive for easy in and out of the hab door.

 

[chrisgreen]

the first motorhome i owned had the hab door at the back,wish the one i had now was the same,so convenient when parking in tight carparks

 

[ASel]

In 10 years have not had a problem with RHS door and this is our only door!

We just ignore the few wardens that tell us which way round to park, non have challenged us.

As we do about 50% of our mileage on the Continent we will for 50% of the time have a door on the wrong side!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}