Offside Habitation Door

[RCRich]

Hi there

I’m fairly new to motorhoming and have a query regarding habitation doors fitted to offside. We have recently ordered a new Bürstner motorhome. We were aware that the hab door is on ‘the wrong side’ but the only information regarding downside of this, was stepping out of door onto traffic side. I personally didn’t see this as much of an issue.
However, since ordering motorhome, another issue occurred to me which I hadn’t considered. When on pitch, the awning is obviously on same side as door, so this is where you would sit out. Does this mean I would have to locate motorhome nose in, so that my outdoor area is on same side as everyone else? With a forward lounge area, then my main view would be through windscreen. Parked nose in probably means a view of hedges? Do camp sites stipulate which side to use for external space?
Your thoughts and opinions would be much appreciated.

 

[David and Sally]

We have a Burstner. Yes, most pitches are like you say. CMC sites insist on being uniform with next door pitches so you will usually nose in. Other sites are not so fussy.

 

[Podney]

We also have hab door on the offside. It’s never been a problem on CMC or CCC or private sights.

On the contrary,more than one site manager has said to park whichever way round we want.

You just need to make sure you are the safe distance from your neighbours.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Mostly only enforced on UK Club Sites.

I have never witnessed this on the Continent .

 

[Bluemooner]

CMC sites insist on being

Don't think they bother any more our door is on the wrong side but being a Fifth Wheeler we can't drive it in

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

 

[denisejoe]

Never a problem in Europe

 

[David and Sally]

Don't think they bother any more our door is on the wrong side but being a Fith Wheeler we can't drive it in

Every CMC we have been on insist on us being nose in.

 

[Bluemooner]

Only people to mention it to us are 2 private sites we have been on

 

[DandG5515]

Nearly all European vans are that way round, never been a problem in the 11years we’ve had ours. On parking up nearly half of them on the wrong side. don’t worry about it.

 

[Phill D]

we have offside hab door, no issues whatever. just be careful if you breakdown particularly on a motorway, exit via the passenger cab door.

CMC sites are now more interested that the corner of the van is on the peg; they dont seem to be concerned if thats a front or rear corner.

I have only been on 1 site in the past few years that has insisted on parking in a specific way and that was reversed in... even though that created a problem for us. they were insistent it was to comply with fire regs.....

I have read of and seen a comment on a web page for a site near Weston that will not take vans with hab doors on the offside. cant remember the site now as it would not be one I would want to go to with that attitude.

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

 

[XxAnthxX]

Every CMC we have been on insist on us being nose in.

The CMC‘s rule is that either near side front to the peg or offside rear....if there’s a site specific rule it’s in the paperwork they give you on arrival.

 

[David and Sally]

The CMC‘s rule is that either near side front to the peg or offside rear....if there’s a site specific rule it’s in the paperwork they give you on arrival.

Exactly. So we have to nose in nearside to peg so that the door is to the right as you look at the pitch. That means they get a van/awning, van/awning, van/awning lineup.

We were once allowed to tail in but we were on a pitch that had nothing either side.

 

[gus-lopez]

Didn't one site in Burnham in Sea refuse to accept vehicles/vans with door on continental side?

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Our door is on the offside (right) and have never even thought about it, when on sites, other than the use when possibly opening into road traffic and the need for extra caution.
Just Enjoy your new van!

 

[glenn2926]

Never been asked to nose in or reverse in on either CAMC or CCC sites . Just been shown which pitch then left to decide ourselves which way we want to face.

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

 

[gus-lopez]

I have read of and seen a comment on a web page for a site near Weston that will not take vans with hab doors on the offside. cant remember the site now as it would not be one I would want to go to with that attitude.

yes I just posted the same. I have remembered it was Home farm holiday park.You wouldn't want to go on there even if they let you. Every time I've driven past tents were in amongst vehicles. People mustlike it though as it was always packed solid .

 

[TheBig1]

Many commercial sites in this country have pitches with 10ft of grass to the nearside. So you would be competing for space with the caravan and awning beside you and they tend to be very territorial. Better to use small sites, CLs or better still rallies

 

[XxAnthxX]

Exactly. So we have to nose in nearside to peg so that the door is to the right as you look at the pitch. That means they get a van/awning, van/awning, van/awning lineup.

We were once allowed to tail in but we were on a pitch that had nothing either side.

I don’t get why you ’have’ to park nearside front to the peg tho...there is no ruling about van/awning van/awning just maintaining the 6m gap between vans facing walls which wouldn’t change if either end was on the peg.

I always take my pick of which way round I park depending on where I want the sun and have never had an issue.

 

[Lenny HB]

I don’t get why you ’have’ to park nearside front to the peg tho...there is no ruling about van/awning van/awning just maintaining the 6m gap between vans facing walls which wouldn’t change if either end was on the peg.

I always take my pick of which way round I park depending on where I want the sun and have never had an issue.

View attachment 439840

That's my niece.

 

[Lenny HB]

Don't stay on sites very often but when we do we are renting the pitch so we park how we want.
We park for the view sometimes it means opposite someone's door never caused a problem.

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

 

[XxAnthxX]

That's my nice.

Of all the responses....I didn’t expect that

 

[Lenny HB]

Looking at that speal LHD vans must really confuse them.

 

[nicholsong]

For RCRich (OP)

Not connected with campsite parking but one thing to be considered when exiting into traffic.

We had to stop on hard shoulder M6 and exit from hab door on right side(no cab doors)

Obviously I was being careful to open the door a crack to look for traffic, although we had pulled well left to allow door to open without obstructing lane 1.

What I had not allowed for was the 'bow wave' of an artic travelling at 62mph being strong enough to whip the door out of my hand. Fortunately no damage. I have learned to keep a strong grasp of the door since then.

But on the continent where we mostly are, we have the advantage.

Geoff

 

[davidbaldam]

We have our Hab door on the “wrong “ side never had a problem on a UK site if I did I would ask the warden if they had a problem with “what part of I'm the customer are you having a problem with “.

 

[Landy Andy]

Many sites have asked us to have our hab door on right side, which has meant driving forward into spaces, so zero view. Some allow alternative once we ask, others not. It’s only a uk thing though, so not a major issue for us.

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

 

[Wh05apk]

Simple answer, stick to the continent, fewer silly rules and far cheaper and m/h friendly.

 

[Masman]

Every CMC we have been on insist on us being nose in.

I have a continental van and Never had a problem on pitching.Use CMS sites all the time.As long as the van is set up the the post I have gone both ways depending on which suits us..You must have Adolf the warden.

 

[bigalw35]

Don't stay on sites very often but when we do we are renting the pitch so we park how we want.
We park for the view sometimes it means opposite someone's door never caused a problem.

We have 2001 Mb b680 rhd (the hab door is driver side) with the canopy/awning on the driver side so we park front/rear in depending on where the sun is, we normally try to park with the driver side facing west, that way we get more of the sun for longer

 

[David and Sally]

Didn't one site in Burnham in Sea refuse to accept vehicles/vans with door on continental side?

I believe so. We went to the Haven there and the wardens could not have been more helpful finding us a pitch that didn't matter which side the door was on.

 

[Puddleduck]

With the CMC you usually chose your own pitch so sometimes you can pick an end pitch. The CCC allocate you a pitch but you can make a request for an end pitch when booking. It is just a request though and they might not be able to help.

One site we used (can't remember where) had all the vans with off side had doors in their own little enclave which made things easy for all

With a front lounge and the front chairs swiveled you won't be looking out of the windscreen so I don't see that as an issue ..... we also tend to put our thermal covers up over the screen once we are pitched up. In good weather we have chairs outside so can choose our view.

It really isn't a problem - we just let the warden know we have an off side door hab door and they let us know how we should pitch up so as to comply with their requirements.