We're choosing between two different models of campervan, one is a European configuration with the load door on the driver's side, the other is a UK spec with the load door on the nearside.
Does an offside load door give any issues on campsites? Is there any other reason not to go for one?
We've got a Dethleffs motorhome and that has the habitation door on the driver's side. Some campsites have asked us to park nose in rather than reversing into a pitch but it's no big-deal.
We used quite a few CAMC sites this autumn and they weren't bothered about which way we parked, leaving the decision to us.
We too have slide door on drivers side. Never been asked to park specific way around.
We try to pitch on end of rows so we don't face into others - if booking we ask for a suitable pitch and can't think of a time sites haven't been happy to help.
Our slidey door is on the nearside, where the sun awning is. We have seen vans with the awning on the nearside and the slidey door on the offside, that seems a bit odd to me. And we have seen vans with 2 slidey doors, which seem to be very congested inside due to having no spare wall.
We mostly camp in France where no one bats an eyelid which way you pitch.
My base van is an UK model with the sliding door on the near side.
I have never been asked to drive into a pitch nose in or bum in in UK as well as in France and the Netherlands.
I have only been asked to park the van between two posts so that she is of a sufficient distance away from the adjacent pitches, including the vehciles and awnings.
Getting in and out in the EU via the sliding door could be an issue at the road side, which was not an issue for me as I only stopped at service stations and supermarkets.
DK
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Once on a CAMC site, we had pitched nicely when a German van pulled on to the adjacent pitch. A rather grumpy driver got out and told me I had to move because I would be to close to his awning. I pointed out that I was sited correctly and that it was his side door and awning that was facing my van. Along came the warden, had a quick look and told the German to move. He was not happy.
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Habitation door on UK side. We have been asked on some independent sites (not Club) to park nose or tail in so that the doors all open on the same side, happens maybe once every few years.
It is a minor problem if you’re parked at a road side & you want to let dog / spouse / children out of the side sliding door, because they’ll be stepping out into the traffic not the pavement.
Most people with sliding doors can shut them quietly, otherwise the slide & loud thump can get irritating during the night when there are no other noises.
I saw it referred to as the “whizz-bang door” the other day; tickled me a bit. UK nearside door, van used as everyday drive, including supermarket trips where side door is used for stowing shopping. No issues anywhere, either here or in EU: can be quite convivial, as I found when parked next to a German Cali in Spain, with door opposite mine. Also seemed to confuse the gendarmerie when I was pulled over at night for a migrant check, wanting to inspect the back: “Non, monsieur, c’est un fourgon anglais!”
I suppose I don't have the issue to contend with, at least in the UK, as I've got a UK built caravan with the habitation door on the NS.
But it seems common sense to me to maintain the habitation door/awning on the same side for all units to suit the pitches, be they UK or Continental sites, and NS or OS habitation doors. It maintains personal privacy, fire break distances etc.
For a MH/camper it makes precious little difference if you reverse into or drive into a pitch, for a caravan, IF it's got Motor Movers, again it doesn't matter, it's no more trouble one way or the other! On the other hand, a caravan without MM becomes a bit of a handful to physically push into a pitch nose first as opposed to maybe reversing still attached to the car. I don't think there is any way I could push my 1.3T caravan on my own any great distance, and certainly not up any incline, or for that matter down one as that would become 'up' on departure!
You always hear arguments from people wanting to orientate their unit to get early morning/eve sun or view etc. through a particular aperture, if I've been that fussy, always found that can mostly be dealt with by picking a particular pitch, but still maintaining regular pitching orientation. If not, I accept what I've got, luck of the draw and all that.
I've certainly encountered people who've pitched 'the wrong way' on adjacent pitch, when there have been no site restrictions, or habitation door on 'wrong side', and it feels slightly less 'comfortable' to be forced into closer than usual contact, and have an unobstructed view directly into their unit and witness their every coming and going, it make me feel like I need to compensate in some way for the uninvited 'intimacy' with them, so MY actions and activities become 'compromised'! It may be slightly more complicated for me by my dog, she's generally a great camper and good neighbour, but also nosey, so may react to people 'too close'!
I don't think it matters which side the habitation door is, I do think it matters how you pitch in relation to your neighbours though.
As to how much of an inconvenience having a habitation door on the OS is, then that probably depends on where you use your unit most! If you do a lot of continental camping, it'd work well, but for UK only, then personally I'd find stepping out into traffic, having to ensure my dog didn't exit into traffic probably a compromise too far. Wouldn't bother me if I was nose in or out when on a pitch though.
I'm certain sliding doors CAN be closed quietly (friends do with theirs!), but it does bug me on many a site when one of the most dominant noises is the constant and repeated 'WHOOSH-BANG' of endless doors being shut without consideration! Particularly offensive in the quiet of the evening or at night. Think I'd get a bit p*ssed off if I had a neighbour facing me and only a few feet away who was one of the inconsiderate ones! There may be terse words .....!
Personal view of course, everyone to their own and all that.
Hmmm, it is almost impossible to close the slidey door quietly in our current and previous VW Transporters. They just can't be clicked shut when pulled to first, you need to re-open a tad then push hard. We try not to use that door later in the evening or first thing in the morning, but we do now have the ability to enter/exit through the tailgate door. In our previous van we didn't as the bed was across the back.
Quote: Originally posted by PigletandTigger on 18/10/2024
Thanks everyone, that's all really helpful. I dislike the the constant doorslammers so will try hard to avoid being one 😀
It's unavoidable, however, I have learnt to be quieter by having the window wide open so as to reduce the force required to shut the sliding door properly.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
We have German PVC with a sliding door on the 'wrong' side, and have not had any issues on campsites we just do as they ask. It's a bonus when touring in Europe.
Similar to DK 168, we always open the passenger door before closing the side door, this also stops the roof screen s imploding and makes closing quieter.
Being a member of the 'Whoosh Bang Club' isn't that bad.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Campervan sliding door on driver`s side?
via mobile 17/10/2024 at 5:38pm
