hi to you all and a happy new year .has anyone else ever had any problems on sites in the uk with thier doors being on the wrong side because thier van is a foriegner ,we find some sites dont really cater for vans with doors on the righthandside because of the way the awning is fitted in relation to the required towhitch position marker that the site asks you to park on . allso a slightly more dodgy point we had a tyre go on us coming home and wheelbrace was in the van, as we were on a dual carriageway [no hardshoulder] it was scarey getting the gear out of the van to change the wheel ,our van is a microlight 400 an due to its consruction i am going to spin the van on its chassis as the later model freedoms are[slope to front not rear as ours is ] any thoughts on this?
------------- if it aint broke ...keep fixing it until it is !
Seems a bit drastic just for a door. Its only a Freedom, spin it round on the pitch so the door is the right way round & keep jack & wheelbrace in the car.
Agree with Tentz. I sympathise with the issue; other's I know with continental vans have similar concerns.
I would be concerned though with the handling of the van if you were to 'rotate' the body on chassis. While it maybe considered reasonable to do (you've obviously looked into the contruction), the van would have been designed and built to be towed as it is. You would undoubtably effect weight distribution and regardless of how lightweight the van is, this isn't a good solution.
My first van in 1992 was a european van and I used it for 3 years with no problems or hassles from any site I used, the van went on the same way everyone elses van did and the awnings were adjacent to others. I bought my second european van in 2003 and still have it and have had no problems at all about where the door is and again it always goes onto a pitch the same way that others do. Since 1994 I have spent about 70 nights a year away in the van.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
First thing to consider (apart from Tentz observation - "drastic") is whether such a change would then mean that the van does not satisfy the Construction and Use Regulations. As Paul said "the van would have been designed and built to be towed as it is." If it is not compliant then you can't take it on the road. If you do undertake the project then you should obtain some independent certification from an appropriately qualified engineer that the van does comply with the regs. Bear in mind that such a change in construction will stick out to any Traffic Police Officer who may then feel inclined to pull you up to carry out checks. Useful to be able to produce some certification. If they consider that it may not be compliant they can make you unhitch it and leave the van at the side of the road whilst you get a trailer to tow it back home. Best to be ready with your answers
Gas cylinders are always at the front of a caravan. There must be a reason for this and I am guessing that either the Construction and Use Regs or Gas Safety Regs specify this as a requirement. I have not been able to find anything though in my own copies of Regs but you ought to check this out if your switch results in the gas being at the back. Maybe, as cars are more likely to run into the back than the front of a van they are at the front to minimise the possibility of an explosion.
Gas at the back (if you can actually do that) might make the van a bit tail wagging. That may be resolved by proper loading but in undertaking the project there may be a need to provide some permanent counter balance at the front. If that is required then that weight would need to be deducted from the personal allowance leaving you less able to carry some gear in the van.
Your rear lights would then be at the front and that would be a clear breach of the Construction and Design Regs so that the van could not lawfully be used on the highway. You would need to provide them at the back, with side lights only at the front. Red Triangle at the back as well. This will involve some internal electrical alterations which should be undertaken by a qualified electrician. So not just a case of spinning the van on the chassis.
I'm not an engineer but my guess is that it would not be as aerodynamic travelling with the back forward with a resultant increase in fuel consumption
If you have a warranty with the van that will be of no effect once such a change has been undertaken.
You will need to notify your insurers, both of the caravan and of the car you tow it with, setting out exactly what you have done. They may want relevant certificates for Construction and Use compliance, electricity etc. My guess is that your car insurers would say that you will not be covered whilst towing a van so modified. The thing is they are unlikley to have had any experience of such a project and so may view it with suspicion and err on the side of caution. In fact, check with your insurers before you start.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
What the op is considering is quite feasable, Freedom 'vans for the UK market have been fitted with reversed bodies to get the door on UK side. I was just pointing out it wern't really worth the bother.
Tanks for that Tentz. Learn something new every day. If the whole van is moved it will still need C&UR approval of some kind if only for the fitting onto the chassis. Is this reversing something that should be done by a suitable workshop only then?
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
I've never had a problem with the door on the 'wrong side'. Most sites are ok, but some ccc site assistants need reminding when they are trying to tell me where to park. Only once have I had to spin the van road 180 degrees to meet space limitations and that site has since closed! An advantage is you can pull in tight against a hedge or wall in a lay by and still gain access to the van. Regarding tyre changes, any problem on the offside of a van will pose a danger as it will not matter what side the door is on and it will necessitate the use of at least one warning triangle place well behind the van. When towing I carry two triangles so that I can place them at a suitable distance to give advance warning.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
We've never had any problem on UK sites with our continental 'van. In fact the wardens on CC sites in particular have all been very helpful, taking account of the fact that not only is our door on the "wrong" side, our bedroom and lounge are at the opposite ends to English vans. If you do most of your caravanning abroad, as we do, the design is much better.
------------- Il vaut mieux vivre ses reves que rever sa vie
hanks everyone for your replys ,just to pick up a few points re spinning my van on its chassis ,there are only six bolts holding it to the chassis .the gas locker is separate to the van and would remain in place, the van is placed centrally over the wheels[along its length that is ,the body is only nine foot long ] as for the electrics ,im a qualified sparky,so thats no problem .The van is at least 15yrs old ,[but they last up to 25yrs] so no warranty if you look at some pics of older vans they look wrong because the slope of the van is at the back possibly negating the aerodynamics . the newer vans brought in by freedom of staffordshire are spun on the chassis probably because the body is a fibreglass monocoque and would be expensive to re jig i suppose they have done this for a reason. poss to cater to uk customers
------------- if it aint broke ...keep fixing it until it is !
Only one site I had a problem. Having set up completly the warden told me to turn the van 180 degs as he did'nt like doors facing each other. ( jobsworth )
------------- live for today as tomorrow ma never come.
My door is at the back... and leads into an awning over the back part of the caravan. Never had a prob siting yet.
IMHO, I would say the same as Tentz though. Although it does sound easy enough. I'm sure there was someone I read about a few years ago who had done exactly the same with his Freedom.
You could always give Freedom a ring and ask to speak to one of their engineers about legalities and so on.
Quote: Originally posted by boris54 on 09/1/2011
Only one site I had a problem. Having set up completly the warden told me to turn the van 180 degs as he did'nt like doors facing each other. ( jobsworth )
Hi, I was on a site a number of years ago, and one caravaner had to turn his van round 180degs, for same reason as boris54 stated, interesting bit of information about van being able to be turned round on its chassis, as have been considering doing so with the old type Esterel folding van, with gas bottle locker seperate from van, or even from chassis up,could be good little project.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
hi jhsw theres obviously gonna be some probs lifting the van then proping it up, pulling chassis out then running chassis back under but not insurmountable ,rest of the job seems straight forward ,the whole project isnt really nessacery but sometimes you do it for the heck of it
------------- if it aint broke ...keep fixing it until it is !
how would you comply if you built your own van. ie a teardrop ?
Just understand the Construction and Design Regs; Electricity regs and Gas regs inside out......simples
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
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Topic: doors
