LHD versus RHD

Mike the oldnut

Mike the oldnut

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Hi Funsters, going to look at a >8m LHD Burstner shortly, what is you opinion re using them in the UK and the continent, should LHD mean a lower purchase price compared to RHD.
Your thoughts would be much appreciated.
Rgds
Mike
 
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Useful information I was given before picking up our LHD American RV....
It's wide!
UK roads tend to be narrow!
Best place to be sat is near the gutter so you can get your left hand wheels as close to the kerb as possible when needed.
When in Europe you will be on their correct side of course!
Insurance? - made no difference when I asked NFU about RHD & LHD.
 
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Current van is LHD, last van was LHD and the one on order is LHD.

Doesn't make any difference to price.
I assume it is an A Class, so far better in LHD they are designed as a LHD they don't really work in RHD.

Much easier to drive abroad and don't notice much difference in the UK, 90% of our driving is abroad so much better for us.
 
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Our current van is also LHD, I would be VERY reluctant to go back to a RHD moho, far easier over the water where we do most of our miles, plus the door is on the drivers side😉👍
 
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Jev88 said:
Useful information I was given before picking up our LHD American RV....
It's wide!
UK roads tend to be narrow!
Best place to be sat is near the gutter so you can get your left hand wheels as close to the kerb as possible when needed.
When in Europe you will be on their correct side of course!
Insurance? - made no difference when I asked NFU about RHD & LHD.
Click to expand...
I like to be sat in the gutter also so good advice, if you were to do more narrow roads abroad possibly RH drive would be an option ;)
 
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funflair said:
I like to be sat in the gutter also so good advice, if you were to do more narrow roads abroad possibly RH drive would be an option ;)
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But all European roads were funded by the Brits paying into EU and are all perfectly wide, smooth and pot-hole free :LOL:
:LOL:
 
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Lenny HB said:
I assume it is an A Class, so far better in LHD they are designed as a LHD they don't really work in RHD.
Click to expand...
I assume you mean the driver's door. I agree there may be times when I would have been better with this on the driver's side, eg at filling stations, but I can't really say it's much of a miss at all.
So maybe " they don't really work in RHD" is a bit harsh.
 
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It used to be a wise decision to buy a LHD foreign import van, as your market for trading it in the EU was greater, but not nowadays since the tax levies changed, plus COC registration procedures on us importing EU vans ourselves.
However compared to Australia, we are lucky in that we can choose either RHD, or LHD European vans, albeit with the hab door on the wrong side, whereas I believe that is still not possible for the Aussies, hence why Australia is still a strong market for UK van manufactures, as they meet the RHD, and have the Hab door on the "Correct" side for them.
I never really understood why the Aussies are so insistent on the hab door side, whereas our DVLA are not concerned too much.
LES
 
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TinaLes said:
It used to be a wise decision to buy a LHD foreign import van, as your market for trading it in the EU was greater, but not nowadays since the tax levies changed, plus COC registration procedures on us importing EU vans ourselves.
Click to expand...
Apart from have to VAT on second hand imported van nothing has changed so far but may in the future.
 
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I’ve had both. It makes no difference to me. Currently have a LHD Burstner and love it. When touring Europe there is a slight advantage but either works for me. As for a discount for being a left hooker ? I doubt it. I’m far more interested in layout and budget.
Phil
 
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Lenny HB said:
Current van is LHD, last van was LHD and the one on order is LHD.

Doesn't make any difference to price.
I assume it is an A Class, so far better in LHD they are designed as a LHD they dton't really work in RHD.

Much easier to drive abroad and don't notice much difference in the UK, 90% of our driving is abroad so much better for us.
Click to expand...

Folkranger said:
I assume you mean the driver's door. I agree there may be times when I would have been better with this on the driver's side, eg at filling stations, but I can't really say it's much of a miss at all.
So maybe " they don't really work in RHD" is a bit harsh.
Click to expand...

We have a German built RHD N&B Arto, but without a cab door, and cannot see where there is any disadvantage, except maybe getting out of the hab door near traffic - one just has to be careful, but is better on the Continent.

I have no problem driving RHD living on the Continent but if we swapped the MH now I would probably buy LHD even though we might move to UK.
 
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I think that if go to Europe a lot then LH drive is the way to go, but the Burstner you mention is a big old bird, think what it will be like if you drive down a UK country land and have a bus or dumper truck coming the other way?

I have had one LH drive A class and 2 RH drive it is a fine balance.
 
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I’ve only ever had the one Motorhome which is LHD. I very specifically wanted LHD due to touring continent more than UK. I find it brilliant everywhere. TBH, I can’t imagine advantage either way…

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I would prefer the uk to be LHD in total (not going to happen), why? all the central controls would be available for the right hand rather than the left hand. I'm hopeless with my left hand.
 
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When I drive RHD I find it easy to judge where the left side of the van/car is as I have driven this side for 50 years, when I drive LHD I find it difficult to judge the right hand side, so for me I prefer RHD when in Europe so I can see the gutter and parked cars.

For me, the only benefit of LHD is that you can see down the road for overtaking and to be honest that doesn't happen that much when towing the caravan or in a motorhome. If I do have to overtake then SWMBO lets me know when it's clear.
 
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Have always had LHD but next will unfortunately be RHD due to circumstances beyond our control. It's also getting more complicated to import after 2020. The price difference is not what it used to be especially with a weak pound. If you are buying a LHD in UK then I would not expect there to be a price difference with RHD. The only time it can be a little tricky is pulling onto some roundabouts in UK, other than that I don't have a problem driving LHD in UK.
 
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Very happy with my RHD. No problem whatsoever driving it on our trips to Europe, roads there tend to be better (where we go), and much easier to drive the RHD in this country.

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Folkranger said:
I assume you mean the driver's door. I agree there may be times when I would have been better with this on the driver's side, eg at filling stations, but I can't really say it's much of a miss at all.
So maybe " they don't really work in RHD" is a bit harsh.
Click to expand...
There are also restrictions with some layouts, The layout we have wouldnt work in a RHD
 
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jongood said:
There are also restrictions with some layouts, The layout we have wouldnt work in a RHD
Click to expand...
But I'm sure most would. There can't be much behind the front seats that is affected by which side the driver sits.
 
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