No Doors!

[Nicepix]

We had an old LHD French registered 'A' Class with just one door, on the nearside amidships .

Pros; More room for the cab seats, better security.

Cons; Having to clamber out through the middle of the front seats for fuel stops, filling up with water and dumping waste, etc. Access under the bonnet was tight. Windscreen replacement could be problematic especially with older vans. Large windscreen made driving in sunny weather too hot for comfort.

All in all, I prefer the idea of an 'A' Class, but practicality dictates against it.

 

[pappajohn]

You have many emergency exits... They are called windows.

If you HAVE to EXIT in a real emergency a broken plastic window is the least of your worries.
A 5ft drop or burn to death... Your choice.

 

[Puddleduck]

Having had a faulty lock on a hab door resulting in being locked in I would not want to have only one door.

 

[CazPaul]

To some extent the less doors, Windows and exterior lockers the better chance of no leaks. Some vans have far too many of all of them.

 

[Lenny HB]

We have two doors a hab door and a driver's door so one on each side but only ever use the driver's door for fuel stops. Like most A Class owners wouldn't bother us if we only had the hab door.
I don't get @Nicepix comment about the big windscreen making it too hot, I find because you are so much further away from the screen if anything it's cooler.

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[Reallyretired]

We have a hab door and a driver's door (on the passenger side). We only use the hab door as the front door has a very high step. We use the foot well for storage. I couldn't understand the comment about clambering between the front seats as in all A classes I have seen the gap is wide with full standing height so no clambering required. The front door has no lock cylinder so presumably more secure but no door would be even better.

 

[Blue Knight]

I observed an A-class Rapido driver reversing his van into a parking slot the other day and he had to jump out of his seat on 7 occassions (at least) and down through the hab door (off-side) just to see where he was going. It looked like a right PITA to me to have no drivers access door.

He wasn't a young chap but he did look well and truly peeved-off by the time he switched off the ignition.

 

[Lenny HB]

I observed an A-class Rapido driver reversing his van into a parking slot the other day and he had to jump out of his seat on 7 occassions (at least) and down through the hab door (off-side) just to see where he was going. It looked like a right PITA to me to have no drivers access door.

He wasn't a young chap but he did look well and truly peeved-off by the time he switched off the ignition.

Can't open the driver's door when manovering anyway as gearbox automatically selects neutral if the door is opened.

 

[Blue Knight]

Can't open the driver's door when manovering anyway as gearbox automatically selects neutral if the door is opened.

Is that specifically for Hymer's Lenny as this bloke was in an out as if the van was on fire

 

[Lenny HB]

Is that specifically for Hymer's Lenny as this bloke was in an out as if the van was on fire

I think it's standard on Comformatic boxes now with Euro 6 engine.

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[stewartwebr]

I don't get @Nicepix comment about the big windscreen making it too hot, I find because you are so much further away from the screen if anything it's cooler.

We are very close to the screen, only the front wheel drive A Class has the huge dashboard. We still never get warm due to the screen size. We have the option of a sunshade which can be lowered which covers both passenger and driver, or if really warm we can lower the aluminium shutter. We also have the same on both side windows, again if it’s too hot on a long drive the blind can be closed. Just need passenger to push the blind up if we reach a junction All 3 sunblinds can be operated by the driver.

 

[Southdowners]

We are very close to the screen, only the front wheel drive A Class has the huge dashboard. We still never get warm due to the screen size. We have the option of a sunshade which can be lowered which covers both passenger and driver, or if really warm we can lower the aluminium shutter. We also have the same on both side windows, again if it’s too hot on a long drive the blind can be closed. Just need passenger to push the blind up if we reach a junction All 3 sunblinds can be operated by the driver.

Same for us. We're close to the windscreen but have never had a problem with the heat... as Stewart, we use the blind combinations to shield our eyes from the glare from the sun. Air-con sorts the heat out.

 

[tonyidle]

I observed an A-class Rapido driver reversing his van into a parking slot the other day and he had to jump out of his seat on 7 occassions (at least) and down through the hab door (off-side) just to see where he was going. It looked like a right PITA to me to have no drivers access door.

He wasn't a young chap but he did look well and truly peeved-off by the time he switched off the ignition.

He needs a wife or a camera.

 

[Nicepix]

I don't get @Nicepix comment about the big windscreen making it too hot, I find because you are so much further away from the screen if anything it's cooler.

I'm going on our experience with our old Le Voyageur A Class. The front screen was wider and taller than our current Sprinter based van. The more glass, the more heat generated inside.

We've got a cracked windscreen in the current van. Won't be a problem getting it fixed on the insurance. But I reckon if the screen had broken on the old van we would possibly be looking at a write off as I doubt that we would be able to source a new screen.

 

[tonyidle]

I'm going on our experience with our old Le Voyageur A Class. The front screen was wider and taller than our current Sprinter based van. The more glass, the more heat generated inside.

We've got a cracked windscreen in the current van. Won't be a problem getting it fixed on the insurance. But I reckon if the screen had broken on the old van we would possibly be looking at a write off as I doubt that we would be able to source a new screen.

There was no problem sourcing a screen for my 15 years old (at the time) Tabbert FFB Classic.

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[KiwiGT]

There is a problem with no cab doors

Just a hab door means you can only exit the van one side

On a european van that means getting out into the traffic in the UK or always parking on the 'wrong side'

Don't you get out of your car from driver side door? Whats the difference?
Or do you slide over to the passenger side and get out so you don't get out into the traffic

 

[Lenny HB]

There is a problem with no cab doors

Just a hab door means you can only exit the van one side

On a european van that means getting out into the traffic in the UK or always parking on the 'wrong side'

The UK is so Motorhome unfriendly we hardly use the van in the UK so door on the r/h side is perfect for us.

 

[Minxy]

Don't you get out of your car from driver side door? Whats the difference?
Or do you slide over to the passenger side and get out so you don't get out into the traffic

.... good point!

 

[wizzer59]

I have two doors, but I don’t think I’ve ever used the cab one, always use the hab door

 

[Barclaybasher]

Don't you get out of your car from driver side door? Whats the difference?
Or do you slide over to the passenger side and get out so you don't get out into the traffic

When I was looking at Burstner Elegances my late wife was disabled and I wanted the option of getting her in and out of the van safely.

My A class has 2 cab doors and a hab door

The hab door has an electric step - nice not to have to use that everytime I need to leave the van........and if the step didn't work for any reason?

..

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