To LHD . . . or not the LHD

[RadioHam]

I am looking to buy my first MH soon, used rather than new.

Antipicating spending about 75% of my time in mainland Europe, with the rest in the UK.

Is there a significant advantage in left hand drive?

Are there any issues with right hand drive in Europe?

Would appreciate any thoughts. Thanks.

 

[hilldweller]

Are there any issues with right hand drive in Europe?

Overtaking and tolls if solo, hab door when parked.

Well MHs don't do a whole lot of overtaking and some avoid tolls like the plague.

Otherwise RHD is fine.

 

[CazPaul]

You will be ok with both but you can sell a LHD anywhere in Europe, you can PX it in France, Belgium and Germany etc.
We prefer LHD which is why we've just bought another one.

 

[michndan]

Would only have LHD so much easier to live with.

 

[Shrimp]

Ours is LHD and hubby loves it, says he wouldn’t go back to RHD, says it’s easier to cope with in UK and France.

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

 

[Manic]

LHD drive for me, I find it easier to judge how close you can get to hedges in Uk and obviously better in Europe, especially when using Aires, as the hab doors is on the same side as most.
We had it that you could go out of our hab door and straight in the neighbours but that was when we had RHD.

 

[Decaf]

LHD ticks more boxes for me in Europe, and its not a problem in the UK.

 

[dabhand]

Never had a RHD in 25 years and 3 vans, no problems apart from the very occasional left turn at an offset junction in UK when solo.

 

[haganap]

would only have RHD so much easier to live with...

But then again, I drive 8k a year and only about 3 of that is on the continent so I would say that. I think the answer is in your post... LHD is no problem to sell or insure unlike some cars.

 

[Al-Di]

another vote for a lefty,

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

 

[Speve]

Go for LHD you won’t regret it and buy from Europe it will be cheaper even with import costs.

 

[Mel]

LHD for me

 

[Just smiffy]

Lhd here too....15k a year in Europe so it’s a no brainer for us...

 

[two]

I think it very much depends on where you expect to travel and the type of van you have in mind.
Buying second hand, you may not have much choice, especially if going for a Brit van. The bigger (heavier) european vans will tend to come with LHD.
I have not found RHD any hardship abroad, but think that it's a distinct advantage over here where it's more congested. If you think that you'll spend most of your time abroad then LHD makes sense, otherwise I'd concentrate on layout and payload first.

 

[Jim]

LHD drive for me, I find it easier to judge how close you can get to hedges in Uk and obviously better in Europe, especially when using Aires, as the hab doors is on the same side as most.

What Manic said, especially about putting yourself in the hedge when needs must.

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

 

[BreweryDave]

Whichever side, the main issue is T junctions and roundabouts if solo if you have the opposite driving side for the country you’re in.
Personally, spend up to 11months abroad, so another lefty vote.

( not to be mistaken for a Corbyn vote, which is a totally different thing, and very stupid whichever side of the road you’re on, as you’d have to swerve to make sure you hit him........)

 

[daveandsan]

I didn’t find any issues driving a RHD abroad, but I had a passenger.
In fact it was probably easier for me when some French driver was bearing down on me using two thirds of the road, I knew exactly where the gutter was.
Parking isn’t a problem because although it is RHD, it’s a foreign model so the hab door is on the right.

 

[Robin McHood]

Agree with LHD being no problem in UK and RH is a wide van. Only awkwardness I've had is entering roundabouts where the entry is an acute angle slip road making it difficult to see traffic on the roundabout. Just have to learn a different approach for these and good large mirrors help. Driven tiny Devon lanes and Northern Scotland no probs and the benefits of being on the 'correct' side on the Continent where you are driving in unfamiliar conditions makes it a no brainer for us

 

[Mr B]

A class leftie lover here...

 

[Southdowners]

Another vote for LHD here!

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

 

[Lenny HB]

On our 2nd LHD van would never consider RHD van now, prefer driving a LHD. When it comes to changing vans so much easier can sell or trade in any country with a RHD you are stuck with trying to sell only in the UK.
Traded our last van in Belgium got £12k more than what UK dealers offered and more than I could have sold it for privately and a big discount off the new van.
LHD no brainer for me.

 

[Khizzie]

I have a RHD coachbuilt. I am solo and spend 6 months in Europe and 6 months in UK. And have no issues .i have toll tags for France and Spain so don't need to get out at toll booths .no problem with hab door .just park the other way round.......

 

[nicholsong]

I think only one poster has mentioned your buying.

I think if you are considering a quality motorhome then the advice to look at the German Dutch and Belgium markets is good and they will be 98% LHD. Finding much choice of motorhomes with LHD in UK limited.

The resale opportunity of LHD in Europe is good.

I bought our N+B RHD in UK before I new that 2 years later I would move to the Continent, so now wish I had LHD, not for the driving which I find no problem, but the difficulty of selling if we want to change motorhomes by buying in Germany.

Whichever you choose I suggest you fit good parabolic mirrors to enable you to see at oblique junctions both in UK and Continent.

Geoff

 

[carls]

Have driven both RHD and LHD not a problem when abroad as long as you have a co-pilot or with RHD you hang further back at T junctions and roundabouts

 

[nabsim]

I never had a problem with rhd in France, just have to remember which way round roundabouts and pulling out of car parks and which side the steering wheel is on makes no difference to that

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

 

[MichaelT]

LHD drive for me, I find it easier to judge how close you can get to hedges in Uk and obviously better in Europe, especially when using Aires, as the hab doors is on the same side as most.
We had it that you could go out of our hab door and straight in the neighbours but that was when we had RHD.

WE have RHD and our habitation door is on the UK Off Side so the Near Side in EUR

 

[two]

I had a RHD liner (only one door, on the ‘continental near side’). Never found the door position a problem over here, although I never needed to get out on a motorway. The only problem I ever had was being boxed-in on a ferry with a bulkhead stopping the door from opening!
Two or more doors to exit by is an advantage.

 

[Manic]

WE have RHD and our habitation door is on the UK Off Side so the Near Side in EUR

The point I was making was for RHD English made motorhomes and not continental RHD motorhomes

 

[Popeye]

I ordered a new German Van from a British dealer and specified LHD as I anticipated using it more in mainland europe than the UK, I also consider that as I'm used to driving in the UK the LHD would be no trouble over here.

At no time did I consider the much larger potential buyer base of all of Europe nor did I consider the occasional toll booth. All in all I'm glad I went for a Lefty and would do so again.

Left Hookers' Roool.... Okay

 

[adonisito]

LHD, remember, exhausts, clutch cables, hand brake cables are different on LHD vans. Our exhaust on the old RHD needed replacing in Spain. No parts, it took ages.