Left Hand Drive Disadvantages in UK
Discussion
Apart from some people's aversion to lhd, the common "issue" can be the habitation door being on the "wrong" side. If you use alot of C&MH type sites it can mean having to park the other way around, especially if you want to use an awning or windbreak. On the plus side if you spend much time abroad it's obviously an advantage.
Vipers said:
I would have thought the biggist problem of any LHD is trying to overtake someone safely on a single carriageway.
I owned a LHD Porsche for 4 years and I never found any issues like that to be honest.In fact my one comment on LHD would be that within a couple of miles, I actually didn't notice that I was driving LHD. It just felt natural with regards to the road position, the view, the gearshift etc.
I assume in a camper van you are higher up, so the view of the road ahead is even less of an issue.
Vipers said:
I would have thought the biggist problem of any LHD is trying to overtake someone safely on a single carriageway.
You have seen what he is buying?He wont be overtaking much in that.
OP The blindspot on the right hand side will be your biggest issue, you may want to equip it with a camera to assist lane changes.
bristolracer said:
Vipers said:
I would have thought the biggist problem of any LHD is trying to overtake someone safely on a single carriageway.
You have seen what he is buying?He wont be overtaking much in that.
OP The blindspot on the right hand side will be your biggest issue, you may want to equip it with a camera to assist lane changes.
Teddy Lop said:
bristolracer said:
Vipers said:
I would have thought the biggist problem of any LHD is trying to overtake someone safely on a single carriageway.
You have seen what he is buying?He wont be overtaking much in that.
OP The blindspot on the right hand side will be your biggest issue, you may want to equip it with a camera to assist lane changes.
Every van I’ve owned has had zero visibility in the situation you describe, and its never been an issue for me, or I would presume most of the other van drivers.
You just have to approach junctions differently or set the mirrors up to manage the problem.
Lord Marylebone said:
Teddy Lop said:
bristolracer said:
Vipers said:
I would have thought the biggist problem of any LHD is trying to overtake someone safely on a single carriageway.
You have seen what he is buying?He wont be overtaking much in that.
OP The blindspot on the right hand side will be your biggest issue, you may want to equip it with a camera to assist lane changes.
Every van I’ve owned has had zero visibility in the situation you describe, and its never been an issue for me, or I would presume most of the other van drivers.
You just have to approach junctions differently or set the mirrors up to manage the problem.
I'm not saying it can't be insurmounted but it'll aggro far more than a LHD car is where you have windows all round, you'll be positioning the vehicle in such way other road users will be misreading your intentions and driving into your intended tragectory. Of course if OP generally holidays with another it'll be less of an issue that sole occupancy is.
Teddy Lop said:
you'll be positioning the vehicle in such way other road users will be misreading your intentions and driving into your intended tragectory.
BMW don't make motorhomes. They've got functioning indicators as standard.Honestly, 3 tonnes of motorhome positioned a bid oddly at a junction and only the truly dedicated t
ts are trying to cut you up. If anyone tries to second guess which way the overhang at the rear is going to swing it's their shiny motor that comes off worst.Apparently, it's a bit unnerving for the passenger in the UK. My wife's never driven ours in the UK, but she lets me know if she thinks I'm a bit close to the centre of the road. I don't know the layout of the Laika, but if it's got a window behind the passenger seat (offside if it were RHD), it makes junctions much easier.
We've had two LHD Hymers, and I think we'd find RHD odd for a motorhome now.
We've had two LHD Hymers, and I think we'd find RHD odd for a motorhome now.
GSalt said:
Teddy Lop said:
you'll be positioning the vehicle in such way other road users will be misreading your intentions and driving into your intended tragectory.
BMW don't make motorhomes. They've got functioning indicators as standard.Honestly, 3 tonnes of motorhome positioned a bid oddly at a junction and only the truly dedicated t
ts are trying to cut you up. If anyone tries to second guess which way the overhang at the rear is going to swing it's their shiny motor that comes off worst.I seem to have gone through a phase of always having the “wrong” vehicle for where I am over the last few years, but I have to say, it’s really not a problem.
We currently have our LHD VW KeplerOne which we bought in Germany and registered over here.
I drive it a couple of times of month and with the exception of one or two junctions where you have to position yourself differently on the approach, I have no problem piloting it along country roads and even the odd overtake (it’s got 150PS so reasonably handy for a T6). You soon get used to “driving in the gutter”.
Then there was the period last year where I had my RHD Concorde living with me in Frankfurt for the year. We toured Germany, Benelux and Austria extensively and never had an issue. Again, a few junctions where it’s useful to have a passenger or again positioning oddly on the approach. But all good. In that one overtaking was never an issue with 6.5t to lug around and just 157PS.
I’d say if it’s the right van, go for it.
We currently have our LHD VW KeplerOne which we bought in Germany and registered over here.
I drive it a couple of times of month and with the exception of one or two junctions where you have to position yourself differently on the approach, I have no problem piloting it along country roads and even the odd overtake (it’s got 150PS so reasonably handy for a T6). You soon get used to “driving in the gutter”.
Then there was the period last year where I had my RHD Concorde living with me in Frankfurt for the year. We toured Germany, Benelux and Austria extensively and never had an issue. Again, a few junctions where it’s useful to have a passenger or again positioning oddly on the approach. But all good. In that one overtaking was never an issue with 6.5t to lug around and just 157PS.
I’d say if it’s the right van, go for it.
I used to run a few LHD motors and the biggest pain was car park/toll barriers.
I never once had an issue with grabbing the door handle instead of the gear stick but some people do seem to struggle with that one.
Overtaking on single carriageways requires a different approach. You'll soon pick that up after you seriously scare your passenger (and the oncoming vehicle)
I never once had an issue with grabbing the door handle instead of the gear stick but some people do seem to struggle with that one.
Overtaking on single carriageways requires a different approach. You'll soon pick that up after you seriously scare your passenger (and the oncoming vehicle)
wcel said:
I never once had an issue with grabbing the door handle instead of the gear stick but some people do seem to struggle with that one.
When my wife still had her LHD Pug 205 it was the handbrake that always caught me out.No such problem with the Hymer, although LHD the handbrake is on the left and with a column shift it's a complete change of driving mode so less confusing for the gears.
Vipers said:
I would have thought the biggist problem of any LHD is trying to overtake someone safely on a single carriageway.
That’s the reason that I have to drive my wife’s RHD Peugeot 2008 when we visit my French relatives in Lille, Lens, or Hazebrouck.I get a free pass if we visit the bunch in Haut-Garonne, we fly into Toulouse and rent a car.
Please God this interminable nuisance ends eventually, so I can shake the dust of U.K. from my shoes once more.
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