Hi, we are looking to buy our first caravan and are looking at German made ones but are worried that as the door entrance is on the other side than UK built caravans whether campsites accept them on their sites.
We do not want to buy a caravan then have problems getting booked onto sites.
Has anyone had experience of this?
Thanks
I've heard of problems on regimented sites - don't know about you but they aren't for us anyway - we have just bought a off-hander German van and we haven't had problems booking so far - maybe others here to tell you more...
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A well made caravan that remains leak free for yrs(but tbf does look a bit dull & utilitarian)has door on't wrong side giving rise to urban myth that it can't be used on UK sites.
Or a caravan that might even be leaking as it leaves the factory.
I don't think there's a problem on UK sites. You get a pitch marked by a post one side and extends to the next pitches post. Where you put your van, awning and car etc within that space is up to you.
The door on the wrong side is really only a problem if you stop at the road side and have to get in and out via the door on the side of the traffic.
Bought a "new for us" Hymer 530 in September 09 and have used it twice now with no problems, on C&CC sites. I am told that some privately run sites can be difficult about the door being on the "wrong" side, depending on how the pitches are laid out and how awnings need to be pitched etc. but figure we will cross that bridge if and when we come to it.
Build quality of this van is superb and I like the look of the plain interior personally
The door on my little van is at the rear! I shouldn't think they'll be too worried about where the door is, all 'vans are different! What would all the continental travellers do when they come over here then?
Is there actually anybody who has first-hand experience being turned away on a campsite because of the door? Or just someone who knows someone who did???
Same as our Freedom.The door is on the wrong side so if we pitch the right way round we end up looking sraight into our neighbours awning which we dont like(neither do our neighbours probably).We always pitch nose first and find it better that way.
------------- Those that danced were thought to be quite insane to those who could not hear the music. Angela Monet
We've not had any problems with our Adria, as said above how do foreigners manage when they come here? As for facing neighbours awning, we always pitch caravan, awning, car so our car gives some privacy between pitches. Also pitches aren't so close that you look straight into a neighbours awning are they?. As this is our first caravan its 'normal' to us to have the door on the right hand side and not the left side.
We have a german van. The door on the other side isn't a problem If we end up close to another caravan on a site we just turn it the other way around to give everyone a bit of privacy. Ours is a back to front van with lounge at back so turning it round is a better idea to get the view from the living area anyway. We've had a few suspicious looks - always in England and Ireland, never in France where these vans are the norm. But once people realise we are only part-time travelling folks the caravan has always been the subject of much admiration. We were once turned away from a Caravan Club site by the Warden who treated us disgustingly (yes we had booked). Needless to say we complained and are no longer members of said club. Pity for them really as they not only lost our membership but the yearly ferry booking business, caravan insurance, travel insurance, site bookings and breakdown insurance we gave them. One snotty warden however is not sufficient to put us off this beautifully built and finished safe and sturdy caravan. Yes they look a bit plain on the outside but the build quality far outshines that
Pamela
------------- Sometimes You're the windscreen; sometimes the fly
Quote: Originally posted by bates on 18/2/2010
Hi, we are looking to buy our first caravan and are looking at German made ones but are worried that as the door entrance is on the other side than UK built caravans whether campsites accept them on their sites.
I'd be surprised if many (any?) caravan parks do not allow continental layout vans - but you may have to be careful when pitching to ensure that you have enough distance between you and vans on either side (usually 6m, I think). On sites with tight pitches, you might have to park nose first to achieve that.
Some German caravans have UK layouts - some Geist, Hymer and possibly others. My Burstner has a UK layout too.
As has been said by others there is no real problem with them on the CC sites or for that matter C&CC sites.
We have used them for 8 years and just been once asked to consider, rather than told, to put it in nose first for the privacy of a close neighbour.
Don't buy the sweeping "dull and utilitarian" labelling, whilst these are offered so are the most well appointed of touring caravans; its just where you pitch your budget!
We love our German van - the build quality is second to none. You can get vans with doors on either side and ours is actually the "normal" side. Good luck with the search.