Visibility problems

[CRISPY]

Hi everyone ! Im relatively new to motorhoming (15 months) but previously had a caravan and see myself as a responsible and careful driver.
I am a sole traveller in my motorhome (with my dog) and on two occasions now I have come to junctions in the road where I cannot see anything of the road from the left. Obviously if I had a passenger they would look out for me. The last occasion was yesterday travelling back home from a stay in Devon. I just couldnt see a thing. This has now bothered me to the extent of thinking of giving up the van ! I dont want to as I love the freedom of touring but feel its a thing I may have to put up with being a lone traveller. My van is an Elddis Sunseeker 120 (Peugeot Boxer base) and the windows of the cab are quite small in comparison to my car, and obviously you dont have the luxury of rear windows (side) to help with viewing the road.
Its perhaps the angle of the road, or how I approached it ? but would appreciate anyones advice on how to tackle it. Is there any additional mirror or something I can get ? It really has knocked my confidence in driving the van at the moment

 

[Robmac]

You could try a reversing camera mounted on the roof or bonnet pointing sideways

 

[Deleted member 25361]

Hi everyone ! Im relatively new to motorhoming (15 months) but previously had a caravan and see myself as a responsible and careful driver.
I am a sole traveller in my motorhome (with my dog) and on two occasions now I have come to junctions in the road where I cannot see anything of the road from the left. Obviously if I had a passenger they would look out for me. The last occasion was yesterday travelling back home from a stay in Devon. I just couldnt see a thing. This has now bothered me to the extent of thinking of giving up the van ! I dont want to as I love the freedom of touring but feel its a thing I may have to put up with being a lone traveller. My van is an Elddis Sunseeker 120 (Peugeot Boxer base) and the windows of the cab are quite small in comparison to my car, and obviously you dont have the luxury of rear windows (side) to help with viewing the road.
Its perhaps the angle of the road, or how I approached it ? but would appreciate anyones advice on how to tackle it. Is there any additional mirror or something I can get ? It really has knocked my confidence in driving the van at the moment

Hi Crispy, would it be possible the angle you are emerging at is the cause of the problem ? If this is the case there are a few good "blind spot" mirrors on the market that may help you. Most good car accessories shops would supply these. Only a thought. WillyO.:goodluck:

 

[al n sal]

as above, i bought a small blind spot mirror which I fitted to the window screen frame on my old van, there are some that hold via suckers too, worked fine for me.

 

[Byronic]

You shouldn't rely on the passenger in any case. The other posts have the solution. If you intend to travel Europe the problem is worse, especially on RH oblique angle turns, as you can imagine.

 

[AndyC]

I've had the opposite problem with our left hand drive vans, sometimes can't see the road from the right at junctions and roundabouts.

Fortunately the 'co-pilot' is usually awake and looks out for me, but on the occasions when I'm solo it's really a matter of thinking ahead and approaching the junction at the right angle. We've actually got a side viewing camera fitted but I don't use it because the side window in our current van gives a good enough view as long as I approach junctions at the right angle.

I've seen vans with an extra internal mirror mounted on the windscreen, angled to give a side view, might be worth experimenting with a stick-on one?

AndyC

 

[afl777]

I have the same problem in my van at some junctions, and first encountered it with my cab when i was lorry driving. WillyO has it spot on. Approach the junction in the position for the turn you are making but angle the van front to the left to give you the view, or as if you are going straight on, depending on the lie of the junction. Harder to do with a van than with something articulated, but it does work. Don't be put off through it

Ange

 

[n brown]

don't know what your van looks like but sounds like you need a small window putting in where the sliding door would be if you had/have one.this ,after the cab windows is the most important window to have in a van whether you have a passenger or not,but can it be done on your van?

 

[n brown]

if this is similar then a window in the door should solve the problem 2011. ELDDIS SUNSEEKER 145. PEUGEOT DIESEL 2.2HDI . 3940miles. | eBay

 

[vwalan]

hi. if you have mirrors on a d frame like a truck get a wide angle lens mirror . i find them very useful. but you really will have to learn to swing out abit as you aproach the junction and place your self in a better position to see. truck drivers always have to do this . you need to hit the junction at 90deg to the other road.
you could have a word with a hgv driving school and see if they can do a day,s course . you will find that it helps . its not your driving thats really at fault just not being taught to drive vehicles like the one you have .
i,m sure many out there would benefit from a days course in larger vehicles .
just driving normal transit type vans hasnt been done by many drivers that later get a m.home .
try it gotta be worth a go. you will be pleased i,m sure.

 

[yorkslass]

got to agree with vwallan. i have always driven vans and have found the only way is to turn the van as though you are turning left to give you the best view. so long as you are indicating it shouldn"t be a problem to drivers behind, and if in doubt take your time.

 

[mattiball]

got to agree with vwallan. i have always driven vans and have found the only way is to turn the van as though you are turning left to give you the best view. so long as you are indicating it shouldn"t be a problem to drivers behind, and if in doubt take your time.

Totally agree-a motorhome is basicaly a van, drice it as such. If you were driving a panal van, you'd have no windows behind the cab door window, yet think how many panal vans there are on the roads, their rivers cope without passengers. You need to change how you approach junctions. Come to a stop more to the left-dont forget to signal right still so thouse behind you know what you are doing, just practice and persist till you get it. Its all about road positioning, watch how other van drivers do it and follow suit. Unfortunatly most of us learn in cars, and you don't get taught this sort of thing

 

[CRISPY]

Thanks to all for the advice, I think I'll try the mirror option first and look into a driving course. A window in my living space door would be ideal and Ive often thought this would have been better if ELddis had incorporated a window at factory fitting. Its a confidence thing also I think as it really spooked me and you dont know you cant see the road until you get to the junction !
Thanks alot - I will perservere.:heart:

 

[ricc]

as others have said .... at most junctions its just a case of using the available space on the right as you approach the junction so you can swing left so you are at right angles to the junction when you stop at the white line. so you get a view out the window.

however on a really acute junction you go the other way so your getting on for parrallel with the white line so you use the left door mirror to look down he side of the van. as you would when changing lanes on a duel carrigway. indicate clearly and procede with care.

 

[scampa]

Thanks to all for the advice, I think I'll try the mirror option first and look into a driving course. A window in my living space door would be ideal and Ive often thought this would have been better if ELddis had incorporated a window at factory fitting. Its a confidence thing also I think as it really spooked me and you dont know you cant see the road until you get to the junction !
Thanks alot - I will perservere.:heart:

Don't get too paranoid about your driving ability, it's probably not to blame! I've driven HGV's and panel vans for years, but I've been caught out a couple of times in a van when the mirrors fitted just didn't give a wide enough view, and the sharpness of an unfamiliar junction, usually down a narrow country lane, wasn't apparent until you got to it! As others have said, if you find yourself in this situation, try turning left into the main road until you can see clearly. (The next time you encounter the same junction, you can try to position yourself at a less sharp angle as you approach it).

Also as others have said, the simple way to deal with the problem is to buy a "blind-spot mirror" and fit onto your door mirror, or to the door frame, or get a suction-pad type that fits to your windscreen. (try searching for "blind spot mirror" on eBay or Amazon etc., and you'll find a wide variety). When you fit it, experiment first in your driveway etc., to find the best position that covers all the angles that you need.

An extra window in the near-side, or a reversing camera appropriately positioned would deal with the problem, but fitting the correct blind-spot mirror is a simple and cheap way to try first. :goodluck:

(PS.... As ricc says above, pulling to the right a little until you can see through your near-side mirror is another option, but it all depends on the road layout and sufficient visibility to the right with no sharp bends or obstructions where other traffic may suddenly appear from).

 

[Smaug]

as others have said .... at most junctions its just a case of using the available space on the right as you approach the junction so you can swing left so you are at right angles to the junction when you stop at the white line. so you get a view out the window.

however on a really acute junction you go the other way so your getting on for parrallel with the white line so you use the left door mirror to look down he side of the van. as you would when changing lanes on a duel carrigway. indicate clearly and procede with care.

That's the way I cope, for a jcn less oblique than a 45 deg, turn to present at right angles to the road you are joining, regardless of whether you are turning L or R. For tighter angled jcns, approach as if on a slip road & use your wide angle door mirrors. It takes a little forethought & practise, but works well. As stated, make sure your true intentions are signalled clearly as some car drivers will be puzzled by you turning first one way & then the other at the less oblique junctions.