Why do they do it?

gasgas said:
@merl said: "
I looked into trying to obtain one of those Globecar mechanisms. Unfortunately they only work if your slider is on the 'wrong side' like the Globecars.
Business opportunity out there for an entrepreneur maybe?:unsure:"

I asked the Dealer if they could be retro-fitted to any other Fiat Ducato and he said no, it is the first thing they do to a panel van, before any trim or furniture is fitted. When I studied it, I could only agree with him, it realistically can't be retro-fitted.
In any case there is no such thing as 'the wrong side'. To me, the wrong side is the UK nearside.
In my opinion a) there is no such thing as a 'wrong side' and b) if there is, 'the wrong side' would be on the nearside where you have to get out of the van and walk all the way round to get to the sliding door. (if you can't walk past the two front seats of course). If you are parking on a street with passing traffic, having the sliding door behind the driver is less problematical than exiting through the driver's door which has to swing out into the traffic. If you want to exit through the off side sliding door you simply slide the door open and stick your head out gingerly to see if there is any traffic approaching.
On a camp site it makes diddly squat difference what side the sliding door is.
In a supermarket car park it makes diddly squat difference what side the sliding door is.
In a layby it makes diddly squat difference what side the sliding door is.
In Europe it is preferable to have the sliding door on the offside, and as this is a wild camping forum, most of us on the forum will be in Europe more than we will be in the UK because the UK hates motorhomes and campervans and charges £30 a night for what would be zero cost in Europe. So any holiday over about 6 days will be cheaper in Europe than it will be here, (6 days of free overnights outweighs the ferry fee) where you can't even get water without forking out £25 or more for a night's parking on someone else's grass. Daylight robbery I call it. If I were younger and a bit richer I would buy a field, stick a tap in one corner and dig a hole in the other corner and get planning consent for a camp site. Sit back and watch the bank fill up. OK that's a slight exaggeration but it seems to me to be the best way to invest your surplus funds that there is.

In the UK the only occasion you would prefer it on the nearside is when you are parked against a pavement. Other than that, any other location at all, having the sliding door on the offside is no problem at all. Think about how often you want to get out of the sliding door when you are parked up with traffic passing by. It's not very often. As I say, even then it is safer than getting out of the driver's door.
When I look at the UK built campervans I am immediately put off by the nearside sliding doors. . . . . and that is before I look at the floppy doors, the weak hinges, the broken door and cupboard handles (on new ones in showrooms I mean), and the electrical appliances such as microwaves and electric cooker hobs. AutoSleepers have far worse build quality than the problem of thin upholstery. Their upholstery is lovely and thick, which impresses customers who don't look underneath the sink, under the wardrobe or under the chassis. They do have nice upholstery which impresses customers in the showroom, but A/S know how to make drain water run up hill, and how to install Truma boilers 180 degrees different to the manufacturer's instructions, thus voiding any GSR regulations compliance, and make electrical wiring connections under the floor behind the rear wheels exposing the connections to the salt spray . I could go on, but I'll never buy another new A/S.
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Goooo on my son, get it off yer chest!
 
I'm going to stick my two penneth worth in and comment on the term 'woosh bang door'. I can shut ours very quietly indeed if I have to. From outside I just slowly roll it nearly closed and then apply the knee to the REAR of the door and push it home with a click. So IMHO there's no need to slam or woosh bang a slider.🍰
I must admit though, because you have to do it from the outside the above procedure is usually followed by the front door slamming shut when I get in cos I forget to wind the window down a bit first!
 
Tonybvi said:
We turned up at the Findhorn Motorhome stopover today. Lovely place and hard standing pitches for about 20 vans. All pitches are of similar size and have the same outlook. Initially we were the only ones here so parked at one end. Later a 2nd van turned up and parked near the other end. Finally another van turned up - a van conversion with a whoosh bang door. Where did he park given there are around 18 empty pitches? On the pitch right next to us!!
Although they have caused us no problems and open and close the door quietly I wonder why they do this. A person on their own looking for a bit of company or security I could understand but they are a youngish couple.
I am not complaining but I do wonder why some people have to park up next to others when there are so many free spaces?
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Wild Camping in Scotland a German lady walking the wilds pitched her tent about one meter to the side but behind the van. Did not want food water or toilet - just security and a chat. Proved to be very enlightening about how some folk camp.
 
merl said:
I'm going to stick my two penneth worth in and comment on the term 'woosh bang door'. I can shut ours very quietly indeed if I have to. From outside I just slowly roll it nearly closed and then apply the knee to the REAR of the door and push it home with a click. So IMHO there's no need to slam or woosh bang a slider.🍰
I must admit though, because you have to do it from the outside the above procedure is usually followed by the front door slamming shut when I get in cos I forget to wind the window down a bit first!
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We've only owned a M/Home for a tad under 2 years, but PVCs have always been 'Whoosh Bangs' .... :D

Steve
 
My nice big folding bus door is a qt as a mouse chewing paper, and you can drive with it open in very hot days.
gc d.jpg
 
"you can drive with it open"

Sounds like a scene from 'Speed' Trev! I can just picture Keanu Reeves in there with you now! "Slow down yer fekin eejit"
 
merl said:
"you can drive with it open"

Sounds like a scene from 'Speed' Trev! I can just picture Keanu Reeves in there with you now! "Slow down yer fekin eejit"
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He pretends to be a chinese medatator, to much kung foo on utube. 😂
 
Tonybvi said:
We turned up at the Findhorn Motorhome stopover today. Lovely place and hard standing pitches for about 20 vans. All pitches are of similar size and have the same outlook. Initially we were the only ones here so parked at one end. Later a 2nd van turned up and parked near the other end. Finally another van turned up - a van conversion with a whoosh bang door. Where did he park given there are around 18 empty pitches? On the pitch right next to us!!
Although they have caused us no problems and open and close the door quietly I wonder why they do this. A person on their own looking for a bit of company or security I could understand but they are a youngish couple.
I am not complaining but I do wonder why some people have to park up next to others when there are so many free spaces?
Click to expand...
Probably wanted to be companionable and thought you needed a friend!
 
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