Is Lefthand drive more practical inside?

[chockswahay]

This is just idle curiosity……….. it occurs to me that with the sliding door on the right hand side the California is probably more practical with Lefthand drive……. Reason being that the kitchen unit would not get in the way of the passenger seat when it is turned round.

I say this because we don’t really bother to rotate the drivers side for just the two of us, especially when ‘wild camping’

Any thoughts on the subject anyone? especially from our European members.

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Kitchen behind drivers seat always worked well on previous vans, as less likely to spin drivers seat due to restricted space (steering wheel/ kitchen unit)…but sliding door was on (UK) passenger side.

 

[two-saabs]

This is just idle curiosity……….. it occurs to me that with the sliding door on the right hand side the California is probably more practical with Lefthand drive……. Reason being that the kitchen unit would not get in the way of the passenger seat when it is turned round.

I say this because we don’t really bother to rotate the drivers side for just the two of us, especially when ‘wild camping’

Any thoughts on the subject anyone? especially from our European members.

We went for the non-swivel electric driver seat as:

1) we wanted to have the perfect driving position for both me and my wife

and

2) we had a tip on this forum which pointed out just what you’re saying: the driver seat would spin in to the mini kitchen (Beach owner here) therefore not really much to miss.

Therefore I agree with you.

Edit: I’m wondering how about the lefts and the rights… have you got a photo?

 

[R_Sargeant_CH]

LHD Brit here living in Switzerland. Ocean 6.1.
We also never rotate the driver‘s (left) seat, finding that with just the two of us, rotating the passenger (right hand) seat is sufficient. Also, as you said, the left seat tends to argue with the kitchen.
With 20-20 hindsight, we would have specified the powered memory seat for the driver side and thus gained height adjustment.

 

[California_Ocean]

This is just idle curiosity……….. it occurs to me that with the sliding door on the right hand side the California is probably more practical with Lefthand drive……. Reason being that the kitchen unit would not get in the way of the passenger seat when it is turned round.

I say this because we don’t really bother to rotate the drivers side for just the two of us, especially when ‘wild camping’

Any thoughts on the subject anyone? especially from our European members.

I'm exactly the same, only bother rotating the passenger seat - which is on the non-kitchen side in my LHD Cali. Rotating the driver's' seat between the kitchen and steering wheel is suboptimal - lack of legroom due to kitchen and lack on reclining due to steering wheel. It still works but is not ideal.

Would still specify the rotating drivers seat though for when we are 4-up.

Hidden advantage of one seat rotated and one not is that it makes climbing into the pop-top easier, first step on seat base of rotated seat, then step on arm-rest of non-rotated seat where it attaches to the seat-back (otherwise it may well snap off).

 

[bvddobb]

first step on seat base of rotated seat, then step on arm-rest of non-rotated seat where it attaches to the seat-back (otherwise it may well snap off).

Better not step on the arm-rest at all, its attachment is not so sturdy. Better step on the top of the back-rest.

 

[chockswahay]

Better not step on the arm-rest at all, its attachment is not so sturdy. Better step on the top of the back-rest.

Or better not step on the seat when my wife has not locked it in place! …. Woooooooaahh, crunch! ……. as the seat spun around…… (and that was just me!)

 

[Brian’s Dad]

on our RHD we spin the passenger seat as it’s the easy option. It works well for washing up etc

 

[Elmo3]

Yes. Having owned RHD and LHD Cali‘s , LHD just works better. It’s how it was designed after all.

 

[Elly Swanson]

I’m mostly the passenger and mostly asleep. Oh, how I would love to recline my seat back. I’d rather though keep the right hand drive and have the kitchen behind the driver.

 

[California_Ocean]

Better not step on the arm-rest at all, its attachment is not so sturdy. Better step on the top of the back-rest.

The arm rest is held on by a M10 bolt which goes through a chunky die-cast part. When it breaks, by stepping on the adjustment end of the arm-rest for example, the die-cast attachment has a back-stop tab which snaps off. The metal rod which controls the height simply pushes on the tab and breaks it off the die-cast bit.

The seat end of the arm-rest, where it is bolted on, is quite sturdy. Been using it to climb in and out of the roof since I got the van with no issues at all. Everyone using the van is always told - Only stand on the armrest where it meets the seat!!

If it breaks, then the fix is quite easy and can be seen here ...

 

[Mike1973]

I bought a LHD cali for exactly the reasons in this thread. And on reflection.... its the best decision! My next cali would definitely be LHD too

 

[Tarquers]

Had a RHD SE/Ocean and hated it on the continent, felt it was unsafe entering fast roads from a clover leaf as visibility is horrible due to the wardrobe. Also the passenger can’t recline on long trips to sleep.

Ended up with a beach LHD and tend to not spin the drivers seat as the fridge lives behind it, so spinning the passenger seat works. Had a trip back to the U.K. recently and honestly no issues driving LHD van, the height and visibility just works, even on country lanes.

The other LHD advantage is the choice of spec that is just missing in U.K. models. If I was to change to an Ocean (can’t see it) would be LHD for sure even if living in a RHD market.

 

[Corradobrit]

I bought a LHD cali for exactly the reasons in this thread. And on reflection.... its the best decision! My next cali would definitely be LHD too

A choosing a LHD opens up so many additional configurations and options that don't make it to the UK market.

 

[ThomasHJ]

We travel with 2 adults and 2 kids in the van (ocean) and we always rotate the passenger seat. It's incredibly easy. And it's great that it reclines when you want to sleep while the other person is driving.

Rotating the driver side seat is a bit more of a chore. There's less room, due to both the kitchen and the steering wheel and then there's also the problem of getting the van level and then using the handbrake, to then having to take the hand brake off again to swivel the seat. When you achive this circus act, you still can't sit as comfy as in the passenger seat because of the kitchen. We only do it when we stay for a while at the same site, which is hardly ever. The only time it is truely worth it is when we need to eat inside the van, all 4 of us due to the weather. But even then, the kids are small and can sit next to an adult on the bench. And sometimes we just use the portapotti with the cover over it, as a pouf for one of the kids to sit on, placed in front of the (not-rotated) drivers seat.

 

[2into1]

Having owned both (currently lhd in the UK), a right hand drive is often better for being able to directly work (loading shopping etc) on the side door then hop directly in the driver's seat, but internally, the lhd does work better..... Although I'm not sure I'd buy a new one just for that benefit, as resale must take a hit (despite a few recent for sale ads which were rhd prices).

My 2006 lhd must have been the last one imported by Deepcar before the rhd's started to be made. Unfortunately I never got to ask the original owner why he didn't wait a month and get a rhd as it was from a deceased estate. He'd lived in Aberdeen so perhaps wasn't chosen for driving in France.

 

[chockswahay]

I’m a bit jealous of LHD’s now

 

[Tom Downie]

This is just idle curiosity……….. it occurs to me that with the sliding door on the right hand side the California is probably more practical with Lefthand drive……. Reason being that the kitchen unit would not get in the way of the passenger seat when it is turned round.

I say this because we don’t really bother to rotate the drivers side for just the two of us, especially when ‘wild camping’

Any thoughts on the subject anyone? especially from our European members.

At 6'4" tall my concern would be that there may not be enough legroom for the taller person to have a comfortable driving position? I have been looking at what is out there in the market place in general and have noticed that other panel van conversions which have furniture directly behind the driver's seat that there is very restricted legroom for the driver. (Autosleeper Warwick XL for example).
Just a thought!

 

[2into1]

At 6'4" tall my concern would be that there may not be enough legroom for the taller person to have a comfortable driving position? I have been looking at what is out there in the market place in general and have noticed that other panel van conversions which have furniture directly behind the driver's seat that there is very restricted legroom for the driver. (Autosleeper Warwick XL for example).
Just a thought!

I'm 6'4 and LHD, and have plenty of room, although I tend to sit 'on' a transporter seat, rather than 'in' a more sportier set up's seat.

 

[Tony hylton]

This is just idle curiosity……….. it occurs to me that with the sliding door on the right hand side the California is probably more practical with Lefthand drive……. Reason being that the kitchen unit would not get in the way of the passenger seat when it is turned round.

I say this because we don’t really bother to rotate the drivers side for just the two of us, especially when ‘wild camping’

Any thoughts on the subject anyone? especially from our European members.

You are correct , the passenger seat is free of obstruction , the drivers seat is obstructed by the kitchen unit to max 90 degree rotation

 

[BeeBee]

Interesting thread. We have RHD and only ever swivel the passenger seat (just 2 of us + dog).My main bug bear is the difficulty finding a ‘sweet spot’ angle that stops the seat back adjustment knob marking the passenger door material. Have tried numerous ‘forward - back’ seat position before swivelling …. still hits !!

 

[Paul G - 2022 Ocean]

I don’t think it really matters if, as most people are saying, that they only swivel one seat anyway. The only advantage I can see to not swivel the drivers seat in a LHD is for a quicker getaway if you ever encounter a risky situation.
We’ve got a RHD 6.1 Ocean and on a recent camping trip we rotated both front seats but I preferred to sit in the passenger seat with it part rotated to give me legroom at the side of the kitchen and have the sink top to sit my beer on. The passenger seat could slide back and forth to give the preferred reclining position.