DP mid ship door

[gbstewart]

I saw DP drive by and it has the door about a 1/4 way down, like a gasser would have, this started me thinking how much easer it would be to load up , and general use, just getting in and out without moving the passenger seat. I’m thinking it’s time to rebuild my bus(been 8 years since I converted ) so I’m thinking of moving the entrance door.
Might have to stay put this winter and do this.
What do you think? If your door was set up mid ship like a gasser would you not like the floor plans as much? Personally as i get older and slower I think it would be better, and no I don’t want to get a gasser

[Jake21]

We love ours. Easy to load up.

[slowmachine]

It’s a matter of personal opinion, but I like the side entry more than the front entry. I think, though, that the side entry needs to be between the front “salon” seating area and the kitchen, and not directly behind the passenger front seat, as some are. I have given some consideration to moving the entry door from front to side, and am in a uniquely opportune position to do so. Even then, it is a daunting task that I am not sure I want to touch. I am not a welder, so I would have to hire one. I’d love to see someone else tackle this job so I could see some of the inevitable unintended consequences that must be dealt with.

[Fiesta48]

During driving periods a front door is better. A mid door would be better in escape from the bedroom. I've had both, and don't care which one we have.

[Dutch Star Don]

There are a few diesel models that have mid door entries, they're just not popular. The main issue, it interferes with the floorplan design. You have to design things around the door, rather than having a blank wall to work with. It also eliminates a slide on that side, where many like an opposing slide to open up the room.

Obviously, some people like them, but not enough to make them a popular design.

[nothermark]

I'm not sure who they are not popular with. Could be the buyers and could be the manufacturers. Since most start out as bus bodies the latter would not surprise me.


FWIW It's one of the many reasons we will never bother with a DP. SWMBO does not like the door there. As far as that goes I'm getting to really not like not having a drivers door. Another one of those manufacturer dropped features.

[DobeBus]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

There are a few diesel models that have mid door entries, they're just not popular. The main issue, it interferes with the floorplan design. You have to design things around the door, rather than having a blank wall to work with. It also eliminates a slide on that side, where many like an opposing slide to open up the room.

Obviously, some people like them, but not enough to make them a popular design.

My 88 beaver is a dp with mid door. I would rather have a front door bus with tag, but this my was priced right and serves our needs

[Jake21]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

There are a few diesel models that have mid door entries, they're just not popular. The main issue, it interferes with the floorplan design. You have to design things around the door, rather than having a blank wall to work with. It also eliminates a slide on that side, where many like an opposing slide to open up the room.

Obviously, some people like them, but not enough to make them a popular design.

You sure?

[RKins]

I like our mid entry. The kitchen is to the left as you come up the stairs and the slideout is across from the stairs.

What I don't particularly like is the short "love seat" that was crammed in between the passenger seat and the stairs. I might be able to put something else like a storage unit with a televator there but haven't spent enough time in her yet to decide.

[slowmachine]

Originally Posted by RKins

I like our mid entry. The kitchen is to the left as you come up the stairs and the slideout is across from the stairs.

What I don't particularly like is the short "love seat" that was crammed in between the passenger seat and the stairs. I might be able to put something else like a storage unit with a televator there but haven't spent enough time in her yet to decide.

We intend to do ours the same way. A cabinet directly behind the passenger seat, with televator and accessories. 45 degree angle on the front side, so the front passenger seat passenger becomes part of the salon when turned around.

[saddlesore]

There are MFG's of diesel powered class A coaches that do have a mid coach door option...
Just keep your eye out for an older used Newell/Foretravel or Prevost conversion.
That said...To create a mid-coach entry on an existing front door coach or in your case converted school bus would be a daunting task..

[TonyMac]

I LOVE my mid entry DP. My copilot gets her own spot over there, I got mine over here, and nobody interferes with either. I don't have to climb over her stuff to get out to fuel, heck, she can just stay reclined and asleep with the foot rest up and the doggy in her lap. When camped, everything is half a coach away at most, the mid entry is closer to where I'm going, usually the fridge, maybe the wc, possibly the wardrobe for a sweatshirt, grab some chips on the way out. When camped, I rarely go inside to access the cockpit, the front door seems less advantageous to me. BIGGIE>>The copilot windows afforded with a mid entry coach are so much better, no wall and door pillars to mess with, and the smaller windows that result. Her side window is bigger than mine.

[slowmachine]

My favorites are the mid-1990s Holiday Rambler Navigators. 1995 is the last year with no slides. 1996 has a single slide. Later models are a complete redesign. A local friend has a ‘95 40-footer that is just fantastic.

[Dutch Star Don]

"Jake21".....I'm absolutely positive. I never said they didn't make any. I said they're just not that popular. Take note of the other posts....most of them are talking about older coaches when they tried to push the mid door concept. You won't see that many, if any now in a full sized DP.