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03-25-2013, 01:01 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Nor'easters Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Robesonia, PA
Posts: 15
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Driver Exit Door?
I have noticed that some Class A motorhomes have a Driver Door and some do not!
I am searching for a DP and I think I must have a "driver door" UNLESS there is a reason this door is not provided on many/most class a motorhomes.
Thanks in advance for any comments....recomendations, etc.
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03-25-2013, 01:08 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Spokane, WA
Posts: 698
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On most DP's the door is only a few feet away opposite the drivers seat? I can't see why you would need a door on the drivers side. I can see a reason for a drivers door if your entry door is mid-coach however.
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02 Fleetwood Discovery 37U, 330 Cat pulling a 2006 diesel Liberty..or..2011 4dr Wrangler..or..20' Lund Salmon/Halibut Hunter
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03-25-2013, 01:18 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Michigan
Posts: 894
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We have a DP with a drivers door - never used it once.
Outside inset foot pockets below the door makes it difficult to get in and out. No power steps on this side, only hand bar.
We do use the power drivers window to look out and back in tight spots and to answer questions at the border/imigration check spots.
If coach rolls and is sitting on the drivers side, eagress out the pass door.
If coach rolls and is sitting on the passenger side then egress out the bedroom exit window.
It would not be a decision breaker for us, most new DP coaches come without a drivers door.
__________________
1999 Newmar Mountain Aire MADP 4080, Cummins ISC 8.3L, Allison, Spartan MM IFS, Howard Power Center, Chev Trailblazer LTZ Towed w/ BlueOx rigging, Segway X2.
www.shaw11.com
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03-25-2013, 02:09 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,173
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I was just at a local dealer and used the drivers door to get into a new diesel pusher coach on the showroom floor. Wow!! That was not easy and probably dangerous. I can easily see how you can slip out of the foot holds and fall.
Mike
__________________
NHSO
2021 DSDP 4081
2016 DSDP 4369
2012 DSDP 3734
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03-25-2013, 02:36 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,193
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There are some more athletic folks who use the driver's side door to enter/exit while fueling to supposedly avoid dragging grease/fuel through the coach on their shoes but not me with this abused and old body. I have used ours one time to exit when I was forced to pull off the road really close to a guard rail on passenger side and I found the opening real convenient when I needed to find a wire under the steering wheel. It has been opened for access twice in seven years.
If I were buying a new coach, I would not pay extra for a driver's side door and would not refuse to buy if one were already in a coach I wanted. To me a door there is just one more place that could rattle or leak air while driving.
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03-25-2013, 03:15 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 6,897
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One disadvantage of a driver's door is possible wind noise.
__________________
2014 American Eagle 45T
DD 13, 500 HP
Pulling a Honda CRV
For Sale
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03-25-2013, 07:16 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Newmar Owners Club Florida Cooters Club
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Venice, Fla.
Posts: 507
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I use my drivers side door frequently. At fuel stops, as well as when leveling the coach as my control panel is beside the drivers seat mounted on the floor. I don't find it any more difficult to use this door than any other large truck, and I refuse to change shoes twice just to get and pay for fuel at truck stops. Just my $ .02.
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--Chuck
95 Newmar Kountry Star, Spartan Chassis, Venice, Fla
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03-25-2013, 07:20 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: N.E. Florida
Posts: 1,434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WeakSignal
I have noticed that some Class A motorhomes have a Driver Door and some do not!
I am searching for a DP and I think I must have a "driver door" UNLESS there is a reason this door is not provided on many/most class a motorhomes.
Thanks in advance for any comments....recomendations, etc.
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Completely pointless IMHO.
Most do not have, as they are pointless. If you cannot walk 3 feet to the steps to go out the passenger side door, you certainly cannot exit the "rock wall steps" to exit the driver side door.
DaveS
1998 American Eagle EVS
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03-25-2013, 07:35 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 596
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depends on the unit, and where your side door is. We rarely use it, but it is nice have a door on the other side, for safety reasons. I mainly use to drivers door to grab my keys for storage compartments (I keep them in the console)...saves me from walking through the MH. Also, the door is nice for those rare occasions when you sticking your head out the window just won't do lol
__________________
36ft Damon Intruder Class A - 37ft National Sea Breeze LX Class A
-Past RVs: 19ft Sportsman, 24ft Jayco, 30ft Coachmen Mirada. We had some good times.
"Im a car guy...you've been warned" lol
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03-25-2013, 07:47 PM
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,919
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If you use the drivers door, make sure you are not wearing your favorite jeans. I used my drivers door and that large first step caused my jeans to rip [moderator edit] to my knee's. I use the side door now.
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03-25-2013, 07:57 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Arizona
Posts: 776
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I do use mine, but having been a truck driver for several years climbing into the cockpit isn't a new sensation. While I haven't driven a truck in many years that required climbing in (been driving buses for twenty years) its nice to know I can still climb in and out. I guess I'll stick with it until it becomes too difficult.
__________________
Joseph and Sandy
Arizona Sunbirds
(Snowbirds in Reverse)
Winnebago Chieftain / Ford Hybrid Toad
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03-25-2013, 08:21 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: SoCal
Posts: 15,749
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I have a drivers door in current coach. Previous coach did not. Never use the door as entry - way too difficult to climb in.
I do really like the roll-down window - toll booths, talking to direction givers, etc. And if I open the door I can stand outside there and easily access fuse panel and diagnostic connector - stuff under the dash.
With or without a drivers door would not be a deciding factor whatsoever when purchasing a coach.
__________________
Vince and Susan
2011 Tiffin Phaeton 40QTH (Cummins ISC/Freightliner)
Flat towing a modified 2005 Jeep (Rubicon Wrangler)
Previously a 2002 Fleetwood Pace Arrow 37A and a 1995 Safari Trek 2830.
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03-25-2013, 08:53 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 508
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I use mine all the time. I don't think it would be a deal breaker if I was shopping and liked everything else.
__________________
2014 KZ Durango Goldrush
2018 Chevy 2500 HD Duramax/Allison
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03-25-2013, 09:16 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club Mid Atlantic Campers Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Locust Grove, Virginia
Posts: 345
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I have a drivers door. When I was looking for a coach it was a must have. Now that I have had it a few years, not so much of a must have. It is nice and I do use it at fuel stops and when parking in my tight spot at home. Knowing what I know now it would not be on my must have list. I do get quite a bit of wind noise from the door and it is just one more thing I need to make sure is locked. Just MHO.
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Wayne, Diane, & Bentley (our 22 lb. alarm system) 02 Pace Arrow 37A-Workhorse, 01 Jeep Wrangler toad
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