LHD to RHD

[blackdog]

Fitting the fourth door shouildnt really be that difficult if you're handy with a welder. Spoke to someone recently who had done it - apparently the door frame panel more or less replaces the blank.....if you know what I mean?! Some of the tristar dealers may have a door too.

Interesting project, be interesting to see how you get on.

Good luck
Brian

[syncro4wd]

Hi,

There is difference between the south and the north of sweden, they use less salt in the north or nothing at all but these drive a lot on gravel roads and often all paintwork is gone due the stones.

Anyaw, the pickups are really work verhicles and are used as the africans use the minivans ! With other words they have a really though life. Up till 3-4 years ago it was much easier to find a nice pickup , in the last few years it has become really hard to find quality pickups , im not saying its impossible but its hard and prepared to pay £££££££££££ for refurbishing the car as the swedish MOT is a bit more relaxt in areas as brakes and exhuast!

Oyes, beetles is a total different story, privat ownned car which much thicker sheet metal and often not driven in the winter!

Erwin

[wasserleaker]

As one of many LHD owners, i would have to say.... why bother? you soon get used to driving sat on the wrong side! it's only ever a problem if you get stuck behind a slow vehicle on a narrow road and can't see round it to pass it, (helps if you have a passenger to tell you when it's clear ) but to be honest, it's no big problem driving a LHD van on the left side of the road, you can judge how much room you need to pass parked cars brilliantly, and can park up on busy roads, and hop out on the kerbside in safety! plus if you go abroad on holiday, just whip the beam benders off, and away you go

[xpress]

i like the comments. yea i would like to drive a LHD on uk roads .. good for parking.

[dugcati]

One question I haven't seen asked/answered in all of these converting RHD-LHD and vis versa is how do insurance companies and the DVLA view a conversion of this sort? especially if the vehicle is an import to start with.. does it end up on a Q plate?

[KarlT]

Yes, Also wondered about that. A year or so back I considered a 16" doka that had been converted. Advice at the time was that it was a legal nightmare. I don't know if this is true, but there was talk of engineer reports & the like.


Anyhow, have got to disagree with that driving a LHD isn't a pain though, infact I'd go further, IMHO, LHD's can be dangerous. I've had both Lefties & Righties. The very idea that you can't see the road ahead, can't see on-coming traffic, if following a van/pick-up/bus/truck makes it less safe...fact. Over-taking is a real hazard, you field of view is drastically reduced, both forwards & to the side/rear....fact. (& don't even think about it at night on a motorway...its like a game of Russian roulette!) Country lanes are also a nightmare. In narrow lanes/roads in a RHD you (the driver) are positioned in the middle of the road, being able to see around both left & right turns earlier/clearer. In a leftie you are stuck in the hedge & you have no view of the road ahead on a left hand bend....fact. You live in fear of a gate left open, tractor pulling out of a field, horses, etc etc.
Its even dangerous/awkward for your passengers....... On busy roads passengers will normally have to exit into traffic, unless they want to clamber past your steering wheel/gear-stick

It's common sense.......Why did VW go to the trouble of making RHD's?
No, no I've had lefties in the past but never again. I'm older & wiser these days.