A door on the RH side doesn't matter as long as there is a properly functional door on the LH side or rear. I would also point out that many of the US imports with awnings fitted are wider than the legal limit of 2500mm. All electrical and gas equipment fitted must also comply with Australian and State standards.
From Vehicle Standards Bulletin 1 (VSB1) "A caravan or trailer equipped with cooking facilities or living or sleeping accommodation must have only outward opening or sliding doors. At least one such door must be located on the left-hand side or at the rear".
The biggest problem in parks is that in most cases the power, water supply and sullage drains are on the LH side of the site. And concrete slabs are designed to be on the LH side of the RV and in 99% of parks they do not permit parking on them. Ozjohn.
-- Edited by ozjohn on Tuesday 12th of November 2013 09:03:31 AM
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
Jeff, A door at the rear is OK providing it's a properly functional door. i.e it's a normal RV size, exit and from the inside is not hindered in any way by furniture etc. an does not require you to jump down to the ground on exist or climb up on entry. i.e it has a step if it's high. You'll also need to have an import permit before it arrives on the docks.
An import approval must be obtained for a vehicle to gain customs clearance at its point of entry to Australia. Vehicles that arrive in Australia without an import approval generally incur significant storage costs until an Import Approval is issued. It is strongly recommended that you do not ship your vehicle to Australia until such time as you are issued with an Import Approval. If you ship your vehicle before receiving an approval and your vehicle arrives before the application is processed, you may incur storage costs from the shipping company/freight forwarder. You may also be open to prosecution, as it is an offence to import a vehicle without an import approval. Importation takes place when a vehicle is landed within the port of intended discharge and not once the vehicle clears customs control. If the import application is not approved, you will have to either export the vehicle or have it destroyed at your own expense. Destruction will need to take place under Customs supervision.
Cheers, ozjohn
-- Edited by ozjohn on Tuesday 12th of November 2013 04:48:47 PM
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Retired Engineer, Ex Park Owner & Caravan Consultant. Holden 2.8 Colorado - Roma Elegance 17'6" Pop Top. Location: Mornington Peninsula Vic.
Hi all, we were within a couple of day away from getting a new 5th wheeler but have been thrown a curve ball.
We have been told that because the door & awning is on the right hand side of the rv it is illegal in Aus., & that also a lot of Van parks will not allow these configurations in their parks.
I spoke to the Department of Transport in Adelaide & they thought it was illegal but were not 100% sure & have to call them back today.
We have seen heaps of rv's with the doors on the right hand side so thought it was o.k., even the people we are/were negotiating with have never said anything was a possible problem, the dealer has been around for a long time & we believed them to be reputable.
The 5th wheeler is new not used, we are now not knowing what is right or wrong & are hoping that some of you really experienced people out there can let us know what is correct.
In regards to your phone call to DT Adelaide if they say to you all ok, I suggest you write and register your letter asking the question and get it in writing from them for future use.
As I said in my intro elsswhere - SWMBO and I researched for about four years before we settled on a 5th wheeler and this was one of the warnings oft quoted to us by other owners on the road. The beast we decided on is built in the USA but it was Oz designed - hence the correct entry door location.
Some US builders are now wise to this and are putting the door in the rear.
Hope you get it all sorted and fall in love with what you eventually buy - we have!
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Didn't care yesterday, don't care today - probably wont care tomorrow.
Live every day like it is a gift - that is why it is called "The Present"
Thanks for the replies, I erred by not saying the electrics etc were to Aus standards it was just the door on the left that was the concern, there is a door at the rear (no step or anything) & to be honest I can not remember if the annex was recessed or not but will check on it.
Ozjohn sorry to be such a newbee but in regards to the concrete slabs do you mean they do not park the rv on the slab but to the side so the annex goes over the slab or do they just not let you in.
Thanks for the replies, I erred by not saying the electrics etc were to Aus standards it was just the door on the left that was the concern, there is a door at the rear (no step or anything) & to be honest I can not remember if the annex was recessed or not but will check on it.
Ozjohn sorry to be such a newbee but in regards to the concrete slabs do you mean they do not park the rv on the slab but to the side so the annex goes over the slab or do they just not let you in.
Told ya I'm a newbee...Regards Jeff
If a van park will not let you in ask if you can still use the site and have the annex on the wrong side and not use it, most van parks do not like you parking on the slab.
Thanks for the replies, I erred by not saying the electrics etc were to Aus standards it was just the door on the left that was the concern, there is a door at the rear (no step or anything) & to be honest I can not remember if the annex was recessed or not but will check on it.
Ozjohn sorry to be such a newbee but in regards to the concrete slabs do you mean they do not park the rv on the slab but to the side so the annex goes over the slabor do they just not let you in.
Told ya I'm a newbee...Regards Jeff
That's it, Jeff. We were all newbe's once, you are welcome to ask whatever you like, the only stupid questions are those you don't ask!
Mind you theres a caravan park in Yass NSW who requires you to park on the slab, then your awning is over the worn-out grass beside it.
I read in one of the vanner mags a mob in Sydney who specialize in doing the Australian conversions to all types of imported van. You can look it up under van conversions. While SA may allow it that doesn't mean they all do there is absolutely no uniformity in the rules around the various states and territories
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Pets are welcome but children must be leashed at all times
Give the guys at fifth wheel aus at ballarat a call and they will tell you or help you. It is illegal at the moment with no funtioning left side door ect and you wont be able to get it reg. there are heaps of illegals on the road and sooner or later they will all have to become legal, not cheap to do either.
Scott at fith wheel aus will be able to tell you for sure as they imp them and convert them to aus species for reg ect. Have never heard of them being turned out of parks though and nearly all the usa ones have the awning on the wrong side.
We chose an aussy built one to avoid the hassles.
But....at the end of the day when an awning is fitted it becomes non compliant.
I spoke with the guys at Ballarat also when researching 5ers less than twelve months ago and they said they register it then if you want an awning added, they do it after registration. To me it was just playing games, with me putting up the money. After all my research the only American imports remaining compliant were those with a recessed awning into the side wall and a reversed floor plan.
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Cheers Jeff
Ticking off the bucket list before we kick it!
200 TTD with Evernew 22'6" and 40+ years in the oil & gas industry, now retired. CMCA Member.
Hi Jeff,
Not too sure of the rules & regs but as newbies to the GN lifestyle, we did a lot of research & eventually decided on a locally built 5th Wheeler which we are extremely happy with. We have used it now for about 8 months and have had a few longish trips of weeks away in it, free camping etc.
We chose a company in Toowoomba called Winjana Adventure RV.
