Small rear door pop tops.

Technomad · Senior Member

Small rear door pop tops.

Vic41 · Guru

I don't know about the dust, but friends who had one said one of the lesser problems was not being able to step out under your main roll out awning, although you can get a smaller awning over the back door in addition to the side awning.

They also say a back door gives you more room inside rather than a side door, privacy can be an issue as anyone can see inside the full length of the caravan when the door is open, unlike a side door which only shows partly inside.

I had a 12' side door van which I sold and recently sold again by another owner on Gumtree, see this link for pic's;

http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/forum.spark#comment-56133646

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Hi Graham and Pat,

I don't have one but did look at them before getting the Avan. The only reason I got the Avan was the height for storage at home otherwise it would have been what you are asking about. As for the rear vent I have heard people just cover them up if causing a problem or in very dusty conditions.

Just to side step a little, are you both still at LT?

GaryKelly · Guru

Mine is a rear door slide on. It does create more usable space inside but as Vic said peeps tend to gawk as they walk past. I also have an awning at the back as well as a side awning. The previous owner must have had a dust problem because he added a cloth cover to the door vent. I'll be carrying a bicycle at the rear as well so I suppose that will be a bit of a nuisance occasionally. Overall, though, I'm happy with the arrangement.

Technomad · Senior Member

Thanks for your comments Gary, also Vic as well.

Graham.

-- Edited by Technomad on Sunday 19th of January 2014 09:04:33 AM

Roving-Dutchy · Guru

Take care if you cover the door vent, it is there so LPG gas can escape if there is a gas leak, LPG is heavier than air.
Cheers
David

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Thanks for the PM Graham, I have replied.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Camped beside a couple who had one of these, they were sitting in the shade of a small awning behind it, and watched smugly as we put up our camper trailer on a hot afternoon! We were thinking of buying a caravan at the time, so I asked if the back door was a problem as caravan parks usually line people up back to back, but they said they couldn't fault it.
Sorry Graham... just 2nd hand info.

justcruisin01 · Guru

Any thing with a rear door can be a dust problem, vent or no vent. Station wagons, canopies, trailers; all act like a big vacume cleaner. If you are never leaving the blacktop then maybe ok

JC.

Onedodger · Guru

Some rear door vans have the step down step and these may drag when entering service stations that have a steep entrance from the road.

Sister had one and they had some problems with the door however they became very wary when entering servo's and leaving the road etc.

Dust was a problem for them when traversing gravel roads and bush tracks to camping spots.

Zoomtopz · Guru

I Don't have any problems with my "p**fter van" , I have a 4m rear door Coromal.

if I was in dusty conditions , would open top vent a bit , so air could flow out , rear door vent.

I keep screen door closed so no privacy issues , I have a portable poly step , just throw it under table.

don't mind not too much storage , th more ya got , th more ya take , geez , there is only 3 of us in a

lge 4 b/room house , lge garage , where you could put 3 1/2 cars in , on 80acres . & we still have not got enough space .

So , for th van , it's like only taking What's bl**dy ab so lute ly necessary .

Watch out "empty nester" , son goes to uni in 2Weeks , so we will be doin th willie nelson.

Richo:)

Boothy · Veteran Member

We have just purchased a jayco 14.5ft rear entry van. Love the inside of it, small but enough room, we are unsure of whether to get some sort of set up at the back but at this stage we will test it out first. (this weekend will be our first run) i'll come back to you after that. I don't really see how privacy is a problem unless you have your door open all the time? Ours has a curtain at the top and mesh wire at the bottom, doesn't seem an issue to me yet.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

We had a camper trailer set up to take a fridge, and the vent was lined with foam rubber about 1.5cm thick to keep the dust out when we bought it new. Not sure how much air/gas it would allow through but no dust got in!

Pete in Gisborne · Veteran Member

We have a 12' rear door Jayco Sprite and love it. Awnings on both sides and the back. Perfect for 2 people. We can even attach our Oztent to the back for an extra room if needed.
With single beds you get more interior room than a double but that might not be a problem if the van was 13' or longer.
The rear door has only been a problem if we have to set up with a path at the back and we can't put up the rear annexe without booby trapping the passers by, guy ropes are hard to see in the dark!!
Enjoy your choice whatever it is.

Mousey · Senior Member

we like our rear door van only little but has side & back awnings fitted and full annexce if needed

Jayco Gypsy · Senior Member

I have the 13Ft Jayco with rear door. Can't say dust has been an issue, even when traveling along gravel roads. That could be because I have a screen attached with Velcro which keeps fly's out and reduces people seeing in. I can't remember the name of the fabric its made from. I had it made because the van isn't fitted with a screen door. The only problem opening the door is when its raining.
To get around putting up the canvas annex I brought one of those tent things for 4wds. Works a treat, takes about 5mins to put up on my own. Saves getting wet, packs down small and weighs next to nothing.

Technomad · Senior Member

Thank you all for the responses and it was great to see the subject roll on a bit. Nothing too bad to consider but a sensible issue to take into account. I was aware of the LPG issue but many people block off in winter. Doesn't matter which door configuration, a definite risk, maybe a long shot but definitely dangerous and probably a compliance issue.

Graham.

Boothy · Veteran Member

Just got back from our 4 day trip, didn't notice any problem with dust inside and also privacy wasn't an issue, we have a fly wire door with a curtain at the top so that was all good. Set up the awning at the side and so we had plenty of room to put tables chairs with no worry of blocking a door. Can't wait for our next trip.

Technomad · Senior Member

Thanks, great to see you are happy and soon we will make a move and sell our van that is too big now.

Nothing like mentally looking forward to another trip. I dream of Fowlers Bay and the fishing and we are past the rigors of tents no matter how small the van is.

Graham.

-- Edited by Technomad on Tuesday 28th of January 2014 08:38:36 AM

Vic41 · Guru

Pete in Gisborne wrote:
The rear door has only been a problem if we have to set up with a path at the back and we can't put up the rear annexe without booby trapping the passers by, guy ropes are hard to see in the dark!!

Tying white plastic shopping bags to the ropes near the base helps to see them in the dark, both for others and you........

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Vic41 wrote:
Pete in Gisborne wrote:
The rear door has only been a problem if we have to set up with a path at the back and we can't put up the rear annexe without booby trapping the passers by, guy ropes are hard to see in the dark!!

Tying white plastic shopping bags to the ropes near the base helps to see them in the dark, both for others and you........

Or put little solar lights next to the pegs, looks pretty and cant miss 'em.

Technomad · Senior Member

Hi everybody, we hand over our van on Monday and pick up our 2006 Regent Monarch Crusader, 14 ft pop top rear door today, Saturday. Pat has been through a rough time and is excited. Treatment was as good as you get, so promising. Found this van in Kapunda and @ 16000, we are happy. Will fit we hope in carport but may have to purchase Carastow storage wheels.