Which side to install entry door?

[Irving]

I would like to install my entry door on the driver's side for convenience reasons. I have noticed that nearly every travel trailer that I see has the door on the passenger side. Any reason why I should avoid installing it on the driver's side?

[Jdw2717]

Most of the campgrounds that I have seen have the power and water hook ups on the drivers side, while the table, fire ring, gravel pad, etc. are on the passenger side. I wondered the same thing when I planned my teardrop and then just went with two doors so I would not have to climb over my wife to get out in the middle of the night.

[razorback]

If you will have a regular companion who will be camping with you, I highly suggest doors on both sides.
Saves someone from climbing over to get out.
Just my thoughts.
Larry

[S. Heisley]

If you are going to install only one door, the best side for that door is usually closest to the side of the road. The biggest reason for that is for safety. Nobody wants to get hit by an oncoming car. If you've noticed ( I've noticed first hand. ), when a policeman or highway patrolman comes to your car to get your license and registration, he usually goes to the side that is most protected, the one that is closest to the side of the road, rather than the side where he would be in oncoming traffic and could lose his life or a limb.

Also, opening a door on the drivers side, while parked at the side of the road, could cause you to loose that door. I've see that happen to cars.

That said, as long as you are careful and don't open your door in the way of oncoming traffic, you'd probably be okay. (But I wouldn't want to chance it.)

The other thing to consider are hook-ups. Electrical and water hookups are usually put on the driver side. That means you might have to step over hoses and electrical cords on that side, to get to your trailer door. If it is dark and you are sleepy or forget, you could trip. That's about all I can think of, off the top of my head.

[grant whipp]

When you build your own trailer, you can do just about anything you want as long as it is structurally sound and safely built and meets all specific state DOT requirements (usually pertaining to lights, safety chains,etc.). Therefore, in that respect, there is no reason for you to not put the door where ever you think it suits you best.

However, in the real world of commercial trailer building, due mostly to all the safety reasons previously posted (and several more) it is the law (unless that's changed in the last 20 years, which I doubt) that the main entry door on all travel trailers be on the curb side. And technically (again, unless something has changed in the last 20 years), all street side doors must be egress only, without the ability to open from the outside.

Since we (as teardroppers) are restoring, rebuilding, or replicating "vintage" trailers that were produced before these laws were put in place, we're kind of getting away with it. However (and God forbid), if anything catastrophic should ever happen as a result of someone improperly using a street side door, and a truly hardass lawyer gets their hands on the case, I'm afraid some very unwanted attention will be cast on our little trailers.

These are lessons I first learned almost 30 years ago when I thought I wanted to be the Winnebago of teardrop trailers. Reality bites, sometimes ... ...!

Just be careful, use plenty of common sense, and always be acutely aware of everything that is happening anywhere around you and your trailer. Safe travels, happy trails, and as always ...

CHEERS!

[Kharn]

Both sides are recommended, but if you really insist on one, put it on the passenger side.

[Shadow Catcher]

One of the main reasons we have Mega-Mini #7 is that MM #1 only had one door and unless you are solo... There were other reasons but that was one of the main ones, and #1 was the only MM with one door, they listened to us.

[Irving]

The trailer that I am building is a 6x10. It is six feet tall at its highest point and tapers off towards the back down to 4 feet. Having doors on both sides is not an issue. I have cut my door opening on the drivers side. So there is no turning back now. I hope that I don't regret it.

[mezmo]

In general, I think it's a good idea to have doors on both
sides for safety and versatility.

But if there is to be only One Door, it should be on the
'passenger side'. In North America, everything is set up
for that configuration. Unless you always plan to pull
forward into a camp site, having only one door on the
'driver's side' is basically setting yourself up for permanent
inconvenience - your tolerance level for that is your
decision.

Since you are still at the initial stages, let me suggest this:
Keep the 'driver's side' door, as that seems to be what You
really Want, BUT, why not also frame in a door frame on the
'passenger side' now ? You do not have to put a door there
now, but if after camping experience, you find that the
'driver's side' door really is as inconvenient as I think it is,
then you can "easily" put in a door on the 'passenger side'.
Just mark or note where you'd need to cut into the side to
access the preframed door frame.

Just a suggestion...

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

[Irving]

In general, I think it's a good idea to have doors on both
sides for safety and versatility.

But if there is to be only One Door, it should be on the
'passenger side'. In North America, everything is set up
for that configuration. Unless you always plan to pull
forward into a camp site, having only one door on the
'driver's side' is basically setting yourself up for permanent
inconvenience - your tolerance level for that is your
decision.

Since you are still at the initial stages, let me suggest this:
Keep the 'driver's side' door, as that seems to be what You
really Want, BUT, why not also frame in a door frame on the
'passenger side' now ? You do not have to put a door there
now, but if after camping experience, you find that the
'driver's side' door really is as inconvenient as I think it is,
then you can "easily" put in a door on the 'passenger side'.
Just mark or note where you'd need to cut into the side to
access the preframed door frame.

Just a suggestion...

Cheers,
Norm/mezmo

Thanks for the suggestion. I will do this. I already cut and framed an area for the door on the drivers side. So there is no turning back from that.
I don't think it would be too much of an issue to pull forward into a campsite. Though I guess I would then have more difficulty getting my truck out while leaving the camper trailer behind.. In all honesty I do now wish that I had put the door on the passenger side. Simply for peace of mind that I wouldn't run into inconvenience. I had put so much thought into building this thing that door location didn't seem of major importance. So After I got my first wall up, I went ahead and made my door frame and cut it out. I could clearly plug this door opening up and put the door on the passenger side. But that's a lot of unnecessary work.

[Irving]

This is my build. As you can see, I do not need doors on both sides. Having doors on both sides would actually be silly in my case. In the highest area I will be able to stand upright.

Anyone think I should be talked into plugging my door cavity and relocating it to the other side?

[bobhenry]

oops !

I must have goofed up too !

My little 4x7 has the one and only door on the drivers side



However I never camp on the street so a fast movin Chevy will never pick me off getting in and out.

I can readily see if the door comes unlatched and is swinging in the breeze by checking my rear view side mirror.

My power cord does come in on the same side but with a good long 10-3 gage cord I can route it out of harms way.

OH WELL this is the fifth build I was bound to screw up sooner or later !

[Vindi_andy]

Also bear in mind the hinges. Not sure about law but common sense says to me put the hinge toward the front, that should the unthinkable happen and th edoor come open while travelling the wind pressure will keep it closed rather than blasting it open and ripping it off.

[Irving]

I think I have actually now decided to plug the door cavity and recut for the passenger side. Really didn't want to have to do this, but I think I'll rest easier. I'll just have to do a very good job of plugging the hole and filling the seams with body filler. I'll share pictures of how it goes.

[S. Heisley]

If you're not going to have two doors, don't forget to have some sort of "escape hatch"...maybe a window that you can crawl out or something. If I remember correctly, commercial RVs use a bump-out window for emergency escape.