Passenger or driver side folding tent?

[Hefty]

I'm in the market for a second hand camper and I'm set on almost every aspect of what I want (offroad eye to eye/shackle springs pref. 7 leaf, aussie made tent of at least 10 foot etc etc) but this one has me scratching my head:
If I had enough to buy new, I would get a passenger side fold, only for the convenience of being able to set up directly beside a road in case of emergency. But, second hand, there are a lot of good quality, offroad campers with decent aussie made WCT/dynaproofed tents that open to the driver side too. Should I cut my own market in half if this is my only reason for a passenger side tent?

Which do you prefer and more importantly, WHY?

Cheers,
Jono.

[McGirr]

I have had both, was never a concern as long as you know which way it unfolds when setting up at a campsite.

What budget are you working with !!

Mark

[V8100]

As above had both I do find it easier to check out ground for tent base in mirror with camper folding to drivers side. but only a smal thing.
not sure what your budget is but sounds like my camper would tick all your boxes.
http://www.myswag.org/index.php?topic=25322.0
anway ill give it a free plug lol.
eddy

[mike and tracy davis]

I like the drivers side, easier to make sure there is enough room for the tent to fold out.

Cheers Mike

[KingBilly]

Mine came as a driver's side folding tent.  Never gave it much thought before purchasing.  I would doubt there would be many times you would set up that close to the road (for safety reasons)  that you would need to worry about it being able to open to the passenger side.  In a caravan park, one side may have advantages over the other side depending on the site layout.  I think the advantages of one side over the other would be fairly evenly split in most parks.  I wouldn't get too hung up about this feature.  Look for other things that will be of more importance to your decision.  Good luck.

[singo-26]

Mines rear fold and I certainly ain't rich, If I had a choice I think I'd prefer to the left, but as I haven't owned a side fold there is nothing more than I think that is what I'd prefer.

[Crisp Image]

I love my rear fold soft floor camper. If I can drive in straight then I can have the camper up if needed with minimal side space.
Regards
Crisp Image

[Bird]

In a caravan park, one side may have advantages over the other side depending on the site layout.

at Renmark Big 4 they ask everyone to setup on one side of the site, so theres 3 mtrs between sleeping 1/4's so shaggers dont wake you up.. so depending on if you want the opening at the road side or facing the back of the van in front will make the difference

but like the last 1209481209348 times this poll has been done, theres + and - to them all...

[Bongo]

I now have a rear fold. However I enjoyed a passenger side fold off tent previously. While it wouldn't matter in camping grounds which side it came off, provided you left enough room for the tent, caravan parks are generally setup for the passenger side.

Even on our rear fold the awning is passenger side orientated.

Imagine being in a caravan park, one camper swinging left the other right. You could whisper sweet nothings through your canvas to your neighbour all night. 

Cheers!

[britts]

Mines rear fold and I certainly ain't rich, If I had a choice I think I'd prefer to the left, but as I haven't owned a side fold there is nothing more than I think that is what I'd prefer.

X2


Cheers Matt

[KingBilly]

at Renmark Big 4 they ask everyone to setup on one side of the site, so theres 3 mtrs between sleeping 1/4's so shaggers dont wake you up.. so depending on if you want the opening at the road side or facing the back of the van in front will make the difference

You have got to be kidding   I don't get the logic in this at all.  What do they do with tents where you sleep at both ends.  Only let you sleep in one part of the tent?  We used to have a 6m long tent that went across the site.  Kids in one end, us in the other and the central bit for changing and storing stuff.  What about people who put two tents on the same site, one for Mum & Dad and one for the kids.  Crazy idea. 

[Hefty]

but like the last 1209481209348 times this poll has been done, theres + and - to them all...

LOL, sorry Lost  I did a quick search but didn't come up with much. 

McGirr: I still need to sell my current setup but will probably be looking at about $7500 to $8000 second hand.
I've currently got a modified Johno's Camper slide on that sits on an on road trailer. We really like it and it's been a great way to get into camper trailers but we're hoping to do a half lap in a few years and it's not suitable for some of the off road stuff we'd like to do.
I'll be putting an ad up in the next few days hopefully when I can get it out in the yard and take some updated photos.

We went and looked at Market Direct Campers today and we're sorely tempted to get one of them now that they do dynaproofed tents but we're still taking it slow and watching the market.

Cheers and keep the opinions coming!
Jono.

[Paul and Bern]

  Well I asked for a Passenger side one.  As we wanted a swing out drifta I wanted the kitchen to swing out to the road so when you approach the stove you do it from the passenger side, more so for a quick on road lunch stop at a pull over area.
Well that was the original intention but seeing as we have never stopped in a situation like that it has never really mattered, usually we're off in the scrub somewhere.
Probably doesn't really matter which 'side' way in a van park, pain either way if there is a slab and you want the floor on the grass.
Paul

[Fun Police]

I've got a passenger side one.

When I back down the drive, it then allows me to open onto the grass.  The other way would have been no good.

[GeeTee]

Caravans have had annexes on the passenger (or kerb) side for decades; most caravan park sites are set-up this way
So are a growing number of campgrounds; they are L-shaped to cater for passenger side set-ups without unhitching