When Is A Camper a Camper ?

[peteabbott]

Evening All, I bought my T25 when it was very rusty and a tired engine and it was part converted namely a pop top fitted. Since then she has been welded nicely and painted and I have finnished the interior (for this year anyway). Also have fitted a 1Y also nicely and just got through MOT, lovely.
Now about to inform DVLA of engine change and I was reading on their site about the woes of registering her as a campervan and not a van. The definition of a campervan on this site says "one that any reasonable person would consider as a campervan" bit wooly i thought so i looked a bit deeper and it says the definition of a campervan is one that has a permanent bed and cooker and all things you would expect to find in a caravan.
i have a portable cooker and no loo and no fridge and no tv: what say you ? dont want to do anything illegal but the insurance bloke said if i kept a dog in the back would i insure it as a kennel >>>>>>>>> i can see his point but ?????? I actually tried to get a quote from a campervan company last year and they said they did not recognise my van as a campervan. They would if it was specialist or factory built. Is a conversion somewhere in the middle then ? OR am i making a fuss for nothing and leave it as she is A VAN.

[CycloneMike]

You may have seen this but here is VOSA's view on what's what.
http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/reposit ... Advice.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Oldiebut goodie]

From the Department of Transport website.
"Motor caravan" means a special purposes passenger car constructed to include living accommodation which contains at least the following equipment:
seats and table,
sleeping accommodation which may be converted from the seats,
cooking facilities, and
storage facilities.

This equipment shall be rigidly fixed to the living compartment; however, the table may be designed to be easily removable.

The interpretation applied to this definition is as follows

Seats and a Table
Are required to be an integral part of the living accommodation area, and mounted independently of other items.
The table must be capable of being mounted directly to the vehicle floor and /or side wall.
The table mounting arrangement must be secured as a permanent feature, (bolted, riveted, screwed or welded), although the table may be detachable.
Permanently secured seating must be available for use at the table.
The seats must be secured directly to the vehicle floor and/or side wall.
The seats must be secured as a permanent feature, (bolted riveted, screwed or welded).

Sleeping Accommodation
Must be an integral part of the living accommodation area.
Either beds or a bed converted from seats (to form a mattress base)
Secured as a permanent feature, with base structures bolted, riveted, screwed or welded to the vehicle floor and / or side wall, (unless the sleeping accommodation is provided as a provision over the driver's cab compartment.

Cooking Facilities
That are an integral part of the vehicle living accommodation and is mounted independently of other items.
That are secured to the vehicle floor and / or side wall.
Secured as a permanent feature, (bolted, riveted, screwed, or welded.
The cooking facility must consist of a minimum of a two ring cooking facility or a microwave in either case having a fuel/power source.
If the cooking facility is fuelled by gas having a remote fuel supply, the fuel supply pipe must be permanently secured to the vehicle structure.
If the cooking facility is fuelled by gas having a remote fuel supply, the fuel reservoir must be secured in a storage cupboard or the reservoir secured to the vehicle structure.

Storage Facilities
Storage facilities must be provided by a cupboard or locker.
The facility must be an integral part of the vehicle living accommodation, ie mounted independently of other items, unless incorporated below seat/sleeping accommodation or the cooking facility.
The storage facility must be a permanent feature, (bolted, riveted, screwed or welded).
The storage facility must be secured directly to the vehicle floor and / or side wall, unless a storage provision is provided over the driver's cab compartment.

[peteabbott]

Someone has just told me on "the other forum" that all I need to do is change the details on the V5 with the DVLA. If it is that simple then hooo feckin hooray !
I used to own a little hyundai pony pickup truck that had a fibreglass bolt on camper so what the hell would you call that ? Strange old world this camping business isn,t it ? I just want to do things right and then please leave me alone, we are a good happy bunch and don,t hurt anyone, might slow a few folks down a bit but we could be saving their lives !

[CycloneMike]

Someone has just told me on "the other forum" that all I need to do is change the details on the V5 with the DVLA. If it is that simple then hooo feckin hooray !
I used to own a little hyundai pony pickup truck that had a fibreglass bolt on camper so what the hell would you call that ? Strange old world this camping business isn,t it ? I just want to do things right and then please leave me alone, we are a good happy bunch and don,t hurt anyone, might slow a few folks down a bit but we could be saving their lives !

When I changed my V5 they wrote a nice letter asking for pictures to confirm. Depending on where you are in the country, the DVLA local office may also ask to have a look at it.

[jonnyshowbiz]

think it must have a water supply for insurance!!

[eatcustard]

think it must have a water supply for insurance!!

That buggers it up for the Aircooled brigade