Are campervans motorhomes?

[Simonjdcooper]

We often refer to our motorhome, a Burstner A645 as 'the camper', but it doesn't really have much in common with a campervan. Not when considering the dimensions...

We weren't to Stratford Upon Avon the other day, and tried to park in one of the nine spaces by the leisure centre, there were 8 motorhomes, ranging from older coachbuilds to snazzy A classes. And VW campervan.

So the car park was full for motorhomes in the motorhome parking area, but it got me thinking as we drove off, should vans be able to park in the motorhome bays? They are barely bigger than a car (esp if not lwb) and certainly don't need the extra length and width that a 6m+ coach build requires...

We ended up parking at waitrose (2 hours free) and the height barriers were not being used.

What do you think fellow funsters?

 

[Mr porky]

We refer to ours as a camper and/or motorhome.
I don't think it maters.
with regard to smaller vans/campers taking bigger spots they are parked in official spots with no hassle of getting moved on if sleeping overnight so yes they have every right to be there.

 

[steve69]

I suppose we each have our own definitions. If it's a pop-top, it's definitely a campervan.
PVC's can blur the division a bit, but coachbuilts and A-class are definitely motorhomes for me.

 

[philann]

What do those VW vans have on the V5c? We have a PVC, call it “the van” and it has Motor Caravan on the V5c!

 

[Nirvanauk]

Well, ours is a PVC but has shower and toilet, therefore by definition it is a motorhome. But as far as I’m concerned you can call it anything you like.

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[Pausim]

My van conversion and all my previous motorhomes were registered as Motor Caravan on the V5C and I don’t think the different types of motorhome are treated any differently by parking laws. The answer to “Are campervans motorhomes?” is yes.

The parking wardens will probably correctly think PVC is something to do with the plastic windows they have in their houses and not some obscure reference to a type of motor caravan.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Camper Van - VW size usually with no Toilet/Shower

Motorhome - Larger converted chassis with on-board facilities

RV - Larger American Built Trucks

But people refer to them as, Dormobiles, Homecars, Campers, Campervans, mobile homes,

Autocaravan(as), whonmobil, Motorcaravan, Campingcar.

Etc

 

[dunnah01]

If you begrudge paying site fees for facilities you don't use then you own a motorhome. It doesn't matter what you drove to site in.

 

[Swamp]

Camper Van - VW size usually with no Toilet/Shower

Motorhome - Larger converted chassis with on-board facilities

RV - Larger American Built Trucks

But people refer to them as, Dormobiles, Homecars, Campers, Campervans, mobile homes,

Autocaravan(as), whonmobil, Motorcaravan, Campingcar.

Etc

Our Globe traveller voyager Z with shower and toilet on a 6.4m Ducato chassis won the best campervan of the year award when it was launched….
Based on that we refer to ours as a campervan.

 

[Ernesto]

My rule of thumb is - anything white and plastic, mounted on a chassis is a motorhome. A PVC is a van - It came out of the factory as one metal vehicle and had some holes cut in it to make it habitable. A VW type van is also a campervan - just a small one.

Car parks could restrict larger spaces for motorhomes and campervans by stipulating its for 6m vehicles and over, if they needed to. A VW T6 and the other 5.4m Ducato/Mercedes conversions are about as long as a Range Rover so it's questionable as to whether they need to use the larger spaces. But some car parks spaces are so tight, it makes sense of them to use the bigger spaces

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[MisterB]

I think it's irrelevant to distinguish between them, if someone is parked there first with the specific purpose to overnight, then good luck to them.

If a vehicle is parked there first that isn't a motorhome/camper/self build, then that doesn't sit right with me, but I would prob just shrug my shoulders and drive off. In France if all spaces were taken, I wouldn't hesitate to park VERY close to the designated area without causing an obstruction, but would only stay the one night.

I think we may even start to see top box type tents using the designated spaces .....

 

[Just smiffy]

They’re ALL vans doesn’t matter what’s strapped to the back of it unless it’s a truck….

 

[scotzsue]

My little doblo was a motor caravan on the V5 car size so would easily fit in a car space.
However it was a high top and didn't fit under 2.1M barriers so sometimes had to use a space that was better suited to a bigger van.pvc/caper/motorhome.

 

[GJH]

(snip) should vans be able to park in the motorhome bays? They are barely bigger than a car (esp if not lwb) and certainly don't need the extra length and width that a 6m+ coach build requires...(snip)

Most car park regulations stipulate that the whole of the vehicle must be within the bay. Standard length of a bay is 5 metres and the length of a VW Campervan is 5.29 metres. On that basis, it needs to use a larger bay.

 

[Simonjdcooper]

If you begrudge paying site fees for facilities you don't use then you own a motorhome. It doesn't matter what you drove to site in.

Prize for completely misinterpreting the post goes to you.

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[Simonjdcooper]

My rule of thumb is - anything white and plastic, mounted on a chassis is a motorhome. A PVC is a van - It came out of the factory as one metal vehicle and had some holes cut in it to make it habitable. A VW type van is also a campervan - just a small one.

Car parks could restrict larger spaces for motorhomes and campervans by stipulating its for 6m vehicles and over, if they needed to. A VW T6 and the other 5.4m Ducato/Mercedes conversions are about as long as a Range Rover so it's questionable as to whether they need to use the larger spaces. But some car parks spaces are so tight, it makes sense of them to use the bigger spaces

I think that's pretty fair. I didn't begrudge them the space, they were clearly camping there like the other motorhomers. It just made me wonder. : )

 

[Simonjdcooper]

I think it's irrelevant to distinguish between them, if someone is parked there first with the specific purpose to overnight, then good luck to them.

If a vehicle is parked there first that isn't a motorhome/camper/self build, then that doesn't sit right with me, but I would prob just shrug my shoulders and drive off. In France if all spaces were taken, I wouldn't hesitate to park VERY close to the designated area without causing an obstruction, but would only stay the one night.

I think we may even start to see top box type tents using the designated spaces .....

I suppose it revolves around what the council spec is for designating the spaces for motorhomes, incidentally, there were a dozen lorry spaces and half a dozen coach spaces all empty but I didn't want to risk it.

Top tents on a car, I would expect them to get a parking ticket for being in the wrong area...

 

[MisterB]

I suppose it revolves around what the council spec is for designating the spaces for motorhomes, incidentally, there were a dozen lorry spaces and half a dozen coach spaces all empty but I didn't want to risk it.

Top tents on a car, I would expect them to get a parking ticket for being in the wrong area...

If I wasn't leaving the vehicle and there was LOTS of space, then I would have stayed there (and bought a ticket of course), but not outstayed my address welcome in the morning. It's easy enough to drive off if the parking warden is about to issue a ticket, if you're on your toes of course ..... get out and engage with them while your co driver starts driving .....

 

[hja]

I think it depends who you are talking to. To the generally public a camper van is a VW type van or a dormabile., a Motorhome is a white box. PVC = confusion! They are all motor caravans on the V5 unless they are a van with windows. I sometimes call our PVC a camper van, sometimes a Motorhome, just depends! Surely in terms of overnight or dedicated parking it’s about whether they are equipped for sleeping, and motorised.

 

[eddie]

We’ve always had RV’s and we’ve always called it “the camper”

They all do the same job.

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[Simonjdcooper]

If I wasn't leaving the vehicle and there was LOTS of space, then I would have stayed there (and bought a ticket of course), but not outstayed my address welcome in the morning. It's easy enough to drive off if the parking warden is about to issue a ticket, if you're on your toes of course ..... get out and engage with them while your co driver starts driving .....

I like that, unfortunately we just wanted to park and the car is currently off the road, so our only family transport is the MoHo.
We have discussed the tactic you mentioned, my wife only has a licence for an auto, she says she'd move it but I don't think it would be like the Yaris she last drove as a manual!

 

[RetiredPope]

I've always taken the view that a vehicle with toilet and kitchen facilities is a motorhome and one without is a campervan, irrespective of size or colour. Regarding parking, don't object to a campervan parking in motorhome spaces, just tuggers

 

[Brains]

Motorhomes are in built self contained
(Loo & Shower & sleeping & cooking facilities)

Camper vans are not in built self contained.
(Therefore a campervan with a port-a-potty and a 'shower' that operates out of the rear hatch back boor and a curtain is not a motorhome.)

Either conversion could be a 5.5m PVC.
It's all about the in built facilities

 

[PaulW2]

“When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.”
 “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.”
 “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that's all.”

 

[MisterB]

I like that, unfortunately we just wanted to park and the car is currently off the road, so our only family transport is the MoHo.
We have discussed the tactic you mentioned, my wife only has a licence for an auto, she says she'd move it but I don't think it would be like the Yaris she last drove as a manual!

Practice makes perfect .... she only has to move it 20 yards or so before you can jump back in and take over ... is there a car park she can practice in ...LOL ( i think you might know where one is !!!)

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[EuroTrotters]

Our Globe traveller voyager Z with shower and toilet on a 6.4m Ducato chassis won the best campervan of the year award when it was launched….
Based on that we refer to ours as a campervan.

Can we settle on Hybrid

 

[cyberyacht]

I'd settle for them just kicking ordinary cars out of the dedicated parking bays.

 

[peterc10]

My rule of thumb is - anything white and plastic, mounted on a chassis is a motorhome.

My 7.5m long A Class Hymer is grey and aluminium. So what is it?

 

[Brains]

My 7.5m long A Class Hymer is grey and aluminium. So what is it?

Anyone any good at making a flowchart ?

Does it look like a PVC ? Yes/No
Does it have windows in the side ? Yes/No
Is there a small hatch door in the side for the cassette ? Yes/No
(In the A class Hymer case above, No, Yes, Yes = You have a motorhome)

That is one way to tell the difference.
Very few (if any) PVC's would have a black tank.

If they have a cassette locker then they have a proper inbuilt loo and probably a shower, they are therefore a motorhome and not a campervan.

 

[GJH]

I suppose it revolves around what the council spec is for designating the spaces for motorhomes, incidentally, there were a dozen lorry spaces and half a dozen coach spaces all empty but I didn't want to risk it.

One of the factors both councils and private landowners are faced with is that there is no standard laid down in UK law for the size of parking spaces. Look it up and one generally finds recommendations of the current UK norm 2.4 - 2.5 metres wide by 4.8 - 5 metres long.
Good idea not to use the lorry (and especially coach) spaces because that is inviting a fine