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?

 

[DMartin]

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!

FWIW our VW's V5C says "motor caravan".

 

[Blofeld]

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...

The DVLA definition (for speed limit purposes) seems to be that it looks like a motorhome. My campervan is 6.4m long and 2.8m high. Stick with the British fudge on the detail or you’ll get a 50 page set of regulations

 

[L' Hobo]

Just shows how antiquated our laws are. Not enough effort is made in keeping legal definitions up to date. Same with the current situation regarding electric bikes, e scooters, electric mopeds etc etc. It's a mess and as a result many people are breaking the law.



I disagree. My friends have a VW transporter based camper van. I'm not snobby about it - lovely van - BUT. I couldn't live in that. You live 'out' of it and sleep in it. A motorhome is much more suited to all weather and bigger trips - on board shower, proper on board toilet. On a windy rainy day you can stay comfy and warm inside. I can do 3 months off grid travelling. They need a campsite and go away for 2 weeks at the most.

I have had and still have a LHD T25 VW Westy and agree with you about living 'out' of rather than in it BUT,

I have had VW Campers in many forms over the past 50yrs and, sometimes, spent months all over Europe in it. It's like so many things, it all depends on what you are used too.

My last trip in 2016/17 at the age of 72, was to Spain & Portugal for 4 months starting in Bilbao at the beginning of December, having Christmas at the Southern tip of Portugal, New Years near Lagos before travelling back through Portugal and France to Calais.

My VW has a Portable toilet ( as has all my VW's in the past) and as I travel, mostly alone, (when I was younger I didn't mind sharing but prefer alone), space has never been a problem.

I now, also, have a MURVI PVC and a bit more space but still enjoy, when the weather's right, going out for a few nights in the VeeDub!

 

[sfrain145]

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.

Motorhome I would say is a big plastic thing and the camper van like ours is a tin box, ??

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[Jerrywh]

I have had and still have a LHD T25 VW Westy and agree with you about living 'out' of rather than in it BUT,

I have had VW Campers in many forms over the past 50yrs and, sometimes, spent months all over Europe in it. It's like so many things, it all depends on what you are used too.

Absolutely. Depends what you are used to. When I bought Larry la Strada (definitely a motorhome, not a camper ) wifey said it was all a bit poky and cramped. I, on the other hand, do a lot of walking and am used to sleeping overnight in a small tent. So to me, it feels like a luxury hotel. Shower! Fridge, with beer! Proper mattress!

 

[Coolcats]

So case in point.

Panel van
microcamper
VW whatever

They are all motorhomes

indeed all subcategories, think we are agreeing here Jim

 

[Oldrat]

The DVLA definition (for speed limit purposes) seems to be that it looks like a motorhome. My campervan is 6.4m long and 2.8m high. Stick with the British fudge on the detail or you’ll get a 50 page set of regulations

You have that the wrong way around. DVLA classification has zero bearing on a vehicle’s speed limit.

 

[French Charlie]

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?

Whenever I return (always reluctantly to the UK) and do the supermarkets for that which is either unobtainable, hideously expensive, or a european insult (tea) to UK tastebuds I always sneak into the far corners of the car park and hope not to get the attention of the parking gauleiters. So far so good! Such a difference here in France where camping cars (motorhomes) are tolerated without question pretty well anywhere. We can even park outside the Mairie when they are closed for business.

 

[Coolcats]

You have that the wrong way around. DVLA classification has zero bearing on a vehicle’s speed limit.

View attachment 1015749

interesting that the DVLA acknowledge camper vans and Motorhomes as different catagories

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[Jerrywh]

interesting that the DVLA acknowledge camper vans and Motorhomes as different catagories

No, they specifically state in the letter that they are all the SAME category!

 

[Pausim]

interesting that the DVLA acknowledge camper vans and Motorhomes as different catagories

Not really, it says they don’t distinguish between them. They are all motor caravans to them.

Edit. They don’t even mention whoosh-bangs.

 

[treeker]

What do those VW vans have on the V5c? We have a PVC, call it “the van” and it has Motor Caravan on the V5

My fully fitted high roof 2024 VW Transporter T6.1 has "Motor Caravan" on the V

 

[Nanniemate]

So case in point.

Panel van
microcamper
VW whatever

They are all motorhomes

Don't forget Whoosh bang

 

[Coolcats]

No, they specifically state in the letter that they are all the SAME category!

Yes I understand but they do mention: Camper vans Motor Caravan and Motorhome and as such recognise the sub catagories and treating them the same.

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[Coolcats]

Not really, it says they don’t distinguish between them. They are all motor caravans to them.

Edit. They don’t even mention whoosh-bangs.

Yes I understand but they do mention: Camper vans Motor Caravan and Motorhome and as such recognise the sub catagories and treating them the same.

 

[Pausim]

Yes I understand but they do mention: Camper vans Motor Caravan and Motorhome and as such recognise the sub catagories and treating them the same.

They probably recognise that the public use these terms but they forgot to mention whoosh-bangs.

 

[InvictaMoto]

My Malibu is a PVC and is 6.01m long. It can't be parked in a bog standard parking space as it is too long and too wide.

This is especially true in UK supermarkets where they base their parking space sizes on all cars being no larger than a 1968 Ford Escort.

I guess it's not a motorhome as that fraternity never waves back...

Does it look like a PVC ? Yes
Does it have windows in the side ? Yes
Is there a small hatch door in the side for the cassette ? Yes

Oh dear!

 

[L' Hobo]

My Malibu is a PVC and is 6.01m long. It can't be parked in a bog standard parking space as it is too long and too wide.

This is especially true in UK supermarkets where they base their parking space sizes on all cars being no larger than a 1968 Ford Escort.

I guess it's not a motorhome as that fraternity never waves back...

Does it look like a PVC ? Yes
Does it have windows in the side ? Yes
Is there a small hatch door in the side for the cassette ? Yes

Oh dear!

View attachment 1015796

It's got portholes, it must be a ship?

 

[InvictaMoto]

It's got portholes, it must be a ship?

A Land Yacht?

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[Pausim]

It's got portholes, it must be a ship?

Our Malibu Van has portholes too, people towing boats wave but not motorhomes.

 

[ChippySteve]

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.

Surely we are doing the same thing sleeping, eating etc in a tin box and if its

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?

Surely we all sleep, eat, cook etc in our vans so big or small swimming pool or wash in a bucket we all use different sized vans for different reasons but when it comes to spaces stay in to do what we all enjoy so much and it is first come first serve what does it matter my camper does the same for my wife and I as someone else’s mobile mansion does for them.
Live life love true and enjoy it .

 

[KiltedCamper]

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.

Our Globecar Campscout is 6.4m long, so although it is referred to as a camper, it takes up 1.5 spaces lengthwise in any UK supermarket or municipal parking space. From memory, I think it's longer than our previous motorhome, an Autocruise StarSeeker.