Would you let a Beri-Beri onto your campsite?

[Pernickety]

Mornin all,

There's changes in the wind and it looks like I'm going to be living/working in a converted camper 365 days a year everywhere from Ben Nevis to the Med. This isn't choice so much as necessity, the house is empty, no-one to look after anymore and the echoes are driving me nuts--if I don't do it now, I never will. Spent my life as a mountain climber and more used to snow holes at 20,000 feet than beds on the first floor, so although van life is new being outdoors is second nature.

So seeing as this isn't just for two weeks here, two weeks there, I need something that let's me work without being interfered with too much either by the law or by thieves, and no you ain't allowed to interfere with me neither, except I might swap a cup of tea for a decent biscuit.

Anyhow rather than buying an out and out camper, which I can't afford, I'm aiming to buy a panel van and convert. Having already sought opinions on the stealth question over at DIYMotorhome, quite a few folks were of the view that plain panel vans didn't actually blend in so well outside of urban areas, so I'm looking to convert in a way that's a compromise, not an out and out camper and not fully suspicious/secretive stealth neither.

At the moment that's looking like a LWB Renault Master/Movano or Sevel equivalent, maybe with a bonded privacy window each side (no windows in the back doors), roof window/vent and flexi solar panels.
Probably not much different from these (they aren't mine by the way):

Outside photo, inside photo.

So my question, and I'm asking because I simply don't know, is am I likely to be turfed out of campsites in the UK or Europe just because it's a panel van?

I'm not the hippy, pot-smoking type though probably look a bit scary in me breeks first thing in the morning. The van won't look like a builder's yard--I'm more arty these days--and anyway travelling with my Beri-Beri who's quite fussy about his fabrics. Beri-beri is my rubber duck by the way, and no you ain't allowed to interfere with him neither!

Actually why's it starting to sound like it isn't the van that'll be the problem?

Thanks, Andy

 

[Puddleduck]

I know the Caravan Club used to want photos of self-builds before they would let you join!!!!! I thought the exterior photos looked like a nice smart van, the inside is up to you.

There are lots of double cab vehicles around so don't see why it should be obvious that your vehicle is or isn't a motorhome / camper.

 

[Wissel]

I've had a self-build, without any graphics for 5 years. Never even questioned on any site.

 

[pappajohn]

If it looks like a builders van on the outside you may have problems with some campsites.
Also, don't know if you're aware but recently the rules changed and unless it looks like a motorhome on the outside it will forever be registered as a panel Van.

DVLA now insist it resembles a motorhome on the outside....things like decals, side windows, TV aerial, awning.
Not all compulsory but all help to get it registered correctly.

there are specific requirements on the inside too....a washbasin/sink, a cupboard/wardrobe, a fixed table (can be removable), seating, a bed (can be made up from seating....other things I can't remember.
Without photos of these items it stays as a builders van and insured as such which will be valued far less than it's true value.

 

[gus-lopez]

@chaser has just converted an ex-ambulance

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[Yorick]

I've got the same van and black side window.
Used it for 8 years round Europe with no problems.

 

[deleted-member02]

https://www.quirkycampers.co.uk/campervans/ for more ideas

 

[Pernickety]

Also, don't know if you're aware but recently the rules changed and unless it looks like a motorhome on the outside it will forever be registered as a panel Van.

DVLA now insist it resembles a motorhome on the outside....things like decals, side windows, TV aerial, awning.
Not all compulsory but all help to get it registered correctly.

@pappajohn I was aware of the basic requirements, fixed table, 6' bed, water tanks, dining area, etc., and the photos, and I know they got a bit fussy back around 2011 but I thought that blew over and you could get re-registered as long as you satisfy those basic requirements. Has it all changed again then? If so I guess that would affect a lot of folks converting at the moment.

I'm not planning on any TV aerial (never watch telly) and no awning to start. Not sure how Beri-beri would classify. Maybe I'd just keep him out of the photos?

 

[movan]

@Debs @Wendo55 ... memory like a seive .. what was the name of the young man that is Paul's friend @SMB . I bet he could give lots od advice/info on this.

 

[Pernickety]

@Wissel Cheers for the photo, great looking van. Although I'm unlikely to have rear windows my side windows would be bigger possibly. What's that you've got above the back doors? Reversing camera, lights?
Oh and if you're based in Cornwall, what's it like parking there with an LWB?

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[Pernickety]

@movan Those eyes! I'd have a go at eating money you know, but it might need some honey on it, cream too, actually a cherry on top while we're at it.

 

[scotjimland]

Converted and registered as a motor caravan you should have no problems on any sites..

as @pappajohn pointed out it has to meet certain requirements to be registered as such

https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...caravan/converting-a-vehicle-into-a-motorhome

Motor caravan minimum features
In order for a converted vehicle to qualify as a motor caravan it must have certain minimum features:

• a door that provides access to the living accommodation
• a bed, which has a minimum length of 1800mm or 6 feet - this can be converted from seats used for other purposes during the day but must be permanently fixed within the body of the vehicle
• a water storage tank or container on, or in, the vehicle
• a seating and dining area, permanently attached to the vehicle - the table may be detachable but must have some permanent means of attachment to the vehicle. It is not good enough to have a loose table
• a permanently fixed means of storage, a cupboard, locker or wardrobe
• a permanently fixed cooking facility within the vehicle, powered by gas or electricity
• at least one window on the side of the accommodation

If the vehicle has all of these features present, permanently fixed and installed properly, then it is a legal requirement to have it reclassified as a motor caravan on the V5C.

 

[Wissel]

@Wissel Cheers for the photo, great looking van. Although I'm unlikely to have rear windows my side windows would be bigger possibly. What's that you've got above the back doors? Reversing camera, lights?
Oh and if you're based in Cornwall, what's it like parking there with an LWB?

They are reversing cameras.

Parking in Cornwall is fine most places in a 6m van - it's my everyday vehicle. A few town centres it's a little tight, which is why I won't go bigger. But others do without problems.

 

[SMB]

That would be @Rory and his stealth van

@Debs @Wendo55 ... memory like a seive .. what was the name of the young man that is Paul's friend @SMB . I bet he could give lots od advice/info on this.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Ralph converted our xlwb Peugeot van , lovingly called PUG .
We very rarely stop on campsites, but have never had problems doing so . We don’t have decals as we never fancied putting them on.

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[mitzimad]

never had problems with the van in my avatar

 

[Pernickety]

@Ralph-n-Bev Gorgeous van, aerial on the roof? Which part of the world is that?
Gonna ask the stupidest of questions now...what's a 'decal'?

"Adventure before Dementia". Sadly I'm the other way around.

 

[Pernickety]

@scotjimland That's more like I understand it, cheers for posting.

What might be a problem is that I fancy the Renault Master and definitely want a transverse bed, but as I understand it 6' won't quite squeeze in. Still thinking around that one.

 

[Ralph-n-Bev]

Decals = Sticky patterns most motorhomes have on the sides. We aren’t a fan preferring just the metallic paintwork.
We were on the Isle of Mull.
Pugs fully loaded with all the mod cons. Including the “Ariel” which is a satellite dish . We like a bit of TV when we are relaxing after a hard day walking , or if it’s chucking it down. This gets a signal where ever we’ve been.

 

[pappajohn]

I know they got a bit fussy back around 2011 but I thought that blew over and you could get re-registered as long as you satisfy those basic requirements. Has it all changed again then?

The internal requirements have been around a long time but the external requirements happened a couple of years ago.

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[Ralph-n-Bev]

@scotjimland That's more like I understand it, cheers for posting.

What might be a problem is that I fancy the Renault Master and definitely want a transverse bed, but as I understand it 6' won't quite squeeze in. Still thinking around that one.

I’m 5’11” no way could I sleep across. Especially once you’ve put adequate insulation in the van.
Ralph did Pug as a U shape lounge . Making the beds 6’4” as you don’t sleep right to the top of your pillow and your feet don’t stay at right angles

 

[scotjimland]

@scotjimland That's more like I understand it, cheers for posting.

What might be a problem is that I fancy the Renault Master and definitely want a transverse bed, but as I understand it 6' won't quite squeeze in. Still thinking around that one.

as far as I know the only vans that are wide enough for a full length transverse bed is one from Sevel stable .. why they are so popular with convertors..


about 20 years ago I bought a Renault Traffic high roof with a view to converting and only discovered that problem after buying it .. we live and learn.. I still converted it , albeit with a rather short double bed. lol

 

[Reallyretired]

Interesting that a free standing table is not acceptable. Many of the earlier kontiki coachbuilts had a freestanding table with folding legs that minced your fingers.

 

[joka250]

Interesting that a free standing table is not acceptable. Many of the earlier kontiki coachbuilts had a freestanding table with folding legs that minced your fingers.

As do many Autotrail certainly our 2015 and I think current models.

 

[Hollyberry]

Interesting that a free standing table is not acceptable. Many of the earlier kontiki coachbuilts had a freestanding table with folding legs that minced your fingers.

It took me a couple of goes to register a converted van as a campervan/motorhome. They insisted on a photo of a table and I didn't want one fitted so I put a plastic camping table in, put a table cloth on it and set it with plates, glasses etc.. They accepted that.
They insisted on seeing a photo of decals (2015) but maybe they're not so insistent now.

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[Pernickety]

Hi @Hollyberry. Did you already have the Decals on, or did you have to go off and get some? How long did you leave it between goes?
Thanks, Andy.

 

[Reallyretired]

Get some cheap decals for their benefit. They can then be removed easily with a hot air gun/hairdrier

 

[Rob and Val]

The most recent issue of the MMM motorhomers magazine (April 2018) has an article on page 197 with regard to getting the body type reclassified from van to 'motor caravan'.

 

[scotjimland]

There is no mention of Decals on the DVLA site.. the pertinent paragraph is >


DVLA is required to record the details of vehicles for road safety and law enforcement. The body type information held on the vehicle record must describe what a vehicle actually looks like. This description, in addition to other distinguishing features, enables the police and other enforcement agencies to identify a particular vehicle. Therefore, the body type will not be changed unless the exterior of the vehicle actually appears to be a motor home.

so it has to look like a motorhome.. how you achieve that is open to interpretation

 

[old-mo]

Would you let a Beri-Beri onto your campsite?
.........................................................................

"Yes"....... Providing you are a paid up member of "Motorhomefun"....