Micro Camper conversion question
Discussion
Hi all,
I'm toying with the idea of a micro Camper conversion. Think VW caddy with a rock and roll bed and pop top.
Has anyone done the same? Have you successfully changed the registration to motor caravan?
If I can do this it widens my scope of available vans from just Kombis.
Like this but DIY
https://www.sjcampers.co.uk/blog/volkswagen-caddy-...
I'm toying with the idea of a micro Camper conversion. Think VW caddy with a rock and roll bed and pop top.
Has anyone done the same? Have you successfully changed the registration to motor caravan?
If I can do this it widens my scope of available vans from just Kombis.
Like this but DIY
https://www.sjcampers.co.uk/blog/volkswagen-caddy-...
Edited by marksx on Wednesday 11th August 09:34
marksx said:
Hi all,
I'm toying with the idea of a micro Camper conversion. Think VW caddy with a rock and roll bed and pop top.
Has anyone done the same? Have you successfully changed the registration to motor caravan?
If I can do this it widens my scope of available vans from just Kombis.
Like this but DIY
https://www.sjcampers.co.uk/blog/volkswagen-caddy-...
I've done a Berlingo car into a micro camper for my dad and more recently a Citroen Relay for us. The camper you linked to wouldn't be eligible to re classify into a camper as it doesn't have enough windows and doesn't have distinguishing marking on the outside such as graphics or decals. There are probably other reasons too, the reclassification is very strict and specific about what the final result should be, unfortunately that doesn't work for us. For the same reason I've not bothered to reclassify my Relay as I don't want too many windows as we're regularly in the mountains so insulation was more important. Similarly we haven't reclassified my dad's either but as a car already it isn't so restrictive in terms of speed limits. I'm toying with the idea of a micro Camper conversion. Think VW caddy with a rock and roll bed and pop top.
Has anyone done the same? Have you successfully changed the registration to motor caravan?
If I can do this it widens my scope of available vans from just Kombis.
Like this but DIY
https://www.sjcampers.co.uk/blog/volkswagen-caddy-...
Edited by marksx on Wednesday 11th August 09:34
The problem people have with reclassifying now is that the DVLA care about what it looks like in it's normal driving state on the road, as well as the basic checklist of cooking / sleeping / sitting facilities.
If it looks like a van to a layperson when it drives past, it won't get reclassified. If it looks obviously "campervan" - awning, graphics, high top, etc then it may.
The camper insurers don't seem too bothered these days as long as you can show that it's been converted.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/convert...
If it looks like a van to a layperson when it drives past, it won't get reclassified. If it looks obviously "campervan" - awning, graphics, high top, etc then it may.
The camper insurers don't seem too bothered these days as long as you can show that it's been converted.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/convert...
Thanks for the response
I had a read on the government website about reclassification. The bit that threw me was about graphics.
Is there anywhere that states what is expected? I.e would a little sticker 'marksx's family bus' be enough. Or would it want god awful stripes all over it?
Windows I can add, and would need to as it would be used as a family transport anyway.
I had a read on the government website about reclassification. The bit that threw me was about graphics.
Is there anywhere that states what is expected? I.e would a little sticker 'marksx's family bus' be enough. Or would it want god awful stripes all over it?
Windows I can add, and would need to as it would be used as a family transport anyway.
marksx said:
Thanks for the response
I had a read on the government website about reclassification. The bit that threw me was about graphics.
Is there anywhere that states what is expected? I.e would a little sticker 'marksx's family bus' be enough. Or would it want god awful stripes all over it?
Windows I can add, and would need to as it would be used as a family transport anyway.
There's an FOI response here but it's doesn't give any firm clarification. https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/motor_carav...I had a read on the government website about reclassification. The bit that threw me was about graphics.
Is there anywhere that states what is expected? I.e would a little sticker 'marksx's family bus' be enough. Or would it want god awful stripes all over it?
Windows I can add, and would need to as it would be used as a family transport anyway.
This is interesting - vast majority of applications are rejected since the change in 2019. https://climbingvan.co.uk/van-life/reclassifying-y...
An example of a successful reclassification: https://motorhomebuilder.com/threads/dvla-requirem... (it was rejected without the graphics)
Edited by sjg on Wednesday 11th August 14:52
If you can blag them that it's got two windows on one side in addition to the passenger/driver window. And can blag them it has decals. It then also needs an awning rail and then there's the other issue that it has to be a high roof.
The new rules are really daft and it's resulted in the vast majority of requests for reclassification being rejected and that's from people who have vehicles which fit the initial criteria. A caddy with a pop top can't be reclassified even if you could somehow do the other stuff they require.
The new rules are really daft and it's resulted in the vast majority of requests for reclassification being rejected and that's from people who have vehicles which fit the initial criteria. A caddy with a pop top can't be reclassified even if you could somehow do the other stuff they require.
sebdangerfield said:
I'm sure I'm missing something but wouldn't a Kombi have the same hurdles as a Caddy van when re classifying?
If I'm understanding correctly a kombi is classified the same as a car rather than commercial van. Meaning cheaper tax, insurance and normal speed limits. Therefore I wouldn't need to reclassify. Could be me that's missing something though!
marksx said:
If I'm understanding correctly a kombi is classified the same as a car rather than commercial van. Meaning cheaper tax, insurance and normal speed limits. Therefore I wouldn't need to reclassify.
Could be me that's missing something though!
Ah OK, I didn't know that Kombis were classified as cars. Could be me that's missing something though!
The insurance is far less of an issue now though. Since the DVLA changed their rules insurance companies have adapted and now will insure as a camper even if the V5 says it's a van.
When I was in your position the best advice I got was from a gent who told me to write down all the uses I'll have the camper for such as where will we go, what will a trip normally look like and what things will we do and then find the appropriate vehicle the achieve that. He was right; I was desperate to get a VW albeit a LWB T6 and looking back now it wouldn't have worked for us and what we do. We ended up with a Relay as it works for us and fits our stuff in and I just accepted that the speed limit is 60, it'll never be registered as a camper and I pay commercial vehicle tax, which incidentally I thought was cheaper as it's not based as closely to emissions?
marksx said:
If I'm understanding correctly a kombi is classified the same as a car rather than commercial van. Meaning cheaper tax, insurance and normal speed limits. Therefore I wouldn't need to reclassify.
Could be me that's missing something though!
I think it works either way depending on what van/car you look at. Commercial can work out cheaper on tax and insuranceCould be me that's missing something though!
MC Bodge said:
The requirement for caravan-esque graphics seems quite odd. Since when did a few adhesive vinyl shapes make a camper?
Is it purely to prevent somebody falsely claiming that a work van with a sleeping bag in the back is a camper?
I don't think I've ever seen a camper (not motorhome) with any sort of graphics other than the odd bodgeIs it purely to prevent somebody falsely claiming that a work van with a sleeping bag in the back is a camper?
marksx said:
MC Bodge said:
The requirement for caravan-esque graphics seems quite odd. Since when did a few adhesive vinyl shapes make a camper?
Is it purely to prevent somebody falsely claiming that a work van with a sleeping bag in the back is a camper?
I don't think I've ever seen a camper (not motorhome) with any sort of graphics other than the odd bodgeIs it purely to prevent somebody falsely claiming that a work van with a sleeping bag in the back is a camper?
The permanent graphics down the side should probably be to make it look like a minibus from here:
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