"Stealth campervans" whats the apeal?

[SamR380]

troika said:

SamR380 said:

Coin Slot. said:

DVLA are clamping down on converters who turn panel vans into campers

I don't understand, what is the problem with doing this?

A 20K van which has 20K spent on it to make it a camper pays a lot less VED than a 40K camper.

I think I might be missing something here... The converted van pays less tax because it is still registered as a van rather than a camper, correct? I guess I can see why the DVLA don't like that for brand new vans being converted.

I thought the discussion we were having here was about old vans that people have converted and wish to register as campers and the fact the DVLA are now suggesting that they should look like campers, not vans. People don't want thier converted van to look like a camper but do want the reduced insurance/increased speed limits that come with re-registration.

[troika]

SamR380 said:

troika said:

SamR380 said:

Coin Slot. said:

DVLA are clamping down on converters who turn panel vans into campers

I don't understand, what is the problem with doing this?

A 20K van which has 20K spent on it to make it a camper pays a lot less VED than a 40K camper.

I think I might be missing something here... The converted van pays less tax because it is still registered as a van rather than a camper, correct? I guess I can see why the DVLA don't like that for brand new vans being converted.

I thought the discussion we were having here was about old vans that people have converted and wish to register as campers and the fact the DVLA are now suggesting that they should look like campers, not vans. People don't want thier converted van to look like a camper but do want the reduced insurance/increased speed limits that come with re-registration.

Well I guess folk can’t have their cake and eat it. No doubt when it comes to things like the Eurotunnel, people with stealth campers want to benefit from reduced ‘van’ fares but then have the benefit of the ‘camper’ when in France etc.

[Zooks]

shovelheadrob said:

I had a discussion with a C&MH club warden last year about such vehicles & he stated that the club policy is that they must allow them to stay overnight (assuming that there are pitches available) but any longer is at their discretion. He also said that in recent years, much of their business is from workers away from home that just want somewhere to stay at a reasonable cost, they also are less demanding than the holiday trade & make fewer complaints about anything. There were several "stealth" type vans on site at the time, a few older caravan & motorhome owners give them dirty looks but they also look at my rig with scorn (36ft 5th wheel with 3 slide outs), I don't see what the problem is, whatever suits your requirements is best.

Interesting. I was just about to join C&MH for our 1st full season next year in our converted Nissan Primastar (registered as a camper). I had no idea it was so cliquey.

[anonymous-user]

Most sites are a bit snooty about sign written vans, not plain panel vans as far as I know?

Although some sites don't even like twin axle tourers, I was never sure if it was because those types of caravans are favoured by those cheeky travelling types or because they chew up the grass when turning them?

[sjg]

Coin Slot. said:

Most sites are a bit snooty about sign written vans, not plain panel vans as far as I know?

That's been my experience. They certainly don't care whether you have "motor caravan" on your V5 or swoopy leisure graphics up the sides.

[p4cks]

I hope someone has posted this thread in the Council thread.

Sticking a mattress in the back of a joiner's van is the epitome of council.

[SamR380]

p4cks said:

I hope someone has posted this thread in the Council thread.

Sticking a mattress in the back of a joiner's van is the epitome of council.

'Van life' is the new 'gap year in Thailand', particularly when combined with £15k worth of skiing and mountain biking gear and an overproduced Instagram account.

[surveyor]

Zooks said:

shovelheadrob said:

I had a discussion with a C&MH club warden last year about such vehicles & he stated that the club policy is that they must allow them to stay overnight (assuming that there are pitches available) but any longer is at their discretion. He also said that in recent years, much of their business is from workers away from home that just want somewhere to stay at a reasonable cost, they also are less demanding than the holiday trade & make fewer complaints about anything. There were several "stealth" type vans on site at the time, a few older caravan & motorhome owners give them dirty looks but they also look at my rig with scorn (36ft 5th wheel with 3 slide outs), I don't see what the problem is, whatever suits your requirements is best.

Interesting. I was just about to join C&MH for our 1st full season next year in our converted Nissan Primastar (registered as a camper). I had no idea it was so cliquey.

Unfortunately C&MH is very cliquey. I belong because I get a good discount on the ferry. I'm not so fond of the regimented sites, together with the officious approach if you are a foot off the marker post.

Basically if it's not a £30k Swift being towed by a volvo you will be looked down on. Embrace it!

[berlintaxi]

shovelheadrob said:

Stealth camping often means "wildcamping" in a car park/industrial estate/other urban location.

Living the dream.

[anonymous-user]

berlintaxi said:

Living the dream.

Depends. Some are on a budget so makes sense or others want to park up where campervans can't. They are loads of different reasons.

On YouTube a guy was homeless lived in one, he would have been on the street. That is the extreme end but it just gives you more choices if you don't want to stay at camping sites

[shovelheadrob]

surveyor said:

Unfortunately C&MH is very cliquey. I belong because I get a good discount on the ferry. I'm not so fond of the regimented sites, together with the officious approach if you are a foot off the marker post.

Basically if it's not a £30k Swift being towed by a volvo you will be looked down on. Embrace it!

Officious you say.........at one site the warden took time out to explain how I MUST pitch with the driver's side rear corner of my rig tight to the peg, which is roughly on the centre line of the pitch. I suggested that as my vehicle was left hand drive, he meant the passenger side, he gave me "the look" & said "You're not listening are you? It's the driver's side which lines up with the peg, that way you have the correct distance between units!" "Fair enough" says I & position my rig as per his instructions.
10 minutes later he's spitting feathers about the rules and regulations & how I've not listened to him, he mentions the driver's side again, my door is open & I pointed to the steering wheel & walked away. .........
Not a happy bunny!

[troika]

surveyor said:

Unfortunately C&MH is very cliquey. I belong because I get a good discount on the ferry. I'm not so fond of the regimented sites, together with the officious approach if you are a foot off the marker post.

Basically if it's not a £30k Swift being towed by a volvo you will be looked down on. Embrace it!

They can be very peculiar places. We joined because there are some sites in great locations and the Eurotunnel discount. It is highly amusing watching people cart water containers and their own st around all day. How they consume and produce quite so much of either is always a mystery. Particularly when they park right next to clean and warm bathroom facilities.

[21st Century Man]

surveyor said:

Basically if it's not a £30k Swift being towed by a volvo you will be looked down on. Embrace it!

My camper is a converted LDV Convoy 17 seat mini bus, a bloke on a pushbike with a one man tent in the pissing rain looks down on me.

[Sonie]

A stealth van also allows you to park in residential streets and car parks without flagging up as camping.

Some car parks don’t allow motor homes... a Sprinter/crafter/transit etc with no windows looks plain and stealth