A New Plan

Ste

Guest
When we got our MH, it was great! I share at it with my retired parents. But everytime they touch it, it breaks down!!!! And I keep missing out, and have to use my car again!!!!

So now as I need a van for work (Antique fairs/Vintage shows etc...) I'm gonna do my own. And hopefully update it with Pics here as I go.

The plan so far is an Iveco Daily XLWB (new shape if I can stretch to it). Its a van I know well, having owned 2 previously. The XLWB has 4.5 metre internal rear area. I'm going to remove the bulkhead, and refit it around the wheel arches. Therefore I've have a 'van' section for work at the rear. Up front, 1 sky-light, & 1 window in the sliding door, plus swapping passenger double seat for something that swivels. Then full bathroom, L shape seating & kitchen, and nicked from a caravan.

Figured out I'd save over £2500 in hotels & campsites per year by sleeping at the shows.

I'll keep you all informed
 
I was involved with Shows at one time, Warners and Garden shows and there were lots of traders doing exactly as you propose ,make sure your Inurance covers you for this though.Have fun Malc.
 
Thank Malc.
Yeah the insurance is going to be a problem/interesting. If I keep it as a van its £2000 ish. If I register the van as a Motorhome, its £600, but I can't get business use on a MH. When i queried about the high volume of MH's and caravans being used by dealers, my insurance companies answer was 'we know, they lie, it happens a lot, just don't say what you were doing if you have a accident'
 
Don't you sometimes wish that "they" would live in the real world where, for many people, work and personal life go side by side?

You want to use your van to sleep in. You want to use your MH for work. What is the difference. My point is not that they should not have different rates, but that it should not have to be the case that the two are mutually exclusive...because that is what people do in the real self employed world, where the boundary between work and pleasure can be non-existant.

</Rant>
 
Ste said:
When we got our MH, it was great! I share at it with my retired parents. But everytime they touch it, it breaks down!!!! And I keep missing out, and have to use my car again!!!!

So now as I need a van for work (Antique fairs/Vintage shows etc...) I'm gonna do my own. And hopefully update it with Pics here as I go.

The plan so far is an Iveco Daily XLWB (new shape if I can stretch to it). Its a van I know well, having owned 2 previously. The XLWB has 4.5 metre internal rear area. I'm going to remove the bulkhead, and refit it around the wheel arches. Therefore I've have a 'van' section for work at the rear. Up front, 1 sky-light, & 1 window in the sliding door, plus swapping passenger double seat for something that swivels. Then full bathroom, L shape seating & kitchen, and nicked from a caravan.

Figured out I'd save over £2500 in hotels & campsites per year by sleeping at the shows.

I'll keep you all informed
Click to expand...

I think you need to check exactly where to replace the bukhead if you plan to register it as a motor caravan in the future...I'm sure one of the DVLA regulations refers to the garage/storage size in proportion to the overall size of the living space (or something along those lines) I remember reading this somewhere when I was planing my van.

I'm sure one of the more experienced members will be able to quote this regulation exactly, but worth looking into now rather than finding out later that it doesnt comply.

Sounds like a great winter project.
 
I believe that there is something afoot with DVLA where they will no longer allow vans to be re registered as Motorhomes after conversion, if it looks like a Commercial Vehicle then according to them that is what it is, I read somewhere that the reasoning behind this is that if someone makes a report to Police about a van they usually describe it as a Van and not a conversion, this is supposed to make it easier to trace, I probably have got it wrong but someone is sure to know. This apparently does not apply to professional first conversions.
 
vindiboy said:
I believe that there is something afoot with DVLA where they will no longer allow vans to be re registered as Motorhomes after conversion, if it looks like a Commercial Vehicle then according to them that is what it is, I read somewhere that the reasoning behind this is that if someone makes a report to Police about a van they usually describe it as a Van and not a conversion, this is supposed to make it easier to trace, I probably have got it wrong but someone is sure to know. This apparently does not apply to professional first conversions.
Click to expand...

Yeah thats what ive heard lately too...It seems DVLA's main priority is now that a van conversion must look like a motorhome from the exterior to any layperson who may be asked to describe the vehicle...i.e. any person would describe it on first sight as obviously being a motorhome and not describe it as a van or a van with windows...if that makes sense? And the internal requirements now seem to be secondary.

To a degree I do see the logic if the van is being used for criminal activity or fails to stop after an accident. Every member of this forum could probably identify a van conversion straight away, excluding stealth vans, but most people with no experience of van conversions would probably just say they saw a white van. Like most people may identify a red van as a post office van on first sight just because its red.
 
AuldTam said:
I think you need to check exactly where to replace the bukhead if you plan to register it as a motor caravan in the future...I'm sure one of the DVLA regulations refers to the garage/storage size in proportion to the overall size of the living space (or something along those lines) I remember reading this somewhere when I was planing my van.

I'm sure one of the more experienced members will be able to quote this regulation exactly, but worth looking into now rather than finding out later that it doesnt comply.

Sounds like a great winter project.
Click to expand...

'Van' part will be less than half the size of the 'living' bit. Its gonna be a dual purpose van/MH, so the rear bit needs to fit 2 mountain bikes, plus the dogs trailer. Plus 2 kayaks, and some other outdoor stuff. So I plan to send dvla a pic with all stuff in. (And say nothing about the 6 tressle tables, 20ft marquee etc...)


I'm constantly checking dvla for updates. but they seem to be going round in circles. It seems to be the police that are pushing for more obvious looking conversion, but dvla say they are aware of conversion companies & self builders and problems being caused, and are trying to find a happy medium.
 
My Van arrives on MONDAY!!!

2004 Ford Transit MWB.
Its an ex United Utilities or Network Rail. 8 seat crewbus/work van. No dents, bumps, or the usually 'white van' scars. Comes already fitted with lockers, carpet & insulation, microwave, fold out sink & hot water. Plus the van part I wanted at the back already sorted too!!!

All I need to do is fit a bed, tv & new radio. Plus i'm going to add a couple more power points.

Pics to follow when van arrives.

FOR SALE: 1 x 3 seater bench & 1 x 2 seater bench with seatbelts & tables to match.
 
Its Finally Arrived

101_0618.jpg101_0617.jpg101_0616.jpg101_0615.jpg
 
I needed business cover motor insurance on MH for pet sitting & delivering phone books. Only company that I could find

was NFU. Still with them.
 
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