Motor Caravan Internal Features - Minimum install to meet speed limit requirements

[goldeneye243]

You’re not going to get it reclassified as a motor caravan and you’re not going to get the speed restrictions changed either. Done.

Not sure that is totally true - It is not going to be reclassified as a motor caravan, but if it meets the internal requirements then the speed limits would be different.

Thankfully, I would consider myself literate and recognise when I have read enough. It is also obvious from posts after mine that confusion reigns regarding your intent and aspirations other than “please conjoin with me to cobble together a potential line of defence that I could use in an attempt to challenge a Notice of Intended Prosecution as I wish to travel faster than I am allowed to!”

Don’t let that stop you from stomping your feet and throwing tantrums though!

I agreed that it wasn't clear - Not sure that the "flogging a dead horse" comments were helpful though as that was not the topic! I agree that there are lots of posts about it, but I have done a lot of reading and got a good understanding of the situation.

I’ve had a few beers & a glass of red or two, so here goes.
Forget the DVLA, you need to comply with the Construction & Use regs 1979. These define the properties of a “motor caravan”. If you meet the requirements of the regs, then you are good to go. You need to satisfy yourself that you have met the requirements & are confident to stand up in court and argue your case. The salient points are, permanent, living accommodation, table, seating, cooking, storage.
If you are trying to skirt around the regs by getting a commercial vehicle under the radar, then you need to be prepared to argue your case.
In any case, regardless of the classification, if you are carrying commercial goods, then it’s all bets off.

Good comments! Not trying to skirt around the regs, trying to comply with them, but never wanted the full furniture install that most people associate with a converted van.

The table is relatively easy to fix into the van, but the cooking element is more challenging

I get your question, but the bits you need are supposed to be fixed, so portable kit isn’t going to work, a pod also doesn’t count.

So is it space you cant give up in your quest?

Yes, it is the space really and convenience of being able to load the van. I might have a think about how I could permanently install a form of cooker that comes out from under the seat at the back - Like a miniature version of a slidepod.

Maybe I should have titled the thread - Permanent gas cooker installation ideas needed - Looking for inspiration

 

[Donk]

Well you won’t be able to change from an N1 to an M1 and you won’t change to a motor caravan. I don’t know where you’re going to go from here.

 

[goldeneye243]

Well you won’t be able to change from an N1 to an M1 and you won’t change to a motor caravan. I don’t know where you’re going to go from here.

From the DVLA guidance -

"It is important to remember that even if the vehicle’s body type is not changed to ‘motor caravan’, the vehicle can still be used for this purpose as long as the keeper is satisfied the converted vehicle meets the required internal features for motor caravans."

Speed limits here

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

 

[DXX]

From the DVLA guidance -

"It is important to remember that even if the vehicle’s body type is not changed to ‘motor caravan’, the vehicle can still be used for this purpose as long as the keeper is satisfied the converted vehicle meets the required internal features for motor caravans."

Speed limits here

https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits

When you’ve decided what the answers to your questions are let us know. I for one am intrigued.

 

[DaveD]

I usually forget I'm on commercial vehicle speed limits, I drive it the same as I would a car, and I'm usually overtaken by builders vans and crafter delivery vans who don't even understand the concept of speed limits! Most of the time, due to traffic or road conditions or the fact that I'm retired so I don't rush anywhere, I'd be under the commercial speed limits anyway and I certainly can't be arsed to put a cooker or bed in my kombi just so that I can feel confident to drive to car limits.

 

[Deleted Member]

I drive at 70mph in my lwb Kombi, it’s over 2040kg, but I’d appeal any speeding ticket, show them the rear seats and claim dual purpose.

 

[JOG]

I usually forget I'm on commercial vehicle speed limits, I drive it the same as I would a car, and I'm usually overtaken by builders vans and crafter delivery vans who don't even understand the concept of speed limits! Most of the time, due to traffic or road conditions or the fact that I'm retired so I don't rush anywhere, I'd be under the commercial speed limits anyway and I certainly can't be arsed to put a cooker or bed in my kombi just so that I can feel confident to drive to car limits.

Forcing me to exceed the speed limit overtaking…! It’s all your fault!

 

[JOG]

Ok, who has been taking the law into their own hands…?

Department For Transport website starts showing explicit PORNOGRAPHY

Department for Transport site usually features business plan documents and statistics on various government services including driving tests and summary statistics on speeding fines.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Rykkers]

Current build is a T32 highline with full width rib bed and pop top roof - No table, or cooking facilities. Double front seat, so that should cover storage??

Are there any space efficient (and cost efficient) ways of making it qualify as a motor caravan? It would be handy to be out of the grey area for speed limits and ferry trips etc...

Do not want to sacrifice much space if at all possible!!

Any thought welcome...

So a few years later, I found this post whilst researching the same question.
I've white enjoyed all the angry replies from people who clearly didn't read or understand your question.

We're looking to do similar.

So some practical ideas that I had were:
Cupboards - the guidance say they can be under the seat, so I'm putting a door on one of the sections under my RIB bed.
Cooking facilities - going to buy the smallest microwave I can and will firmly attach it somewhere accessable and intrusive
Table - it says permanent mounting, and independent. So I'm just going to screw one of those floor tables mounts to the floor and then just keep the table top folded away somewhere.

Probably, like you, we spend most of our time cooking and eating outside the van, so have no need for these features taking up valuable sleeping space.

 

[Bigsidavies]

So a few years later, I found this post whilst researching the same question.
I've white enjoyed all the angry replies from people who clearly didn't read or understand your question.

We're looking to do similar.

So some practical ideas that I had were:
Cupboards - the guidance say they can be under the seat, so I'm putting a door on one of the sections under my RIB bed.
Cooking facilities - going to buy the smallest microwave I can and will firmly attach it somewhere accessable and intrusive
Table - it says permanent mounting, and independent. So I'm just going to screw one of those floor tables mounts to the floor and then just keep the table top folded away somewhere.

Probably, like you, we spend most of our time cooking and eating outside the van, so have no need for these features taking up valuable sleeping space.

I would say if you’re going to do all that just so you can do 60 down a country road then just drive at 50. If your doing it to get motorcaravan on your V5 then it’s not happening.

 

[Rykkers]

I would say if you’re going to do all that just so you can do 60 down a country road then just drive at 50. If your doing it to get motorcaravan on your V5 then it’s not happening.

Personally, most of the roads near us are massive 3 lane dual carriageways, but as A roads, we're limited to 60. I spend a lot of my time on those roads ferrying the kids around and going to work, so the 30 minutes it'll take me to do the above will be well worth it.

My maths says that after 15 of my regular journeys (3 weeks) I've broken even.