Panel Van Conversion - Is it a Campervan or a Motorhome?

[Kannon Fodda]

What makes the vehicle into a Motorhome rather than a Campervan?

On the C&CC website I could book my vehicle based on it's length and width to a grass pitch if it is a campervan, but the same dimensions won't allow a booking as a motorhome.

To me a campervan is effectively one large living space. I typically think of them as the VW type things, and generally whilst you may just get a porta potti type toilet that you can pull out from a cupboard, it won't have a proper separate washroom toilet (with or without shower). If you've got a dedicated washroom, especially if you have a shower, then has it become a motorhome?

Is it the height of the vehicle? Do you expect a camper to get into car parks with height barriers, but a motorhome cannot?

But is a motorhome in fact something that is the coachbuilt or A class type things, i.e. it's built onto a base vehicle chassis so you've made the living area wider and taller?

You can't look to government regulations for "motor caravan". The simplest day VW campervan meets the standard as fundamentally all you need is seating and table, cooking facility (a fitted hob but oddly not any dishwashing), sleeping space and storage and you'll need a separate entrance door from the drivers space, a few external stickers and windows. But critically you don't need even a toilet to be a motor caravan.

Autotrail's website blurb describes their 6m long 2020 pop top 4 berth Adventure PVC as a campervan. I'd have thought it a motorhome based on all it's amenities.

I tend to refer to my 5.4m length PVC as "the van", but always thought of it as a small motorhome, rather than a campervan. This isn't really a question of snobbery, more practicality of how campsites, ferries, and similar consider me.

 

[DuxDeluxe]

Interesting, Rob. I always regarded anything with a fixed toilet as a motorhome but now thinking about it maybe not. VW transporter definitely a campervan for fear of the VW T2/4/5/6 owners taking out a contract on you, but a PVC? Not sure, but as you option it, whatever you want it to be.

You’re still welcome round any time for a socially distanced drink and bite to eat though

 

[Otter Spotter]

I was told by my insurance company that if it has a fixed toilet then it’s a motorhome if it doesn’t have a toilet or if it slides away into a cupboard then it’s a campervan.
not sure if it true or not but I tend to call mine a motorhome as my thought is because it has a fixed high top roof not a pop top. Just to confirm mine is a PVC

 

[Off da Grid]

I had that question myself.
We have a Fiat Ducato 6m long 2.8m high panel van coach built.
We have a separate toilet shower room, fridge, cooker and pull out bed.
As you’ve said what defines a campervan.
We’ve been to several campsites that have stated campervans only.
I just email the dimensions and a photo if unsure.
For tax purposes it’s a personal light goods vehicle.
The DVLA say it’s a motorhome.

 

[Terry]

None are Motorhome they are called Motor caravan new rules say some are vans with windows Take your pick

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[mikebeaches]

On the C&CC website I could book my vehicle based on it's length and width to a grass pitch if it is a campervan, but the same dimensions won't allow a booking as a motorhome.

Interesting point about the C&CC booking!

I occasionally use their website to book a grass pitch, and without a thought enter our pvc as a 'campervan'.

Never tried using 'motorhome' in the booking for a grass pitch.

But, you are quite right - our van is registered as a 'motor caravan' and it has a full washroom and all of the facilities you'd find in a similar-size coachbuilt motorhome. The same weight too.

These days I do now tend to think of our pvc as a 'campervan', rather than a 'MH' in any case.

And there are a few small private sites that only accept tents and campervans, but NOT motorhomes.

 

[Sapper520]

The van we ordered started it’s life as a Ducato Panel Van. It then went to Sunlight, in Southern Germany, to be converted into a Campervan (as per their website). It’s 6m long, got toilet, shower, fridge, double ring hob, sink, heating etc.

I thought it was a Campervan.......that’s what Sunlight call it?

 

[Terry]

The van we ordered started it’s life as a Ducato Panel Van. It then went to Sunlight, in Southern Germany, to be converted into a Campervan (as per their website). It’s 6m long, got toilet, shower, fridge, double ring hob, sink, heating etc.

I thought it was a Campervan.......that’s what Sunlight call it?

What does it say on the v5?

 

[Howard B]

Just check the wording on the V5 for my Adria Twin which is a converted Ducato panel van, it states Motor caravan

 

[gus-lopez]

Or the spanish version " 2448 van with living accommodation under 3500kgs"

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[9526]

Don’t put campervan if you’re using comfort insurance, as they limit your comprehensive cover in Europe to 90 days throughout the length of your policy.

 

[Sapper520]

What does it say on the v5?

Not got one yet.......comes into the country next week, and hopefully take delivery in early September.

 

[the1andonly]

Both bongo and rapido v5 class as motorcaravan. Insurance bongo is a car rapido a van or motorhome. Ncd on bongo not tranferable( also had ncd on separate car) for some they are interchangeable until they want to exclude something. Eg campsites accepting campervans and no t motorhomes exceeding specific dimensions eg 2.4 x6m because they cause to much agro getting in and out of the gate. Or even a wt limmit of 2.5tonne. No definition so plenty of scope for grief.

 

[poppycamper]

Very very interesting points here.
I have a 7mtr high top PVC. Which is registered as a Motor Caravan and I refer to it as a motorhome.
Kannon Fodda your Comment about grass pitches now makes sense as I can never secure a grass pitch but like you I am registered as a moho. Maybe the PVC brigade could use this to our advantage and have a campervan or a moho as the circumstances dictate
Again snobbery aside It would be interesting to see what the VW type campers out there( and let's be honest there is plenty of them out there) call there vans.
Again with the rule changes are the sites going to change there booking forms to
What sort of vehicle
A= Motor Caravan......or
B= Van With Windows.

 

[Minxy]

I was told by my insurance company that if it has a fixed toilet then it’s a motorhome if it doesn’t have a toilet or if it slides away into a cupboard then it’s a campervan.
not sure if it true or not but I tend to call mine a motorhome as my thought is because it has a fixed high top roof not a pop top. Just to confirm mine is a PVC

... nah, yours is a van with windows!

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[Kannon Fodda]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who is unsure?

I can see that for many sites weight would be a potential concern - forget the 3.5T C1 licence issues, more if you're likely to sink into softer ground. A PVC might well cause problems compared to the VW T5 type campers. But sheer bulk of the vehicle may be an issue, especially on some of the more intimate locations. If they aim at the one and two main hiking style tents are they going to welcome a 6.5m long high top PVC claiming to be a campervan?

As the C&CC phonelines are closed until Monday, and the forecast suggests that next few days weather is going to be good, so remaining spaces could well get snapped up, I think I'll book the site for next weekend that will allow me as a campervan but not as a motorhome, and see what happens when I turn up

 

[Cal54]

I have a very simple theory - if it is a van conversion it is a campervan, irrespective of size, or fixed toilet etc. If it is a coachbuilt then it is a Motorhome - simples!!

 

[Skez]

I answered 'It's what you want it to be', but the van we sold last year was a Frankia A class - definitely a motorhome. The van we take delivery of soon is a Ducato Panel Van, converted into a motor caravan (which is what I think it will be registered as).

For me, something built completely within the shape of the original van is more campervan than motorhome, and so campervan is what we shall call ours!!

...................unless we need to be a motorhome for any specific purpose.............

Don’t put campervan if you’re using comfort insurance, as they limit your comprehensive cover in Europe to 90 days throughout the length of your policy.

 

[Deneb]

I use both Campervan and Motorhome, depending how the mood takes me. I've never had a problem booking a grass pitch with C&CC using either term (6.0 metre Ducato PVC).

We were on a grass pitch without EHU at Sandringham last week, and I'm sure I booked that as a motorhome.

I've just been on the C&CC website and been through the motions of booking a grass only pitch at Sandringham and Bakewell as a motorhome 6.0 m X 2.4 m and been offered pitches on both.

 

[Terry]

If it's any help every van I have converted have all been reg as Motor caravan including several VW transporter type vans
I have not done a conversion for almost 18 MTHS and rules have changed , so now as I understand some would become vans with windows. Some already covert vans as "stealth" vans and thus could invalidate any insurance they have simply because it becomes neither a van or Motor caravan. I am not aware of any specific insurance for these vehicles unless they insure a modified vehicle Good luck with that one
A matter of interest it is always advisable to get an agreed value from your insurance company for any self build that way you won't fall foul of any miss interpretation on what you think it's worth etc
Edit Skez your Frankia would have been reg as Motor Caravan just like your new Panel Van will be ....no classification for Motorhome or campervan

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[Grianan]

Ours is a 6.36m PVC which. Think of as a campervan. To me a motorhome is either a coachbuilt or an A class.

interestingly, in France, one site manager shattered my dream by saying we were definitely a camping car than a fourgon.

 

[Minxy]

Our previous vehicles were all PVC conversions so they were always referred to as campers ... our Carthago A-class is a motorcaravan but I still call it a camper!

 

[poppycamper]

Guessing we ain't going to get a definitive answer on this one.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

I use both Campervan and Motorhome, depending how the mood takes me. I've never had a problem booking a grass pitch with C&CC using either term (6.0 metre Ducato PVC).

We were on a grass pitch without EHU at Sandringham last week, and I'm sure I booked that as a motorhome.

I've just been on the C&CC website and been through the motions of booking a grass only pitch at Sandringham and Bakewell as a motorhome 6.0 m X 2.4 m and been offered pitches on both.

As a Motorhome, even only 5.5m long I couldn't book to a site - wouldn't even give me the grass pitch option despite C&CC site availability for the weekend highlighting it as having 10+ grass pitches available. As a campervan, even with length 6m, and adding an awning I could book the grass without electric pitch. Oh and it's a site with toilets closed this season, so nothing to do with what facilities you might have

I know the site is quite wooded, and some pitches do have a bit of tight access. Going to be interesting to see if what their computer allocates to me will let me in and whether I need to lop off a down a low hanging branch.

 

[TheBig1]

The DVLA see them as motor caravans, but way back panel van conversions without fixed toilet and more specifically a shower were referred to as camper vans. As in camping in a van rather than under canvas but still with limited facilities. Motorhomes are literally homes on wheels with all the conveniences of home, such as shower and heating etc

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[Deneb]

As a Motorhome, even only 5.5m long I couldn't book to a site - wouldn't even give me the grass pitch option despite C&CC site availability for the weekend highlighting it as having 10+ grass pitches available. As a campervan, even with length 6m, and adding an awning I could book the grass without electric pitch. Oh and it's a site with toilets closed this season, so nothing to do with what facilities you might have

I know the site is quite wooded, and some pitches do have a bit of tight access. Going to be interesting to see if what their computer allocates to me will let me in and whether I need to lop off a down a low hanging branch.

Very strange. I've never noticed a problem, although you haven't said the name of the site you're booking unless I missed it. I wonder if it's some sort of glitch in the C&CC booking system. I think seeking a universal definition is overthinking things though, as if it isn't a glitch it will be whatever the club have programmed into their system and how they relate that to pitch type availability etc. Neither is a legal term with a strict definition.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

The DVLA see them as motor caravans, but way back panel van conversions without fixed toilet and more specifically a shower were referred to as camper vans. As in camping in a van rather than under canvas but still with limited facilities.

I've come to the conclusion that the DVLA motor caravan classification is rather meaningless. A one size fit's all primarily for taxation purposes and basically meaning a vehicle intended for sleeping in which can also be driver under it's own power, as opposed to the caravan which gets towed.

Motorhomes are literally homes on wheels with all the conveniences of home, such as shower and heating etc

So my full facility PVC with it's shower, heating, hot water, gas hobs oven and even microwave, TV and who knows what is a Motorhome

 

[SpeedyDux]

Referring to our PVC as a campervan helps to maintain peace, goodwill, and tolerance with the neighbours in our road.

 

[Kannon Fodda]

Very strange. I've never noticed a problem, although you haven't said the name of the site you're booking unless I missed it. I wonder if it's some sort of glitch in the C&CC booking system. I think seeking a universal definition is overthinking things though, as if it isn't a glitch it will be whatever the club have programmed into their system and how they relate that to pitch type availability etc. Neither is a legal term with a strict definition.

The site is Graffham, West Sussex. But I've seen similar issues on a couple of other sites such as Corfe for their grass pitches. I'll suspect a technicality on perceived size and bulk of vehicles.

You'd think there would be a definition somewhere on their site. I think even the authors of some of the stuff on the C&CC site are also confused. Their techy advice data Sheet #3 "Choosing a Motorhome" buried in their help and advice section, states

Types of motorhome

You'll have already noticed motorhomes come in many different shapes and sizes. Here are a few of the main types:

Panel van conversions: These are vans with little in the way of exterior modifications (save the addition of extra windows, usually) whose interiors have been kitted out for camping, which is why they are also called campervans. Most panel van conversions have limited headroom unless the original fixed roof is replace...d with a high-top roof ....

So when the friendly warden tries to whinge

 

[Langtoftlad]

Campervan + toilet & shower = Motorhome.

However, depending on who I'm talking to, it's my camper, my van, my moho, my bus etc etc etc.

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