Changing a vehichles class?

[ThePollitt]

So, my boss has just bought this...



...which is bad ass by all accounts. Anyway, it's only a sneaky pic as we have plans for it. More pics as and when it happens.

The thing is, it's an ex-AA van thus putting it in class 5 (?). This means it has to got to a VOSA center to be MOT'd as a goods vehicle (or so is my understanding). Now Morley's dad is an MOT tester and owns an MOT station, but it's only for cars so he can't MOT it.

It's going to be turned into a camper/tow vehicle over the next few weeks though, so they were wondering if it is possible to change it to a camper officially, and what would be involved in doing so. It makes sense as that's what it is, plus it'll make MOTing it less of a headache.

Anyone know whats involved?

Chris

[goodoldluke]

when i changed my spitfire to a historic vehicle from plg all i did was change it on my v5 with reasons for doing so. took a while to come back tho but all was ammended.

don't know if it will work with your situation?

try post office?

[VIP]

Apr 26, 2010 10:26:36 GMT ThePollitt said:

So, my boss has just bought this...



...which is bad ass by all accounts. Anyway, it's only a sneaky pic as we have plans for it. More pics as and when it happens.

The thing is, it's an ex-AA van thus putting it in class 5 (?). This means it has to got to a VOSA center to be MOT'd as a goods vehicle (or so is my understanding). Now Morley's dad is an MOT tester and owns an MOT station, but it's only for cars so he can't MOT it.

It's going to be turned into a camper/tow vehicle over the next few weeks though, so they were wondering if it is possible to change it to a camper officially, and what would be involved in doing so. It makes sense as that's what it is, plus it'll make MOTing it less of a headache.

Anyone know whats involved?

Chris

Reclassifying a van as a camper is not as easy and bunging a mattress in the back and calling it a camper.

AFAIK, it has to have a full blown camper conversion, including windows, and has to be inspected by DVLA/VOSA station who will 'judge' if it's still a van or not.

Although some folks have just taken loads of photos of the conversion and sent them away with the application to change class.

[ThePollitt]

Apr 26, 2010 10:37:31 GMT VIP said:

Reclassifying a van as a camper is not as easy and bunging a mattress in the back and calling it a camper.

I know, hence asking. It will be fully kitted out van though (it's already got a bulkhead and extra windows as it would have been a crew-cab type thing). Not just a van with a mattress in it.

The timescale we're working to will mean it'll need to have a 3.5ton + MOT this year anyway, but for the future it would be easier if it could all be done at Morley Autos. Plus there is no point in it retaining a class that is no longer applicable.

Chris

[VIP]

Apr 26, 2010 10:43:54 GMT ThePollitt said:

Apr 26, 2010 10:37:31 GMT VIP said:

Reclassifying a van as a camper is not as easy and bunging a mattress in the back and calling it a camper.

I know, hence asking. It will be fully kitted out van though (it's already got a bulkhead and extra windows as it would have been a crew-cab type thing). Not just a van with a mattress in it.

The timescale we're working to will mean it'll need to have a 3.5ton + MOT this year anyway, but for the future it would be easier if it could all be done at Morley Autos. Plus there is no point in it retaining a class that is no longer applicable.

Chris

Ah see, because you've 'hidden' it, it looks just like a stock panel van.

Your font of all knowledge is best found here...



Tell you all the things you need to have in place to pass inspection.

[ThePollitt]

Yeah, sorry, should have mentioned the extra windows!

Chris

[Rich]

isn't class 5 for vehicles with more than 13 seats? Or am I just reading this \/ wrong?

www.direct.gov.uk/en/motoring/owningavehicle/mot/dg_4022514

[datman]

My bedford CF twinwheel was a class VII (i think) i thought it had to do with the weight.

[Rich]

Apr 26, 2010 11:56:52 GMT datman said:

My bedford CF twinwheel was a class VII (i think) I thought it had to do with the weight.

Thats what I thought but unless the website is being a bit vauge then 5 appears to be based on private minibusses over 13 seats

[shortie5913]

A transit of that size will fall into Class 7 (VII if written correctly) and AFAIK it's done on axle weights and looking at the pics its twin wheel yeah? Hence putting it over the 3.5t limit and needing a class 7 MOT, i think the problem will be even when converted to a "camper" you will still need class 7 mot as you'll still be able to carry that amount of weight in the eyes of the law.

Not cut and dry but hope that helps.

[VIP]

Apr 26, 2010 14:12:12 GMT shortie5913 said:

A transit of that size will fall into Class 7 (VII if written correctly) and AFAIK it's done on axle weights and looking at the pics its twin wheel yeah? Hence putting it over the 3.5t limit and needing a class 7 MOT, I think the problem will be even when converted to a "camper" you will still need class 7 mot as you'll still be able to carry that amount of weight in the eyes of the law.

Not cut and dry but hope that helps.

I've seen 24 seat minibuses converted into the correct camper class. Doubt you'd be able to carry 3.5tons with a sink, stove, bed and table in the way.

[Seth]

Apr 26, 2010 14:53:53 GMT VIP said:

Doubt you'd be able to carry 3.5tons with a sink, stove, bed and table in the way.

[VIP]

Apr 26, 2010 15:23:02 GMT Seth said:

Apr 26, 2010 14:53:53 GMT VIP said:

Doubt you'd be able to carry 3.5tons with a sink, stove, bed and table in the way.

"You're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off!"

[popuptoaster]

If its just a weight issue its quite easy to get trucks and vane down plated, i thought the old twin wheel mk2 transits were only good for 1.5 ton loads, vans under 2 ton so should be ok for MOT's and no tacho/ normal car license, course i may just be out of date.

[popuptoaster]

found this,

"VOSA have a document that gives guidance on what is a motorcaravan to assist them in deciding should DVLA require their adjudication. Basically, the changes must be sufficient to constitute a real change of primary purpose and there must be at least:
•Side windows further to the rear than the driving position
•Somewhere to sleep - a bed of at least six feet in length
•Somewhere to cook
•Washing facilities (a sink) with a water supply
•Somewhere to eat sat at a table
•Somewhere to store clothes etc. (either a wardrobe and/or cupboard and/or drawer space.)
The modifications must be "permanent" but the facilities don't need to be available at the same time. For example, you can make the bed from the seats, table, etc.

Unfortunately, I can't find the document that VOSA sent me when I was considering converting my van, but some of their decisions surprised me. For example, there was a Mazda Bongo auto-freetop that had the back row of seats ripped out and replaced by a "Camping Cube" one side and a small chest of drawers on the other. The centre row was replaced by two swivelable captain chairs. To me, that vehicle had everything needed but VOSA said that the changes were not sufficient to change its primary purpose from passenger vehicle to accommodation. They were clear that "day vans" don't qualify as motorcaravans."


I know you can downplate stuff, my ex boss used to do it with trucks so he could emply non HGV drivers, some of them had stops on the springs so you could tell if you'd hit the limit and some just came back with the plate altered, cant find any info on it, i assume ribnging VOSA would be the easiest thing to do.

[fordf350camper]

When i took my paper work for my ford fire truck to the nottingham office.I took photos of the sink and cooker and they put it as a mpv.