Hi
I need to buy a van for day-to-day deliveries/courier work and that ideally has a lot of headroom, but would also like it to be able to occasionally be used as a basic camper for our family of 4.
Budget is not huge so looking at the cheaper end of the scale, say 10K maximum?
If you want a hitop van for commercial use it will have to be fairly new so any popular make, Transit, VW or Fiat etc would do the job. How you would use it as a camper would be up to you, You could make some sort of removable interior as simple or as complex as you wanted it. I think some campsites can be funny about admitting commercial vans though.
A friend of mine was thinking of doing that, but he said the insurance was high.
They said it was because of using the camper for work and going away.
perhaps maybe find out what the insurance will be.
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regards
bald eagle
Definately check out insurance implications first!
(I've recently bought a cheapie Hiace,to use as a multi-use/knock-about/camping vehicle and judging by some of the quotes I got,you'd think it was gold plated!.. )
As Tentz said,keep any "mods" detachable(and discreet?),although even then,unless the insurance company were fully aware of how you're using it,I'd probably be keeping mods basic..something that requires a small amount of "assembly/unfolding" on site?(..that way,they may be interpreted as a load/posessions,rather than "physical modifications"...?).
Maybe think of it more as just a "camping" vehicle,which you can sleep in and hang a tarp or awning off..?(..with 4 of you,you'll be needing an awning of sorts anyway).
..that's how I'm approaching our Hiace..."physically",that'll probably get some roof vents/skylights and a removeable/foldable bedframe,at most.The "catering" side of things,will be done in the awning/under tarp, using our existing camping gear.
Also be prepared to be turned away from quite a few 'sites though(..some don't like "commercial" vans)..and signwriting can be a real no no,for some 'sites..
Having said all that,if you do go for a more "complete" conversion(detachable or not),you may need to be checking any implications with DVLA?
But DON'T initially contact DVLA direct though!(..check via google and forums etc first..),as it may open a can of worms and chances are,you'll be given different answers depending on who you speak too anyway!
I'm just wondering now, what is it that hikes up the insurance, is it if you use a commercial vehicle/van for leisure/camping, or if you use a multi-use vehicle such as your Hiance for work/commercial reasons?
I'll likely at first only be doing small jobs with the van rather than set up a business.
Cheers
Dan
Our's is only for personal/leisure use(not business) but it seems it's just the fact it's "a van" which seems to bump it up...no idea why..?
(..Quotes for comparable HiAce,windowed,people carriers,were cheaper..! )
From what I gather(from the likes of the sbmcc etc),insurance does drop considerably,if a van is "converted" and gets it's class changed to "motorcaravan" with DVLA..
But as you'll need to be using the van for "trade",I can't see that being a viable option for you....
Quotes for comparable HiAce,windowed,people carriers,were cheaper..!
its all about risk...commercial vehicles are involved in more accidents therefore the insurance cost more..... there will be a significant reduction in insurance should you change the v5 from van to campervan but as discussed on here before its not as simple as it used to be... 'I have no Idea why some people think the dvla would be interested in whether you fit windows or or removable beds, my experiance is theyre only intersted if you change something relating to the v5 ..ie class or seating capacity.....the insurance company will be interested though ...a good place to start is adrian flux who specialise in these type of things ....good luck
... 'I have no Idea why some people think the dvla would be interested in whether you fit windows or or removable beds, my experiance is theyre only intersted if you change something relating to the v5 ..ie class or seating capacity.....
As Dan says they're a family of 4,I assume that he will be needing to fit additional,belted rears seats as well.....
(..and maybe even a small window to accompany it?... "crew van" style maybe?).
I think you will struggle to kit a van out to accomodate a family of 4, and still have sufficient room for it to be a 'delivery van as well. Unless most of the stuff is easily removable - not least because of the extra weight when running around delivering, i cant see how it would work. Unless you incorporated one of those Caranex things to afford you extra space?
As for insurance; loads of folk use their 'camper' for work and play, so i wouldnt have thought it an issue.
have you considered a larger mpv, such as the nissan elgrand, i was keen on getting one to be converted into a camper, but stumbled upon my stepwagon (V LUCKY !) remove or reconfigure the seats for load carrying ??
Quote: Originally posted by Mick S. on 25/1/2013
As for insurance; loads of folk use their 'camper' for work and play, so I wouldnt have thought it an issue.
But it could be. When I first took out insurance on my Granvia (large mpv) which I use for both camping and day-to-day journeys, it was classed as 'social, domestic and pleasure' - a couple of months later, during a phone call to the insurance company I mentioned driving to work and it turned out I wasn't covered for that so had to pay extra to add 'commuting to and from a place of work' to the policy. I think many insurance companies include that on their policies anyway at no extra cost - my last one did - but I'm sure one of the questions all insurance companies ask is 'is the vehicle used for business purposes'. If it is and you don't declare it then have an accident while you're driving in connection with your work then you'll probably find you're not covered. To answer your earlier question I think it's probably using a normal vehicle for commercial/business purposes which pushes the cost up.
My Granvia btw hasn't been converted - it's just had the back three seats taken out and a platform put in with a wrap-around dog guard to make a safe area for the dogs with a storage space underneath. Although it's all pretty solid it can be removed at any time and the seats replaced if necessary. During the week it's a normal passenger-carrying mpv but at weekends and holidays it becomes my 'campervan'. For tent camping it gives me masses of space to pack all my stuff in; if I'm staying anywhere for longer than two nights then I turn the middle seats into a bed and have a large drive away awning for my cooking/living space. You can get inner tents for some drive away awnings so could that be an option for you? The Granvia btw is similar to a Bongo but 6cm wider.
Post last edited on 26/01/2013 11:35:23
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Topic: Dual purpose van/campervan
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