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Post by matt2223 on Nov 26, 2017 19:05:38 GMT 1
I have a customer that has added extra seats to his van as to turn it into a camper. He wants to have his log book changed so it's down as a camper but is saying he needs a letter from a test station confirming the seats have been correctly installed. Is this something I can do or does it need to go to a ministry test station? Hopefully a fellow tester can advise on this one like wise has anyone got any experience of this and what did they put in the letter?
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Post by Karl on Nov 26, 2017 19:40:33 GMT 1
I believe seat belt installation check is for 16 plus seaters . .
Camper vans or live in vans . Are still class 4 MOT regardless of weight. so long as you can safely get it on your ramp
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Post by matt2223 on Nov 26, 2017 20:04:10 GMT 1
I believe seat belt installation check is for 16 plus seaters . . Camper vans or live in vans . Are still class 4 MOT regardless of weight. so long as you can safely get it on your ramp Size isn't a problem as it's just a t5. Just not sure why he needs a letter from us to have the log book changed |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 20:29:48 GMT 1
Based on the current Testing Guide (2017) revised edition, the initial problem I see here is the legal definition of a camper?
We now know it is a VW T5 van, which has had additional seats fitted in the rear, but we don't know how many?
Has this van got side and rear windows fitted?
So, based on the Testing Guide, it's not either;
1 / An Ambulance,
2 / A motor caravan,
3 / A Living van, or
4 / A coach.
If that T5 were presented to me for a test, I'd could be looking at dual purpose vehicle specifications at the moment!
More information required I think!
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spud
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Post by spud on Nov 26, 2017 20:34:33 GMT 1
im a gardener but I recons ..................... surely all it needs is a new MOT now the seats are fitted cos ya test the seatbelts an what have ya on the test don't u ?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 20:47:41 GMT 1
Not that straight forward actually, vehicle conversions cause headaches with different criteria having to be met, DVSA rules and all that!
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Post by Joepublic on Nov 26, 2017 22:42:48 GMT 1
The usual reason for reclassification of van to car is cheaper RFL (and road tolls too), after this weeks budget its clear that diesel vans will a cost of living RFL rise, whereas diesel cars will get the same cost of living increase and maybe a band jump too like this week. It might be worth the owner keeping the vehicle as a van for RFL purposes in the future?
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Post by Joepublic on Nov 26, 2017 22:57:22 GMT 1
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Post by valhalla on Nov 27, 2017 14:24:28 GMT 1
The usual reason for reclassification of van to car is cheaper RFL (and road tolls too), after this weeks budget its clear that diesel vans will a cost of living RFL rise, whereas diesel cars will get the same cost of living increase and maybe a band jump too like this week. It might be worth the owner keeping the vehicle as a van for RFL purposes in the future? I reckon it's going to be a minefield over the next couple of years or so. There are conflicting interests here, such as Congestion Zone Charging and Prohibition, LEZ, ULEZ, insurance, speed-limits, Road Fund License, MoT requirements, etc. etc.
Only an idiot would try to modify a vehicle to circumnavigate one or more of the interests I have mentioned above, as there is bound to be a snag further down the road. Only if the owner wants a camper van for what it is, which is a recreational vehicle, would it be worth doing this. The sands of legislation, particularly with diesels, are shifting so fast at the moment, it is very difficult to know what sort of problems you could be making for yourself, or the next owner/s, by converting vehicle from one type to another.
This sort of thing applies quite well to Defenders as well, as many people with a Hard-Top that live within Central London have found out. Sometimes the best option is to sell the vehicle altogether, rather than trying to second-guess where the next restriction is going to come from!
The problem you have here, as I see it matt2223, is that you can do all the good things required for MoT compliance, such as count the seats, ensure that they are secure within themselves, securely mounted to the bodyframe, each has a requisite seat-belt, each seat-belt is securely mounted to the vehicle structure and is working correctly and in good condition, and ultimately that the vehicle structure around the seat-belt mountings is sound. What you cannot do is confirm that the necessary modifications to the vehicle structure have been made to an approved standard, which is a specialist job (and requires deep understanding of what a "standard" VW T5 camper looks like). For example, if you were to convert a Defender 110" Hard-Top to a StationWagon by fitting rear bench seats, you would need to know what the purpose-made reinforcing bars that secure under the rear body-tub look like, and whether they were present.
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