When is a camper not a camper?

When there's no tap with the sink...!

It was always something we were going to add later. Too many variables that had to be looked at first would've held up the interior build - exterior water tank, interior container, waste tank, water pump, etc, etc.

So we fitted the sink with no tap and just a waste pipe running out under the van (we have a waste tank if we're on a posh campsite). It has worked to date and gets little use - the odd wash and toothbrushing, the occasional rinsing out of a mug - that sort of thing.

This was all fine for the DVLA when it came to reclassifying the van as a camper, no problems whatsoever.

When first discussing the van conversion with the Camping & Caravanning Club's Insurance people, again, this didn't seem to be a problem. Being members of the club we've got a pretty good deal, as discussed in a previous post.

But now they have asked for photographs of the conversion including evidence of a sink, running water and a fixed container...

Thanks. So in the DVLA's eyes it is a motor-caravan, but in the C&C Club's eyes it is a panel van!

Thankfully we've got 120 day's grace to sort the issue - we had already been looking into a tap, internal container and submersible pump -it just means we're going to have to bring-forth the purchase and fitting of these items. It may also mean a trip back to the Campershak to lift out the sink/hob unit as access to the underside is minimal.

The route we're looking to go down is the combination of a small water container that can be strapped into the cupbards, a submersible pump:

And a folding tap to fit in the Smev unit:

Plus associated pipework and wiring.

Stay-tuned for further updates of the van 'finally' becoming a camper!

Dubfreeze 2011

Didn't get much chance to take photos at Dubfreeze due to working dossing on a friend's swapmeet stall for the day.

My favourite shot of the day has to be this T3 on an airbag/fuch combo in the For Sale section:

We also noticed the huge jump in the amount of T5's - probably the only vehicles we saw on the way down first thing in the morning - Hi if it was you we waved at/passed at speed ;)

As with Vanfest last year there seems to be more and more 'interior specialists' coming out of the woodwork (parden the pun) offering everything from off the shelf to totally bespoke. I'm glad we did ours when we did, not sure we could afford it these days! And don't get me started on prices - nearly £40k for a converted T5 - that's California money surely?!?

Roll-on the 2011 show season - it's gonna be a good one...

Almost time to stop driving the van

Just a quick update; not that much has been happening with the van of late, I suppose the more little jobs that are accomplished the less blog activity there will be. We're on the major push to save enough money for the pop-top roof and if all goes to plan we're probably about 18 months away from fitting.

The Lupo is currently at Aire Valley Workshop for a thorough once-over, so this should be the last week of using the van for the daily commute. So to celebrate the van being a full-time camper we're going away next weekend to York for a couple of nights, staying on the small Rawcliffe Manor campsite to the north of the city.

I've got to say I'm quite looking forward to not taking the van into Leeds everyday and keeping the mileage down to a sensible level.