How to turn a van into a motorhome?

How to turn a van into a motorhome? – main image

Converting a van into a motorhome seems to be a solution that may not be the easiest but cheaper than buying a ready-made motorhome. In addition, we get the opportunity to create such buildings as we dream of. However, making a camper from a "tin" is subject to regulations.

First of all, if we want to re-register a vehicle from a delivery vehicle to a passenger car, we cannot make technical changes ourselves. Modifications may only be made by a company authorized to convert vehicles . When the changes are made, the modifications must be approved by the diagnostic station. If the car passes the tests, then you can go to the communication department of the appropriate office.

Several documents must be presented there. The certificate of vehicle conversion must contain a description of the changes made. You also need an approval certificate showing that the car can be used to transport people. It is worth knowing that in Poland, motorhomes are registered as special vehicles. It is also necessary to document that the company that made the conversion is authorized to do so (we will receive such a certificate from the contractor).

In the hands of specialists

There are companies in Poland that specialize in camping construction - among them companies such as Camperspol and Waldi , which, by definition, rebuild customers' vehicles, and manufacturers of ready motorhomes (created on the basis of new cars of well-known brands), who, upon request, will modernize and they will also adequately equip the customer's car (such companies include, for example, Ebac )

For example, in the case of the Waldi company, if the owner of a Citroen, Fiat, Peugeot or Volkswagen which is still under warranty decides to convert, the modernization will not affect the manufacturer's warranty . In addition, the company ensures that the car is returned to the owner after appropriate diagnostic tests, with the changed type of vehicle to "special".

In turn, Camperespol guarantees that the bodywork made by the company is each time assessed by a PZMot expert , and the opinion issued by him allows the vehicle to be registered and put into traffic.

In each of these companies, the customer chooses the elements and variants of equipment himself, thanks to which the motorhome can be arranged according to his taste and needs. As Waldemar Skibiński, the owner of Waldi, told Camprest.com, a standard car adaptation for camping purposes costs 39,000 PLN net . However, this price does not include a toilet with a shower, which can be installed for another PLN 4,000. Standard bus body in Ebac costs about 60 thousand. zloty.

Imported from abroad

A slightly bigger problem may arise from trying to change the use of a imported truck. Such a car is not charged with excise duty, but a passenger car does. And for customs offices, a motorhome is a passenger vehicle on which you have to pay excise duty.

In order to avoid problems, after importing a car intended for the transport of goods, an application for excise duty exemption should be submitted to the head of the customs office. Customs office may then appoint an expert to assess whether the car is a truck.

If so, the owner will receive an appropriate confirmation of the exemption, and then the way is free to modernize and finally change the vehicle data to a "special" car for camping, without the risk of having to pay additional tax.

If you are just starting your adventure with caravanning and wondering how to prepare for it and where to sleep in a motorhome, I recommend buying our guide "Your first motorhome trip" or our original motorhome routes in the form of eBooks at www.gdziekamperem.pl

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Sometimes it is better to get lost than to ask for directions too much. Aldous Huxley

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Motorhome accident repairs – image 1
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Motorhome accident repairs
When we have a motorhome with a minor or larger accident, or we intend to buy a collision car, it is always worth contacting a proven service, specialized in repairing motorhomes. The Elcamp company from Krakow, known as a manufacturer and seller of motorhomes and a distributor of car parts and accessories, also runs a camping car repair service. Not only what's outside Most often, during a collision, elements of the outer skin of the car are damaged. The effects, however, can be much more serious. It is always worth checking if the equipment inside the vehicle and installations: water, gas, electricity, TV and others have not been damaged. The next stage of repair is the replacement of damaged parts . It is safest to get a specific, new part directly from the manufacturer. Elcamp gives a guarantee for all work performed, unless the repair at the customer's request was not carried out in accordance with the recommended technology. Then no one will take responsibility for any future faults. The biggest enemy of any building is its leakage . The vast majority of motorhomes have "sandwich" coverings. After a collision, check if there are any leaks through which water enters the interior, causing the frame to rot. In the event of damage or leakage of the roof, we will usually have nothing else to do but replace it with a brand new one. This usually takes a lot of time and money. Is the repair worth it? In the autumn and winter period, the workshop is working at full speed. A company with as much experience as Elcamp undertakes every repair of a damaged vehicle . Clients usually ask two questions: about the cost and duration of the work. Unfortunately, post-accident repair can take up to several months . This is due to the fact that not all parts are available "out of stock". The cost obviously depends on the degree of damage to the vehicle or its equipment. When the initial cost , which is usually estimated at the first inspection, exceeds the value of the car, it makes no sense to undertake repairs. Repair expenses are, of course, a river topic. They can be up to 100% of the market value of the vehicle. It is worth emphasizing, however, that it is not synonymous with the actual selling price - well-kept cars, repaired with the use of original parts, reach prices above average market prices. Please check before buying Sometimes it's a good idea to buy a used vehicle. However, be careful with new (or almost new) cars at bargain prices . Then we can almost be sure that they have had an accident. Of course, you can do something with them, but it is important to know about a possible collision. The purchase of an accident motorhome can even be profitable, provided that the vehicle is thoroughly inspected and, during the inspection, as much damage as possible related to the incident (or even earlier) is noticed. It even happens that the cost of post-accident work is lower than in the case of non-damage repair. Remember that previous defects are easy to hide in a damaged car, in which the seller will not allow us to connect, for example, electricity or gas during the inspection, explaining that the installations may be out of order. Sometimes it is of course true, but in this way we are deprived of the possibility of checking individual pieces of equipment. Haste is a bad advisor To find a used motorhome in good condition, you need to spend some time searching for it. It is rare that the first copy that catches our eye is actually worth buying. Here there is a small problem - buying a car abroad. Since we are going far and spending money to see the car, even if it does not correspond to the description, we often decide to buy it anyway. This is a serious mistake. When we are not specialists ourselves, it is best to opt for an advisor - it is an expense much lower than the unexpected repair later. Elcamp's experts often advise on the purchase of damaged or used cars, both at the company's headquarters and at the seller, at the request of customers. However, as they say themselves, nothing can replace a car inspection in a professional service prepared for the comprehensive service of camping vehicles, which has all the necessary equipment. Thanks to them, it is possible to detect defects that even an experienced specialist will not notice with the naked eye.