Campervans

Bryan · Guru

Campervans

countryroad · Senior Member

On Sunday drove to Albion Park Rail NSW to Discovery Campers. Very pleasant non pushy guy.

I enquired about VW T5 diesel...his reply, diesel is very noisy, drive you mad, VW is expensive to service, hard to get parts out of the city.

Is diesel very noisy in a VW or a Toyota...campervans. confuse

He said/suggested...Buy a Toyota....he only had petrol...1999 pop top, 130,000 km, $32,000. had 2 same price. Very pleasant and quiet to drive.

My thoughts...obviously value isn't in the vehicle but in the house bit. I really would like it the other way around.

I don't intend buying from a yard, but this was to see what you get as I know no one who has a campervan.

Have been looking on all the sites including the cmca site each month, gumtree aus wide, ebay, but as I don't know which makes it difficult.

I guess to have one kitted out is $20,000 + pop top say $7000. More than I can pay, adding $20,000 + for basic diesel van at auction.

Does anyone have a VW that they have driven and had serviced and has over 100,000km on the clock.

Does anyone have a Toyota around 2005 that they have driven and had serviced and has over 100,000km on the clock.

It seems to be difficult to find decent relevant details, cry cry cry

Any help would be appreciated. smile smile smile

Pondy · Senior Member

This site is also good www.caravancampingsales.com.au you can narrow the search down to your price, State and what sort of vehicle you want. hope this helps

Duh · Guru

countryroad wrote:
I guess to have one kitted out is $20,000 + pop top say $7000. More than I can pay, adding $20,000 + for basic diesel van at auction.

If it is any help, I paid $24,000 a couple of years ago for a full conversion (to a campervan, not a motorhome) for a Hi Ace. This included the pop top, fridge, metho stove, microwave, single beds and storage cupboards, sink and water tank and roll out awning, but no toilet or shower.

Another person I know in recent times paid $10,000 for a pop top fitted only from the same conversion company.

Your guestimate is a pretty good guess but a bit more than that in the cases above bearing in mind that was a couple of years ago and like you have said does not include the price of the vehicle being converted.

Sheba · Guru

My 1998 Deisel Auto Hi-ace cost me $24,000 fully fitted out, complete with Solar Panel and house battery, about 5 years ago. Got it through CMCA, so felt reasonably certain it had been well looked after.

Have had no trouble with it, and I don't find it too noisy. Best idea is to Test Drive a Deisel Campervan and hear for yourself.

Cheers,

Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Wednesday 23rd of October 2013 01:36:41 AM

Duh · Guru

You should be able to get your Revs check (now called PPSR) free, it is only if you want it printed off you pay for it, see the government site, not the commercial ones.

I don't know what they register them as in NSW, Campervan or Motorhome (or Mobile Caravan) if it is the terminology they usually use then it is not a problem, only if it has never been over the pits or transport department inspection to change it from a commercial vehicle to a campervan, for that it would have needed a new tare weight (weighbridge certificate) because of permanent extra weight in the vehicle (eg; furniture, fridge etc) and any certificates needed for the electrics and gas if any gas applicances fitted etc.

I understand it has been privately fitted out so you just need to make sure it has passed inspection/registration as a campervan and not still a commercial vehicle.

It is a real bonus having solar fitted and I hope it meets your needs and expectations.

And as the advert says it was first sold new and registered in 2011 (ie; even though a 2010 model), it should have a warranty until 2014 (3 years from the original registration date).

-- Edited by Duh on Thursday 24th of October 2013 10:38:47 PM

countryroad · Senior Member

Going to have a look at a Toyota slwb camper tomorrow. Private sale...about 2 hours south of here

Getting my list. $ 9.90 for CheckVIN...old Revs.

Does Rego paper say it's a campervan or mobile caravan.

Negotiable...hope that means they'll be happy to accept $3,000 less.

How do the batteries work from the solar. ( hope they're AGM )

Robyn

Bryan · Guru

Good luck countryroad

countryroad · Senior Member

Well at this moment it's still a commercial van, but insured with NRMA who know about the fit out.... anyway owner will contact RMS (RTA) and do whatever required to change rego.

Plus 40,000 km service as has 40,220 km on clock.

Negotiated down by $3000. Had receipts for purchase of vehicle, May 2011.

Drives smoothly, good mirrors.

I'll be seeing if RMS open in the morning, Saturday to see what needs to be done re registration being changed to campervan after the conversion. As blue slip not required due to age, under 4 years, guess this is how it slipped under the net.

Older owner had absolutely no idea it may be a legal requirement.

I've left a $100 deposit, his wife wrote receipt. Extremely pleasant couple selling due to his back, buying a small van to tow with their current vehicle to attend the gem shows. Had some lovely sapphires which he cut, various colours,

some quite large.

Robyn

Duh · Guru

oldbobsbus wrote:
I see no real reason for having any changes to the rego details so long as Van and Campervan come in at the same cost of rego.

Reason is bob that for a start the tare weight will not be the same on the rego papers, plus any fixed or electrics or gas appliances need to be certified.......it has obviously been first registered with NRMA as an empty van with a lower tare weight and no additional fittings etc.

Not good advice IMHO bob and any accident/electrocution/gas explosion etc would probably void your insurance, even just for the tare weight difference on your rego.

Having been through the process of first registration of an empty van and then inspection and re-registration of it as a campervan when converted I can tell you it is a legal requirement to do so, at least in WA and I can't see NSW being any different.

-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 26th of October 2013 01:52:10 PM

Duh · Guru

When I had mine done (in WA) I had to put it over a weighbridge empty except for the camper furniture and fixed appliances and had to produce a weighbridge certificate to that effect to the motor transport people, who also inspected the fittings (applicances etc). The van weight had to be unloaded (nobody in it and cupboards etc empty) but will all the fixed furniture and fixed appliances in it this was recorded on the weighbridge report. Because the weight was greater than the original I had to pay a higher amount when I had it reclassified on my rego.

I have read on here too where people have had modifications done to their caravans they have to have the weight changes put on their compliance plates, so what is the difference between that and motorised vans?

I also know someone who had a cargo van (later converted by them) registered as a commercial van and RV dealers were not interested in selling it until it had been weighed and the necessary certificates provided and the vehicle re-registered with the new weights as a campevan. It had initially been registered as a cargo van, then converted but nobody had bothered to have it reclassified and had just kept renewing the registration as a cargo van......great until you have an accident I would imagine.

Maybe as you have said it is different in NSW. I have been trying to find some info on this on google but have only found this info so far, not sure if this applies to imported or used vehicles converted or both, see;

"the motorhome unladen mass." (My note; isn't that the same as "tare")

a copy of a weigh-bridge certificate showing axle loads of each motorhome variant at its unladen mass.

This is the source material but i'm not sure if it applies to Oz used vehicle conversions;

http://rvcs.dotars.gov.au/Circulars/AllCirculars/0-4-12.pdf

-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 26th of October 2013 06:26:39 PM

oldbobsbus · Guru

Hi Robyn,
Sounds like it is exactly what you are looking for and I see no real reason for having any changes to the rego details so long as Van and Campervan come in at the same cost of rego.
To insure it you may need to get it valued by someone, I have used I&D Industries (they advertize in the back of The Wanderer) you will need to send them some photos of it.
Untill recently I have used Ken Tame to insure my motorhome but while sitting having a chat on the side of the road to some other nomads (as you do) I discovered that a mob called MHIA do motorhome, campervan and caravan insurance so I gave them a ring and was surprised how much more competitive they were....

oldbobsbus · Guru

Duh wrote:
oldbobsbus wrote:
I see no real reason for having any changes to the rego details so long as Van and Campervan come in at the same cost of rego.
Reason is bob that for a start the tare weight will not be the same on the rego papers, plus any fixed or electrics or gas appliances need to be certified.......it has obviously been first registered with NRMA as an empty van with a lower tare weight and no additional fittings etc.
Not good advice IMHO bob and any accident/electrocution/gas explosion etc would probably void your insurance, even just for the tare weight difference on your rego.
Having been through the process of first registration of an empty van and then inspection and re-registration of it as a campervan when converted I can tell you it is a legal requirement to do so, at least in WA and I can't see NSW being any different.

-- Edited by Duh on Saturday 26th of October 2013 01:52:10 PM

I 100% agree with needing all the certificates and for all of the installation to comply but the tare weight IS the tare weight when the van is empty, it is now carrying some load that could be removed at any time so the tare still remains the same, and so long as the load and the tare doesn't exceed the GVM then there is no problem. Many motorhomes and campervans are registered in NSW as vans.. I know because I have one and I can assure you that it IS legal in NSW..

I have just returned from a trip to Vic where I got into a discussion on the differences in the 2 states registration laws and I couldn't believe how different the requirements are..

Duh · Guru

This is from the ADR's on a Tassie transport link;

The tare mass of a vehicle includes all fittings, fluid reservoirs and fuel and water tanks filled to normal operating capacity.

Here is the link source;

http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/74602/Motorhome_Conversion_Jan_2012.pdf

Maybe other GN's who have had there vans etc converted and re-classified my wish to comment.

oldbobsbus · Guru

Duh wrote:
This is from the ADR's on a Tassie transport link;

The tare mass of a vehicle includes all fittings, fluid reservoirs and fuel and water tanks filled to normal operating capacity.

Here is the link source;

http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/74602/Motorhome_Conversion_Jan_2012.pdf

Maybe other GN's who have had there vans etc converted and re-classified my wish to comment.

I got the impression the OP was from NSW so what has Tassie Transport rules got to do with this thread...

Duh · Guru

They are based on ADR (Australian Design Rules) that apply to all states.

Obviously their view on tare is different from yours whatever you are basing that on, perhaps you can find a reference on it for NSW campervans an enlighten us all.

oldbobsbus · Guru

Duh wrote:
They are based on ADR (Australian Design Rules) that apply to all states.
Obviously their view on tare is different from yours whatever you are basing that on, perhaps you can find a reference on it for NSW campervans an enlighten us all.

Perhaps we could leave everyone to do their own research instead of trying to insist that they all toe the line...

being a Nomad is about doing your own thing and letting the rest of the world go by.. :)

Duh · Guru

oldbobsbus wrote:

Perhaps we could leave everyone to do their own research instead of trying to insist that they all toe the line...
being a Nomad is about doing your own thing and letting the rest of the world go by.. :)

The only person I can see wanting others to toe the line is you, with statements like this you have made;

"Sounds like it is exactly what you are looking for and I see no real reason for having any changes to the rego details so long as Van and Campervan come in at the same cost of rego."

Members on here try to help each other, not as you suggested to the poster to take course of action that could be fraught with legal consequences in case of an accident or whatever.

Country road has already stated that she is getting the owner to check this out with the NSW transport authorities and no doubt will herself, that IMHO is the best course of action.

countryroad · Senior Member

You will be pleased to hear I did go to the new RTA. While there I was advised it was a requirement.

I will be going again Monday a.m. with the rego no. and they will tell me what it's currently registered as.

She did say it may require an engineers report. There is no gas provision at all. All 240v and 12v

So as I understand it is to do with the tare weight. Does have a ply floor maybe it's 5 ply. Cupboards and 80 ltr waeco fridge permanently fixed, screwed and bolted as it's set high...no bending, TV/DVD fixed, 2 single beds with storage under, 1 with 2 batteries and a Ctek charger attached to the large solar panel on roof, tv aerial which reminded me of a Christmas decoration, etc and outside a permanent 15v plug to access CP electrics.

So will know more next week.

Thanks guys for your imput.

Bryan · Guru

Sounds like a good buy Countryroad

Duh · Guru

countryroad wrote:
You will be pleased to hear I did go to the new RTA. While there I was advised it was a requirement.

I will be going again Monday a.m. with the rego no. and they will tell me what it's currently registered as.

She did say it may require an engineers report. There is no gas provision at all. All 240v and 12v

So as I understand it is to do with the tare weight. Does have a ply floor maybe it's 5 ply. Cupboards and 80 ltr waeco fridge permanently fixed, screwed and bolted as it's set high...no bending, TV/DVD fixed, 2 single beds with storage under, 1 with 2 batteries and a Ctek charger attached to the large solar panel on roof, tv aerial which reminded me of a Christmas decoration, etc and outside a permanent 15v plug to access CP electrics.

So will know more next week.

Thanks guys for your imput.

That's great news countryroad and you did the right thing, I reckon you will be really pleased with your purchase, I did notice the aerial I've never seen one like that.

Happy travels! biggrin biggrin biggrin