Building your own caravan

Llib Nosrebor · Member

Building your own caravan

Eaglemax · Guru

Llib Nosrebor wrote:
Hi. In response to an article in issue 205 of the G.M.T. regarding Tony Dawson building 2 caravans, a link was offered in which to comment. I tried many times, but the link would not work for me, so I will try here. Firstly, good onya Tony. It appears you built both from the ground up yourself. that is not an easy task, I know because I've built 3 of them as well as renovating quite a few in my time. In Bundaberg, at the age of 23 I designed and built my first, a 16 ft. x 7 ft. with a steel chassis and aluminium frame and cladding. I did it all on my own, then had it weighed, invented a chassis number, approached the motor registry, and it was registered. No inspections, no rigmarole. The second was in Coffs Harbour starting in 1975. It took 5 years, as I worked and saved money, then worked on the van until I was broke, the back to work, etc.etc. This was also a steel chassis, aluminium frame and cladding. It was 24 ft. long, and 8 ft. wide, however not liking annexes, I designed a not before heard of thing, a slide out section. this part was 12 ft. long and 7 ft. 9 inches wide, which when extended almost doubled the width of the whole unit. this addition was the main reason for the long construction time, as I patented the slide out concept. the patent was granted in 1980. Once again. I had it weighed, invented a chassis number had a minimalist inspection done approached the motor transport dept., and it was registered. The third was in 2012. 21 ft. 6 " x 8 ft. also steel and aluminium and of course with a slide out.
With all of these vans, nobody else touched them during construction. I did everything by myself. As stated, the first two were a breeze to register. NOT SO THE THIRD. Once finished, the nightmare began. electrical inspections, gas inspections, engineering inspections, blue slip inspections unending letters and phone calls to the R.T.A. arguments with officious idiots determining A.T.M. and G.V.M. waiting a week for a chassis number to be issued, more inspections to inspect the number when stamped. the list never ends. Nothing was rejected during any inspection, but the process took months. Then when finally registered, try to get it insured. The only insurance company willing to insure a home made caravan is C.I.L. and if accepted will cost twice as much as a production van. My advice, DO NOT BUILD YOUR OWN VAN!
I never try to dissuade anybody from "having a go" but regulations have made personal caravan construction a disastrous endeavor. Bill

Hi Bill, yes thats me.

I'm in Victoria which could be pivotal to the inspection/approval process.

Here it is a case of- build of lightweight van, permit to tow, weighbridge certificate for tare, obtain VIN number, get drawbar plate made, appointment to Vicroads where they measure, check you have brakes (if over 750kg atm), check lights, reflectors, axle is beyond 50% rearward and its done. I did not have LPG and 240v connected at the time of registration. 12v only. A few months later an electrician installed 240v for one power point only for aircon. Lpg was connected. Certificates for both obtained. No issues. Atm on the larger van was based on the axle size of 1000kg. Tare is 730kg. No problems there either.

Vicroads seem to be happy relying on the manufacturer, me, to ensure I built by Australian standards.

As for insurance my new van 16x7ft (the one you read about was 11x6ft) is currently insured by CIL for its build cost of $17,000 for $28 a month. When the van has its final accessories added, awning and HWS I'll pay $110 for an online valuation. My last van was valued at $22,000 so this one twice as big, diesel heater, aircon, full ensuite etc should reach say $28,000+ and I'll pay the premium for that.

I dont see that premium as excessive.

The build is here

https://www.caravanersforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=78365

So in both of my experiences building vans they have been a delight. But I'm in Victoria...

Tony

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Saturday 21st of September 2019 11:21:17 PM

-- Edited by Eaglemax on Saturday 21st of September 2019 11:22:04 PM

Hetho · Senior Member

Good Afternoon Guys.

I also built my van from scratch, chassis, drawbar, including all the exterior/interior; as seen in my avatar.

Duel axle, 8 mtrs towball to taillights. Central ensuite with sliding doors either side of ensuite.

In Western Australia; I live in Mandurah and Transport WA have an excellent document on trailer building. (axle locations, light positioning etc)

Once built I needed a permit to tow to the weigh bridge for its Tare weight certificate, then presented to a Transport Licensing Centre for ALL checking, including the Electrical and Gas Certificates, plus all the vehicle requirements etc.

If passed, as mine was, the paperwork is returned to Transport, and I believe Canberra for a Vin Number.

Once the Vin Number is received the compliance plate is then stamped with all the weights, tyre size etc; then fixed to the chassis.

All easy, took about a week to get the Vin, then pay the fees etc and it is then licensed for use anywhere in Australia.

Like Eaglemax, I'm insured with CIL, but for $75000.00. And yes I did need to have it valued, again online with heaps of photos and copies of Transport paperwork.

I would love to make another; but I'm too busy travelling the country. Have done 95000km`s so far. First licensed in Jan 2015.

Hope this adds to the post.

Regards.

Hetho

Eaglemax · Guru

Llib Nosrebor wrote:
Hi. In response to an article in issue 205 of the G.M.T. regarding Tony Dawson building 2 caravans, a link was offered in which to comment. I tried many times, but the link would not work for me, so I will try here. Firstly, good onya Tony. It appears you built both from the ground up yourself. that is not an easy task, I know because I've built 3 of them as well as renovating quite a few in my time. In Bundaberg, at the age of 23 I designed and built my first, a 16 ft. x 7 ft. with a steel chassis and aluminium frame and cladding. I did it all on my own, then had it weighed, invented a chassis number, approached the motor registry, and it was registered. No inspections, no rigmarole. The second was in Coffs Harbour starting in 1975. It took 5 years, as I worked and saved money, then worked on the van until I was broke, the back to work, etc.etc. This was also a steel chassis, aluminium frame and cladding. It was 24 ft. long, and 8 ft. wide, however not liking annexes, I designed a not before heard of thing, a slide out section. this part was 12 ft. long and 7 ft. 9 inches wide, which when extended almost doubled the width of the whole unit. this addition was the main reason for the long construction time, as I patented the slide out concept. the patent was granted in 1980. Once again. I had it weighed, invented a chassis number had a minimalist inspection done approached the motor transport dept., and it was registered. The third was in 2012. 21 ft. 6 " x 8 ft. also steel and aluminium and of course with a slide out.
With all of these vans, nobody else touched them during construction. I did everything by myself. As stated, the first two were a breeze to register. NOT SO THE THIRD. Once finished, the nightmare began. electrical inspections, gas inspections, engineering inspections, blue slip inspections unending letters and phone calls to the R.T.A. arguments with officious idiots determining A.T.M. and G.V.M. waiting a week for a chassis number to be issued, more inspections to inspect the number when stamped. the list never ends. Nothing was rejected during any inspection, but the process took months. Then when finally registered, try to get it insured. The only insurance company willing to insure a home made caravan is C.I.L. and if accepted will cost twice as much as a production van. My advice, DO NOT BUILD YOUR OWN VAN!
I never try to dissuade anybody from "having a go" but regulations have made personal caravan construction a disastrous endeavor. Bill

Llib are you on the forum?

Tony

Llib Nosrebor · Member

Hi, Tony.
Not too good with terminology used today, but if you're asking if I am registered with the grey Nomads Forum, the answer is yes.
My name is Bill, for some unknown reason I spelled my name backwards as a nom de plume when I joined.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

I built our OKA motorhome from the chassis up.
I also did all of the modifications to increase the GVM and GCM myself and built a new tow bar myself.
All mods were tested and inspected by an SA RTA approved engineer who wrote a report to the RTA and issued a "Blue Plate" which is affixed to the vehicle next to the original compliance plate.
Cheers,
Peter

Llib Nosrebor · Member

Hi Peter. Your rig looks good. Amazing what you can do if you have a go. In my initial post I forgot to mention that I did something similar in 1987. I bought an ex Anset 36 ft. GM tourist coach and converted it into a motor home. A beautiful machine. All aluminium mono construction, that is, no separate chassis, with a flat floor up high with big bins underneath, an 8V71 GM diesel engine and Alison auto transmission. A lovely quiet smooth machine. We traveled and lived in it for 3 to 4 years. The only problem was 5 miles to the gallon [about 1.8 k/liter] I gutted and converted and resprayed the unit, had it weighed and re-classified and registered with no confusion whatever. Through the motor home club I insured it for $110.000 with no trouble either. and as I said in my post, my second van housed the first slide out unit which I invented and patented in 1980, even with that I encountered no problems with rego and insurance, but the third was a nightmare after construction. Rules and inspections are absolutely necessary, but sometimes it can be a bit overdone.
Bill

Greg 1 · Guru

In WA the approvals process is fairly straight forward and there are Dept of Transport approved engineers, a list of them are on the DOT web site, if you need an engineer.

I admire any one who has gone out and built there own caravan. It is not a task to be taken lightly and I am always amazed at the skills that various people demonstrate, who have never tackled a project of that magnitude or type before.

The little car in my Avatar is one that I built and I belong to a car club specializing in home built vehicles or ICV's as they are known. Some of the superb builds that I have seen over the years are just amazing. I note that Eaglemax has an ICV in the JBA Falcon as well as his home built van so doubly amazing bloke. Well done.

So if you want to build your own, I say have a crack. The sense of satisfaction at the end of the process is really something that never leaves you.