Blanco Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 Nice looking van, got me wondering now how best to sort the pop top on the stepped roof of the D2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 1 hour ago, Dave W said: On the VW T5 forum there is an FAQ and sample covering letters that outline what you should and should not include in your application to the DVLA and the vast majority go through first time without an issue. Do you have any links Dave? I'm going to have another go. I now have horrible graphics on it and will add a fake ladder plus maybe a bike rack to the back. The sides now look quite camper-ish but the back still looks like a panel van, even with the graphics. It's not obvious at first glance. Maybe I need a sign saying "This is a Camper Van"? What do you reckon? Besides this, I've been refused entry to two caravan parks because it looks too much like a van. I ended up just parking on the road outside and sleeping there instead (to spite them!) I would like to have the option though. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 1 hour ago, Blanco said: Nice looking van, got me wondering now how best to sort the pop top on the stepped roof of the D2 How is the roof attached - is it removable in one piece, leaving the sides like a Defender? One of the best I've seen (on a Defender) was making the whole roof lift vertically on gas struts with a curtain joining the two parts together. There was a loop of elastic round the middle of the curtain so it gathered itself into the middle when the roof collapses as well as keeping it taught when up. The curtain was double skinned. He had a slatted bed at the original gutter height which you climb on to through the cab. The rear of the bed could fold 90 deg allowing you to stand at the rear of the vehicle as well. I thought that's what I'd do if I ever built one! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted March 29, 2017 Author Share Posted March 29, 2017 Its funny how these things snowball, I was just admiring the roof, now I have to find out how the panel is attached! Love the sound of the curtain, I would want to use all the headroom possible though, does a hammock count as a bed I wonder?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave W Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 22 minutes ago, Blanco said: Its funny how these things snowball, I was just admiring the roof, now I have to find out how the panel is attached! Love the sound of the curtain, I would want to use all the headroom possible though, does a hammock count as a bed I wonder?? There's a minimum size for a bed in the regs, not sure a hammock would comply... if you fit a pop top though you can integrate a bed into the pop top, there's a bed in my pop top that could potentially sleep 2 adults. It can, in theory sleep 4 adults in the van although it'd be a bit "cosy" ! As the Disco is based on the Range Rover it's very likely the roof can be separated, don't know for sure though as I've never really looked at a Disco 2 from that point of view. 3 hours ago, simonr said: Do you have any links Dave? The main ones are these...Guide to Changing body code to Motor Caravan inc sample letter DVLA Vehiccle change info. They're a bit old now but still being used and if you search the forum for DVLA there are regularly reports and advice from people using that info to get there van changed. Interestingly, the second link, first post, talks about the external appearance thing which isn't in the regs as such but is classed as a 'reasonableness test'. I'm building my van because we compete in dog agility competitions and we needed a vehicle that could carry the dogs, handle overnight stays and give us somewhere to chill in between runs during the day. On the agility forums there are often complaints from people who have sign written vans, that they use for work during the week and agility at the weekends, where they have been refused entry to camp sites because it looks too much like a van despite having full camping facilities in the van. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonr Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Thanks Dave, That's the most valuable info I've received so far! It's still ambiguous regarding what they expect to see on the exterior of a vehicle - but does make the intention clear. Si Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 Why not just sell the thing in France ? On French plates, that is not that difficult and you can buy a "proper camper"... Just a thought.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 I'd have thought plod would run the plate before pulling you, see if it's a camper or commercial van on the V5. Camp sites I think are often worried about the potentially "pikey" appearance of sleeping in a plain panel van that's not an obvious camper. I suspect Simon's Movano suffers from not being a VW as people are used to seeing those converted. We haven't had any issue with the ambulance, one guy in Sweden demanded that we demonstrate we had roof vents before he'd book us in but that's as much as we've ever had to do. Festivals don't like people sleeping in regular cars or vans purely to avoid passed-out yoofs roasting themselves in direct sunlight after a heavy night. Before we built t'ambulance we went to the big caravan show at the NEC and poked around everything with tape measure, notebook and camera - including the VW's with the pop up roofs. Most of them are deceptively simple (and eye-wateringly expensive). It was really helpful though, seeing just how small some of the stuff can be and still be usable - we thought the bathroom would be too tiny but there's production campers with smaller (and far worse!) setups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honitonhobbit Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 Blanco What sort of sawmill are you selling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon W Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 On 28/03/2017 at 11:35 AM, FridgeFreezer said: If I was going to ring a vehicle for tax fiddling purposes I might not post about it on the internet... don't think the D2 body lends itself to a chassis-swap with a RRC/D1 chassis, aren't the wheelbases different? I guess you need to work out what constitutes a camper conversion in the eyes of the tax man? I believe the d1 chassis all lines up except 2 of the body mounts, but then engine mounts etc would need sorting Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon W Posted March 31, 2017 Share Posted March 31, 2017 I would also be careful in Ireland as a friend who lives out there has said they have clamped down on commercial vehicles massively, and he is registered as working in agriculture, but if caught towing his boat (for leisure purposes), he would be fined and made to pay the normal vehicle tax rate apparently, so be careful with what you register as working as Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted April 1, 2017 Author Share Posted April 1, 2017 On 31/03/2017 at 9:32 AM, honitonhobbit said: Blanco What sort of sawmill are you selling? Its a Loglogic 'Autotrek', from (near) your part of the world. 13 hours ago, Jon W said: I would also be careful in Ireland as a friend who lives out there has said they have clamped down on commercial vehicles massively, and he is registered as working in agriculture, but if caught towing his boat (for leisure purposes), he would be fined and made to pay the normal vehicle tax rate apparently, so be careful with what you register as working as Yep I have been warned things aren't as easy as they were, one good reason why this post concentrated on the alternatives. Sorry for the delay lads, I was out and about shopping yesterday, the temporary transport is now organised, I'll pick it up next week,..... 2001 P38 DHSE Auto, not really what I went looking for but that is the trouble when you take the wife with you! Seems to all work, except the A/C (hole in rad) and only has one key which seems more of an issue than I thought, but all in all it should make decent holiday transport . I'll post some pics and an update when I work out how to get to Cork! On the way I stopped by to talk to a guy that seems to do most of the 'Vintage' D2's around. Shackleton here put me on to him and as he was on the road down to Cork we stopped there en-route. Fascinating and distracting. D2's really do fit on RRC chassis'! So do D1's come to that. Although in a couple of years D1's will be 30yrs old in their own right. Having seen the solution in the flesh and chewed over the camper solution a bit with the guy, (he himself has a RR322 'camper') I now think the vintage chassis probably is the permanent solution to my dilemma. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share Posted April 3, 2017 Well, the headache continues..... insurance for a vehicle between 15 and 20 years old seems to be very very difficult, there are no Landy specialists over here and no-one likes my French NCB either, sometimes you just feel you are banging your head against the proverbial brick wall! Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I was reading on Auto****e.com about this Irish insurance headache, which is a big headache for those guys since old cars is what that forum is for. It may be worth looking at what some of them came up with, (sorry, I can't remember). It sounds like the industry there is just refusing to deal with older cars because only dealing with newer cars is easier, from what they were saying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted April 5, 2017 Author Share Posted April 5, 2017 On 29/03/2017 at 11:27 PM, Arjan said: Why not just sell the thing in France ? Well I tried before we left but I didn't want to give it away and I had no takers at sensible money , so I thought sod it I'll keep it. I still think I was right. Congrats on the trailer rescue btw, well impressed. On 04/04/2017 at 0:40 PM, Davo said: I was reading on Auto****e.com about this Irish insurance headache, which is a big headache for those guys since old cars is what that forum is for. It may be worth looking at what some of them came up with, (sorry, I can't remember). It sounds like the industry there is just refusing to deal with older cars because only dealing with newer cars is easier, from what they were saying. Not sure where you were Davo, cant find Auto****e.com: but yep had lots of brokers tell me where its at, seems the government had to bale out an insurance company over the crash and don't speak to them anymore, net result is the companies are trying to prove a point instead of working with the government; no political will to address the issue (far too risky with no clear majority) means no solution in sight. Insurance companies are probably getting above themselves and maybe even colluding in price setting (I know, but I said 'maybe'). Add in the high costs at the moment with no political will to rein in the stupid amounts awarded for American style whiplash awards and so on and you have a situation apparently getting out of hand. Bad time to migrate then but I'll sort something out....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happyoldgit Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 What sort of money do vehicles like yours fetch in France these days then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 6 hours ago, Blanco said: Well I tried before we left but I didn't want to give it away and I had no takers at sensible money , so I thought sod it I'll keep it. I still think I was right. Congrats on the trailer rescue btw, well impressed. Not sure where you were Davo, cant find Auto****e.com: but yep had lots of brokers tell me where its at, seems the government had to bale out an insurance company over the crash and don't speak to them anymore, net result is the companies are trying to prove a point instead of working with the government; no political will to address the issue (far too risky with no clear majority) means no solution in sight. Insurance companies are probably getting above themselves and maybe even colluding in price setting (I know, but I said 'maybe'). Add in the high costs at the moment with no political will to rein in the stupid amounts awarded for American style whiplash awards and so on and you have a situation apparently getting out of hand. Bad time to migrate then but I'll sort something out....... I forgot about the swear filter! Just put the usual crude word for "poo" which starts with "sh" where the asterisks are and that should do it. Since they all run a huge variety of old and unloved cars, there is an amazing amount of knowledge there. Mind you, I should actually join it! Have you contacted any car clubs to see what they've had to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honitonhobbit Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 Blanco I know the guys at Loglogic fairly well - we use their Softracks Do you have a buyer - I know someone who is looking for a mobile mill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 23 hours ago, Happyoldgit said: What sort of money do vehicles like yours fetch in France these days then? Looking at the French market I reckoned €4K was about the mark, its a funny market though and the rural market is patchy. Over here it is perhaps a bit less due to the age, but in the course of looking for a replacement Irish vehicle I have seen some dreadful rubbish at €3K........ who knows? 10 hours ago, honitonhobbit said: Blanco I know the guys at Loglogic fairly well - we use their Softracks Do you have a buyer - I know someone who is looking for a mobile mill Proper old fashioned engineers. I don't have a buyer, I was hoping the shed would be further on and I could get the thing inside and tidied up a bit before selling but I'll happily take calls from interested parties. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
honitonhobbit Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 Okay - no rush this end but let me know when you are ready to sell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 French people don't like RHD vehicles much and it reflects the amount of money they're willing to pay for it.. Hope you get it sorted ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted April 12, 2017 Author Share Posted April 12, 2017 On 11/04/2017 at 11:15 AM, honitonhobbit said: Okay - no rush this end but let me know when you are ready to sell Its for sale now, I just think it will sell better if I can smarten it up a bit! On 11/04/2017 at 3:32 PM, Arjan said: French people don't like RHD vehicles much and it reflects the amount of money they're willing to pay for it.. Hope you get it sorted ! I know, but this is/was a French origin vehicle, with the wheel on the wrong side and everything! Before leaving I did sell my UK but French registered Defender 110 to a Dutchman, again not as much as I hoped, especially when I see what 4K buys here. As the 30 days are up now I am off the road, apart from the Polo! But finally getting somewhere with the insurance so hope it won't be long. Easter might get in the way though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 The DII is a LHD one ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blanco Posted April 12, 2017 Author Share Posted April 12, 2017 2 minutes ago, Arjan said: The DII is a LHD one ? Yep, I am told it was all Napoleon's fault Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arjan Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 I have a feeling that diesel will become more and more difficult to sell in the UK etc. as more and more restrictions on use are introduced. French CG still valid ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.