Thread: camper van conversion

How long is a piece of string, too many variables to consider to come up with a figure, been there done that 10 years ago if I was pressed I don't think you would have much change from $8-10,000.

I fitted one out for a mate a few years back, well i made the cabinetry, pain in the with curves and frame members to cut around. He fitted a shower and toilet and along with provision for water, power, lighting, gas and then getting everything certified its not as easy as would seem. I recall a figure of 13k but that was with me providing mates rate and him doing the rest of the labour, so only parts and materials really.

If fitting out a yacht is any comparison ( I hope you are sitting down ) cost it, and then treble that figure . Then HOPE.
cheers
john

certification because a bus is being converted is going to be a big part of cost.

Over the years I have done a few of these. Just completed one for a mate of my son. First thing is to come up with a design and a standard of finish. This will determine the cost, both in materials and labour.
My advise is to keep it simple and keep it light. Fuel is not getting any cheaper and the old Coasters get thirsty under load. You can save a lot of space by not having an indoor shower/toilet. A small popup ablutions tent and a portable gas water heater works and its cheap. Plywood is better than MDF and MDF is better than particle board. 12mm ply is enough for cupboards with a 4mm back and a 12mm fixing cleat. Half round edge on doors and drawer fronts reduces edge damage. Underbed storage by way of tilt up, strut assisted bed base makes good use of a large space.
Two good men can fit a simple one out in a week. Two simple weak men will take a good bit longer.

Taonz. The first thing is to find an engineer. Google serach should help you. You will need him for inspections throughout the build and you need to know what he expects. And get a quote from him.
I got several quotes and they varied a lot.
I id not go ahead with the build as a ready made unit came up at the right price.
I still have a toilet cassette and hot water heater still in their boxes. Need to get rid of them.
Hooroo

john.

Originally Posted by rustynail

... You can save a lot of space by not having an indoor shower/toilet. A small popup ablutions tent and ...

That would also save the cost of a passenger seat up front, because SWMBO would not travel under those circumstances.

Could someone give a simple explanation of the certification process that several posters have mentioned?

It is obvious that there must be minimum safety standards. But where are they set, what are they, who can do the certification, who enforces the rules, etc.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

That would also save the cost of a passenger seat up front, because SWMBO would not travel under those circumstances.

If I go ahead she wont come anyway end of story, close the book. her decision not mine, This will be a long term project and when she shuffles off this mortal coil that we call earf then adios amigos I go travelling again. well maybe

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

Could someone give a simple explanation of the certification process that several posters have mentioned?

It is obvious that there must be minimum safety standards. But where are they set, what are they, who can do the certification, who enforces the rules, etc.

I have had one vehicle modified after initial registration, I have also had one vehicle modified prior to initial registration.

The basics are simple, but the devil can be in the detail. Essentially, you need to locate an approved engineer that will certify your modifications for your state regulations. In the state of Victoria one just needs to follow these instructions.

Just a moment...

If you have a read of that you will get an idea of what is required.

In the case of our modified after initial registration vehicle, the company providing the modification contacted a relevant VASS certified engineer. That engineer inspected the vehicle half way through the job when welding of a structural nature was about to happen. The engineer then inspected the job and issued an engineers certificate that certified our vehicle. That certificate sits in the glove box in case it is needed on an interstate trip as the certification is a state based thing and may or may not be recognised by other states or territories.

This modification is a state based thing and although many people state you just take your rego papers along with the engineer certification(s) paper and you'll be sweet. My personal experience is that is not the case as we were going to give our ute to a nephew at mates rates, but he lives interstate and he approached the rego people in his state where the answer was it would need re-certification by an engineer recognised by their state; we still have the ute.

With our current vehicle, all of the secondary manufacturing was carried out by a licenced second stage manufacturer, prior to initial registration. That manufacturer places a second compliance plate permanently to the vehicle, similar to the one issued by the first manufacturer. In this scenario the modifications have been issued to comply with ADR's and all states and territories recognise every second stage manufacture change from the first manufacturer. I might add that the second vehicle is a heavy vehicle over 4.5 tonnes and although things are slightly different to our light commercial ute under 4.5 tonnes, we can sell this vehicle to anyone in any state or territory and the modifications are recognised.

Mick.

Thanks, Mick - quite an incredible response.

Originally Posted by GraemeCook

That would also save the cost of a passenger seat up front, because SWMBO would not travel under those circumstances.

Could be worse.

Not a problem Graeme, it was confusing to me the first time we had some modifications requiring certification, which were done after initial registration.

The second time I really had a better grasp of how things worked and decided to ensure all modifications requiring certification were done prior to initial registration. As it stands now, our truck, which among other things, has had a complete change of suspension, complete change of wheels and tyres, an extra fuel tank, winch bar, changed GVM and complete change of cabin seating, can be easily registered anywhere in Australia as it was initially registered with two stages of manufacture, the original manufacturer and the Second Stage Manufacturer (SSM) and entered the Australian market as a complete, Australia wide, complianced vehicle.

All of these changed or added items, require engineer certification, and were carried out by a recognised SSM who also attaches (permanently) their SSM modification plate. This is often referred to as being blue plated, as the modification plate is blue coloured. They also issue their own Approval sticker, which sits alongside the OEM Approval sticker from Isuzu.

Unfortunately for quite a few people purchasing the exact same truck as ours and doing many of the same changes; their trucks were often modified by their local Isuzu truck dealers. This is fine, except the method I've seen used is to put a tray (or whatever) on the cab chassis base truck, then register the truck. They then do the exact same modifications we have had done under the supervision of a local accredited engineer; or perhaps an inhouse engineer and submit the changes to the local registration authority.

This is fine and dandy, with one caveat; the engineered and certified changes are only recognised in the state or territory where it all happened. Other states and territories may recognise the modifications, or they may not without an additional engineers certification. If at some stage way down the track an owner wishes to move a vehicle on, the onus on the purchaser can be quite onerous. This is something I have personal knowledge of when some time ago a fellow Men's Shed member asked me if I could drive his newly bought 15 year old 10-11 tonne truck, as he didn't have the appropriate licence.

The idea was to drive it to a place specialising in trucks for the required paperwork to change the rego over. Unfortunately they couldn't do it as the truck had been fitted with super single wheels all round sometime in it's life. Four big wheels; two on each axle, instead of two wheels at the front and four on the single rear axle. The truck had been registered in NSW, he purchased it from a truck broker in NSW where it was shipped to his driveway.

Suffice to say I drove it back to his driveway where it sat for quite some time before he finally had things sorted. In the meantime he got his medium rigid licence so he could drive it.

Mick.