Can I build a Caravan?

[James_374391975]

Might be a strange question but do anyone know if it is possible/legal to build a caravan?

I've often thought I could build something better and more suitable for my needs. Has anyone ever done it? What regs would I have to comply with?

Thanks in advance!

James

 

[Jaydug]

Had you asked this question some thirty to forty years ago, I would have told you about a company by the name of Vanmaster - (probably no connection with the present same-named company). They built entirely in fibreglass making the shell in a complete mould. The body was attached to a B&B chassis. Several sizes were offered and could be purchased at any stage from a finished caravan down to an empty shell without windows or wall linings.

I don't know of any regulations that would prevent anyone doing a self-build, although weight plating would need to be looked at, and if the van was not aesthetically pleasing you may not be accepted

on sites.

 

[Damian]

The main regulations you would have to take into account are Construction and Use, Vehicle lighting, all gas and electrical work to current relevant standards.

Getting the weight spread will be critical, but I am not sure about what type approval regulations there are, if any.

 

[everton1]

Hi,

I'm sure there would be some control authority,that set standards that you have to comply to,in the building industry its building control.They inspect at various stages.

Regards,

FrankE.

 

[mikecandsarahb]

As there are no set mot syyle test there would be no problem making your own for youe own use, there are regss on road lighting you would need to stick to, weight, length and width would also be an issue as you do have maxium of these set by law but i dont think youd get to any of these if you just stick to basic caravan sizes,

your chassis would need to be braked as i would expect you weight to be over 750kg,

you would really need to sit down and work out what sort of weight youll be carrying, then you can work out how many and what size axles you would need, or you could just buy a 2nd hand caravan chassis and start from there, which should give you the weights it can carry.

the gas stuff is fine to do yourself as long as you feel safe doing it and as long as its only for your own use.

mike

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello James,

I am sure it is possible to build your own caravan, but despite the freedoms our forefathers fought to maintain, there are regulations you must comply with

Firstly let me deal with the aspect of which I am absolutely sure, the gas system. I am sorry James but contrary to Mike's contribution, the law now requires that all fitting servicing repairs and removal of any fixed installation to be carried out by a competent person who must work to the current set of Gas regulations. Unless you are trained in LPG installation, it is very unlikely that you will have the necessary knowledge, and test equipment to comply. failure to comply is breach of health and safety regulations, and it applies to ALL gas installations, even those on self build caravans.

Electrical systems are slightly different, you can DIY work on some systems, but it must be certified by an electrician before it is connected to a mains supply.

The trailer must comply with the road vehicle regulations as far as weight, lights and brakes are concerned. If it is a modern chassis, it will already be plated with the maximum axle load, and you must not exceed that limit.

As for the construction, you must bear in mind the max width the law allows, but apart from that you technically have free reign on the design you come up with. the only other things you will need to be aware of, are the amount and placement of fixed ventilation, and how to maintain the caravans structural integrity when all the forces or towing are in play. Get it wrong, and the trailer may be deemed an unsafe vehicle if spotted behaving badly.

You may have trouble getting insurance, as most companies use lists of manufactured caravans. And of course it will not be covered by the NCC design approval scheme. This does not make it illegal, just difficult to sell on.

best of luck

 

[Legsmaniac_374344731]

There doesn't seem to be a website or forum for self build caravans but there is for motorhomes.

http://www.sbmcc.co.uk/
It might give you some ideas though.

 

[hgv dave]

its strange how 7.5 tonne lorrys can be converted to "horse boxes" without too much trouble.i dont know if anyone has noticed when passing a converted horse box but most that i have seen have carver water heaters fitted

but thinking about it what is converted is still in the body of the lorry......maybe going down that route converting a 7.5 tonne lorry to a camper might be more easy? i know that a 7.5 tonne lorry can be reclassified to a private light goods and there is no need for tacographs

anyway just a thought

hgv dave

 

[Guest]

We have friends who trailer a Honda Goldwing in a home customised caravan. I don't know who insures it, but it is insured as a "habital camping trailer". An engineers inspection arranged via the insurers was all that was needed.

 

[James_374391975]

Thanks everyone! it's given me some food for thought.

 

[nrdonnelly]

James,

Fascinating subject.

In terms of insurance, I don't think it would be a problem - non-NCC approved imported caravans get cover from plenty of specialist insurers.

Please let me know if you decide to proceed with a project as it is something we'd love to see / advise with.

Regards

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

 

[Thorpedo]

As the proud owner of a Marcos Kit car in my 20's I wouldn,t want to pour cold water on such a dream but I would urge care and caution.

The Bonnet flew off of my Kit car and the handbrake came away in my hand but I loved the car.

30 years ago a friends father with uncanny likeness in names to the 2 messages above, well he built a caravan, I'm not sure what he used as the chasis but I do remember the caravan was smashed to bits on the motorway on it's first trip less than 20 miles from home.

Maybe a design fault ????

 

[Guest]

My brother and I built our own style Mini Scamp based kit cars in the seventies and I built a Bimota. My wife and I bought an unfinished Lotus 7 kit and altered it for our larger frames and we now have a more modern Caterham 7 that gets a few blasts along the Riviera roads.

No bits fell off and all passed their engineers reports and road worthiness first time.

May be some people can just do as good a job as the pro's using a little home spun rational logic and care.

If you read this forum back you'll see that plenty have bits dropping off and failing on their off the shelf caravans and cars.

I assume that Al-Ko UK would sell an appropriate new chassis as a base if they were approached by an individual so they had a good safe towing platform.

 

[Lutz]

If the budget doesn't allow for a new AlKo chassis, I'm sure one can find a used one in good condition. Maybe there's a caravan somewhere with a really serious damp problem that's not economic to repair where one could strip the body off and use the chassis. Who knows, even if the body is scrap, it might even still have the odd components worth recycling.

 

[nrdonnelly]

Dear All,

The current caravan chassis are supplied in component form and I don't think that you'd get Al-Ko or BPW to supply the parts new to an individual. I think an easier option would be to build your own chassis using Indespension units. They are rated from 500kg to 1500kg so you should find something suitable.

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

 

[Guest]

Sorry to disagree with Nigels advice. Indepspension units for a caravan build. I would not go there.

I don't believe that indespension units give a ride as good as Al-Ko or are they of such good quality.

For a DIYer to build a suitable caravan chassis and align it and make it stong enough without some very good advanced equipment you may end up with something very heavy that would then need galvanising.

If you picked a chassis from a current build caravan and approached Al-Ko I can't see why they would not oblige, especially as sales of chassis must be in a down turn at the moment.

Or sacrifice a crappy caravan body on a proven good condition chassis and use that as a safe starting point.

Al-Ko chassis have the provision to fit shock absorbers for a safer quality towing experience. Apart from the problem of aligning Indespension units I don't think they can be fitted with shock's.

 

[Guest]

I would have to ask 'why would you really want to?'. My father built his own caravan in 1949, but there was no other option as there were very few available and he had no money. Nowadays there is a vast secondhand market to suit all financial tastes, and yes, it may be a means to get the van that suits you personally in every way, but the expenditure in terms of time and money do not make it realistic, especially as unlike cars, there are no kits available.

Buy a 2nd hand model and custoimise it to your own requirements. At least all the hard work has been done for you.

 

[Thorpedo]

Having spend a not particularly small fortune building a DIY Caravan, I wonder what, if any, resale value it would command in the event that it was sold.

Despite the fact that it may be oppulent and well put together, I have a suspicion that most buyer would be cautios.

 

[nrdonnelly]

Thorpedo,

Fair point, but if it was opulent, well-built and your ideal layout, why would you ever sell it?

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

 

[Guest]

Sorry, but I think Nigel's comment is either naive, or very much 'tongue in cheek'. I suspect the latter.

Nothing as he knows full well, lasts forever or we would still be watching Rolls Royce Phantoms cars rolling along the roads. They still exist but cost a fortune to maintain and I suspect the same scenario would occur with a caravan, even if built to Rolls type standards. In addition equipment would either fail, or spares become unavailable so a continous up grade programme would be necessary. I also suspect that anyone who does eventually build the 'van of his/her dreams' would sooner or later wish to build another one that was 'just a bit better' and the cycle would resume.

Bluntly, life is too short unless your total ambition is to build a 1/20th scale model of the Titanic from matchsticks. Mine is to accept what is available on the commercial market and use (and abuse) it and enjoy carvanning.

Anyway an editor of a magazine that relies on sales of new caravans, through advertising, to keep him in a job maybe should not promote the permanent caravan idea, especially in a recession.

 

[nrdonnelly]

Scotch Lad,

I reckon that anyone who contemplates building a caravan is more excited at the prospect of the build than actually using it afterwards. Each to their own. I know a few people who've completed self-build motorcaravans and they enjoyed building them, but after a couple of weeks away in the completed vehicle, are contemplating their next project.

And as for being naive or tongue in cheek, I'm just promoting healthy debate...

Cheers

Nigel Donnelly

Editor

Practical Caravan

 

[Guest]

Oooh! 'healthy debate???' Be careful or the Mods might be after you for spreading sedition.

Actually building your own could be very profitable, in a strange sort of way. I think of John Wickershaw who built several motorhomes himself and now makes a very successful career (and probably some dosh) out of writing books and articles on it. A bit like the millionaire selling books on how he made his fortune. Yes you guessed, by selling books on the subject.

 

[Guest]

Peiple build their own Houses, Offices, Factories, Workshops, Greenhouses, Summer Houses, Sheds, Cars, Motorbikes, Trikes, Boats, Planes and plenty more.

Caravan, why not!