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2 or 3 motorbikes in a <3.5t camper

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  • 19-01-2019 3:57am
    #1
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,915 ✭✭✭✭


    I'm thinking of getting a camper to use to bring a few bikes to Europe for some fun in the mountains and for the occasional weekend festival.

    What would be the weight of most campers that are converted from vans? Would many of the B licence class vans have enough capacity to carry 2 full size motorbikes, around 500kg? Or should I look for the C1 licence campers to be safe? Are there any issues getting the like of this insured as a camper here?

    Thanks


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    #2
    autumnalcore
    Registered Users Posts: 827 ✭✭✭autumnalcore


    Most of the factory conversions are sailing close to the wind with just full water tanks and passengers, add provisions and awnings and when weighed at the port most are found to be overloaded. Trailer would be the easiest.

    You will also find that a large percentage of the conversions are on 3.2ton short wheelbase chassis was a massive overhang at the back meaning that even towing a heavy trailer is dangerous.

    With regard to insuring a racetruck, our neighbour had one but he was a motorfactor so may have had it under garage insurance or similar. You probably only get insured through a club, the regular policies look for a walkway between front and back.


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    #3
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,915 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    autumnalcore wrote: »
    Most of the factory conversions are sailing close to the wind with just full water tanks and passengers, add provisions and awnings and when weighed at the port most are found to be overloaded. Trailer would be the easiest.

    You will also find that a large percentage of the conversions are on 3.2ton short wheelbase chassis was a massive overhang at the back meaning that even towing a heavy trailer is dangerous.

    Trailer would add a lot to the ferry cost so I want to try to avoid that. I was more thinking of the B licence vans that were home converted and have space for a garage in the back. Something like this which I could fix up to my own standards or already has the garage done. Would the beds/seats and other camper equipment leave much for the bikes? I'd need to have batteries for power for a few days if at a festival and don't want to bring a generator.
    autumnalcore wrote: »
    With regard to insuring a racetruck, our neighbour had one but he was a motorfactor so may have had it under garage insurance or similar. You probably only get insured through a club, the regular policies look for a walkway between front and back.

    A club as in the Irish caravan/motorhome clubs or a specialist club?


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    #4
    niloc1951
    Registered Users Posts: 2,037 ✭✭✭niloc1951


    Check out ‘living van’ means a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, which is used as living accommodation by one or more persons and which is also used for the carriage of goods or burden (including livestock and more than one motor cycle) which are not needed by such one or more persons for the purpose of their residence in the vehicle;”, HERE

    What you are proposing could mean that your vehicle may not be categorised as a motorhome and be treated as a 'goods vehicle' for road tax testing and insurance


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    #5
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,915 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    niloc1951 wrote: »
    Check out ‘living van’ means a vehicle, whether mechanically propelled or not, which is used as living accommodation by one or more persons and which is also used for the carriage of goods or burden (including livestock and more than one motor cycle) which are not needed by such one or more persons for the purpose of their residence in the vehicle;”, HERE

    What you are proposing could mean that your vehicle may not be categorised as a motorhome and be treated as a 'goods vehicle' for road tax testing and insurance

    We would only be transporting our property so we would need it, therefore it's still a living van.


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    #6
    niloc1951
    Registered Users Posts: 2,037 ✭✭✭niloc1951


    Del2005 wrote: »
    We would only be transporting our property so we would need it, therefore it's still a living van.

    I think you misunderstand the regulation.
    What it means is that if categorised as a 'living van' the vehicle WILL NOT be considered a motor caravan (camper, motorhome etc.) and WILL be subject to all the rules and regulations associated with a 'goods vehicle'. So, it would not qualify for 'campervan' insurance or tax or CVRT testing rules.

    The basis of the regulation is to deny race-vans and horse transporters (which could be motorhomes or RV's but are used for living accommodation but also transport motorcycles or horses to events) the status of motorhomes and RV.s genuinely used as leisure vehicles for holiday purposes.


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    #7
    Del2005
    Registered Users Posts: 18,915 ✭✭✭✭Del2005


    niloc1951 wrote: »
    I think you misunderstand the regulation.
    What it means is that if categorised as a 'living van' the vehicle WILL NOT be considered a motor caravan (camper, motorhome etc.) and WILL be subject to all the rules and regulations associated with a 'goods vehicle'. So, it would not qualify for 'campervan' insurance or tax or CVRT testing rules.

    The basis of the regulation is to deny race-vans and horse transporters (which could be motorhomes or RV's but are used for living accommodation but also transport motorcycles or horses to events) the status of motorhomes and RV.s genuinely used as leisure vehicles for holiday purposes.

    It says not needed, we will need them. Its for commercial carrying of goods, not carrying your own goods.


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    #8
    CJhaughey
    Registered Users Posts: 14,906 ✭✭✭✭CJhaughey


    What it boils down to is that you want a racevan, any camper with a garage big enough to carry 2 or three bikes will fall into that category.
    Racevans are not motorcaravans for tax purposes so you will have to have commercial insurance and tax.
    As for weights I think the only person that knows the actual weight will be the person that built it or weighed it.
    Before you buy I suggest taking a trip to the weigh station and finding out the axle loads for each axle, only then will you be able to make an informed decision on whether or not its practical/legal.


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