Van to campervan conversion

[Gasgull]

In advance that it's not disappointment next week.

Has anyone converted a panel van just for Glasto and whats the min you can get away with?

I have a VW T5 panel van and aim to buy one of the strap on tent conversions that hook up to the side sliding door for a sleeping/living area.

Installing washing facilities won't be a problem as that's my business,guess a small sink with pumped cold water inside the van would do it.

I did notice the hugely varied ideas for converted vans this year,just want to make sure I don't fall fowl of the rules..

[gizmoman]

The rules for campervans are fairly vague, - from TOS;

"What counts as 'suitable fitted facilities' in a camper/caravan?

Your campervan/caravan MUST have purpose-built fitted sleeping facilities and either fitted cooking or washing facilities. Any converted vehicles must clearly be live-in vehicles. This does not mean simply a van with a piece of foam cut to size for a bed, and a bucket for washing!

A team of campsite staff and security staff will check that campervans and caravans coming into these fields have bona fide living accommodation. No other vehicles will be let onto these fields under any circumstances - not even late replacement vehicles in the case of a breakdown - sorry."

So it would seem you would need as a minimum a fixed bed / convertible bed fitted and a sink. If it was me i'd fit some cooking facilites too to make the argument that it is a self contained live in vehicle. If you do this let us know how you get on, i'm thinking of doing the same in the future.

[Ipayne]

I emailed the Glastonbury Offices asking if our van was suitable as it has a roof that lifts up into a bed but no living facilities (cookers, sink etc). I'm presuming they'll come back with a no but thought it was worth an ask.

[mungo57]

Gasgull we did this to the gf's dad's transit van (now the Tranpervan lol) we basically built in a sink and work surface and screwed in a single bed. We have now used it for 3 glastos with no issues. I think you have to have built in sleeping and either cooking or washing facilities

[Ipayne]

Surprisingly the Glastonbury offices replied saying our Mazda Bongo is acceptable even though we don't have cooking/washing facilities; Pleased about that!

[jeffie]

Surprisingly the Glastonbury offices replied saying our Mazda Bongo is acceptable even though we don't have cooking/washing facilities; Pleased about that!

So sounds like some sort of porn reference....

[Ipayne]

Hahahaa, come to think of it, it does actually!

[gizmoman]

Surprisingly the Glastonbury offices replied saying our Mazda Bongo is acceptable even though we don't have cooking/washing facilities; Pleased about that!

So they don't even stick to their own stated rules! I guess it comes down to whether it looks like a camper or not, Bongos are pretty common campervans, so the licensing people wouldn't look twice, a plain transit would get checked over I guess.

[Gasgull]

As it's a plain VW, looks like I will have to be very creative with the internals,

Either that or pay through the nose and hire one.

Unfortunately camping with wife and 2 20+ daughters isn't worth the stress.

Believe me done it twice,never again...

[sparkythetortoise]

whats the min you can get away with?

I tend to camp now, but I used to hire the cheapest campervan I could find. You might find it useful to look at how these people have converted their vans - its the absolute barest minimum, and not really a campervan in my opinion. Its almost as if they've deliberately created something that will technically pass for Glastonbury - which is ideal for you, I would have thought. I never had any trouble getting in with one. I get the impression that the simplest thing you can do is put "Campervan HIre" on the side of your van in big white letters with a phone number. If it looks like you've hired it, no one seems to take much notice.

http://www.wickedcampers.co.uk/

[carlosj]

Anyone know how the stewards monitor these vans on entry? Each year we've had them in the van checking for glass, so do they pull up anyone whose van isn't meeting the criteria, or do they not look at that?

[jeffie]

Anyone know how the stewards monitor these vans on entry? Each year we've had them in the van checking for glass, so do they pull up anyone whose van isn't meeting the criteria, or do they not look at that?

Like it has a glass cooker?