Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Conversion Vans not allowed at some RV Parks?

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Topic: Conversion Vans not allowed at some RV Parks?

Posted By: 2012Coleman on 09/29/17 07:06am

The whole sticker argument is moot. My TT doesn't have this sticker, and I've never seen one. I like to camp at state parks. I've seen a lot of people in sites with conversion vans, some looking pretty sketchy. It doesn't bother me - I'm not uppity. If the OP can park at his condo without irking the over zealous people most likely staffing his HOA board, it's reasonable to assume that he won't have any issues - and on the rare occasion, he does encounter non admittance, another park that will admit him is most likely within driving distance - maybe look up 2 places to stop at, just to have a plan B.

Post a picture of your rig OP - I'd like to see it.

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Posted By: Deb and Ed M on 09/29/17 11:01am

2012Coleman wrote:

Post a picture of your rig OP - I'd like to see it.

For whatever reason, Tinypic has been difficult to work with lately, and I don't have another source for picture hosting. However, I've posted most of my build on the Ford Transit Camper Conversion forum
Transit Forum
and my thread is titled "The Old Lady and her Van" - yeah, I, Deb, am doing the building....LOL! (My van is named "Gracie Unicorn" because finding a cargo van with a deluxe cabin is like finding a unicorn; and by the Grace of God it will take us to the places we want to visit yet) But that is a fun forum, and my van is embarrassingly mundane compared to some of the incredible conversions featured on there! Each van reflects what its owners want to do: in Gracie's case, the center can be opened to haul my 12'6" kayak; or a load of plywood, etc. Stuff your average Class B can't do.

Wait - maybe I found the solution:
[image]

* This post was edited 09/29/17 11:19am by Deb and Ed M *

Posted By: Deb and Ed M on 09/29/17 11:26am

OK - here's a few pics:

The "dinette" with storage beneath - the center fills in to make the bed
[image]

The critical "I'm not an RV" disappearing sink
[image]

The $25 screen door
[image]

Posted By: Deb and Ed M on 09/29/17 11:42am

And here's where I'm at today, as I pack for our "migration" to FL. This is what the condo neighbors will see.
[image]

Half of the "aisle" is filled in for storage
[image]

Posted By: mowermech on 09/29/17 11:43am

Very nice! Please keep us updated as the build progresses.

Whoops! I was typing as you were posting pictures. It looks like the build is fairly complete. Congratulations on a job well done!

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Posted By: Naio on 09/29/17 11:56am

Oh, Deb, it is so great to see pics of your van!!!! I had lost track of your thread.

Your sink inspires me [emoticon]

. I don't need mine to disappear, but I would love to use it at different heights. I shall put my thinking cap on....

Your van is extremely similar to mine, in the non-camper looking exterior, and very basic interior. I think you will get the same response from parks that I did -- which was almost always 'sure'.

I mentioned that I call ahead to RV parks. After some experimentation, I figured out the info they needed. I now ask if they have room for a class B, and if they say yes I say, 'It's not really an RV, it's really a Transit van with a fridge, a stove, a porta potty, and a bed. Is that ok?'

It's key to list those items. I have NEVER encountered a park that cared about the sticker people went all whackadoodle about in this thread. The parks I have talked to tell me their local jurisdiction defines an RV as a vehicle that has those things. So I need to tell them that I have them.

I don't have a sink in my current van and m5o one has asked, but it couldn't hurt to mention it, too [emoticon]

3/4 timing in a DIY van conversion. Backroads, mountains, boondocking, sometimes big cities for a change of pace.

Posted By: Deb and Ed M on 09/29/17 11:57am

And in the for-what-it's-worth category - Gracie is registered as a station wagon. By adding seats, seatbelts (not shown in the pics), and a side window, we met the Michigan threshold for being labeled that way.

At any rate, I believe we don't look homeless, dangerous, or smuggling/cooking something illegal. I think most "regular" RV parks will let us spend a night or two with them, and that's really all we hope for....

Posted By: Deb and Ed M on 09/29/17 11:58am

mowermech wrote:

Very nice! Please keep us updated as the build progresses.

Whoops! I was typing as you were posting pictures. It looks like the build is fairly complete. Congratulations on a job well done!

Thank you. I'm proudest of the fact that it doesn't squeak :-)

Posted By: Deb and Ed M on 09/29/17 12:05pm

Naio wrote:

Your sink inspires me [emoticon]

. I don't need mine to disappear, but I would love to use it at different heights. I shall put my thinking cap on....

Hi Naio! My sink brackets came from Amazon and are what most RVs use for a countertop extension. If you installed a couple of hanger bolts at varying levels, you could mount some brackets using wing nuts? Just make sure your drain tube/water hose are long enough for either height! I also added a piece of rope that ties the crate in place, in case of a sudden stop - eeks!

Posted By: Naio on 09/29/17 12:05pm

Looking more at your sink.... does it slide down or fold down?

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