{"id":4304,"date":"2020-04-08T22:03:41","date_gmt":"2020-04-08T22:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carexamer.com\/blog\/?p=4304"},"modified":"2026-02-26T15:40:48","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T15:40:48","slug":"creating-a-caravan-conversion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carexamer.com\/blog\/creating-a-caravan-conversion\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating a Perfect Caravan Conversion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

<\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span>Estimated reading time: <\/span>6<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all had the urge to pack up and hit the open road for a while to see where we end up, but if you ever want to do it quickly, easily, and legally, then converting your car into a caravan could be the perfect way to do it. You have the freedom to come and go as you please, all with your trusty car to get it done with ease. Caravan conversions are ideal for travellers relying on convenience. Doing it, however, isn’t quite as simple as it sounds. Anyone can turn their car into their new mobile home if you think about it. As long as you can fit in it and relax in it, that\u2019s all there is to it\u2026 or is there? As it turns out, there are actually some great guidelines about what it means to convert your car to a caravan for real, and they\u2019re a useful guide and starting point to making sure you do it well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internal Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first step in converting your car into your new caravan comes from gutting it and starting fresh. You need to space to work after all, and whether you have a spacious van for a caravan conversion or even an estate car, you need to be able to get it done. That means taking out the inside and replacing it with the features you need. Knowing what that is and what classes as a caravan, however, is where you need to start paying attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All 4 of these things need to be met to be legally classed\nas a converted caravan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seats and table<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You need to have a fixed apparatus for seating and a tabletop.\nIt doesn\u2019t have to be a permanent fixture as it can be mounted, folded or just\nabout anything else, as long as there is a permanent space for it to be fixed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It does make sense too. Laying down all the time is awful\nfor your health, and you need to be able to sit with proper posture. It\u2019s\nbetter for hygiene too so it does pay off. You can still make it your own, just\nget it done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next up, you of course also need a sleeping area. This one\nis where you can be a little bit more creative though. You can have a folding\nbed, a sofa bed, or even a cabin bed like in the old school camper vans. It\nreally doesn\u2019t matter as long as you can sleep comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also a great idea to think about the weather where\nyou’re thinking about travelling at this point, too. Heating a converted\ncaravan can be a difficult thing to do. With that ebbing said, you don\u2019t want\nto be travelling in Europe in the summer with a thick winter bedding set\neither. Plan ahead and make sure you’ll be able to enjoy your climates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stove or Microwave<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sleeping and sitting aren\u2019t the only things you need to be\ndoing either.  A properly converted\ncaravan needs to be something you can stay in for a while after all, and that\ninvolves you eating too. For that to happen, you\u2019re going to need cooking apparatus,\nand that\u2019s category 3 of the checklist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily, your caravan conversion doesn\u2019t just have to have an oven or stove (although camping stoves can be a great touch). It can also be a much more accessible and easier to transport microwave too for you to use, but again like all of these things, it does need to be fitted. You can\u2019t just take a microwave with you; it needs to fit correctly and for the long term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Storage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

And finally, we have your storage situation. That\u2019s not only\nconvenient but safe too. You need to have something with you to keep your things\nin, especially when you\u2019re actually on the road. You don\u2019t want things to impair\nyour driving ability or the safety of you, passengers or other road users\neither.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be anything from a locker to a cupboard in this sense\nas long as it again is there for the long haul. It\u2019s actually a great way to\nhit two things at once here if you make half of this space where you\u2019ll put\nyour microwave, but each to their own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

External Requirements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After you have all of the internal car to caravan conversion\nboxes ticked, you\u2019ll all done as far at the department of travel are concerned.\nTo get seen as a converted caravan by the DVLA however, things are flipped on\ntheir head completely. That\u2019s where you need to start looking at the outside\nand your converted caravans\u2019 appearance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first place to look here is at your V5. To be classed as\na caravan in the eyes of the DVLA, you need to look the part above all else.\nThat means you need to be a large enough vehicle to be considered. It can be\nanything here from a retired ambulance to a van, or even a livestock carrier.\nIf it is a car you\u2019ve converted into a caravan, the DVLA aren\u2019t too interested since\nthe internal aspects don’t affect speeds or legalities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After you have that, you need to meet the rest of the\nchecklist requirements too:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n