Motorhome v. Campervan. Let’s all be pedantic

Cymro wonders (pedantically?) in another post what the difference is. Has this been discussed? Are there any legal definitions?

It depends who I am talking to whether I refer to our Kingham PVC as an MH or CV!

I refer to my Warwick as a camper van. It’s a van and modified for camping????

Auto-sleeper website refers to all van conversions as campervans. I used to take the stance that a motorhome had to be self-sufficient as in having toilet/washroom,  now I just call mine a campervan.

I regarded our Duetto as a van conversion rather than a camper van because it had a washroom. A common thought regarding camper vans goes back to the early VW,s in my opinion.
The current coachbuild being an add on built on a separate chassis. The delivery order say’s chassis cab no back.

Peatlander 2 wrote:Another vote for a M/H being defined by having toilet/washroom.

I just call it "the van".

Mine has a shower and toilet but I’d not call it a MH 

A definition that I have heard a few times is,
You live in a Motorhome,
You live out of a campervan.
So about size then and roughly speaking a panel van or similar is perhaps a camper van whilst a coachbuilt or A class is perhaps a Motorhome. I also work on the assumption tha an RV is an American Motorhome. Then again all motorhomers or vanners in France are referred to as ‘campingcaristes’.

Davy

Surprised that my tongue-in-cheek post on another thread has generated this interesting thread. Thank you, The Bargee. 

Does the V5C offer any guidance?

Cymro (a self-confessed pedant!)

It has never occurred to me that having a toilet or shower can differentiate between having a campervan or a motorhome.  I have always regarded caravans bolted onto a chassis as motorcaravans, motorhomes or coachbuilts which can be integrated i.e. A-class or not integrated i.e. with the base vehicle cab.  If it's a panel van that has been converted it is a PVC or campervan.  Size doesn't come into it as some PVCs/campervans are larger than some motorcaravans/motorhomes/coachbuilts.  Having said all this, I don't think is is clearly defined anywhere so with the exception of coachbuilts and PVCs which have specific meaning, the terms campervan, motorcaravan and motorhome could be synonymous.

I think the V5 classes them all as Motor Caravans, Cymro.

I always feel that what we have, currently Symbol, previously Duetto, as a campervan, whereas the huge mobile gin palaces that draw up next to us on campsites, blocking the light and looking very smug are motorhomes.

The cold light of day and Sobriety may temper my views in the morning

T

If a M/H has a (fixed) Toilet & Shower and a camper doesn't, does a conversion with aforementioned conveniences mean we have Camper Homes (sounds better than a Motor Van!!)?

Like everyone else, I just call mine 'The Van'

Bigt99 wrote:I always feel that what we have, currently Symbol, previously Duetto, as a campervan, whereas the huge mobile gin palaces that draw up next to us on campsites, blocking the light and looking very smug are motorhomes.

The cold light of day and Sobriety may temper my views in the morning

T

A slightly derogatory but I think fun term I have heard being used for a PVC by the owner of a coachbuilt, who is a regular user of Continental aires where vans can be packed in, is a 'door slammer' referring to the very large sliding side door which these days most PVCs seem to have. 

Caraman wrote:A slightly derogatory but I think fun term I have heard being used for a PVC by the owner of a coachbuilt, who is a regular user of Continental aires where vans can be packed in, is a 'door slammer' referring to the very large sliding side door which these days most PVCs seem to have. 

I've heard them referred to as 'whoosh bangs' from the sound of shutting that sliding door.

To me, any panel van conversion which is legally recognised as body type Motor Caravan is both a camper van and a motorhome. Anything with custom bodywork other than a converted van, is a motorhome. 

"Camper van" is an international term. I always mention camper van when checking into a European site. They sometimes ask how long it is.

Motorcaravan in present company BUT Campervan(Transit size) when booking space on sites or ferries (who also want to know * Inappropriate Word * length & height) 
frederic

Just to add to the mix, our continental friends call them all 'Camping cars'. This is maybe a direct translation from French.
Al.

I can't speak for France, but elsewhere a camping car means something different. It's a car, usually an estate car, that people sleep in on campsites. Sometimes it has a roof tent, sometimes people just sleep in the load area, or with the seats reclined. You do see a few singles and couples travelling in them. They pay a lot less than a camper van or motorhome.

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I classify my symphony as a campervan.
Those without shower/toilet as a day van.

Micky

According to RAC Arrival insurance, it depends on size and weight - 

"Motorhome Breakdown Cover
Ideal for larger units – no weight, height or length restriction
There are no vehicle height, weight or length restrictions."

"Campervan Breakdown Cover
Perfect for smaller motorhomes and campervans under 3.5 tonnes
Your vehicle needs to weigh less than 3.5 tonnes."

Just after lockdown we wanted to book the CCC site at Sandringham, knowing the on site facilities were still closed.

On line I put the unit as a campervan, and there was “no availability”. 

I changed it to Motorhome, and got booked in straight away.

CCC consider a unit without on board toilet/ablution facilities to be a campervan, and units with the facilities to be Motorhomes.

Conversely when I had to renew the insurance the other day, the broker classed it as a campervan as it’s a PVC and not a motorhome. 

So I’m none the wiser really.

Like most other though I just refer to it as “the van”.

So

Same here just call it the van or by its proper name Von Smallhousen, it lives with Gruber and Helga as in 'allo 'allo!
DiL had a Fiat Doblo which was converted as a camper, which must surely still be  car as it certainly isn't a campervan even though it had a portable toilet and shower attached to the inside of the back door.