Well, I've got a few things sorted out at last, biggest thing, i won't be converting a VW LT anymore :(, most insurance companies don't like any chassis modifications, and the LT just isn't long enough for the size of body i want to put on, i've tried reasoning with the insurance co, saying that practically all coachbuilt motorhomes have some form of chassis extension, a lot even have totally new chassis bolted on, but they simply won't cover me if i get the chassis modified from the manufacturers original specs, i tried a few other insurance co's, and really didn't like the policy they offered, practically a car policy, nothing inside covered, van covered for 2.5 grand only!!, the new body wouldn't be covered, no camping risks etc, they will allow chassis mod's, subject to a full engineers report, but it's just not worth the loss of realistic cover.

A motorhome insurance policy is tailored to motorhomes, which are different to cars, you don't have mains electricity in a car, nor gas bottles, a wardrobe full of clothes, a £500 awning bolted to the side, fridge, cooker, toilet, water heater, TV, video etc, none of those things are covered on a car type policy, but a lot of people seem happy with a cheap quote from a car insurer for a motorhome, just ask a few questions to the insurer, like how much cover is provided for gas bottle risks? i.e. say it blows up and kills someone, car policies won't cover that, but a motorhome one will, likewise, say you had an unknown electrical fault with the van, someone came to the door and when they knocked got 230 volts down their arm, at the least they'd be pissed off at that, and prolly want to sue you, at worst they'll be killed, i know this is extreme, but you'd be on your own if you had a car policy on your motorhome and something like that happened, they'd likely say 'what the hell were you doing with mains connected to a car'.

Likewise if you got broken into, and they took everything they could, most car policies cover £50 worth of clothing if your lucky, how much would it cost to replace the 2 weeks worth of clothes you brought for the holiday, what if the TV gets nicked etc, even the damage caused by them breaking in, those plastic double glazed windows cost between £200 and £1000 each, and are not windows auto glass can get, again, they are not car items, so a car policy won't cover it, really check into your motorhome policy, they all work on the assumption that you have told them everything, if they don't ask, you should declare it!!, i found that out, said i wanted to build a 6.5 meter long coachbuilt on a VW LT, no problems was the reply, quote still the same as if it were a panel van, when i checked what kind of certificate they would accept to show the wheelbase stretch was carried out professionally, (as a LT is at the longest 5 meters long, so an extra 1.5 meters needs adding, in the middle and at the back), only then did i find out that if any chassis modifications are made to the van i'm not covered, they never told me that when i first got a quote, i had to ask, i do wonder what other things need declaring, hence i'm going to cover everything done to the van on this site, and ask the insurer to look at it, then tell me if it's ok with them, I'd rather pay an additional premium than not be covered should the worst happen, what's another 50 quid for a vehicle that will cost over well 10 grand to replace?.

Anyway, the no chassis mod's thing means that i'm not able to put the size body i want on a LT, i can see no point paying upto 12 grand for a coachbuilt body that's going to be the same size as the original panel van, may as well do a panel van and put gold plated fittings in :), i want more space, the idea is to have a living area which will be the bedroom, the cab will be closed off with a door, at the back of the living area will be a kitchen area, a breakfast type bar will curve round across half of the width of the body to make it feel separate from the living area, then at the back of the kitchen area will be a bathroom, a proper room, with toilet, wash basin, separate shower cubicle, changing/drying off area in the middle etc, it will be the width of the van, and a few feet deep, and the only way to fit all that in, is on a van which allows a 5 meter body on the back, not possible with a LT, so i have to find a van which has a 4 meter wheelbase from the factory, luckily there is one, an iveco turbo daily extra long wheelbase van, there are a lot more iveco's about than LT's, and almost all iveco's are turbo engined, i do love the LT's truck like appearance and driving position, but to make a practical motorhome, i really need to use an iveco, so this site will now be dedicated to the conversion of an iveco chassis cab, to a coachbuilt motorhome, the domain name will be totally pants for a non German vehicle, so I'll have to think another one up.

On to the coachbuilders now, not one firm that i e-mailed after O'Leary's replied to me, magnum motorhomes e-mail keeps bouncing, machzone have gone, willow motorhomes didn't reply, nor did caravan spares, even a race truck and motorhome converter didn't reply, i was getting disillusioned, i knew i could get the work done for less than 12 grand, but seems no one wanted to do it, no matter how much it cost, i found out that graham and Thelma's van (of the LT Motorhome club, a very nice van), was built by Nu-Venture, they don't have a web site or anything, so a phone call was in order (i just liked e-mail as i could direct them to the coachbuilt plans page on here so they can see exactly what i want), i was immediately impressed in a strange way, phone goes straight through to the workshop, what a refreshing change, i was getting a little annoyed at being passed around a whole department of telephone operators with all the insurance co's i have been ringing, a bloke answered, and i could hear the others working on vans in the background, he called the bloke over, none of this poncey 'please hold the line sir while i put you through', just an 'OY THINGY, PHONE FOR YOU', the bloke asked a few questions, i told them the length i wanted, said it was on a LT then, before i found out i couldn't do it on one, he went through the windows i wanted etc, and came up with a price, 6 grand..... plus vat, i was ready to book a slot there and then until he said plus vat.

I was hoping for a 5 grand price, 6 was fine by me as i had seen their work and am impressed, and i also liked the sound of the firm.. first impressions are important, and hearing them working hard in the background was reassuring to me, he told me they are booked up until august, and it'll take about 2 to 3 weeks to build a bare shell, £500 to secure the slot, and work out the detailed when i can get over to them, they mentioned they'd be at the Peterborough show, i'm going anyway, so I'll take the plans along and try and get a firm price, at last i know a realistic price, that includes the windows, door, all wiring inside, coachbuilt body put on a chassis cab, luton part to my profile thrown in free, things like the basement doors i want for storage and access to the gas tank are little extras that will be sorted out when it's all firm.

Now i just need to find a suitable chassis cab, i'm looking for about a 1996 or so Iveco Turbo Daily, XLWB chassis cab, with the turbo engine, ideally a 35-12, can't go over 3.5 tons.. insurance again, but i don't want to anyway, too many restrictions over that weight like European speed limits, higher tax, mot's etc, i also want a single rear wheel vehicle, but that looks impossible, they all seem to be dual wheels on a van that can take a big load, it's just the cost of replacing 6 tyres that worries me, i replace all tyres at once when they start wearing, so that's gonna be a bugger, but i suppose the safety of a rear tyre ever blows out is there (had that happen once), with dual wheels you can keep on driving as the van is still supported by 5 wheels, i've got to get separate insurance for the van for a few months too, as the motorhome policy is for 90 days as a van, then it has to be a motorhome, as i can't get the body built for 4 months, that takes 3 weeks, then it'll take a month or so to fit the camper out, I'll be well over the time limit, so cheap short term car type insurance on a van is needed, might be hard to persuade them it won't be carrying any load ever, but it has to be done.

That's it for now, i'm looking for a suitable chassis cab now, if you know of one, let me know, i could also do with the dimensions of the 1996 model year iveco turbo daily XLWB chassis cab, i have a measured picture of a LT which i used for the plans of the motorhome, but i need the same for an iveco to adjust things, wheels will be in a different place for a start.