What is "habitable" to , my registration story

[Sojakai]

Can you "mock up" something that looks like it was installed, but is only held on with those "Super" magnets?

[sportyrick]

sounds good to me, go back and try again. I don't have a vent for my stove but do have a hood. All the rest sounds ok to me, they just don't want a 5 gallon bucket toilet, a mattress on the floor for a bed and a card table for an eating table. sportyrick

[thechandler]

mdpolakow, I am wondering why your have to get an inspection. Was your bus previously registered out of state. I am in CT and did alot of checking regarding registration, and I was under the impression from talking to numerous inspectors that there is no inspection, unless you need a vin verification for an out of state vehicle.

Thanks,
Eric

[kotflb]

Sounds to me you are trying to get a RV tag, instead of a a regular auto or non-commercial tag. I can understand the inspection requirement when changing the status of a vehicle to that extent. Quite a few states have that inspection in place when changing the status of a vehicle. More often then not, most states require you to have a minimum of 3 of the possible 5 or 6 items on the list completed. Sounds like you've done that. I too would find another DMV office.

[thechandler]

Or you could just vent out of an open window if you had too.

[busdriver_phil]

Apparently the procedure in CT is much easier if the bus was previously registered in CT. A lot of it depends on the inspector you get tho. A friend of mine tried to get camper plates with a CT school bus title, and was told the bus had to be fully inspected, with all appliances, and he couldn't even get temp plates - he needed to flatbed it to DMV. This was at the Waterbury office. He's planning on trying another DMV office soon, probably one of the satellite offices or something. I know that with an out of state vehicle, they have to do a VIN verification, and they probably won't do that unless it's partially converted. A suggestion I heard was to throw sheets over everything and say it's in "winter storage," they're less likely to poke around. But keep trying, maybe go to different offices. Was your bus last titled in CT, or is it from out of state? Which DMV office did you go to?

[Redbear]

The big six/seven requirements used by many states are based on an ANSI standard quoted in the Missouri thread:
http://www.skoolie.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=4126

As far as your conversion:
1. Sleeping facilities: "4 bunk beds" PASS
2. Eating facilities would include a table: "table" PASS
3. Independent life support systems, four of the following facilities:
a. Cooking facility - would include a stove, microwave oven, standard oven, or convection oven, which is permanently installed and has adequate clearance:
- "toaster oven, microwave" PASS #1
b. Refrigeration or ice box - would include a refridgeration unit or ice box which is permanently installed. The unit may be powered by electric or LP gas:
- "4 cubic foot refrigerator" PASS #2
c. Self-contained toilet - would include a toilet and waste collection system that is permanently installed:
- "chemical toilet" FAIL if it is portable, possible PASS #3 if it is bolted in. They may want to see a black tank type instead.
d. Heating or air conditioning or both - permanently installed - electric or LP gas:
- "25, 000 BTU propane heater" FAIL if it is portable, PASS #3 or #4 if it is bolted in.
e. A portable water supply system including a faucet and sink - It would also have a grey water holding tank:
- "7 gallons of water, sink" PASS #3, #4, or #5 if grey water tank, possible FAIL if not
f. Separate one hundred ten to one hundred twenty five (110-125) volt electrical power supply or liquefied petroleum (LP) gas supply or both - a 12 volt DC power inverter capable of powering the cooking facility, refrigeration, or heating / air conditioning system that is permanenlty installed would be acceptable. A LP gas system used to supply the stove, oven refrigerator, or heating would be acceptable:
- "1800 watt generator," plenty of inverters," "propane" PASS #3, #4, #5, or #6

I could understand an added requirement of a vent over a propane stovetop, but over a microwave? See if the requirement is cited in CT law. If so, a regular RV roof vent in the kitchen ought to suffice.

If you have the fourth ANSI requirement dead to rights (grey tank or permanent propane heater), I would look for another inspector, too. Many skoolies here are not as well equipped as yours.

[sdwarf36]

Been down this road before . I had a 75 Chevy van when i was young that I was using as a camper(pretty baren inside) went to reg. it and the inspector was giving me grief. "wheres your bed?" "Here -"this air matress" "OHHH NOO! Thats not good enouigh." Me-(in my best chopper show on tV attitude) "You show me in statue 14 of CT DMV codes where it say i have to have a box spring bolted to the floor! I slept in here all weekend! It still smells of smoke from the campfire! Theres my cooler-still has food in it! There my Coleman stove!" "Ok-ok-fine! reg. it as a camper."
Flash forward 20 years. My short bus was registered with commercial plates before i had it. Sent the wife to (Old Saybrook) DMV. Just walked in with the paperwork -said she wanted camper plates-no questions asked-got plates + out the door. Hit or miss with them-whatever mood they're in. Hint: I've played the motor vehicle game 100's of times--been to every office in the state. Old Saybrook is by far the best one to deal with.

[Sojakai]

Picture of your grill?

[Jarlaxle]

I was lucky: I went to the DMV (RI) and filled out the paperwork.

I put on the paperwork:
YEAR: 1984
MAKE: Ford
MODEL: 700
BDY STYLE: Other
VEH TYPE: Motorhome
GVWR: 25,000

I walked out with Camper plates. This was a small branch office...probably wouldn't fly at the main office.