Camper conversion mini Vans

• To create a system that will provide payments only for eligible transactions under the CARS program.
• Under the law, NHTSA will make electronic funds transfers only to a registered dealer that has submitted the required proof of a completely eligible transaction.
• We will develop a registration system to identify licensed, franchised new vehicle dealers and to obtain the banking and tax identification information necessary for making secure electronic transfers. Only registered dealers will have access to the payment system.

• As noted above, at the time of the transaction at the dealer, the consumer who is trading in the “trade-in vehicle” will need to provide evidence of ownership of the vehicle and proof that the vehicle has been continuously registered and insured to the same person throughout the last 12 months.
• To prevent repeated use of the program by the same person, we anticipate that the consumer will need to provide evidence of identity, such as a driver’s license, and permit that information to become part of the documentation of the transaction.

• The dealer will have every reason to avoid entering into a transaction for which the dealer cannot be reimbursed under this program.
• The dealer will be expected to verify that the vehicle being traded in and the vehicle being purchased or leased are both eligible under the program.
• This will entail, with regard to the trade-in, making sure that the registration and insurance information is accurate and that the vehicle is in drivable condition.
• For both vehicles, the dealer will need to verify their combined fuel economy.

How to Drive Clean

The concept of driving a clean technology vehicle to some people may sound a bit "granola" at first. But with the technological of our advancements and substantial market interest in recent years, auto manufacturers are offering a very large variety of clean technology vehicle makes and models that provide the same power, style, luxury and features as traditional gasoline vehicles Not only can car buyers easily find a vehicle model that suits their lifestyle, but clean technology vehicles often offer more – better warranties, greater efficiency, and can help solve the serious air pollution, global warming, and energy security problems facing California.

Why Drive Clean:

Californians drive 825 million miles every day – producing 5.4 million tons of smog forming pollutants daily. Since more than 50% of California's total smog pollution and 60% greenhouse gas pollution comes from motor vehicles - your car is a good place to start cleaning things up.

If that’s not bad enough, more than 95% of Californians live in areas that fail to meet federal or state air quality standards - a rapidly increasing health hazard to you, your children, their children, and so on. Also, impacts of global warming are already being felt in California.

Sure, all new cars are cleaner than they used to be, but there are a lot more of them on the road today driving more miles than ever. So our pollution of problem continues to worsen. It's simple – we have to drive less or we have to drive cleaner if we want to solve our pollution problem.

MINI Clubman

Westfalia Pop-Up Roof Rack

Westfalia Roof rack attach together the fiberglass pop top and it has rainfall drain clamps. It only fits the Vanagon Westfalia, see this page for traveler van roof racks. We came among this rack system because I had concern about putting everything more than the lightest load on the fiberglass roof of my Westfalia.

So, don't think the pop top was initially planned to carry things. You can use gutter build up roof racks but that way you have to take away the rack and everything on it to elevate the roof. With this rack structure you just have to eliminate the lower clamps, the rack (and your cargo) stays attach to the pop top.

• Racks have the power of channel mounts advantage you can still raise the pop top exclusive taking the racks off

• You can utilize only the rain drain clamps, you do not include to bolt to the pop top if you don't want to.
• For utmost power you can connect to both the pop top and use the drain clamps. The clamps will counter any lifting
• force on the pop top caused by wind next to your cargo, canoes for example.
• The Safari basket is sized to fit the westfalia, it clamps on top of the roof rack bars. One quantity welded formation is stronger than bolt
• jointly aluminum carriers. Weight is light at 18 lbs. Interior dimension is 44" wide X 31" long (front to back).
• All fastener are included and are stainless steel, nuts are stainless nylock type.
• Black Powder Coated finish
• Regular Westfalia roof racks will craft your van about 3" higher. I can make individual low profile racks which will formulate your van 2" higher.

Final Rule and Resolution of Key Issues

A. Summary

The final rule establishes a new class of 4-wheeled vehicles, called LSVs, and excludes them from passenger car class. LSVs are 4-wheeled vehicles, other than trucks, whose maximum speed exceeds 20 but is not greater than 25 miles per hour.

By removing them from the passenger car class, the rule relieves manufacturers of LSVs of the need they would otherwise have of complying with the full range of FMVSSs for those classes and substitutes Standard No. 500 as the only applicable FMVSS.

With the exception of the warning label, which was not adopted, LSVs are required to have all the safety features and equipment proposed in the NPRM, including seat belts, plus two additional items added in response to comments: a VIN, and a reflex reflector on the rear.

However, as an alternative to an AS-1 windshield, an AS-5 plastic windshield may be used.

B. Authority and Safety Need for this Final Rule

NHTSA was presented with a variety of arguments regarding its authority to regulate low-speed vehicles. WLF raised questions whether the vehicles covered by the agency's proposal are motor vehicles.

That organization also argued that issuing the final rule would not promote safety because there is no safety problem to be addressed. Conversely, Advocates and CFA argued that excluding small vehicles from the FMVSSs will create a safety problem.

AIA and Advocates stated that the agency had not adequately gathered and considered relevant data prior to issuing the proposal, citing agency statements about the dearth of data on LSV crashes and about the foreign experiences with small vehicles.

Regulations and Guidance in vehicles

Notice of Upcoming Joint Rulemaking to Establish Vehicle GHG Emissions and CAFE
There is a critically important need for our country to address global climate change and to reduce oil consumption. In this context, EPA and DOT currently intend to work in coordination to propose standards for control of emissions of greenhouse gases and for fuel economy, respectively.

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (C A F E )
First enacted by Congress in 1975, the purpose of CAFE is to reduce energy consumption by increasing the fuel economy of cars and light trucks. Regulating CAFE is the responsibility of NHTSA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). NHTSA sets fuel economy standards for cars and light trucks sold in the U.S.; EPA calculates the average fuel economy for each manufacturer. This site contains an immense amount of information about the CAFE program, including a program overview, related rulemaking activities, research, fleet characteristics and summaries of manufacturers’ fuel economy performance since 1978.

Average Fuel Economy Standards, Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, Model Year 2011
NHTSA estimates that the MY 2011 standards will raise the industry-wide combined average to 27.3 mpg, save 887 million gallons of fuel over the lifetime of the MY 2011 cars and light trucks, and reduce CO2 emissions by 8.3 million metric tons during that period.

CAFE Request for Product Plan Info for Passenger Cars and Trucks through MY 2020
The purpose of this request for comments is to acquire new and updated information regarding vehicle manufacturers’ future product plans to assist the agency in assessing what corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards should be established for model years 2012 through 2016 passenger cars and light trucks. The establishment of those standards is required by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, P.L. 110-140.

Notice of Intent to Prepare EIS and Scoping Notice, Model Years 2012-2016
The purpose of this notice is to announce that NHTSA plans to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to address the potential environmental impacts of the agency’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program for passenger cars and light trucks. The EIS will consider the potential environmental impacts of new fuel economy standards for model year 2012-2016 passenger cars and light trucks that NHTSA will be proposing pursuant to the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. To this end, this notice initiates the NEPA scoping process to identify the environmental issues and reasonable alternatives to be examined in the EIS, and requests comments regarding those and others matters related to the scope of NHTSA’s NEPA analysis for the new standards.

Average Fuel Economy Standards, Passenger Cars and Light Trucks, MY 2011-2015
Proposes substantial increases in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and light trucks that would enhance energy security by improving fuel economy. Since the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from the tailpipes of new motor vehicles is the natural by-product of the combustion of fuel, the increased standards would also address climate change by reducing tailpipe emissions of CO2. Those emissions represent 97 percent of the total greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. Implementation of the new standards would dramatically add to the billions of barrels of fuel already saved since the beginning of the CAFE program in 1975.

CAFE Request for Product Plan Info for Passenger Cars and Trucks through MY 2017
The purpose of this request for comments is to acquire new and updated information regarding vehicle manufacturers’ future product plans to aid in implementing the President’s plan for reforming and increasing corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for passenger cars and further increasing the already reformed light truck standards. The agency is seeking information in anticipation of obtaining statutory authority to reform the passenger car CAFE program and to set standards under that structure for MY 2010 – 2017 passenger cars. The agency is also seeking this information in anticipation of setting standards for MY 2012-2017 light trucks.

Light Truck Fuel Economy Standard Rulemaking (Model Years 2008-2011)
This final rule reforms the structure of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program for light trucks and establishes higher CAFE standards for model year (MY) 2008-2011 light trucks. Manufacturers may comply with CAFE standards established under the reformed structure (Reformed CAFE) or with standards established in the traditional way (Unreformed CAFE) during a transition period of MYs 2008-2010. In MY 2011, all manufacturers will be required to comply with a Reformed CAFE standard. Under Reformed CAFE, fuel economy standards are restructured so that they are based on a measure of vehicle size called "footprint," the product of multiplying a vehicle's wheelbase by its track width. A target level of fuel economy is established for each increment in footprint. Smaller footprint light trucks have higher targets and larger ones, lower targets.

Summary of Fuel Economy Performance
Fleet fuel economy performances, by manufacturers, since 1978, including both imported and domestic passenger cars and light trucks. Also available are the overall fleet fuel economy performance and sales volume data.

Automotive Fuel Economy Program Reports
These annual reports summarize the fuel economy performance of the current vehicle fleet and highlights the activities of NHTSA during the calendar year. Reports also include a section summarizing rulemaking activities

How To Get A Great Deal On A New Car

Whether you think of your car as an object of love or view it merely as a way to get somewhere, having a brand new one is bound to give you a lift. But that pleasure can be tainted by thoughts about the cost—both the thousands of dollars you must pay for the vehicle and the emotional cost of coping with the hassles of making the purchase.

Fortunately, there’s a way to avoid the hassles and get a great price. The key is competition. Get new car dealers to bid competitively for your business.

The Center for the Study of Services, an independent nonprofit consumer group, operates a service used by many thousands of customers each year to get great prices on new cars. See the “Money-Saving Help” list on the back of this pamphlet for more information. You can use the same general approach and get a very good price on your own. What follows is advice that comes out of the experience of this service.

You may have had friends tell you about sitting eyeball to eyeball for hours with new car dealers. It’s nonsense. They wasted their time. The only leverage any customer has with a new car dealer is the possibility that he or she will walk out—and either buy a car from another dealer or not buy one at all.

To get a good price, you need simply set up a competitive bidding process. You have to be careful, thorough, and persistent, but you don’t have to know all the intricacies of the car business.

You can start the bidding process after you’ve decided on the make, model, and style of car you want (Toyota Camry, 4-door sedan LE V6, for example). You don’t have to know the exact options you want.


It’s best to conduct the bidding process by phone. If you try to do it in person, you’ll waste many hours and you’ll have difficulty persuading salespersons that you’re really serious about leaving and getting other dealers’ prices.

Get each dealer to bid an amount above or below the "factory invoice price." The factory invoice price is the same for all dealers. So if one dealer bids $500 above invoice and a second bids $500 below invoice, you'll know the second is $1,000 lower priced than the first. The "Money-Saving Help" list on the back of this pamphlet tells you how you can get information on factory invoice prices.

But you don't really have to have the invoice price information in advance; just explain to each dealer that you will expect to be shown the actual factory invoice for any car you consider buying. Get bids from at least five dealers. Talk only to a sales manager or fleet manager.

Fuel Economy Benefit:

Driving More Efficiently:

Drive Sensibly:

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Observe the Speed Limit

While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.24 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Remove Excess Weight

Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Avoid Excessive Idling:

Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Use Cruise Control

Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Syncro 16" Westfalia Hightop

Special Tax Break on New Car Purchases Available in States With No Sales Tax

The Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department today announced that a tax break for the purchase of new motor vehicles is available in states that do not have a state sales tax. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, taxpayers who buy a new motor vehicle this year are entitled to deduct state or local sales or excise taxes paid on the purchase.

The IRS and Treasury have determined that purchases made in states without a sales tax — such as Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon — can also qualify for the deduction.

The IRS said today that taxpayers who purchase a new motor vehicle in states that do not have state sales taxes are entitled to deduct other fees or taxes imposed by the state or local government. The fees or taxes that qualify must be assessed on the purchase of the vehicle and must be based on the vehicle’s sales price or as a per unit fee. According to the IRS, Congress intended for these fees or taxes to qualify for this special tax deduction.

“This special tax break is available for people purchasing a new car this year, and that can include people in states without a sales tax,” said IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman. “This means that more people can take advantage of this deduction when they file their tax returns next year.”

To qualify for this deduction, the vehicle must be purchased after Feb. 16, 2009, and before Jan. 1, 2010. Taxpayers can claim this special deduction only on their 2009 tax returns to be filed next year.

The deduction is limited to the fees or taxes paid on up to $49,500 of the purchase price of a qualified new car, light truck, motor home or motorcycle.

The amount of the deduction is phased out for taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $125,000 and $135,000 for individual filers and between $250,000 and $260,000 for joint filers.

The special deduction is available regardless of whether taxpayers itemize deductions on their returns. Taxpayers who do not itemize will add this additional amount to the standard deduction on their 2009 tax return. The IRS reminded taxpayers the deduction may not be taken on 2008 returns.

Buying A New Vanagons

A new car is second only to a home as the most expensive purchase many consumers make. According to the National Automobile Dealers Association, the average price of a new car sold in the United States is $28,400. That’s why it’s important to know how to make a smart deal.

Buying Your New Car

Think about what car model and options you want and how much you’re willing to spend. Do some research. You’ll be less likely to feel pressured into making a hasty or expensive decision at the showroom and more likely to get a better deal.
Consider these suggestions:



* Check publications at a library or bookstore, or on the Internet, that discuss new car features and prices. These may provide information on the dealer’s costs for specific models and options.
* Shop around to get the best possible price by comparing models and prices in ads and at dealer showrooms. You also may want to contact car-buying services and broker-buying services to make comparisons.
* Plan to negotiate on price. Dealers may be willing to bargain on their profit margin, often between 10 and 20 percent. Usually, this is the difference between the manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) and the invoice price.
Because the price is a factor in the dealer’s calculations regardless of whether you pay cash or finance your car — and also affects your monthly payments — negotiating the price can save you money.
* Consider ordering your new car if you don’t see what you want on the dealer’s lot. This may involve a delay, but cars on the lot may have options you don’t want — and that can raise the price. However, dealers often want to sell their current inventory quickly, so you may be able to negotiate a good deal if an in-stock car meets your needs.




Learning the Terms

Negotiations often have a vocabulary of their own. Here are some terms you may hear when you’re talking price.Invoice Price is the manufacturer’s initial charge to the dealer. This usually is higher than the dealer’s final cost because dealers receive rebates, allowances, discounts, and incentive awards. Generally, the invoice price should include freight (also known as destination and delivery). If you’re buying a car based on the invoice price (for example, “at invoice,” “$100 below invoice,” “two percent above invoice”) and if freight is already included, make sure freight isn’t added again to the sales contract.

* Base Price is the cost of the car without options, but includes standard equipment and factory warranty. This price is printed on the Monroney sticker.
* Monroney Sticker Price (MSRP) shows the base price, the manufacturer’s installed options with the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, the manufac-turer’s transportation charge, and the fuel economy (mileage). Affixed to the car window, this label is required by federal law, and may be removed only by the purchaser.
* Dealer Sticker Price, usually on a supplemental sticker, is the Monroney sticker price plus the suggested retail price of dealer-installed options, such as additional dealer markup (ADM) or additional dealer profit (ADP), dealer preparation, and undercoating.

Financing Your New Car

• If you decide to finance your car, be aware that the financing obtained by the dealer, even if the dealer contacts lenders on your behalf, may not be the best deal you can get. Contact lenders directly. Compare the financing they offer you with the financing the dealer offers you. Because offers vary, shop around for the best deal, comparing the annual percentage rate (APR) and the length of the loan. When negotiating to finance a car, be wary of focusing only on the monthly payment. The total amount you will pay depends on the price of the car you negotiate, the APR, and the length of the loan.

• Sometimes, dealers offer very low financing rates for specific cars or models, but may not be willing to negotiate on the price of these cars. To qualify for the special rates, you may be required to make a large down payment. With these conditions, you may find that it’s sometimes more affordable to pay higher financing charges on a car that is lower in price or to buy a car that requires a smaller down payment.

• Before you sign a contract to purchase or finance the car, consider the terms of the financing and evaluate whether it is affordable. Before you drive off the lot, be sure to have a copy of the contract that both you and the dealer have signed and be sure that all blanks are filled in.

• Some dealers and lenders may ask you to buy credit insurance to pay off your loan if you should die or become disabled. Before you buy credit insurance, consider the cost, and whether it’s worthwhile. Check your existing policies to avoid duplicating benefits. Credit insurance is not required by federal law. If your dealer requires you to buy credit insurance for car financing, it must be included in the cost of credit. That is, it must be reflected in the APR. Your state Attorney General also may have requirements about credit insurance. Check with your state Insurance Commissioner or state consumer protection agency.

2003 Volkswagen Accessories GOLF GTI VR6

Vehicles with a Smog Score lower than 8 are provided for comparison purposes only and include only limited information. Select a vehicle you would like to rate by year, make or model. The rating feature is only available for vehicles with a smog score of 8 or better. Up to three vehicles may be rated per person per year.

Viewing of Volkswagen Multivan seats

These vehicles clock up a lot of mileage, they are work horses and those who drive them for a living deserve the same level of protection as the occupants of other vehicles. Passenger cars are now consistently scoring four and five-star safety occupant protection ratings, and we encourage manufacturers to make commercial vehicles just as safe says Mr Gordon.

ANCAP has released a range of new and recent crash test ratings for light commercial vehicles through either ANCAP testing or EuroNCAP, the European New Car Assessment Program which incorporates the same crash-testing protocols as ANCAP. These include 4-star ratings for the Mercedes Vito, VW Caddy Van and VW Transporter, a three-star rating for the Toyota HiAce and a one-star rating for the Mitsubishi Express.

ANCAP is supported by all New Zealand and Australian motoring clubs, the New Zealand government, all Australian State governments and the FIA Foundation. The AA and NZTA are both members of ANCAP.

For Drivers of Motor Homes, Truck Campers and House Trailers

Overview

This document addresses only selected requirements for motor homes, truck campers, house trailers and trucks that tow house trailers operating on the highway and is not an exhaustive list of all the rules that may apply.

Actual Weight

• For a single truck = the actual weight of the truck and load, if any,

• For a truck towing a trailer = the actual weight of the truck and load, if any, and any weight transferred to the truck through the tongue or gooseneck of an attached trailer, including a house trailer.

House trailer

House trailer includes a fifth wheel house trailer, a ball hitch type house trailer, a travel trailer, a cabin trailer, a collapsible cabin trailer, a tent trailer and camping trailer, when being used for personal purposes.

Motor home

A motor vehicle that is used for personal purposes as a temporary or permanent residence and contains at least four of the following items: Cooking facilities, a refrigerator or an ice box, a self-contained toilet, a heating or air conditioning system, an independent electrical power supply or an independent gas supply or a potable water supply system with faucet and sink.Note: "a van camper" is essentially a car-plated passenger van and as such is subject to the same rules as a passenger van or a car.


Registered gross weights

The term "registered gross weight" (RGW) and "registered" are used throughout this document. The RGW determines the fee paid for a truck's licence plates.

For more information about RGW and to determine the appropriate amount of RGW for your truck or truck camper, please visit the following website: Determining Registered Gross Weights for Trucks.Motor homes are plated as passenger vehicles, [e.g. car plates] and do not have a RGW.

Truck camper

A truck carrying a self-contained dwelling unit that is designed, equipped and used exclusively for living accommodation.

Note: The truck portion of a truck camper is registered and licensed as a truck and has an RGW. A truck camper reverts back to a truck when the camper is not being carried and therefore must comply with any truck safety rules that may apply for the size and weight of the truck. Some of these rules are included in this document.

Camper van promotes Euro election to encourage turnout

Euro election officials are using a camper van to encourage voter turnout in the election to the European Parliament on June 4.

Representatives of Renfrewshire Council's 'No Vote, No Voice' campaign are visiting communities across Renfrewshire in the run up to the election.

Having already visited Reid Kerr College, the University of the West of Scotland, Houston Square in Johnstone and Paisley town centre, the campaign team have confirmed another series of public information sessions.

Campaign staff will be taking the camper van to the following locations from 10am to 5pm on:

• Monday June 01 Asda, Linwood
• Tuesday June 02 County Square, Paisley

"We find people appreciate having easy access in their own communities to information about the Euro election," said a spokesperson for the 'No Vote, No Voice' campaign

"There's time for people to have all their questions answered about the European parliament and the important role it plays in our day to day lives.

"As the election draws nearer we're seeing an encouraging response in terms of people saying they are going to cast their vote and make their voice heard."

VW Camper Van Interiors

Self build camper van project.