Refitting Carriage Container Vehicles into Houses

Refitting carriage container vehicles into houses is feasible under the premise of complying with regulations and safety standards, but there are certain limitations and risks.

Legal Aspect

• Strict Regulatory Restrictions: In China, there are currently no explicit regulations or qualified legal refitting channels for converting box trucks into recreational vehicles (RVs). Any behavior that changes vehicle identification, such as modifications to the engine, suspension, or transmission, is illegal. Refitting box trucks into RVs involves changes to appearance and structure, exceeding the scope permitted by regulations. According to the 'Regulations on Motor Vehicle Registration' by the Ministry of Public Security, the allowable refitting situations for small and micro passenger cars and freight motor vehicles are limited, and converting box trucks into RVs is not among the permitted cases. Even if only interior refitting is carried out, such as removing seats and replacing them with beds and other equipment, the vehicle will be required to be restored to its original state if detected.
• Some Case Scenarios: Although the law does not explicitly prohibit converting box trucks into RVs, the refitted vehicles must comply with relevant safety standards and regulatory requirements and undergo change registration procedures at the vehicle management office. In practice, some models, such as the Daihatsu Hijet micro-box truck and small box trucks, have successful refitting cases. However, these refittings strictly followed relevant regulations, with prior consultation with local traffic management departments and completion of change registration procedures.

Safety Aspect

• Structural Safety Risks: Unreasonable modifications to the vehicle structure during the refitting process may affect the vehicle's stability and safety. For example, randomly opening windows or changing the body structure may disrupt the vehicle's original mechanical balance, increasing safety hazards during driving.
• Electrical and Water System Hazards: Although there are no explicit prohibitions on the refitting of electrical wires and water pipelines, safety issues are easily involved in actual inspections. If the refitting is improper, it may cause electrical short circuits, water leaks, and other faults, and even lead to serious consequences such as fires.

Cost Aspect

• Significant Cost Differences: The cost of converting a truck into an RV varies greatly depending on the vehicle model, configuration, and degree of refitting. Simple refitting may only cost a few thousand yuan to tens of thousands of yuan. If there are high requirements for interior decoration and equipment, such as adding electrical and water systems and comfortable beds, the cost will rise significantly. For some large trucks converted into luxury RVs equipped with high-end facilities, the cost can reach hundreds of thousands of yuan.