Trailer conversion

Going back over 20 years, a friend of mine in country NSW had a box trailer - not sure how big, but it was not a large trailer. He built a temporary camping setup on the trailer and mistakenly went to the local RTA office. They classified it as a caravan, and he then had to have it inspected every year for roadworthiness. I have heard of similar problems with with people using their box trailer to tow a boat and a copper pulling them up telling them it is a boat trailer. Not sure where you live, but if it is in NSW, shut up about what you have done...

"I have recently permanently attached a soft floor tent to my 7*4 off road trailer."

Modify it so it is easily detachable. It then becomes a load so no need to approach the RMS,

Yes. According to the standards bulletin you will have to get it registered correctly, but it should be just paperwork and a bit of stuffing around.

You could argue the "permanently equipped" if it is only 4 bolts, but if you have strapped anything else onto the now camper, then you will probably be pushing it up hill.

"Typical Examples of Trailers Covered by this Bulletin

11.4 Caravan
An enclosed trailer, which is intended for use as a mobile home or living quarters when parked. It will usually provide fixed sleeping accommodation and/or facilities for the preparation of food. A trailer permanently equipped with a folding and stowable roof (such as a camper trailer) is a caravan."
VSB 1 Building Small Trailers. National Code of Practic

Hi
Provided the trailer is registered for braked either single axle or dual axle and the appropiate weight rating leave it alone . The only exception is if u want to insure it .
Then u will have to go thru the full procedure . Just paper work . Pain in the ass..

Thanks for all your thoughts guys.
Looks like i got some paperwork to do with the transport department.
After the work it took to fit the thing, 2 days drilling stainless, cost a small fortune in drill bits, I really dont fancy taking it off to make it removable, and that would be a pain to get the struts and everything working, lots easier to do the paperwork.

I am also not a head in the sand type of guy, with license plate recognition cameras mounted in police cars it is too easy for them to pick up errors in types of trailers. Then there is always the insurance issue if involved in an accident, better off dotting the i's and crossing the t's before there is an issue.

But the question was more does it need to be engineer approved before going to the transport department to do the paperwork?