From roadfitter (Ken):
In Illinois, you walk in with the title, cash, check or a Discover card in hand - "NO Visa or Master Card" - and you walk out with your plates.
RV/Motorhome plates with NO Inspection, just answer the questions.
"Don't Expand on the Truth"!
From LLonearth (Larry):
Illinois regulations:
A recreational vehicle is defined as "Every camping trailer, motor home, mini-motor home, travel trailer, truck camper or van camper used primarily for recreational purposes and not used commercially nor owned by a commercial business" (625 ILCS 5/1-169).
A motor home, mini-motor home, or van camper displaying Recreational Vehicle (RV) license plates must contain at least four of the following six equipment items:
1) a cooking facility with an on-board fuel source;
2) a gas or electric refrigerator; \
3) a toilet with exterior evacuation;
4) a heating or air conditioning system with an on-board power or fuel source separate from the vehicle engine;
5) a drinkable water supply system that includes at least a sink, a faucet, and a water tank with a an exterior service supply connection;
6) a 110-15 volt electric power supply.
If a van does not meet the RV equipment requirements, the applicant should purchase either passenger or B-truck license plates, depending on the design and use of the vehicle (625 ILCS 5/1-145.01).
From Dennis M (Dennis):
We are registered in Illinois and have had no problems whatsoever.
The main thing to remember is do not offer any more information than is required at registration. I made sure that my Volvo had the minimum mods required, took my paper work to the Elgin SOS office (DO NOT take the truck with you).
Handed the clerk the paper work, said "I need RV plates for this conversion to a motor home", she looked it over, looked up the appropriate page in her three ring binder, looked at me and said "so this is an over-the-road tractor that has been converted to a motor home?" I answered "yes" and walked out with RV plates.
My title says "Volvo Motor Home".
You will need a non-CDL class B operators license for a class 8 tractor (oops, motor home) or a class A operators license if the trailer is over 10k. The written test is a snap - I studied the CDL manual but when I went to take the test (you do have to go to a commercial SOS facility) he asked if I had studied the non-CDL manual. He handed me a small booklet that I read on the spot and then took and passed the test.
When you come back for the driving portion of the test you HAVE to have a Class A or CDL licensed driver with you. The driving test was also a snap, I did not even have to back it up!
No walk around other than the examiner checking the lights and no questions on air brakes.
I had been told you cannot float shift, but when I said I was bit rusty on double clutching the examiner said to shift like I always do. Passed with no problem.
From John (C-IL):
Illinois is a snap to get a conversion like Dennis said.
If you have no need for the CDL just get the class A. In order for the CDL to be valid you have to have a physical card and be on a random drug test list, therefore, getting a CDL is just additional work with no benefit to you.
Conversion just means that you need to have the minimal things for life support, but they do need to be in the truck.
A generator that is permanently attached to the truck, heat, running water, microwave and a dorm fridge will get you there.
While you are doing it the shore power with a couple of outlets to run the microwave, heater and fridge will be a great convenience and also add to the usefulness of the conversion stuff.
The toilet is the hardest part because in Illinois it is supposed to be permanently attached and have the fittings for outside evacuation which means you would probably need a holding tank.
BTW, your running water also needs to have an external fill fitting.
From WildJohn (John):
I second everything posted above.
I live in the far south of Illinois and our local Sec of State office is great.
I went in with all the information related to the laws and a list of the conversions I had done and walked out with the registration.
I had taken the written 'class a noncommercial test' previously in Champaign so all I had to do as to take the driving test.
Now that was interesting since the tester was not sure what test to give so since she was trained as a commercial tester (that facility doesn't offer them) she gave me the complete cdl test. Over 45 minutes on the road test.
She loved the truck (OOPS RV) and that may have influenced how much time she spent ..LOL.. got dinged for shifting going over railroad tracks at about 10mph..oops...
You won't have any problem with it. My only problem was when I upgraded they took off my M rating so I had to end up going through the rider training coarse to get my Motorcycle classification back.
The class was very well worth it. After YEARS of riding I was surprised to learn several points.
From Dennis M (Dennis):
I am not aware of any inspection requirement in IL. I never had one done and, as I noted above, don't offer any more info than needed.
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