Toyota Alphard Camper Van
Discussion
After lusting after and wanting a campervan for longer than I can remember, three months ago I bought a Toyota Alphard with a rear-end camper conversion. The Alphard makes a different base for a Camper Conversion from the usual suspect of a VW Transporter for two key reasons. Firstly, its a van shaped car. In that it handles and drives more like a large car, than a simple van. Infact its dimensions are very similar to a Subaru Outback I had a couple of years back. Secondly it has a 3.0 V6 petrol engine, which means no clogged DPF issues to worry about. I live on the Isle of Wight, were diesels are not always the best choice given the roads. Which again is why the fairly narrow size of an Alphard makes them very popular here.
Part of the reason for chosing an Alphard was that it would need to replace my C350 as a day to day car. It had to be usuable and practical with space for two lurchers in the back. Ideally it would also need to better the 20mpg the 3.5 V6 in the Mercedes gave me.
The car came from a well known seller of Mazda Bongo's and Alphards here on the Island, and we are the second owners of this car in the UK. We had a budget in mind, one which would buy an Alphard with a partial conversion. Were we would over time either DIY or pay someone to sort out the rest. However when we actually started looking, we viewed this van, which had a North Star conversions Pop-Top, Solar Panels and Diesel Heater. So we decided b
ks to the budget, lets buy it. With its rearend conversion it has a working sink, two gas hobs and a fridge/freezer. Although the later would only fit an ice cube tray.
Here are some pictures of it on the forecourt:
Our first trip was to York and back in early Feb. A trip I've done more times than I can recall in nearly every car I've owned over the years.The Alphard made it a very relaxed journey. On the way back we even got pole position on the ferry back to the Island.
We've not camped over night in it yet. We're planning to test it out one night around Easter time, then we're taking it to France in June for a few nights in Saint Malo, then Tours and finally Le Mans for the 24.
We have though taken it around the Island for breakfast in a few locations with the dogs.
Part of the reason for chosing an Alphard was that it would need to replace my C350 as a day to day car. It had to be usuable and practical with space for two lurchers in the back. Ideally it would also need to better the 20mpg the 3.5 V6 in the Mercedes gave me.
The car came from a well known seller of Mazda Bongo's and Alphards here on the Island, and we are the second owners of this car in the UK. We had a budget in mind, one which would buy an Alphard with a partial conversion. Were we would over time either DIY or pay someone to sort out the rest. However when we actually started looking, we viewed this van, which had a North Star conversions Pop-Top, Solar Panels and Diesel Heater. So we decided b
ks to the budget, lets buy it. With its rearend conversion it has a working sink, two gas hobs and a fridge/freezer. Although the later would only fit an ice cube tray. Here are some pictures of it on the forecourt:
Our first trip was to York and back in early Feb. A trip I've done more times than I can recall in nearly every car I've owned over the years.The Alphard made it a very relaxed journey. On the way back we even got pole position on the ferry back to the Island.
We've not camped over night in it yet. We're planning to test it out one night around Easter time, then we're taking it to France in June for a few nights in Saint Malo, then Tours and finally Le Mans for the 24.
We have though taken it around the Island for breakfast in a few locations with the dogs.
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