Toyota Alphard/Vellfire, Nissan Elgrand, etc. as Campervans

[Rumblestripe]

Looking at one of these as a possible camper conversion. About £10-12k for a ten to twelve year old vehicle seems a decent option compared to converting an ex-builder's van. Favourite (for me) seems to be the Alphard/Vellfire. Does anyone have experience of driving, owning or converting one of these? I can buy a ready converted one for about £23-30k but that seems over the odds. I'd prefer to put a Rock and Roll bed in rather than a fixed bed or the option of shaped foam to go over the seats. I'd want a small hob/sink and fridge so probably need a leisure battery installed. Not bothered about a pop top roof as the concept is to use mostly as a "day van" but also for festivals and occasional nights combined with hotels, AirBnB and B&B when touring somewhere like Scotland.

Concerns are

Fuel consumption - they are big petrol engines (2.4 - 3.5l) so are going to use some juice. The plus is that they are ULEZ compliant so I can (should the mood take me) happily drive in any ULEZ.

Insulation - I guess that they have some insulation. But I guess insulating them like a bespoke T5 is not possible, what are they like if it gets chilly?

Parts - Toyota parts (at least mechanically) are I believe standard across the range and can be found easily via main dealers and of course they are pretty damn reliable. Zat right?

Campervan parts - I believe that the Alphard is roughly the same size as a T5 but of course that doesn't mean I can just fit T5 units. So what/who/where/why are the choices here? Given the way that the seats can be reconfigured in these vans it seems a shame that you can't mount an RnR bed on the floor rails of the Alphard but I suppose it is a small market in the UK.

Japanese specific configs - as these are largely JDM vehicles are the radios and sat navs Japanese only? Looking at the pictures the buttons and switches are all marked up in either symbols or English. I don't fancy learning Japanese just to operate the radio but I guess that a replacement unit could be fitted with everything that we are used to? My brother has an Elgrand and it does have certain things on the screens that are Japanese only but his is a 2002-4 ish model and I guess things may have moved on. Perhaps universal Toyota parts with multi lingo? Too much to hope?

Any tips advice or pointers gratefully received.

[Rumblestripe]

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Plenty to think on in there. I live in North East England and we have an importer based in Middlesbrough who do all those things I believe

https://www.thecarwarehouse.co.uk/

And a smaller setup in Darlington who are relatively new but look to have some decent stock. You have confirmed my feeling about preferring the Alphard over the Elgrand

[Rumblestripe]

Cheers, if I do go this route it will definitely be the Alphard rather than the Elgrand (not least because my brother has an Elgrand!)

Going to have a look at one when I have some time off later this year, I'm still researching what is available, running costs, etc. E.g. trying to find if there is a "pod" that is a DIY fit for perhaps fridge, hob, sink or perhaps no hob and carry a little camping stove? I've found the Alphard Owners Club https://uk.alphardclub.com/ which has some useful stuff on that I'm wading through. Not on FB but I suppose I could join if it useful.

Thanks again.

[Rumblestripe]

Interesting alternative, never thought to look at Citroen C8/Pug 807. I hear that the 2.2 diesel is a bit of a dog though. But there is a 2.0 petrol.

On a related note does anyone use the Li-Ion batteries like a Jackery Power Station as an alternative to a Lead/Acid Leisure battery? More expensive but, am I right that you wouldn't need to vent one of these when charging?.

My thoughts on the Alphard are to use a camping pod like the Vangear ones and to mount it onto the seat rails either with a rear seat removed or folded up out of the way. And if I use one of these Jackery jobbies...

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jackery-Portable-Explorer...

...they only weight about 5kg and deliver 240Wh and although more expensive you don't need an inverter or any cabling in the vehicle. Probably enough for the odd day or two just running a small fridge add a portable Jackery solar array and all is good?

[Rumblestripe]

Rumblestripe said:

Cheers, if I do go this route it will definitely be the Alphard rather than the Elgrand (not least because my brother has an Elgrand!)

Predictably, I have now bought... an Elgrand.

Delay has been mostly just life getting in the way of plans. Stuff happens

Hey ho. Just could not find an Alphard in anything like the spec and condition I wanted. So as this Elgrand is a "new" import, I have to wait for DVLA to do the necessary and give me a registration number (in between manning the burning braziers that I'm sure strikers still huddle around) so I expect to be waiting another two to three weeks.

This is an E51 S3 3.5 "Highway Star" model with most of the toys, only 29k miles in an unusual reddish purple colour and dead cow seats. The "plan" if I can dignify it with such a label, is to just add camping stuff on an ad hoc basis, so many people telling me things like

Don't bother with a pop top, I never use my stove as it stinks out the van, etc. so I just want to add stuff bit by bit rather than plough into a major alteration.

[Rumblestripe]

So, I have finally taken delivery of my Nissan Elgrand.



A rather nice change from the white and black ones I think. Initial plans are to buy a demountable kitchen pod from Vangear ("Mini-Pod") which will give us a cooker and sink that can be attached to the rails in the Elgrand's floor either behind the rear seats or between front and scond row seats but more importantly can be lifted out to use in an awning. Still looking at awnings, undecided on either a rear or side awning? I want one of the inflatable awnings as I know what fun poles and such can be in inclement weather. The remaining conundrum will be sleep on the folded existing seats with padding and a matress or full width rnr bed.

[Rumblestripe]

chrisdk said:

sumogophi said:

I was interested to read this, as I find myself in a similar position - torn between an Alphard or an Elgrand. The Alphard seems like it might be slightly better made/reliable, but the Elgrand just looks like a better car and all-round package.

Your Elgrand looks fantasic and that colour is great, not one you often see. It sounds like you imported the vehicle yourself, did this go smoothly (any tips)? and was it much cheaper than buying in the UK? I was considering importing and using a recognised agent like japautoagent, but I just haven't got into all that yet, so I have been looking at the local ads.

I like the idea of an occasional camper with enough room to add bits in, rather than a full camper and costly VW package. I also don't do that many miles so can handle 20-25mpg.

In a great example of the snake eating itself, I have previously found myself on this thread via my own thread:

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

You’ll see where I got to but would add I imported via JAA and was very impressed with the service (and car) even five months on.

Hi both.

I have to be honest I bought this particular van BECAUSE of the colour. I love it! I bought it from Vine Place who could not have been better to deal with. If you anywhere near the North East go see them. https://www.vineplace.co.uk/ You can save money by buying direct from Japan but it is a lot easier if you let the experts do it. Vine Place have a national reputation for JDM cars and they were delivering an Elgrand to Devon when we were there.

I looked at several Elgrands and test drove an Alphard as well. They also sell the Honda Elyssion and Stepwagon but those (IMO) don't work as well as campers as the "Big L". We were going to buy a white one and were admiring the purple one they had which someone had their name on. Then the manager happened within earshot and said that the guy who had his name on the purple Elgrand had not paid a deposit and the had been unable to get a reply off him so if we wanted it...

The rest as they say!

In terms of Elgrand v Alphard I went with the Elgrand for no great reason they both drive nicely and drink fuel like a Sheikh's best friend, they weigh over 2 tonnes so they are never going to run like an Aygo! About 25pmg is the best you can hope for. I've had 27 on a very gentle jaunt into Northumberland. One tip from my research, don't get tempted with the hybrids, they are "problematic" and expensive if not impossible to fix if they go wrong, plus on long runs you get no regen so you are merely carrying a heavy battery around with you.

Conversion to campervan has not progressed beyond the conceptual stage. I'll post when I start. We are buying an inflatable awning and a demountable kitchen pod, we were hoping for bargains in the sales but nothing really worth buying came up. Maybe in January?

[Rumblestripe]

chrisdk said:

sumogophi said:

Thanks for the replies on this, I am still(!) looking at mk1 Alphard and E51 Elgrands.. I think I have pretty much decided against the importer route - as well recommend as the likes of JapAA are, the whole process/documentation/getting it converted/underseal process puts me off, I feel happy getting a reputable seller and then there is also an element of comeback just incase anything goes wrong.

I defintely don't want a camper conversion, I like the original layout of these - rotating middle seats, bed mode of all seats, and foldable rear seats for lots of space/van style. I think if you fully convert you lose a lot of its best features. But each to their own. I like the suggestion from @rumblestripe about the Vangear, temporary pods sound great and fits in with occasional tent camping, bike trips etc.

My only dilemma now is small details, do I go for an Elgrand XL with captains chairs, or - I still like the 8 seater 'bench' in the Alphard which can be folded into tables, spun round and used to face the rear and look out the back (similar option is also available on 8 seater Elgrands).

Also, and I am not sure if it is my perception here, but the Elgrand interior looks more spacious/roomy almost van like interior - while the Alphard interior looks cosier, slighlty smaller, and more 'car-like' for passengers? Maybe it's just me spending far too much time looking at these, when I should just actually go and buy one... I am based in West Yorkshire so trying to keep an eye out for decent sellers which are not too far away.

Conscious West Yorks is a big place but would recommend this place in York:

https://www.japaneseimportspecialists.co.uk/used/n...

They famously don’t stock Alphards but I had a really good chat with someone on the phone about where to get one.

Failing that you’re maybe looking at Vine Place in Durham in terms of distance - no idea on what their stock is like but they seem to have a fair few import MPVs.

Finally, there’s a couple of Alphard groups on Facebook full of enthusiastic owners, quite often cars come up for sale - private sales so little comeback but should have been well looked after.

I bought my Elgrand from Vine Place and cannot recommend them highly enough. They stock Elgrands and Aphards (plus the occasional Vellfire and Honda Stepwagon and Odyssey) Their website will show you what they have and what is arriving shortly. I went to look at an Alphard and ended up buying an Elgrand. I don't think there is much to choose between the two but you might prefer the Alphard. If you give them a ring they will have a car ready for you to look at, a lot of their stock is kept in a compound some distance from the workshop. The guys there know these vehicles inside out. No hard sell their expertise and service sells the cards. I paid a £500 (refundable) deposit on my Elgrand to secure it before I even drove it. They rarely have any vehicles for very long many being secured with a deposit before they have even landed in Blighty.

The other place I checked out was The Car Warehouse in Middlesbrough, they have a more eclectic stock and the website is a good place to waste those empty hours at work. They don't keep Alphards and the guy in charge seems to talk them down for reasons that I have not found echoed anywhere else. Possibly just some bad commercial experiences? I test drove a 2.5 Elgrand there which convinced me to go for the 3.5.

Give Vine Place a ring and they will make sure that there is a car there for you to have a look around and test drive.