ska invita
back on the other side
YES! thanks seb...going to check when she last posted
-Nov last year, posting every few months it seems
waves @ stuff_it , hope all is well
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Who lives in a van? Or wants to?
- Thread starter David Clapson
- Start date
-Nov last year, posting every few months it seems
waves @ stuff_it , hope all is well
Bahnhof Strasse
Met up with Hannah Courtoy a week next Tuesday
Nope! And my ex used to chuckle, if I was struggling to overtake something, at my tendency to strain forward, as if I could add another few horsepower with the power of my mind...
Rocking back and forth in you seat squeezes out an extra mph or two.
kalidarkone
Bringing YOU round.....
I am phobic about multistorey car parks because even in a swb vwt4 the ceiling seems far to close. It really freaks me out!
bellaozzydog
rolling turds in glitter
Nope! And my ex used to chuckle, if I was struggling to overtake something, at my tendency to strain forward, as if I could add another few horsepower with the power of my mind...
bouncing in your seat to get up hills
David Clapson
Well-Known Member
Actually I think I could make it work. I'd probably remove the Alphard's passenger seat, and put quick release fittings on the bike's handlebars, screen and front wheel. No garage, just have the bike fixed to the floor, under a fabric cover.
An outdoor shower like this one.
Probably no toilet. But perhaps a clever one like this.
No kitchen to speak of. Just a small fridge and the gas camping stove which I use for camping. And a Nespresso machine.
So, not a plush motorhome experience. But a big step up from camping. No stinky diesel. Easy parking. Stealth.
bellaozzydog
rolling turds in glitter
there is a tech mad T4 interior designer that does something similar. From memory it was made from carbon fibre and unobtainium and probably cost a decades wages
I’ll find a link
CUSTOM HAUS
➕ We are an alternative camping and outdoor shop that specialises in VW Transporter van and campervan accessories. Our range includes our best selling tarp awning and T5/T6 awning rail plus beach side accessories and van life essentials. ➕
Possibly style and blather over substance
A380
How do I change this 'custom title' thing then?
Their engineering looks good, their advertising copy wank.there is a tech mad T4 interior designer that does something similar. From memory it was made from carbon fibre and unobtainium and probably cost a decades wages
I’ll find a link
CUSTOM HAUS
➕ We are an alternative camping and outdoor shop that specialises in VW Transporter van and campervan accessories. Our range includes our best selling tarp awning and T5/T6 awning rail plus beach side accessories and van life essentials. ➕stitchesandsteel.com
Possibly style and blather over substance
You have to subscribe to that Stitches and Steel site to read anything. Don't want to 
I have a Leyland Daf converted horsebox...but this is huge (and we burnt out the clutch so it only goes backward now). However, if your driving licence was pre1992, it is legal to drive a 7.5tonne vehicle...and at a generous 24ft by 8ft living space, it is (just about) doable (not that I do it cos I am old and fucked and miss running hot water). Sadly, my PC has died with all my pics - will have to search old posts ...but it is a thing of beauty, clad in steel and red cedar.
Idaho
blah blah blah
I've got an Alphard. I imported it a few years back. It's the second car I've imported myself. They are very classy, comfortable things to drive. Like driving a plush sofaMy favourite starting point (today) is the Toyota Alphard. Eight seater "luxury MPV." A Japan-only model, so you import it. V. popular in the UK. There's a ULEZ-compliant hybrid 2.4 litre version which is rather like a Prius but with three electric motors. It can have a fridge etc. put in without extra batteries and chargers. Selectable 4WD. £5,500 gets you a 56,000 miler. No rust because Japan. Allegedly. Or get one already fitted out as a camper for £20-£30k.
You can add a high roof and end up with a 4 bed camper van.
I have thought about converting it. We'd have to get another little car if we did... And not sure how much we really would use it. Is it just a pleasant fantasy or something we really want to do.
David Clapson
Well-Known Member
Exciting! Which model have you got? Did you buy it from a Japanese person? Is there a Japanese site with Alphards for sale? Is it loads cheaper than getting a UK dealer to do it for you? I had a google and could only find very high priced ones. Many, many, many millions of yen.I've got an Alphard. I imported it a few years back. It's the second car I've imported myself. They are very classy, comfortable things to drive. Like driving a plush sofa
I have thought about converting it. We'd have to get another little car if we did... And not sure how much we really would use it. Is it just a pleasant fantasy or something we really want to do.
Idaho
blah blah blah
It's a 3ltre petrol. Thirsty!
I used an auction agent. I've used them a couple of times. Auction price of the car (40k miles, 10 year's old) was less than £3k. However by the time you've paid local taxes, checks, shipping, customs, vat, switching over to UK, mot, etc - it was nearly £7k. This was a few years ago and the Alphard wasn't a known quantity here. I was initially looking for another estima - but then a good Alphard came up.
My advice:
1 - Japanese auctions are exhaustive and check every last detail of the car. They issue a report. If the dealer claims to not know anything about this and doesn't have the auction report - walk away. They are lying.
2 - Japanese auctions are controlled by the big dealers. Any cars they put in, they ring the price to keep the prices high. The value comes when a car is put into auction by a private seller.
weltweit
Well-Known Member
I like the idea of touring in a van. One of the disadvantages of touring on a motorcycle is lack of space, lack of lockable space and lack of protection from the elements.
However motorbike or Van, you still have something you have to take responsibility for. From that point of view I think a low key van could be the best. A sort of Q van!
However motorbike or Van, you still have something you have to take responsibility for. From that point of view I think a low key van could be the best. A sort of Q van!
plurker
tú no tienes la culpa mi amor que el mundo sea feo
Haha - nope; that and leaning forward to help with pulling her up the hills...
I parked in a Monaco multistorey carpark once, near the promenade seafront somewhere.
VW T25 hightop. The height clearance signs said 3m clearance, we're 2.90 from the top of the roofvent, so thought good news. Got into the car park under the hanging barrier ok (with the OH outside looking to see if we were okay). Then we discovered that although the entry had a 3m clearance, all their suspended lighting was at maybe 2m60 or so.
Cruuuunch. Light tracks are swinging, our roofvent cracks. Eeek
We found the French carpark attendant, and after much laughter and confusion, managed to get unhooked by letting the tyres down a fair bit, and having the CP attendant and all his colleagues (five in all) in the back.
There's nothing like driving with the thwap thwap thwappity thwap noise of four near-flat tyres to make everyone stare at you as you try to find a garage to pump them back up.
We don't do multi-storey now
kalidarkone
Bringing YOU round.....
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
A panel van conversion is pretty close to that idea of a Q van. I'm certainly much happier driving one of those than a Tupperware Palace
D'wards
IT'S YOUR DECISION DANIEL
Me pal's uncle wrote a book about it.
Iirc he converted an old Bedford removal van
Iirc he converted an old Bedford removal van
A Year In The Life Of A White Van Man: Or Getting Rich Quickly eBook : Boon, Jerry, Boon, Jerry: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
A Year In The Life Of A White Van Man: Or Getting Rich Quickly eBook : Boon, Jerry, Boon, Jerry: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
www.amazon.co.uk
David Clapson
Well-Known Member
I love this! I watched it all the way through and Virginia gave me a lot of certainty that van life should me my goal. Alphard Hybrid here we come. I also found a brilliant gadget for loading and storing a motorbike. It's £1800 but maybe I could make my own version of it.
Rear garage pull-in for motorbikes | SAWIKO
Motorbike easier to load in the camper rear garageYour motorbike or scooter is simply driven into the front wheel rocker on the sledge and
www.sawiko.com
butchersapron
Bring back hanging
ddraig
kicking against the pricks...
What a fucking dick! and his twatty mate
Not helping the party scene at all with that self centred shite
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Bad news on the van front. It'll pass the MOT fine (rear light lens has faded, but that's it), but there is a lot of corrosion. Because it's an Iveco, and therefore basically a truck with a chassis, it can't fail the MOT on rust, but his view is that it's got a year left in it.
Which might be a blessing in disguise, given that it's jointly owned with the ex, and she is still VERY proprietorial about it. Another apron string vanishes.
But I think I am keen enough on the idea that I shall start thinking about its successor. Definitely a big van again, maybe an Iveco Daily that isn't 24 years old.
ETA: because there's nothing quite like leaping from a high cab in a pair of sturdy boots
Which might be a blessing in disguise, given that it's jointly owned with the ex, and she is still VERY proprietorial about it. Another apron string vanishes.
But I think I am keen enough on the idea that I shall start thinking about its successor. Definitely a big van again, maybe an Iveco Daily that isn't 24 years old.
ETA: because there's nothing quite like leaping from a high cab in a pair of sturdy boots
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David Clapson
Well-Known Member
I hear you. I used to have a Mercedes 609 and it was such fun. But I've discovered yet another reason to go small - Lambeth residents parking permits are limited to 2.3m height and 5.5m metres length. And anyway, I don't think a diesel would be a good long term bet, even if it's Euro 6. Whereas an Alphard Hybrid might have a long future if the battery can be upgraded in due course. Battery technology is developing fast. So perhaps the mpg will improve? Is this a reasonable expectation?
I've been reading about flares...the bulges you add to the side of your van to eke out the width. They cost a fortune...£1600+, typically for all of 3 inches. I'm tempted by the DIY approach. Buy an old roof box for cheap, and use the lid. Cut a hole in the van and fit the lid from the inside. Forget about painting it, just give the whole van a vinyl wrap. Matt green to assist with hiding in the trees. Go for the military look, and stencil a few warnings to give the impression that the bulge conceals a radar jammer or a surface to air missile.
I've been reading about flares...the bulges you add to the side of your van to eke out the width. They cost a fortune...£1600+, typically for all of 3 inches. I'm tempted by the DIY approach. Buy an old roof box for cheap, and use the lid. Cut a hole in the van and fit the lid from the inside. Forget about painting it, just give the whole van a vinyl wrap. Matt green to assist with hiding in the trees. Go for the military look, and stencil a few warnings to give the impression that the bulge conceals a radar jammer or a surface to air missile.
Boudicca
Seaside Queen
I spoke to the guy in Kilmarnock who does very nice Alphard conversions and asked what the benefit of the Hybrids was and he said 'nothing, they just make the owners feel better'. Despite having several cars for sale on Autotrader, they are backed up with orders and nothing available until June. Everyone wants a camper at the moment.
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Boudicca
Seaside Queen
existentialist
Tired and unemotional
Good.
David Clapson
Well-Known Member
Doesn't it make it easier and cheaper to fit electrically powered stuff? I read somewhere that it comes with 110 volt sockets, and sometimes a fridge.
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