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Newbies to a camper van


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Hi, we are in the process of buying a 2007 Toyota alphard 2.4 automatic. It’s our first one so any information about drive away awnings would be appreciated. Also, we understand it’s not an easy thing to fix a bike rack onto the back of the van, has anyone done this.

thanks,

Kim

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I'm sure someone here in the posts can help, personally I have never yet seen cycles suspended off the rear of Alphards probably due to not having rear doors, my fix to this issue was to fit a decent tow-bar and a movable bike rack to take our electric bikes

 

We have a small inflatable drive-away tent which is attached to the Alphards roof KADER Tube, but from our experience with the Alphard I would just buy a quality inflatable 4-person tent much better value than pop top roofs (we never used the point of the drive away tent) 

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Hi Kim and welcome to the forum.   Plenty of posts on this forum re the subject of awnings and how to fix them to your Alphie. We have an inflatable Vango awning and use a roof rail which we’ve had attached. You can use over the top straps or magnetic fastenings but rails are best in my opinion. I’ve never been keen on bike racks attached to tailgates and like ThuMentaliss have used a Witter carrier attached to the towbar.

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Hi Kim. Like Arthur, we’ve got a Vango Kilda drive away awning, which attaches to our fitted awning rail, under the pop top. This was purchased from Go Outdoors. We also got a tow bar fitted so that we could attach a bike rack that we purchased from Halfords. Very pleased with both additions.

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Hi Kim,

We also have a bike rack fitted to a towbar. We bought an Atera Strada Evo bike rack, which has a roller pull-out system, when unlatched the rack can be pulled away from the rear with the bikes still on to allow enough room to lift the tailgate. T'was a great find! I think there would be a problem with suspending bikes on the tailgate itself because of the additional weight, lifting it and keeping it held open.

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3 hours ago, pcous said:

Hi Kim,

We also have a bike rack fitted to a towbar. We bought an Atera Strada Evo bike rack, which has a roller pull-out system, when unlatched the rack can be pulled away from the rear with the bikes still on to allow enough room to lift the tailgate. T'was a great find! I think there would be a problem with suspending bikes on the tailgate itself because of the additional weight, lifting it and keeping it held open.

Thank you for the information, appreciated.

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I’ve been wonder about all of the above for our camper, this is all great to know. The bike rack on the tow bar is something I had thought about but wasn’t convinced on but that looks like a great solution. 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Can’t seem to find route to newbie introduction section so here I am!

A searcher for an Alphard, have wheels, will travel.

Gumtree has been studied until eyes are sore.

Former Bongo, the Burstner owner.

going back to campervan size as we moved to a flat a couple of years ago so parking/storage is limited.

 

This looks like my kind of site!

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55 minutes ago, Clutha said:

Can’t seem to find route to newbie introduction section so here I am!

A searcher for an Alphard, have wheels, will travel.

Gumtree has been studied until eyes are sore.

Former Bongo, the Burstner owner.

going back to campervan size as we moved to a flat a couple of years ago so parking/storage is limited.

 

This looks like my kind of site!

 

Hello Gordon,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

There is an Introduction Section. Click on the Forums button top left of your home page.

 

There is also a For Sale section, where you may find just what you need.

 

There are several specialist companies that are able to provide both converted and non converted Alphards and Vellfires.

 

You could make a good start with Funky Ram; a trade member of this Club.

 

Plenty of reading to do. Good Luck.

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