Somebody stop me!!!

[benjamin163]

Hello,

We’ve loved reading this forum and hearing all your stories.

Now finally we think we’re ready to jump on board and become the proud owner of our very first camper van, a Toyota Alphard Hellfire Hybrid, 2012, 2.4l, 55k-60k on the clock. It looks very cool - I guess those looks are why most people are here on this site.

We’re buying from a company called Campervan co. Their conversions look good and the conversion suits our needs perfectly. Lots of off grid capability. 

Price is around £41K depending on extras.

We’ve looked into insurance, parking, tax and we think everything is do-able.

So we’re ready to go.

We just wondered if anyone had any last pieces of advice or watch outs before we push the button. Especially any telltale signs we should look out for in a 10 year old+ Alphard with 55 to 60K on the clock. Or anything in the conversion that is either a 'must have' or an 'avoid at all costs'. 

Any thoughts and advice from people who have been there and done it is most gratefully received.

Thank you

[Rojie]

3 hours ago, benjamin163 said:

Hello,

We’ve loved reading this forum and hearing all your stories.

Now finally we think we’re ready to jump on board and become the proud owner of our very first camper van, a Toyota Alphard Hellfire Hybrid, 2012, 2.4l, 55k-60k on the clock. It looks very cool - I guess those looks are why most people are here on this site.

We’re buying from a company called Campervan co. Their conversions look good and the conversion suits our needs perfectly. Lots of off grid capability. 

Price is around £41K depending on extras.

We’ve looked into insurance, parking, tax and we think everything is do-able.

So we’re ready to go.

We just wondered if anyone had any last pieces of advice or watch outs before we push the button. Especially any telltale signs we should look out for in a 10 year old+ Alphard with 55 to 60K on the clock. Or anything in the conversion that is either a 'must have' or an 'avoid at all costs'. 

Any thoughts and advice from people who have been there and done it is most gratefully received.

Thank you

 

Insist on a copy of the auction certificate.

 

40k seems high (to me and my pocket), but you don't detail anything about the specification of the conversion.

[Picasso]

Do a bit more homework as Roger said 40k way to much money to spend on a alphard a few members on here have mentioned campervan co check out the reviews also campervan co is the new name they changed it about 3 years ago during Covid there old name was campers Scotland .

[benjamin163]

16 minutes ago, Rojie said:

 

Insist on a copy of the auction certificate.

 

40k seems high (to me and my pocket), but you don't detail anything about the specification of the conversion.

Thanks so much for the reply Roger.

May I take the opportunity to furnish you with top line details of the conversion? Your top line view is massively appreciated.

The van will be a 2012 Toyota Alphard Vellfire hybrid 2.4l with 60-65K miles on the clock.

The conversion looks super smart with a heavy focus on its off grid capability which seems like up to a week of full usage without plugging in. including...

 

Elevated roof.

Varitrak bed system.

Heated bed.

Patented omni-slide induction hob that allows cooking inside or out. (really cool feature)

230Ah 12v lithium leisure battery which is capable of a week of off grid activity.

150W standard solar panel + optional upgrade

2000W Victron energy inverter charger

Swivel front seat

Tow hitch

Solid wood kitchen surface

Leatherette upholstery front and back (I'm supplying the material)

We've sat one and fiddled around and we like the fit a lot. Everything solid, well made. 

It feels like the nicest conversion we've sat in and smartly set up. We like the fact it's fully electric. The car battery charges the leisure battery. Plenty of plug points for household stuff etc.

Everything comes with a two year warranty. The conversion and the engine.

We like it. But we don't have too much of an idea if the price is competitive simply because we haven't seen a set up like it.

Any thoughts most gratefully received.

 

[Rojie]

18 hours ago, benjamin163 said:

Thanks so much for the reply Roger.

May I take the opportunity to furnish you with top line details of the conversion? Your top line view is massively appreciated.

The van will be a 2012 Toyota Alphard Vellfire hybrid 2.4l with 60-65K miles on the clock.

The conversion looks super smart with a heavy focus on its off grid capability which seems like up to a week of full usage without plugging in. including...

 

Elevated roof.

Varitrak bed system.

Heated bed.

Patented omni-slide induction hob that allows cooking inside or out. (really cool feature)

230Ah 12v lithium leisure battery which is capable of a week of off grid activity.

150W standard solar panel + optional upgrade

2000W Victron energy inverter charger

Swivel front seat

Tow hitch

Solid wood kitchen surface

Leatherette upholstery front and back (I'm supplying the material)

We've sat one and fiddled around and we like the fit a lot. Everything solid, well made. 

It feels like the nicest conversion we've sat in and smartly set up. We like the fact it's fully electric. The car battery charges the leisure battery. Plenty of plug points for household stuff etc.

Everything comes with a two year warranty. The conversion and the engine.

We like it. But we don't have too much of an idea if the price is competitive simply because we haven't seen a set up like it.

Any thoughts most gratefully received.

 

 

Thanks for the update on the specification.

I don't pretend to be knowledgeable regarding values.

 

You do seem to have specified the vehicle very highly.

I hope that someone with a similar specifications from the same vendor will offer comment.

 

Pop-tops are not cheap.

There is a lot of labour needed for a professional conversion.

Unfortunately, of course, there is also the dreaded VAT which will be a large 'chunk' of the sales price.

 

230A/hr is quite a lot for a leisure battery, but it's suitability depends on the demand drawn from it.

Using a battery beyond 50% of its rated value is not a good plan.

 

I would produce a detailed summary of your electrical needs to support your assorted 'domestic' stuff; especially heating in the cold winter off grid sessions, and compare that with the concurrent ability of the 'electrics' to support those needs.

 

Did you consider an EHU, although of no use with wild camping or is that how you intend to use the Victron ?

 

Good luck, and make sure you know who will repair and service the Hybrid system BEFORE you purchase from anyone.

 

[benjamin163]

38 minutes ago, Rojie said:

 

Thanks for the update on the specification.

I don't pretend to be knowledgeable regarding values.

 

You do seem to have specified the vehicle very highly.

I hope that someone with a similar specifications from the same vendor will offer comment.

 

Pop-tops are not cheap.

There is a lot of labour needed for a professional conversion.

Unfortunately, of course, there is also the dreaded VAT which will be a large 'chunk' of the sales price.

 

230A/hr is quite a lot for a leisure battery, but it's suitability depends on the demand drawn from it.

Using a battery beyond 50% of its rated value is not a good plan.

 

I would produce a detailed summary of your electrical needs to support your assorted 'domestic' stuff; especially heating in the cold winter off grid sessions, and compare that with the concurrent ability of the 'electrics' to support those needs.

 

Did you consider an EHU, although of no use with wild camping or is that ow you intend to use the Victron ?

 

Good luck, and make sure you know who will repair and service the Hybrid system BEFORE you purchase from anyone.

 

Such a useful response roger, it's fully appreciated.

Yes I think the idea of the van is that it can live off grid happily for a week with all sorts plugged in.

However there is also an EHU so all bases are covered.

Frankly we will probably never test the leisure battery to that extent but I guess it's just nice knowing isn't it!

Thank you again and I shall certainly be asking for more of your expert advice over the coming months and hopefully years.

 

[benjamin163]

49 minutes ago, benjamin163 said:

Using a battery beyond 50% of its rated value is not a good plan.

Roger, I don't quite understand this sentence, could you expand a little?

I'm thinking you're saying that all my appliances used at once shouldn't take up more than 50% of the battery's power. Is that correct?

[Rojie]

24 minutes ago, benjamin163 said:

Roger, I don't quite understand this sentence, could you expand a little?

I'm thinking you're saying that all my appliances used at once shouldn't take up more than 50% of the battery's power. Is that correct?

 

No. I'm not. What I am suggesting is worse.

 

Firstly, I am not an expert on battery charge depletion.

 

However, if you deplete the (maximum) charge held in your leisure battery by, say, more than 50%, it will need recharging otherwise it may be damaged permanently.

If you have a 230A/hr battery it is logical to assume it will deliver 230A for an hour, or 1 A for 230 hours. Not no.

 

Will you be running only 12 volt appliances from the leisure battery ?

Or some mains invertor powered by the leisure battery.

 

You may be surprised to learn just how much current some 12v appliances will take !

Will your leisure battery be monitorable with a voltmeter and a ammeter ?

So you can be aware of just how much power an appliance, or several, will be drawing.

 

Clearly, the more concurrent charge (power, i.e. voltage multiplied by current) you remove from a battery, the sooner the battery will approach its functional limit.

 

Have a read of the article below, selected at random, to raise your awareness of Lithium Batteries (in this case).

 

https://saft.com/energizing-iot/lithium-ion-batteries-use-5-more-tips-longer-lifespan

 

A ps to my last offering. Buying privately does not attract VAT, thereby, potentially offering a 'like for like' cost avoidance.

VAT is not recoverable unless your vehicle will be for business use.

Buying privately does not provide the legal protection, or warranty, available directly, or indirectly, from a business seller.

 

All I am really suggesting is that, perhaps, before parting with £40k, to any vendor, you do more research on your power needs.

 

Should you have no intention of wild camping in the colder months, your power requirements will be much lower.

 

As a footnote, I do not wild camp, but with a mains EHU I can run various kettles, induction hobs, heaters, dehumidifiers, TVs, PCs, etc. but not all concurrently !

 

 

 

[benjamin163]

38 minutes ago, Rojie said:

 

No. I'm not. What I am suggesting is worse.

 

Firstly, I am not an expert on battery charge depletion.

 

However, if you deplete the (maximum) charge held in your leisure battery by, say, more than 50%, it will need recharging otherwise it may be damaged permanently.

If you have a 230A/hr battery it is logical to assume it will deliver 230A for an hour, or 1 A for 230 hours. Not no.

 

Will you be running only 12 volt appliances from the leisure battery ?

Or some mains invertor powered by the leisure battery.

 

You may be surprised to learn just how much current some 12v appliances will take !

Will your leisure battery be monitorable with a voltmeter and a ammeter ?

So you can be aware of just how much power an appliance, or several, will be drawing.

 

Clearly, the more concurrent charge (power, i.e. voltage multiplied by current) you remove from a battery, the sooner the battery will approach its functional limit.

 

Have a read of the article below, selected at random, to raise your awareness of Lithium Batteries (in this case).

 

https://saft.com/energizing-iot/lithium-ion-batteries-use-5-more-tips-longer-lifespan

 

A ps to my last offering. Buying privately does not attract VAT, thereby, potentially offering a 'like for like' cost avoidance.

VAT is not recoverable unless your vehicle will be for business use.

Buying privately does not provide the legal protection, or warranty, available directly, or indirectly, from a business seller.

 

All I am really suggesting is that, perhaps, before parting with £40k, to any vendor, you do more research on your power needs.

 

Should you have no intention of wild camping in the colder months, your power requirements will be much lower.

 

As a footnote, I do not wild camp, but with a mains EHU I can run various kettles, induction hobs, heaters, dehumidifiers, TVs, PCs, etc. but not all concurrently !

 

 

 

All sound advice and I'm definitely in the midst of that research right now!

I really appreciate you taking the time here and am heeding your words.