Arthur

Hi Colin. I’m paying £30.27 pm so its probably around £350 pa if paid in one go.

Hi Colin I had a 2007 Alphie imported/converted by Calder Campers in Feb 2022. They changed the Head for a Pioneer Unit which is Apple Carplay compatible. It came with a new replacement camera and works with the existing steering controls so no wires showing - microphone is fitted to the drivers A pillar. Unit plus fitting cost me £450.

I’ve had an Alphard camper three years from new (date of import) and have not bothered previously with habitation checks. I understand that such checks are required on Mobile Homes but not Campers. My insurance does not require a check to be undertaken. I have carbon monoxide and smoke detectors fitted and will probably have a habitation check done this year for the first time.

After some indecision as to whether to put transfers on our Alphie, we went ahead and here’s the result - Marmite moment 😄

Hi Merit The shoilet shown in your video is very impressive and certainly gives the user much more privacy than we have when using a standard camping Porta Loo. However the very limited amount of available headroom means that only our grandchildren can comfortably use the facility so a shoilet would not be an economical or practical enhancement in our personal experience. Its a personal choice whether to install a shoilet obviously but I think as such you may find it difficult to find a buyer when you come to sell the vehicle in the future.

Hi Francie. We’ve had a 2007 3.0 AWD Alphie campervan for 3 years now and it’s been a delight. The AWD has given us reassurance in visiting some offgrid areas in Snowdonia, Scotland and Northern Ireland but I think what’s most important is the type of tyres you have fitted. The AWD is not an off-roader and it’s the quality of tyre and tread that you have that will determine whether you get out of a muddy field (or up a sloping forest track) 👍

Hi Jacqui I’m using a company called Caravanguard.co.uk. The premium for insuring our 2007 AWD Alphard with pop-top and side conversion was £349. They’re a specialist caravan / motorhome insurer so you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a quote - and you get to talk to very nice human underwriters instead of AI computers!

Hi Francis Just had 3 days away camping in Anglesey. Fantastic weather until coming home in lightning storms and torrential rain. Looking in my rear view mirror all I could see was camping gear piled up throughout the cabin. I’m going to investigate fitting a rear view camera that projects the image on a screen which replaces the rear view mirror. They’re a bit pricey (4 figures) but I’d rather see the vehicles behind me rather than the contents/passengers of my van. I could (and do) use my door mirrors but a camera/mirror may be worth the money. Happy to help you spend your savings 😂

If the budget allows, consider getting a powered pop-top and an electric roll-out rock and roll bed. Both would be top of my nice to haves!

You might find that Ikea’s storage solution for Christmas wrapping paper is a cheaper and easier alternative to making your own aluminium drawers. We can get a pair alongside each other under our R+R bed and they hold a multitude of useless equipment. With zipped covers they keep everything clean and tidy.

Calder Campers import and convert Alphards. They supplied our 2007 3.0 AWD Alphard, changed the timing belt and water pump and retro fitted cruise control for us.

I think it all depends on the branch you go to - 2 years ago Timpsons in West Kirby Wirral cut me a key from their stock for £65. It operates the ignition and immobiliser so must contain the 4D67 chip but it is not a ‘folding’ key. I can only suggest forum members enquire of their local stores to see if they can help.

Timpsons will supply and cut their own chip key but it is not a ‘smart’ key ie it will open the doors and start the ignition but does not have the ‘remote’ buttons. Company policy prevents them from cutting third party supplied ‘smart’ keys such as those obtained through Ebay.

Hi Thea. Does your campervan have a pop-top? If so, you’ll have to add on a couple of cms to Rojie’s 1.94m.

You’ll have to relocate Northwards as I’m seeing more and more Alphards in Wirral. I’ve always waved to other Alphies but I have a tendency to also do it when I’m driving our other car - forum members will now know the identity of the idiot waving at them LOL 😂

I paid about £100 2 years ago to have a c rail fitted to my Alphard so I think / would hope that you could find someone cheaper than you’ve been quoted. Fixing the awning is personal preference. Initially I used the over the top straps supplied with the awning but I now use the c rail and magnets to secure the awning sides to the vehicle. If you intend on using the driveaway function you need to purchase the driveaway ‘strip’. This is attached between vehicle and awning. When you want to use the vehicle you simply detach the strip and leave the awning zipped up like a tent. The Vango has proved big enough to store all our gear for camping for 10 days and robust enough to weather 50 mph storm winds in Cornwall last year. I’d be happy to send you some photos of the awning and fixings to help you visualise things if you’d care to send me your email address - don’t post it on the forum but rather send it to me by personal message.

Hi Mandy I’ve used the Vango Faros Airbeam on my side conversion with pop top for the last 2 years and am more than satisfied with its performance. Is there anything specific you’re wanting to know about using the driveaway awnings.

I have a 2007 3.0 AWD with full side conversion. Visiting Cornwall last year fully loaded for a week’s camping and 350 miles each way via M53, M6 andM5 (with a heavy foot) we returned 23 mpg.

Hi David Awnings are one of the most debated subjects on the forum. I’ve used the same awning as Fiona was selling for the last couple of years. Started using it with the over the top, tie down straps, then had a rail fitted (glued not drilled) and have also used magnetic lengths (from Lidl) to secure the tunnel ends to the vehicle. It’s really what suits you personally and works best for you.

Just renewed our 2007 3.0 AWD full side conversion and pop-top with Caravanguard.co.uk who specialise in insuring campervans - underwritten by RSA. Premium has gone from £320 to £349 pa (Comprehensive) but still competitive in my opinion - includes recovery within the UK. Vehicle is kept on driveway on the Wirral with protected full NCD and assured value of £30K.

I wanted Michelin ‘All Seasons’ but couldn’t find any in R16. You should be good with the Michelins which have always been my first choice tyres in 50 years of motoring.

Hi Lian I changed all 4 tyres on my 2007 3.0 AWD - cost £480 incl VAT. Went for Hankook 205/65 R16 107T. I know you’re running 17” wheels whilst I’m on 16” but as I have had the full side conversion with pop-top I went for the higher load and speed rating. The originals were rated 95Q and the ride is definitely much firmer/tighter now.

You may want to see if SC Conversions can do a powered lift pop up and if so for how much. The pop top goes up relatively easily but if anyone is vertically challenged (short in my day!) they may struggle to overcome the power of the gas lifting struts. Well worth trying out physically - rather than just looking - before you sign on the dotted line. Before you ask - no, we don’t have a powered top but I wish we did ☹️

Seperate Alphards perhaps 😂

Hi Charlie. We have a side conversion with pop top. The roof lining consists of 3 boards which when in place leave a 10 cm gap at the front to allow for the roof straps. The top space is really only suitable for children (or very small and light weight adults). To access the roof space it is necessary to slide the first board back over the top of the second. If you are an experienced caver 😀 this gives you sufficient space to squirm up and then lean down into (because of the sloping roof) before entombing oneself in the roof space by moving the first board back to its original position. Personally, we don’t use the top space for sleeping but simply slide all the boards back to give us standing space to use the kitchen properly - they do provide good storage however. In fact, when we go away for longer than a weekend we find it preferable to leave all the boards behind in our garage. It is however markedly noisier when driving without the roof boards. I suggest that you look at an Alphie which already has a pop top to see how it all fits together and whether it suits your envisaged needs - after all , they are expensive and if its sleeping room only that you’re wanting, an awning may be a better (and cheaper) choice.