Mandy schmidt

3 hours ago, smurf said:

As all Alphards are automatics, they shouldn't be towed with the driven wheels on the floor, so at the very least they should be on a dolly if 2WD. A short tow out of some mud won't be a problem, but being pulled on the road is.

Thanks … I would only be towed to get out of camping mud x

9 hours ago, starider said:

Hi, It's worth every one checking for a towing eye,our camper has one in the tool kit. It is impossible to have a tow without one, to be towed safely. A tow rope can be used to tow without the eye, but to find a safe place to connect a rope will be difficult and dangerous. With the advent of towing eyes many breakdown services now use a solid metal bar which connects to the towing eye. The problem with a rope is most folks are not used to being towed,because the towee has to try to keep the rope taut when slowing down using the brakes carefully,if not when the towing vehicle accelerates away the rope re-tensions[snatches] and often breaks the rope.

Believe me,when I was in the motor trade,towing broken down vehicles was an almost daily chore.

If a solid towing bar is used the towee does not need to brake.

Thank you for your help 

Gonna buy a tow rope ….thanks for your help 

Thanks for your help ..there is a threading hole behind the panels and there was an eye hidden in the jack tool cupboard that we didn’t find before xxx all sorted

41 minutes ago, Rojie said:

Hello Mandy,

 

There is a squarish panel in the front valance.

Behind that will be the towing eye fitting.

 

I cannot remember whether my van has a towing eye included in the tools kit.

Nor have I removed the panel so cannot advise if the towing eye is already fitted. I doubt it.

 

They are available in standard sizes, perhaps from Halfords or other auto-factors (JDM vehicles may use a different size, I doubt it).

 

If you think you need s towing eye, you will need a towing cable as you cannot rely on other 'campers' to be carrying one !

My alphard is ready to go camping but I need it to be able to be towed out of the mud …do I need to have a towing hook fitted underneath the front engine or is there something that I ve missed

apparently it’s called a towing eye 

On 3/3/2024 at 9:11 AM, Gillibanana said:

Hi been away so only just seen this - may be a bit late with my reply.

 We had the driveaway strip fitted on our van as part of the conversion so can’t remember how much that bit cost. Looks a simple piece of equipment & I believe it is glued on !!.

It is a bit of a faff sometimes to attach & to take off & you have to mark the exact place to park for when you return so it fits back on but very useful to store the camping things in & have the shelter between van & tent when it’s attached. Haven’t been away that much in the van since we got it. I’m sure the more we use it the easier it will become !!! 

Thanks for your help xx

1 hour ago, Arthur said:

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.

Thanks so much for your help …I’ll try to send you my email address now 🙏👍

I’ve looked on this site a bit now .. it looks like you can use magnets to attach the tent to the van … I was quoted £400 to have a c rail fitted but I don’t have that sort of cash … the vango tent seems quite big and I’ve always trusted vango for my tents in the past . I guess I wanted to have a discussion because I can’t visually imagine how the tent fits the van … thanks for your reply 

1 hour ago, Arthur said:

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.

Thanks for your help …. Just wanted to talk to someone 

51 minutes ago, Rojie said:

 

There has been a lot of commenting on Awnings in this forum.

 

May I respectfully suggest you search for that as a topic.

 

You will see photos of various approaches to the attachment.

Please could someone advise me on what sort of awning will fit on the side of my Toyota Alphard …. Do I first need an awning pole on the van before the tent will work? The drive away ones look cool .. the vango faros II for instance..if you could call me I’d be very grateful 07980881021 mandy

20 minutes ago, Jeza said:

Hybrid vehicles don't require an emissions test for an MOT. You can get a Certificate of Conformity, Type approval Certificate, from Japan Inspection Organisation which will tell you the emissions and that it is equivalent to EURO-4.

 

Hey there … I bought a different car in the end .. it was too hard trying to get a conformity registration 

53 minutes ago, Geralt said:

 

I got an emission test result with my MOT in Spetember. I don't think anything's changed so perhaps have a word with your tester.

Thank you

Hello .. my name is mandy and I need some help translating my stereo in my Japanese car … I can offer £25 for an hour just to enable me to use the stereo more proficiently … please can you message me if you’re able to help 

. I live in hotwells Bristol…I think it is the original stereo ..it’s a Toyota alphard 2007 .. but the translated manual I got from eBay doesn’t show the same stereo 

Sorry … it turned out to be a 2003 vehicle and trying to change its classification proved to be too difficult… thanks for your reply 

Hi there …I’m very new to all this so hello 

I wonder if you can help .. I’m looking to buy a hybrid Toyota alphard and it’s chassis number is 

ATH10-0003005.. I’ve paid for a CarVX report but will it tell me the emissions?