After looking at various MPV’s to base a camper conversion on, including the Mazda Bongo and Toyota Alphard, we decided it would have to be one of the eye-catching Nissan Elgrand E51 series produced between 2002 and 2010.
We then had to decide on the best model and specification to suit our requirements for the camper. The Elgrand E51 comes in either rear wheel drive or switched 4 wheel drive, and can have a 2.5 litre or 3.5 litre V6 petrol engine.
When we considered getting off a muddy campsite after heavy rain the 4 wheel drive was certainly the way to go, and further research told us that the 2.5 litre engine was a little underpowered for a fully loaded 2 tonne car climbing the lake district hills!
Our first Elgrand was a silver Highway Star which we converted and used for short breaks and as a day van for a while before we found we really had the Elgrand bug!
We bought our second Elgrand, a white 3.5 litre V6, 240 bhp, 4 wheel drive, X spec model, after watching a youtube video of a walk around and test drive of the car in Japan.
Transport back to England was arranged and it arrived about 4 weeks later. We had to sell the silver Highway Star to make room, and then did a very similar rear conversion as can be seen below….