Nissan Elgrand Campervan Conversion - Van build and Van Tour

[@MrTerryb1956]

What a superb conversion

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

@@MrTerryb1956 thanks!

[@leopardsgowild]

Pretty clever there Mike. Great design and use of space storage and cushions

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

He is amazing. I just come up with a design or idea and he gets on and makes it. Always surprises me what he can do. Hope you guys are keeping safe in this weather.

[@maryanne9993]

awesome love this build thanks guys

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Thanks Maryanne

[@russelblackwell6041]

Thanks, guy so wanted a video on a conversion what's required to remove the seats if it effects the seat belt warning lights when seats removed I love the colour I know these are built as people movers etc but i want to keep the load lighter just 2 of us too not cladded with so much stuff. are they heavy on fuel consumption 2.5 to 3.0 engines they look so comfortable too don't forget the fesshhh and chiiips Two clever brains love the use of the dowel jig sliding draws gives me an idea how to tackle this having many basic woodwork tools too. thank you so much

[@julianjobs]

Simple and awesome conversion 👏🏼

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Thanks, Julian.

[@jungleman4921]

What a well thought out build.Very good indeed.

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Thanks, it probably took longer to come up with the design than it did to build it!

[@bwade2481]

Nice work - did you find any need to lift the suspension after your conversion? Looking for best ways to lift suspension maybe as high as 2 inches (50.8 mm)

[@patriciamcdonald4353]

Wow.. so clever what you created In such a small space. .

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Thanks Patricia, it was a challenge for sure!

[@grant9145]

Very helpful video, thank you! I’m looking to convert mine but wanted to ask if you get enough power from solar/motor to run the fridge for a few days?

[@Frasco27]

Great job! Will be taking some inspiration from this for my Elgrand

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

That's great to hear, pleased our video has been some help :-)

[@1Polglen]

Very tidy. I'm a wimp so have my kitchen in the van. (I don't like rain on me) But then it's just me(single bed made for small person) and 🐈 Marmaduke. Plus Grand daughter who can just, still fit across the front seats. At least she says so and except for the mattress going down slept well last night.

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

We can cook inside, just take the portable cooker and put it on the table, as long as there is some airflow going through. But yeah, camping in the rain is not much fun.

[@1Polglen]

I only have a camping stove so open vent, windows and door if my awning is out(home made old fashion tent awning). But with two hobs and my caste iron oven set I can make pizza for Grand daughter. 😁

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

@@1Polglen Sounds awesome, love the idea of homemade pizza while camping. We've got the pizza stone, but yet to try it on our bbq.

[@ptonpc]

Very nice conversion :)

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Thanks!

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

This is a special one-off mid-week video of our campervan convesrsion.

[@Madwheels45]

Great conversion. Very tidy.

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Thanks Martin.

[@gerrybutcher3202]

Really nice simple job - well done you! What did you do about wall and ceiling insulation and vapor barriers?

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Thanks! We did nothing, just kept the interior as it. We’d normally only use this for summer camping.

[@TheWTcowboy]

awesome video thanks

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Glad you liked it!

[@marissaoliver8023]

Hi I have an elgrand e51 it’s done 280000km. Would u recommend going ahead with similar project to what you have done? It’s amazing what u have done! I love elgrand but it’s totally wasted and too thirsty to just use in city. It’s great on petrol when ur travelling. My 7yo son and I want some adventures like u!!

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

If you didn't want to commit to a full van-build you could always lay the seats flat to make a bed, or take a tent. You'll probably have just as many adventures that way :-). If we do another van build, we'll probably do something we can stand up in.

[@hendrikwalker469]

Kia ora :) where did you guys found such nice dense foam for the mattress? cheers :)

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

@@hendrikwalker469 we sctually repurposed it from our old campervan. You might be able to get some at Para rubber

[@kiwiace625]

Very nice fit out. Can you tell me how the awning is attached? Does it have a roof rack?

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

yes, we attached the awning to a roof rack.

[@JohnSmith-kw7nl]

Mike, what thickness is the bed base? From the video it seems a little thicker than the 12mm sides and guessing it is 15mm.😊

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

From memory, I think it was 18mm

[@JohnSmith-kw7nl]

Hi Mike, Great video. I have an E51 and will use your setup for the conversion. Just a couple of questions. What is the grade and thickness of the flooring, and is the flooring screwed/fixed to the van floor? I found other dimensions etc within the your replies. Thanking and happy travels. John S. Qld Aus.

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

I'm pretty sure the plywood was 12mm (can't remember exactly). And no, I didn't screw it to the van floor. Good luck with your build :-)

[@rafaeluhu]

Well done. Really good inspiration. I will send it to my friends who will build one soon. By the way, how is the fridge powered? Solar?

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

There is a house battery which is charged while driving, and a portable solar panel can plug into it when stopped for a few days. We're pleased to hear the build has given you some inspiration 🙂

[@brianna56ism]

What are you going to do when the Reg’s require fixed permanent toilets come in to play?

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

At the moment it complies with the current regulation, and if they do change there should be a transition period. And you don't need to be self-contained to stay at DOC camps, which would be our preference. NZMCA has also stated they will most likely take porta-pottis.

[@eyeswideshut_icu3426]

Hi Mike. I have a E50 Elgrand and on my 4th rebuild. Since watching your video I have decided to rebuild it again... I was wanting to know some dimensions: ie. The size of the slides? As I have the same fridge and stove and like your build. Hopefully you can send me the dimensions of the fridge slide please. Or if you could ad the dimensions to the video info please. Grateful from across the ditch down under. Thank you in advance.

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Hi, the dimensions for the draw were roughly 1000mm long, 400mm wide & 350mm deep and I used Goliath 1000mm Heavy Duty Drawer Slide. I say roughly as I used the space available and the dimensions of the fridge to determine the actual size and 1000mm were the longest draw slides I could find. (I cut the power lead and ran it through some clear flexible tubing and re-joined it, so it didn't catch on the runners when the draw was pulled in and out. The battery box that it was connected to was under the bed.) If you have any other questions feel free to ask.

[@eyeswideshut_icu3426]

@@NomadLifeKiwi I made an educated guess based on visuals of your build and figured you used the 1000m as they are the longest I could find also. So I just made a 4 hour round trip to my closest bunnings and got myself a set, along with a few bits and pieces. Not having any carpentry skills, hopefully it turns out as good as yours looks. Thank you very much from Queensland Australia.

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

@@eyeswideshut_icu3426 All the best with your build, my carpentry skills were minimal before I started. Let us know how you get on.

[@eyeswideshut_icu3426]

@@NomadLifeKiwi Hi Mike, I'm watching your video over and over and have another question, are you using two different size ply wood? Looks like 12 and 8 mm. 12 for the frame and 8 for the fridge slide?

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

@@eyeswideshut_icu3426 Yes, you're correct on that. I used 12mm for the cabinets that needed more strength and the drawers I used the 8mm.

[@PentaxLife]

Are you guys renting out your vans

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

We were going to rent this one out, but decided it was too much hassle. So we sold it instead.

[@robynshore7942]

Guess what I'm getting as a self contained mini van. ?

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

A Nissan elgrand? Awesome! We’re thinking of getting another one.

[@VisualMediaProductions]

Hello do you have a plan or diagram you can email so i can go off your idea to build my camper? great job by the way

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

Sorry, we just made it up as we went along. Sounds bad doesn’t it!

[@VisualMediaProductions]

@@NomadLifeKiwi na not at all, its the no 8 wire NZ kiwi way ;) looks great i hope you are both enjoying the US of A

[@NomadLifeKiwi]

@@VisualMediaProductions we’re absolutely loving the US!