Nissan Civilian motorhome tour

Main details: 1990 Nissan Civilian motorhome, 4.2l diesel engine (TD42) fully reconditioned less than 15,000kms ago. Beautiful conversion featuring shower, toilet, oven and heaps of storage. Sale includes all kitchen equipment, bedding, LPG bottles and everything you need for a self-supported, self-contained time on a class 1 license.

COF: 10/2023
REGO: 07/2023
EWOF: 09/2023
RUC: 1500 kms
Self Contained Cert: 10/2023

We’re heartbroken to be parting company with this incredible motorhome. We’ve lived in her full time for six months, it’s a phenomenally comfortable motorhome for two people - you will struggle to find a bus conversion completed to the same quality. She’s a perfect wintertime rig as well as an amazing summer home.

We are looking to sell in Christchurch in April; we can be flexible for the right buyer. The bus is a 1990 Nissan Civilian, 5-speed manual transmission, RWD, with a Nissan TD42 4.2 litre inline 6 diesel engine, non-turbocharged. This was fully reconditioned by a professional mechanic 15,000kms ago; the mechanic was the previous owner, so she’s very well cared-for mechanically and electrically and it’s a supremely reliable engine (check out the TD42’s reputation amongst enthusiasts online). He owned it since importing it from Japan in 2002, we’re only the second NZ owners. She has power steering, air conditioning, remote central locking, alarm, stereo and 2 USB outlets in the cab. There are two seats with seatbelts. Odometer reads 195,000km at the time of posting.

The internal fitout is beautiful. Watch the video if you haven’t already. The conversion was carried out by a professional cabinet maker, making extensive use of native NZ hardwooods including a parquet floor, table, custom kitchen worktop, custom bathroom sink, and trim throughout with exquisite attention to detail. Storage is extensive and well-thought through, with a large number of cupboards and drawers split between the bedroom and the living area, and a large slide-out pantry. The cavernous under-bed storage can be easily accessed either by lifting the bed on its gas struts, or via the boot (trunk) from the outside. We currently have two mountain bikes under there (not included in the sale, read more below) which we insert/remove on a 100kg, 1m drawer slide. The drawer slide is included in the sale.

The living area comfortably seats four, and is a luxurious space for two. The custom squabs are much higher quality than typically found in camper conversions, and upholstered in hardwearing fabric. The removable central table can be extended from the square pictured, to form a larger rectangle when entertaining. Integrated satellite TV and DVD player, and a sound system which runs throughout the motorhome.

The kitchen includes a 120 litre 2-way Waeco fridge with a freezer drawer, a 4-ring gas stovetop, gas oven and a separate gas grill, and overhead light & extraction. The sink has a hot/cold mixer tap, and an additional drinking water tap connected to a filter. The hardwood worktop has an integrated draining rack. Sale includes all kitchen equipment: pots, pans, utensils, baking sheets, cutlery, crockery, coffee mugs, wine glasses.

The bathroom features a Thetford cassette toilet, with a spare cassette; sink; shower. The bathroom will meet all current and proposed requirements for CSC, even those being discussed by the government for the future.

The bedroom has a custom shaped, pocket sprung mattress and top quality memory foam pillows. Unusually, the bed has floor access from both sides and the foot of the bed. Each side gets two drawers, a bedside table, 2x USB outlets, reading light and two cupboards.

Facilities: 200 litre fresh water, 120 litre waste water tanks, plus 2x toilet cassettes. Four batteries (290Ah capacity) power the 12V fridge, lights, chargers and everything else. This is an immense amount of energy storage. These are charged by the four rooftop solar panels, and also by the engine when driving. There is a 300W inverter to run laptop chargers etc. if you need a 240V supply. Two LPG bottles provide cooking gas and supply the 14 litre Truma hot water heater. One bottle lasts us at least a month, living in the bus full time. She has a diesel space heater, which warms up the interior quickly even in single-digit or subzero temperatures whilst using very little diesel - the bus has been insulated, so it’s ideal for wintertime.

Other features: Omnistor sunshade/awning; integrated, pull-out stainless steel gas BBQ; outdoor shower; wine storage in an external locker; sliding windows and roof vents with sandfly-proof screens; window tints and blinds + curtains for full privacy.

Included Extras: 20 litre freezer under the bed; two high quality macpac camp chairs; kiwicamp folding table; spare parts (including filters); snow chains; bedding.

Please note, items listed as ‘included’ are a non-negotiable part of the sale. If there are items you don’t want, please consider donating them to charity.