This may come as a surprise... but these little motor homes
are still around and have an enthusiastic following.
Would you like to discover a used motor home that you can
purchase for under $10,000? That will routinely get over 12
miles per gallon and fit in your driveway?
The Toyota based motor homes built in the 1980's and early
1990's will do these things and more.
The Toyota motor homes were manufactured by several companies
from the late 1970s until 1994.
During these years, there were as many as sixty different
manufacturers building these little motor homes. They were
constructed in two lengths, the short 18 foot version and
the longer 22 foot model.
Some of today's major RV companies got their start by
building these campers. National RV created the first of
the long lived Dolphin RV series on the Toyota chassis.
Although age and time have taken their toll on these
motor homes, there are still many usable examples rolling on
the roads across America.
Ten years ago, they were a common sight. The little Toyota
motor homes graced many driveways and highways. As the
intervening years passed, the numbers of these units in use
became less and less. Today, they are not as common but
still are used by a devoted following of fans.
The Toyota motor home was a fully functioning RV with all the
amenities of it's full sized cousins.
A galley consisting of a stove, sink, and small refrigerator
is standard. Some of the later models added a microwave
oven to the lineup. Storage drawers and cabinets complete
the galley.
A dinette with seating for four and a couch that makes up
into a double bed take care of the seating arrangements.
A forced air furnace and rooftop air conditioner provide
heating and cooling.
The water system uses an on demand pump with freshwater tank,
a six gallon water heater and the usual grey and black
water holding tanks.
All models had bathroom and shower arrangement. These fell
into three styles, the "combo" bath was the smallest and was
usually included in the 18 foot models. This very small
bathroom had a rv toilet with blackwater holding tank, a
small sink, and a "wet" shower that was used sitting on the
closed toilet lid. Not very handy but adequate for the
occasional shower.
The next larger arrangement was the side bath, usually
installed right behind the drivers seat. This was a usable
bathroom with rv toilet and holding tank. A small sink and
stand up shower completed the arrangements. This version is
quite functional in a small space.
The final version is the rear bath. This is the largest and
most common style. It has a shower and tub combo on one
side, a rv toilet and holding tank, and cabinet mounted sink
with storage. A closet usually occupied the other side of
the bathroom.
Although these little motor homes are most comfortable for a
traveling couple, many families spent happy times in the
comfort of the rv.
All the units had the over cab bed. This was usually a large
double or small queen size which will accommodate two adults.
The sofa will make out into a small double bed for two more
adults or kids. The dinette is usually too small for anyone
but a child to sleep comfortably.
These little motor homes are easily overloaded.
Careful packing will help control the amount of weight that
the little truck will be hauling. Most of the models did
not have much carrying capacity. The manufacturers used
light weight materials in the construction of the units to
control the overall weight.
The freshwater and holding tank capacities are usually
around 20 gallons each so prolonged "book docking" is not
possible without careful water use practices.
Travel in the Toyota motor home is a leisurely endeavor.
Out on the road, these little campers are no speed demons.
They are slow to drive compared to the usual pace of the
passenger car. They are happiest when traveling under sixty
miles per hour but will make greater speed when pushed hard.
This increased speed will cost in fuel consumed however.
The gas milage is almost always in the 13 to 16 mpg range
with careful driving. The factors that affect this the most
are speed, wind, and terrain. The higher the speed, the
more fuel is consumed to force the large cab over through the
air. Add a mild headwind and you can plan on a long day of
slow progress.
Over the years, some problems have emerged.
Perhaps the major problem of the early campers was the
inadequate rear axle used under the motor home. A national
recall was issued to replace the axle with a much heavier
full floating one ton axle. Most of the campers had this
done but not all. Look carefully at the rear axle. If it
has only five lug nuts and a hub flush with the outer rim,
it is an unsafe half ton axle. The correct axle has six lug
nuts and the hub protrudes out into the wheel.
Another common problem with this style of motor home is
leakage around the over cab front window. Typically, this
style of construction was prone to leakage and subsequent
dry rot in this area. If it is extensive, the unit may have
to be rebuilt. This is not usually a job for the average
owner to tackle and is best avoided.
Given these major problems, the drive train built by Toyota
for these motor homes is very durable and dependable. It is
not uncommon now to find Toyota motor homes with well over
100,000 miles on the odometer still going strong.
------------------------------------------------------------
Briefly, this is a look at the Toyota motor home. It has
its warts and faults yet remains usable and practical even
today after 25 years.
You can find your own Toyota motor home by searching the
internet listings, eBay, and local RV dealers where it is
usually found in the back row on the used RV lot. Private
owners still put a "For Sale" sign and leave them parked in
their driveway. Where ever you find one, join the hundreds
of loyal owners who proudly travel in their own "toyhouse".
------------------------------------------------------------
Lee McPherron,
Author of "The Toyota Motorhome Handbook"
http://www.thorntonnetsales.com/toyotamotorhome/
------------------------------------------------------------
About the Author:
Tired of spending a fortune on asthma medication? Try a natural cure.
Go to ==> http://www.thorntonnetsales.com/Suggests/allergy_review/
Those Cute Little Toyota Motorhomes
