My new, old camper (not a VW)
Discussion
I've wanted another camper for ages, but the VW prices are silly now.
Step in - my 1978 Toyota Hiace camper! 1.6l petrol, viking roof, column shift, slow, thirsty, rusty, but I love it.
(I'm not sure if I should have put it in here, in Classic Heroes, or in the Motorhomes section!)
The cab...
JDM as f
k, yo.
Interior
Some rust...
And finally, my favourite view, in it's element!
Been away every weekend in it since we picked it up, 8yo girl will sleep in the roof no problem - although it gets a bit cold up there, but nothing that an extra sleeping bag wont cure.
Some minor plans for it - better electrics/split charging, needs the exhaust manifold welding, and I'm very paranoid about breaking any glass in it - I would imagine spares for this will be an utter nightmare to get!
Thanks for looking
Step in - my 1978 Toyota Hiace camper! 1.6l petrol, viking roof, column shift, slow, thirsty, rusty, but I love it.
(I'm not sure if I should have put it in here, in Classic Heroes, or in the Motorhomes section!)
The cab...
JDM as f
k, yo.Interior
Some rust...
And finally, my favourite view, in it's element!
Been away every weekend in it since we picked it up, 8yo girl will sleep in the roof no problem - although it gets a bit cold up there, but nothing that an extra sleeping bag wont cure.
Some minor plans for it - better electrics/split charging, needs the exhaust manifold welding, and I'm very paranoid about breaking any glass in it - I would imagine spares for this will be an utter nightmare to get!
Thanks for looking
W00DY said:
Very cool and nice to not be in another VW. Love the easy access brake fluid reservoir! Campers are great for just getting away without the hassle of tenting.
That rust frightens me though!
Thanks That rust frightens me though!
It's great. I've got it down to 15 minutes from handbrake up, to barbcue lit, fridge on, sitting in a comfy chair.It is very rusty, but hopefully I'll find a bodyshop that can kill the rust and (whisper it) maybe cover it in fibreglass. the gutters need replacing too, I expect that will be a tricky and expensive job...
I am not into campers.... at all...but I find this thread fascinating !
Your camper seems so 'basic' but it has all that you really need.
It also has a sort of charm I guess, and the simplicity is a bonus.
My main concern would be the rust but you seem to have plans for that.
Great thread so keep it going !
Your camper seems so 'basic' but it has all that you really need.
It also has a sort of charm I guess, and the simplicity is a bonus.
My main concern would be the rust but you seem to have plans for that.
Great thread so keep it going !
Paul S4 said:
I am not into campers.... at all...but I find this thread fascinating !
Your camper seems so 'basic' but it has all that you really need.
It also has a sort of charm I guess, and the simplicity is a bonus.
My main concern would be the rust but you seem to have plans for that.
Great thread so keep it going !
Thanks Your camper seems so 'basic' but it has all that you really need.
It also has a sort of charm I guess, and the simplicity is a bonus.
My main concern would be the rust but you seem to have plans for that.
Great thread so keep it going !
I plan on keeping it up to date - with as many requests for advice or maintenance tips as much as anything!
I had a lwb hiace like that as my work van back in the day. It never let me down and was easy enough to work on. But I was a bit younger then.
I remember I used to transport a kubota midi tractor in the back of the van.
We have sold our swish and expensive camper van,as I couldn't deal with the paranoia of have such allot of money sitting in the yard waiting to leak and lose money.
We came out the right side of it when it was sold. And now thinking about a much older one that we won't fret over to much.
Enjoy the hiace and well done for using it as it should be.
I remember I used to transport a kubota midi tractor in the back of the van.
We have sold our swish and expensive camper van,as I couldn't deal with the paranoia of have such allot of money sitting in the yard waiting to leak and lose money.
We came out the right side of it when it was sold. And now thinking about a much older one that we won't fret over to much.
Enjoy the hiace and well done for using it as it should be.
Ooooh. Lovely. I had one of these in New Zealand ten years ago. Looked at hiring a van for three months and realised it would cost the same to buy one and we might get some or all of the money back. Same colour too, but mine had a wooden pop roof for head-height, L bench to double bed and a kitchen across the back. Bit more storage between the kitchen back and the tailgate, but most was under the bed/bench. Had a little flap up table too. I'll try and dig out a pic or two. She was called Katy (reg was KT something something).
I loved the column shift - took some getting used to, but so natural once you get it. Mid-engine, rwd, basically an F1 car. Probably the favourite vehicle I've ever owned, to be honest.
I loved the column shift - took some getting used to, but so natural once you get it. Mid-engine, rwd, basically an F1 car. Probably the favourite vehicle I've ever owned, to be honest.
magooagain said:
I had a lwb hiace like that as my work van back in the day. It never let me down and was easy enough to work on. But I was a bit younger then.
I remember I used to transport a kubota midi tractor in the back of the van.
It does seem to drive/ride better when loaded up, when it's empty it is ever so bouncy at the rear. And the engine is a torquey little thing, but I think I'm going to fit a tachometer just to keep an eye on things. This is the shortest wheelbase, I think - the whole van is less than 5m long. It's ever so easy to park and place on the road - disc brakes would be nice though!I remember I used to transport a kubota midi tractor in the back of the van.
Smitters said:
Ooooh. Lovely. I had one of these in New Zealand ten years ago. Looked at hiring a van for three months and realised it would cost the same to buy one and we might get some or all of the money back. Same colour too, but mine had a wooden pop roof for head-height, L bench to double bed and a kitchen across the back. Bit more storage between the kitchen back and the tailgate, but most was under the bed/bench. Had a little flap up table too. I'll try and dig out a pic or two. She was called Katy (reg was KT something something).
I loved the column shift - took some getting used to, but so natural once you get it. Mid-engine, rwd, basically an F1 car. Probably the favourite vehicle I've ever owned, to be honest.
Sounds nice, would be good to see pics. I think this was imported in 1978 and immediately converted in to a camper over here - the fibreglass, roof catches and window seals definitely look 40 years old. I loved the column shift - took some getting used to, but so natural once you get it. Mid-engine, rwd, basically an F1 car. Probably the favourite vehicle I've ever owned, to be honest.
Column shifting is cool as. I never use first gear, it's not needed, but equally it could do with a 5th gear at the top end. 60mph top speed is OK but I do get a queue behind me if I go for an overtake on the motorway.
I give you Katy:
Purchased in Auckland from this nice Danish man, whose name now escapes me, in December 2007. She then took me all the way through the North and South Islands, from the northern-most to southern-most points and most places found in between.
I discovered the fuel gauge was somewhat optimistic (showing half full) when she coughed and died 80km from my home base for Christmas. This was on the way back from visiting Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach. On Boxing Day. Late on Boxing Day. I hitched a lift to the nearest petrol station, bought ten litres and they promptly closed their forecourt. Cue the sweatiest palms ever as I drove the remaining kms back to the house, passing several, all closed, petrol stations until finding one still open in Paihia. A more circumspect approach was taken to the gauges after that.
90 Mile Beach.
These were both taken in the Bay of Plenty area of New Zealand, in January 2008. The shore-side photo was the first "wild" camp - that's where I slept and the morning view.
The glorious interior amenities.
Below Mount Cook.
ETA: https://www.carjam.co.nz/car/?plate=KT4974 Disappointingly, especially for the couple who bought her in late Feb for more than I paid only two months earlier, it looks like they ignored my February Warrant of Fitness (WOF - MOT of NZ) and decided to let their own chap take a look in May 2008. And there endeth the tale. I can only assume they found something terminal, which I find very sad as I certainly didn't sell her knowing there was a big issue.
We can't end on a note like that. Have a picture of a kitten. This is Shadow, who was eight weeks old. I had parked up at White Cliffs Organic Brewery who, noting I intended to be thorough in my sampling, offered me a spot to camp in the corner of the brewery carpark. Well, that's a no-brainer. Shadow was extremely curious and decided to see if he wanted to hang in the van, so explored it thoroughly while I enjoyed chatting with Mike and sampling Mike's Mild Ale and Mike's Mountain Lager.
Purchased in Auckland from this nice Danish man, whose name now escapes me, in December 2007. She then took me all the way through the North and South Islands, from the northern-most to southern-most points and most places found in between.
I discovered the fuel gauge was somewhat optimistic (showing half full) when she coughed and died 80km from my home base for Christmas. This was on the way back from visiting Cape Reinga and 90 Mile Beach. On Boxing Day. Late on Boxing Day. I hitched a lift to the nearest petrol station, bought ten litres and they promptly closed their forecourt. Cue the sweatiest palms ever as I drove the remaining kms back to the house, passing several, all closed, petrol stations until finding one still open in Paihia. A more circumspect approach was taken to the gauges after that.
90 Mile Beach.
These were both taken in the Bay of Plenty area of New Zealand, in January 2008. The shore-side photo was the first "wild" camp - that's where I slept and the morning view.
The glorious interior amenities.
Below Mount Cook.
ETA: https://www.carjam.co.nz/car/?plate=KT4974 Disappointingly, especially for the couple who bought her in late Feb for more than I paid only two months earlier, it looks like they ignored my February Warrant of Fitness (WOF - MOT of NZ) and decided to let their own chap take a look in May 2008. And there endeth the tale. I can only assume they found something terminal, which I find very sad as I certainly didn't sell her knowing there was a big issue.
We can't end on a note like that. Have a picture of a kitten. This is Shadow, who was eight weeks old. I had parked up at White Cliffs Organic Brewery who, noting I intended to be thorough in my sampling, offered me a spot to camp in the corner of the brewery carpark. Well, that's a no-brainer. Shadow was extremely curious and decided to see if he wanted to hang in the van, so explored it thoroughly while I enjoyed chatting with Mike and sampling Mike's Mild Ale and Mike's Mountain Lager.
Edited by Smitters on Thursday 26th July 14:01
I thought my Landy had rust issuesOpulentBob said:
Smitters, sounds like a great little adventure. The condition of yours makes me wince at mine! Thanks for sharing
No worries. I look forward to updates on yours. I think mine had benefited from most of it's life being on the North Island, plus we're talking ten years ago, and Katy was an early 80's model. I had some welding done to pass the WOF though, a hole in the passenger footwell!.I looked hard for an early 80's Hiace van about three years ago (here in the UK), but my lack of restoration skills and a desire to use the thing all the time meant they were all too much for me. In the end, we got a swb T5 and had it converted. More money for sure, but I drive it every day as my "car", so it worked out in the end.
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