Those Cute Little Toyota Motorhomes

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/ ------------------------------------------------------------

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