Toyota Coaster - what to look out for?

[Swisslulu]

Our youngest daughter and her partner have just completed a 4 week trip through Vic and NSW in a rented Toyota Hiace HiTop and have caught the travelling bug.

They have a low budget and tossing up options of a campervan or something like a Jayco Penguin to tow behind their current 4WD with a tow capacity of about 1500kgs.

They are sending us links for vehicles they are finding on Marketplace, the latest being https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/it ... 798748799/

I know a number of you have experience with Coasters and wonder what mechanically and body wise that they should be wary of. I realise there are lots of other factors such as the obvious to me like needing 240v for the induction hotplate etc but the mechanics and condition is more what I don’t know.

Thanks for any insights.

[jon_d]

Rust.

And parts availability. Pre 2000 are getting hard to find parts for. Esp suspension bits needed for a road worthy.

[T1 Terry]

The earlier Coaster shared a lot of parts with other models and were known for there rugged construction and the ability to handle the rough outback roads.
The one in the link is a worry for the fact it has a brand new spray job, often used to guide the eye away from looking at just what has been hidden under the new paint.
Around the roof line, the roof and frame around the rear door, lower guards, all places all campervan type vehicle rust and get filled with body putty before being resprayed. Ask for photos before it was painted and during the repaint, the reaction to such a request will tell you a lot.

If they do buy such a vehicle, look to remove the bi-fold door and replace it with an RV type door that swings outways and incorporates a fly screen door.

Apart from that, the general mechanical check over, suspension, brakes, engine compression and fumes from the breather, gearbox noises and diff noises ..... Unknown just what engine is in it, but the conversion to the red motor and later blue motor Holden 6 cyl was popular for many yrs, although if it was a diesel being replaced, the Holden V6 was also popular because it was a very torquey low reving motor.

T1 Terry

[native pepper]

Get one with a 2h engine, parts are readily available and are very reliable engine and go forever. As Terry has said many mechanical parts are interchangeable with other models and series 60 landcruisers, have friend who has a 1988 coaster and he has raided my spare parts for cruisers a couple of times for his coaster. The high top ones are the best, no bending over.

[Greynomad]

Ours was the Short Wheelbase one with 4cyl Diesel.

Asked our mechanic about swapping it for the Landcruiser six.

He explained in detail that it would involve cutting out one chassis cross-member to accommodate the longer engine, and fabricating a new cross-member & a shorter driveshaft. Plus suspension mods because of the heavier engine... and an engineering certification for the changes.

We passed.

Still tough as a tank though. Drove it up the Outside Track from Innamincka to Birdsville without probs.

[Swisslulu]

Thanks for the replies. Their current vehicle is a Mitsubishi ASX, so not 4WD and towing capacity of 1400kg which is certainly not an ideal tow for anything other than a teardrop.

Lots of research ahead for them methinks!

[Shirley]

Our Coaster had the 1HZ engine also used in Landcruisers, unless you want to pay bigger dollars for the newer models with turbo, I would recommend getting one with the 1HZ motor.
Tell them to join the Toyota Coaster FB page.

[supersparky]

I will second what Shirley has said. Needs to be later than '93 though. They dont suffer from the rust around the roof line like the earlier ones. Do you know what the budget is?

[Swisslulu]

I will second what Shirley has said. Needs to be later than '93 though. They dont suffer from the rust around the roof line like the earlier ones. Do you know what the budget is?

$50-60K they tell me now but they really can’t decide between a caravan (which would mean a new tow vehicle too) or a MH/campervan. They would like to hire a caravan to try out but would also need to hire the tow vehicle to go with it. I don’t know how easy that would be in Melbourne.

[jon_d]

If they are in Melb and need help with a MH inspection. (Outer east), I might be able to help.