One of the year's big searches on the Internet this year is "motorhome". Cabin on wheels that you can take wherever you want. Forget cabin shame and closed borders!
The stroller doesn't have to cost a million
In the 60s and 70s, tents and caravans dominated. Motorhomes did not become common until the 80s. Many of the first motorhomes are still on the road. But it is safe to say that there is not much new excitement about an early motorhome on a Fiat Ducato chassis. You have to like both the car and the bodywork. I saw such a craft the other day. A - by Norwegian standards - large American Gulfstream superstructure over a Toyota Hilux.
A good combo
In my eyes, a 21-foot American "motor home" is a full-fledged motorhome. It has all the comforts and is big enough for a family. And even though it's 30 years old, it looks great. No one makes as good motorhomes as the Americans, and no one can make more reliable cars than Toyota. Remember how the Top Gear team struggled to kill their Toyota Hilux?
Petrol and automatic transmission
Toyota began offering motorhome chassis from the late 70s. Winnibago and several other RV manufacturers sold 18 and 21/22 foot RVs based on the Toyota as an alternative to the Dodge. Chevy/GMC and Ford. The little Toyota's big advantage was fuel consumption. Yes, we are talking about gas - not diesel. The first models were equipped with Hilux's 2,4-litre inline-four petrol with 122 HP and automatic – later upgraded to 3,0 V6. Petrol consumption with camping body and automatic transmission is between 1,3 and 1,5 liters per mile. By comparison, a V8 can guzzle almost 3 liters per mile with a heavy accelerator.
Was not profitable for Toyota
Toyota's American motorhome flirtation was not a financial success. The first vintages had problems with the rear axle. The load on the small twin wheels was too great. The hubs got hot - something that could be dangerous on the road. Toyota and the motorhome manufacturers had to share the bill to recall all the cars and replace the rear axles from "semi-float" to "full-float". Full-float axles rotate and drive the wheels without having the weight of the car over them.
More warranty cases should appear
Some cars were driven hard. It takes on when the donnings weigh around 3 tonnes. On cars with 3,0 V6s, the owners had early engine problems and Toyota had to replace the tops. Another expensive warranty issue. Toyota withdrew from the American motorhome market in 1993 due to poor profitability. The cars, however, still roll on.
The best of both worlds
For around 100 you can find dry and maintained American motorhomes on Toyota chassis both in Europe and in the USA. Americans expect a high level of comfort, and many carriages are therefore properly air-conditioned. American fabrics do not stand the test of time very well. But luckily that can be replaced. The cars were manufactured in Japan – not in the USA. If the frame is intact, I think most things can be fixed here at home. If you are a practitioner, you can convert to a diesel drive, while romantics can enjoy a slightly underpowered, raucous petrol engine with automatic transmission on the steering wheel. It's holiday.
It gets to hoot, he who hoots wants to. (From Øystein Sunde "Captain Snutebil")
Pictures of the Toyota Hilux motorhome
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Toyota Motorhomes on Pinterest
