I expect / hope to be living on the road sometime in the near future. Unfortunately, I will not have buckets of cash. I'm not real keen on the used motor-homes that would be within my budget; and am now thinking I should consider the Toyota Coaster. Can anyone please tell me which year/model is a standout? Which are lemons? How many k's are too many? Are parts relatively easy for mechanics to order in. Are they "mechanic-friendly"? What would need replacing at XXX km's? If I got one that wasn't fitted out for living, would it cost twice as much again to have it fitted out? I am not into luxury; but sensible things / ideas that just work. Any other helpful info appreciated. Thank you all again, in advance.... kind regards.....
PeterInSa said
08:16 PM Apr 6, 2025
Short Wheel Base or Long Wheel Base LWB needs a higher level Licence. I like the layout with the Dining room/table at the rear, but of course you have to make up the bed at night etc, ( table drops down and seat cushions cover it for a queens size bed), and of course a Shower/Toilet on Board.
And Coasters are known for rust around the windows and elsewhere.
Have the same engine as the 60/80 series Toyotas but need to check, ( some old ones have vintage low power engines) the 60/80 series engines (hopefully Turbo models) are mechanic friendly.
Unless you are handy and have lots of time, I would buy a ready fitout unit.
I would have it checked out by someone knowledgeable, not necessarily by your state service operator as some employees are great and others......
If in SA and you have found your MH I can pass on an organisation that can provide a through check (PM me)
Should have Electrical and Gas Compliance certificates and if seat belts in other than the driver and passenger seats an Engineers certificate is required for the additional belts. If not available its just Cost and Time and $ to certify.
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Sunday 6th of April 2025 08:20:40 PM
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Sunday 6th of April 2025 08:28:17 PM
Possum3 said
03:27 PM Apr 7, 2025
Welcome to the Forum Mogg, Peter has given good helpful information.
mogg said
10:04 PM Apr 7, 2025
thanks for the tips, Peter. Much appreciated
mogg said
10:07 PM Apr 7, 2025
he has indeed, Possum. He has indeed. Nice to see you're "old school", and not into all this modern fandangled tech
Jaahn said
09:31 PM Apr 15, 2025
mogg wrote:
hello fellow nomads,
I expect / hope to be living on the road sometime in the near future. Unfortunately, I will not have buckets of cash. I'm not real keen on the used motor-homes that would be within my budget; and am now thinking I should consider the Toyota Coaster. Can anyone please tell me which year/model is a standout? Which are lemons? How many k's are too many? Are parts relatively easy for mechanics to order in. Are they "mechanic-friendly"? What would need replacing at XXX km's? If I got one that wasn't fitted out for living, would it cost twice as much again to have it fitted out? I am not into luxury; but sensible things / ideas that just work. Any other helpful info appreciated. Thank you all again, in advance.... kind regards.....
Hi mogg Peter has given you some good ideas but possibly i can give you some of my good ideas too.
It was always my dream to have a Toyota Coaster after we had an early one many many years ago. I have had a few Toyota camper vans over the years since and found them generally reliable, so planned on moving up to a more modern Coaster. So i have spent a bit of time researching and looking at them over the years. My life has turned around now so a Coaster is too large for me being on my own now!
They are all based on a commercial truck chassie and engines so are good workers and do last well. It also means that the parts and knowledge are common and they are easily repaired. But they have been sold in Australia for the last 50 years. Some of them have been on the road going round and round and are just worn out. Some are suffering from rust too particularly if they lived near the beach. Any vehicle that is old suffers from rust and Coaster are no different so look around the windows and the roof gutters and seams. Look for "bog" repairs. Some owners are creative with the bog but in the long term it will reappear again.
Coasters are not really much better than average so looking for a good one is important both for rust and for good working condition. I would say it is important that you get a a qualified person to check out any vehicle you are interested in. I have looked at quite a few "dogs" over the years so be very careful. People claim they go forever but obviously that is not true and how well it has been maintained and looked after is vital. The engines and transmissions are reliable but there are limits to how far they will go without being rebuilt. Money !!
Hmm as I have no idea what year model you are looking at it, or how much you have to spend, it is hard to know what else can be said. Mostly much older ones are short wheelbase and have 4 cyl engines. Then they stopped bringing those in and mostly went for long wheelbase and 6 cyl engines. They are all OK if in good condition but age is important. The long wheelbase models are heavier and may need an upgraded licence to drive or they can be rerated to a carry less weight so can be driven on a car licence. They are still big to drive though.
In later years importers have bought in buses from Japan and they can be very good. They are made in the same factory as the Australian sold ones but usually are better specs and better paint and finish. But they might be more expensive too. You might have seen some of them on the road. My choice probably. But again you must be careful to get them inspected for rust and mechanical condition. Often they can be very high kms.
Look at all you can find advertised and see what you get for your money. It costs money to fit them out so it is better to buy a one already fited-out so you know what it all costs. Send me a private message if you want any specific answers. Good luck be wise and careful, do not be seduced by a pretty tarted up vehicle, get a proper inspection report done if you find one you like before you sign anything.
Jaahn
PS mogg I have sent you a Private Message also. Look up near your log in name and click on it.
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 15th of April 2025 11:42:26 PM
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 16th of April 2025 02:19:08 PM
hello fellow nomads,
I expect / hope to be living on the road sometime in the near future. Unfortunately, I will not have buckets of cash. I'm not real keen on the used motor-homes that would be within my budget; and am now thinking I should consider the Toyota Coaster. Can anyone please tell me which year/model is a standout? Which are lemons? How many k's are too many? Are parts relatively easy for mechanics to order in. Are they "mechanic-friendly"? What would need replacing at XXX km's? If I got one that wasn't fitted out for living, would it cost twice as much again to have it fitted out? I am not into luxury; but sensible things / ideas that just work. Any other helpful info appreciated. Thank you all again, in advance.... kind regards.....
Short Wheel Base or Long Wheel Base LWB needs a higher level Licence. I like the layout with the Dining room/table at the rear, but of course you have to make up the bed at night etc, ( table drops down and seat cushions cover it for a queens size bed), and of course a Shower/Toilet on Board.
And Coasters are known for rust around the windows and elsewhere.
Have the same engine as the 60/80 series Toyotas but need to check, ( some old ones have vintage low power engines) the 60/80 series engines (hopefully Turbo models) are mechanic friendly.
Unless you are handy and have lots of time, I would buy a ready fitout unit.
www.caravancampingsales.com.au/items/details/1997-toyota-coaster/SSE-AD-5951481/
I would have it checked out by someone knowledgeable, not necessarily by your state service operator as some employees are great and others......
If in SA and you have found your MH I can pass on an organisation that can provide a through check (PM me)
Should have Electrical and Gas Compliance certificates and if seat belts in other than the driver and passenger seats an Engineers certificate is required for the additional belts. If not available its just Cost and Time and $ to certify.
And
https://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t58846239/toyota-coaster-or-similar/
Peter
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Sunday 6th of April 2025 08:20:40 PM
-- Edited by PeterInSa on Sunday 6th of April 2025 08:28:17 PM
thanks for the tips, Peter. Much appreciated
he has indeed, Possum. He has indeed. Nice to see you're "old school", and not into all this modern fandangled tech
Hi mogg Peter has given you some good ideas but possibly i can give you some of my good ideas too.
It was always my dream to have a Toyota Coaster after we had an early one many many years ago. I have had a few Toyota camper vans over the years since and found them generally reliable, so planned on moving up to a more modern Coaster. So i have spent a bit of time researching and looking at them over the years. My life has turned around now so a Coaster is too large for me being on my own now!
They are all based on a commercial truck chassie and engines so are good workers and do last well. It also means that the parts and knowledge are common and they are easily repaired. But they have been sold in Australia for the last 50 years. Some of them have been on the road going round and round and are just worn out. Some are suffering from rust too particularly if they lived near the beach. Any vehicle that is old suffers from rust and Coaster are no different so look around the windows and the roof gutters and seams. Look for "bog" repairs. Some owners are creative with the bog but in the long term it will reappear again.
Coasters are not really much better than average so looking for a good one is important both for rust and for good working condition. I would say it is important that you get a a qualified person to check out any vehicle you are interested in. I have looked at quite a few "dogs" over the years so be very careful. People claim they go forever but obviously that is not true and how well it has been maintained and looked after is vital. The engines and transmissions are reliable but there are limits to how far they will go without being rebuilt. Money !!
Hmm as I have no idea what year model you are looking at it, or how much you have to spend, it is hard to know what else can be said. Mostly much older ones are short wheelbase and have 4 cyl engines. Then they stopped bringing those in and mostly went for long wheelbase and 6 cyl engines. They are all OK if in good condition but age is important. The long wheelbase models are heavier and may need an upgraded licence to drive or they can be rerated to a carry less weight so can be driven on a car licence. They are still big to drive though.
In later years importers have bought in buses from Japan and they can be very good. They are made in the same factory as the Australian sold ones but usually are better specs and better paint and finish. But they might be more expensive too. You might have seen some of them on the road. My choice probably. But again you must be careful to get them inspected for rust and mechanical condition. Often they can be very high kms.
Look at all you can find advertised and see what you get for your money. It costs money to fit them out so it is better to buy a one already fited-out so you know what it all costs. Send me a private message if you want any specific answers. Good luck be wise and careful, do not be seduced by a pretty tarted up vehicle, get a proper inspection report done if you find one you like before you sign anything.
Jaahn
PS mogg I have sent you a Private Message also. Look up near your log in name and click on it.
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 15th of April 2025 11:42:26 PM
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 16th of April 2025 02:19:08 PM