Your opinions on toyota coasters pre 1990

Linzeelou · Veteran Member

Your opinions on toyota coasters pre 1990

oldbobsbus · Guru

2 quick questions

1. what class drivers licence do you have.

2. what is your budget area ??????

3. Another one do you want to trade your current Hiace or sell it privately.

Linzeelou · Veteran Member

Hi Bob, thanks for the response. I just have a normal licence so it would need to be below 4500 weight, budget is around $17,000 and I don't need to sell the Hiace before spending that. I will just sell the Hiace privately as I have a friend possibly interested. Thanks Lynne

oldbobsbus · Guru

Pity you only have a car licence a friend asked me today to sell this bus for him..

But you would need a Light rigid licence to drive it..

Linzeelou · Veteran Member

It looks good Bob. Thanks anyway

oldbobsbus · Guru

I have been looking at this one as an investment it looks very clean and is for sale by a dealer so there could be some area for negotiation.

The listing has ended but a phone call would establish if it is still for sale..

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=161324329799

I know nothing more about it than I saw it on eBay..

wendyv · Guru

Lynne,
have a look at the Market section of the CMCA website. Might be something there.

Big RV dealers, like Roberts Winnebago in Melbourne, and Sydney RV sometimes get cheaper units as trade ins, and they are often keen to move them on quickly - so bargaining can be done. We got our Coaster from one of these - a great deal. A friend picked up an older Coaster about the same time, very cheaply, from them.

With your budget, you may need to look at home conversions rather than professionally done ones - so be vigilant about things like plumbing, gas, and electrical certification for conversion.

-- Edited by wendyv on Friday 20th of June 2014 06:14:49 PM

Linzeelou · Veteran Member

Yes Wendy, I figured I would have to go down the home built coaster track. There was a great one in Nowra, NSW with a dealer but I missed out on it. I'll just keep looking. The Mazda T3500s seem to be really good value, especially in Tassie. I've had a small Mazda campervan before and it was really reliable and was a great fit out. I will need to stay fairly open with such a low budget. Thanks for your advice Lynne

before the box · Member

Linzeelou ,,,,,,hi i have a 79 coaster 4 cyl diesel and 5 speed g/box goes great ,,i DO NOT realy want to sell it but due to health and fitness dificulties i am virtualy forced to ,,,,,,now i know there are tire KICKERS ,out there but this veichle is coming up for its genuine 80,000 k,service ,,,yes i got that right its 80 thousand k service ,,i have just had the roof scrubbed right back and a boat builder has marine ressined 4 coats sealer and i have undercoated it and will shortly put 4 top coats of finish on it weather permitting ,,,,,,, i love the coasters have had 2 petrol on gas ,,,,,

exa41 · Guru

Hi Lynne , we have a 83 coaster , thought of upgrading but still really happy with what we have , I did a v8 conversion on mine many years ago which you wouldn`t have to do but ours is on duel fuel 450 kms on gas and probably around 500 on petrol. Bought the girl for $6000 when we got her and did the fit out myself.

Murraman · Senior Member

We bought an 85 Coaster last year 3B diesel, They are not a power house but will roll along at 85/90 no problems but a decent hill will slow you up, Ours weighs 3500kg fitted out but with no water, food or clothes added probably around 4000kg. We are averaging around 14L/100 but I stick around 85, Tried at 95 and was around 19L/100

Rust can be an issue with them, So be careful, I wasn't careful enough. We are very happy with it and we have air con, Solar, Shower and toilet and roll out awning. I have upgraded all the 12v side which was about 2k. When we were looking we found some very good deals around the 14k mark and it would have been our 2nd choice.

We also found a lot were way over priced and full of rust, So good luck with your hunting for one. You will be happy with a good one. The general consensus is that the Coaster is the best to buy. The only pain from my better half is that no passenger door, But the step down from drivers door would have her complaining also (Short Legs)

My only complaint is I have no skin left on my scalp I'm 183CM or 6ft and either scalp myself on the side door getting out or the aircon inside, You would think I would learn but no, I must be thick. It pays to be 5ft 10 or under or have a good memory.

BTW our fuel gauge wasn't working properly, Neither was the 2nd one from another coaster we bought for spares. So I pulled the sender out and put it in to an instrument place to repair it and it is fixed for $55.00.

I would also aim for one with a 12/240v compressor fridge, Ours is and easy to run off the alternator while driving. You would need a house battery to run while stationary or 240v.

Linzeelou · Veteran Member

Hi Murruman, that was so informative, thanks. I have one to look at that has been fitted with a rebuilt engineered holden 202 engine, have you had experience with that at all. I have always been a bit nervous of diesels, especially an old one and if they have been neglected. I have found that a lot of the cheap coasters have sat in someone's backyard for a long time. I have the dilemma of buying something that is perhaps from a deceased estate where it was loved to bits but has been left to sit for a year or two, or the ones that have been driven continually with heaps of miles on them and a fair bit of maintenance done. I have bought vehicles in the past that have sat for a while and it is a continual battle of all things rubber causing dramas .Being female and on my own mechanics rub their hands in glee when your vehicle limps into their shop making strange noises. I know and trust Toyotas having had a lot of hiaces, but don't know anything about coasters. Do they have any particular weaknesses ie. ball joints or steering or anything like that. Does yours have power steering by the way. I appreciate all the tips to help me with my decision Lynne

Murraman · Senior Member

Linzeelou, I agree diesels can be very expensive if anything goes wrong, But fuel consumption is a plus as you will never get that out of a 202 if on gas it would be cheaper to run but then you have the gas to get re tested every 10 years, Which is over $200 so that eats into the fuel saving. Also gas puts out less power so that would make it worse. I hotted up and lived and breathed red holden motors and power wise it would be roughly the same with less Torque.

If I was to do an engine swap it would be a 3.8L v6 out of a VN/VP Commodore with the Turbo 700 auto gearbox. You can get them cheap and they put out 125KW at the flywheel. If you could find one with that done it would be a bonus.

Yes ours has power steering so does the 83 model we bought for spares, You have to remember that what you are looking at is around 30 years old and everything deteriorates over time so things will go wrong, Rubbers will be old and perished at times.

I haven't heard of any major things that go wrong with them except rust.

Just try to pick something that is original and clean with a fairly modern fit out done. We found a lot with under 200k on them. A mate of mine has the same thing with the 2.4L petrol and he had it loaded to the hilt and he said it went ok. I drove a few when we were looking at them and they were no power houses, Similar to the diesel.

Probably 90% of them just sit around for 10 months of the year, I personally don't think that is a bad thing for the mechanicals as long as the oils have been done on a regular basis. Tyres don't like sitting around like that and crack on the side walls. So if it has newish tyres would be a bonus also. Also tyres should be replaced max of 10 years 6 years preferable so they would have to be replaced even with plenty of tread. One thing to consider is changing a wheel on a coaster can be a big job so you would need some sort of road service to cover that.

I bought a nut cracker which is a geared wheel nut remover to make it easy for me to undo them if needed.

Linzeelou · Veteran Member

Thanks,you are so good at this. Thanks for the heads up on the Holden motor. I hope you don't mind me picking your brains. I've rung the RACQ advisory line so much they are beginning to know me. I've found an 81 model with a brand new reco diesel motor. It cost him $6500. It has new clutch, all new brakes, new radiator, hoses, solar power, shower, toilet, awning, annex, new paint job, air con to cab, and an air con to the living quarters, bristling with security screens, everything that opens and shuts but it's in NSW. So that means 16 hours of driving to get to see it. He has spent a fortune on it. I've seen loads of pics of it. The fit out isn't bad, nothing out standing but neat and tidy with lots of overhead cupboards. The one downfall is it doesn't have power steering. The owner is keen to sell and has suggested that he would take the cost of fitting power steering off the asking price. How successful is it to fit power steering to such an old vehicle and can they even do it. I'll ring a mechanic on Monday to see if I can get a price to fit one if possible. If I go to look at it I will certainly try to bring his price down a lot. He has S19900 on it this seems on a par with what is around, considering the work that has been done on it but I will only buy it if I can get it for less than 16,000. I'd appreciate your views on this. I am still madly searching for a newer model, maybe 85 or 6 but they are like hens teeth at the price I need. Cheers Lynne

Murraman · Senior Member

Private message sent Linzeelou. Cheers

SnowT · Guru

Hiya Lynne..

Just a suggestion..

make sure you sight all documentation of the rebuild, in fact if you do but it make sure you get the receipt's especially if it's in warranty..

Site all documentation, and make sure you have a good test drive before you pay for it..
- and No Not just around the Block.. make sure you drive some hill's and on a freeway..

-- inspect the whole body as a Paint job might look good right now, but if they have Bogged up rust you will run into issue down the track..

Juergen

Linzeelou · Veteran Member

Thanks for the advice. I was figuring on getting an RACQ test as well. Lynne

Jaahn · Guru

SnowT wrote:
Hiya Lynne..
Just a suggestion..
make sure you sight all documentation of the rebuild, in fact if you do but it make sure you get the receipt's especially if it's in warranty..
Site all documentation, and make sure you have a good test drive before you pay for it..
- and No Not just around the Block.. make sure you drive some hill's and on a freeway..
-- inspect the whole body as a Paint job might look good right now, but if they have Bogged up rust you will run into issue down the track..
Juergen
-------------------------

Hi Lynne,

All good suggestions above.

I have been interested in older Coasters. They are old and do suffer from rust in the seams, around the windows, etc, particularly if they have been to the beach a bit. Its a problem as to how to deal with that before it gets bad. Needs some good proper work to preserve it, not just bog and paint. Look carefully. I have knocked back a few on this. confuse

The engine transplants, eg Holdens, Falcons etc probably should be let alone. They can be good but they can also be badly done. And if not on gas then they are thirsty. The Toyota 2.4 petrol engine is OK and a worker, but is a bit thirsty. The diesel is the best, slow but steady, and a worker. However they do not last forever, neither do the petrols, and getting a reconditioned one would be good if the job is done properly. It would be worth having a GOOD mechanic check it over and look at the hoses and wires and radiator etc also as these are all old and if they fail its not good. A failure of a hose can ruin the engine again.

I would not go for a bus which had lots of miles on it, hundreds and hundreds of thousands of Kms, even if it is reconditioned. All the other things also wear out too. However some busses have been well maintained and can go a long way OK but in general go for less Kms.

Good luck Jaahn

go

-- Edited by Jaahn on Monday 23rd of June 2014 12:42:17 PM

Vic41 · Guru

My BIL (a sparky by trade - retired, and also hand with mechanical things etc) bought a second hand Coaster motorhome and would have given it a reasonable going over when he did.

All seemed ok but he decided to remove the old fixed furniture in the van to replace it and when he did found the floor riddled with rust, so there can be some "hidden" rust in places you may not be able to see.

-- Edited by Vic41 on Monday 23rd of June 2014 11:11:31 PM

oldbobsbus · Guru

Don't let all of these bloke put you off Lynne,

You have a budget and will have to accept some faults..

For the money you have to spend you aren't gunna get a new Winnibago on a $100k chassis....

Anything you find within your budget will have some issues.. it is up to you or your expert to work out which one is best for your application..

You may find buying a reasonably good ex school bus ( they have had to meet a strict criteria during their life) and fitting it out as you can afford it an option ..

I have done this with 4 buses so far and haven't regretted buying any of them..

Vic41 · Guru

Out of interest Oldbobsbus, where did you buy your ex school bus coasters from please?

oldbobsbus · Guru

Vic41 wrote:
Out of interest Oldbobsbus, where did you buy your ex school bus coasters from please?

I haven't done a Coaster yet Vic but there are lots of them about and if I was to do one I would do a LWB.

Google "Buses for sale" will find many sites that specialize in buses like THIS one..

oldbobsbus · Guru

We bought this little 7mtr Bus in Adelaide and drove it home the long way through Broken Hill and Bourke with just the seat bases to sleep on and a couple of cheap cookers and an esky... took us 2 weeks and enjoyed every minute of the trip..

We got the seller to remover all the seats for us and then he left us the bases to sleep on ..

Jaahn · Guru

oldbobsbus wrote:
Vic41 wrote:
Out of interest Oldbobsbus, where did you buy your ex school bus coasters from please?
I haven't done a Coaster yet Vic but there are lots of them about and if I was to do one I would do a LWB.
Google "Buses for sale" will find many sites that specialize in buses like THIS one..

Hi,

I am not being negative pointing out the things to look for on a 25-35 yr old bus. I have had a couple also. Now moved to a newer and more expensive motorhome. I might go back to a Coaster as I like them better to drive than a truck. Likes and dislike are personal things. smile

However there are some things to think about before buying a bus to convert to a camper. confuse

First the bus has to be reinspected and certified for use as a camper. This involves some work and hassel. It suits some people better than others to do it themselves.

Second the size or correctly the weight, GVM, is important as it determines the licence required to drive it. A LWB Coaster will have to be reclassified to drive on a car licence.

Thirdly, some perservance is required to complete a conversion. The number of stripped and non-complete busses out there testify to that. Only start if you mean to finish !

If you want to go touring or just enjoying being on the road NOW, then just buy one going and close to your requirements. Some compromise is required. hmm

Cheers jaahn

Vic41 · Guru

oldbobsbus wrote:
Vic41 wrote:
Out of interest Oldbobsbus, where did you buy your ex school bus coasters from please?
I haven't done a Coaster yet Vic but there are lots of them about and if I was to do one I would do a LWB.
Google "Buses for sale" will find many sites that specialize in buses like THIS one..

Thanks OBB, appreciate the link also. smile