I've been looking around for a camper and have come upon a year 2000 Toyota Hiace with 200,000kms on the clock. The van is in very good condition & there are some mechanical repairs required (clutch & front shockers need replacing) - we have had it checked out by a mechanic. Seeking advice from experienced nomads about this vehicle. Our preference was to buy something with fewer kms on the clock but this van seems like good value. Are we asking for trouble buying such an old van with that many kms? We keep hearing the hiace will go and go...but I'm not so keen to be lumped with something that may cost a lot in the long run. Anyone have any thoughts about this? Steer clear? Take the risk?
Oh No Julie .........its a whizzzzzzz bang...........nomaders are gunna hate hate hate
Its 17 years old ......currently needs work so logic says it may need more ........but who knows you may get around Oz a couple more times without a hiccup.......
If the mechanic says its ok just do it
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I Remember It ...............All Too Well
Wherever the four winds blow. I'm restless, I'm ready
Nope Julie, a Landcruiser for 20 years but saw hiaces come and go in roadhouses and caravan parks I have managed.
Toyota = reliable ........but anything that age is a concern.....
Do you know of previous owner history? That would give you a good indication.......like if previous owner has retired from nomadic lifestyle and had it for many years I would be inclined to trust it.......but if passed from pillar to post, perhaps not so good.
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I Remember It ...............All Too Well
Wherever the four winds blow. I'm restless, I'm ready
Hi Julie, I don't have a "whizzzzzzz bang" but can tell you that there are many nomads that have them and all that I've met are great people, it's the partying people in "whizzzzzzz bangs" I/we sometimes have a problem with.
Choice of vehicle is personal, if it suits you and you can get it for a good price then go for it. We bought our Motorhome bout 3 years ago, she's a 1998 Ford Transit with a transplant, We knew that the motor/transmission had a few K's on it and we'd most likely have to do a few repairs.
Well, we traveled over 35,000 K's just doing a few maintence repairs before we had to do anything major, and last year spent just over $10,000 on a new motor and other items including front & rear suspension. Now we think (hope), she's good for another 200,000 K's +.
Some would argue that we've over capitalized on it, but I can tell you that what we paid for it and what we have put into it is by far less than what we originally budgeted for. Despite all the work we still recon we got a bargain.
Point I'm trying to make here is, secondhand and older is OK provided you're prepared and have the reserves for the "what if's".
BTW, Happy Travels and welcome to the forum. Steve.
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Steve, Di & Ziggy We named our Motorhome "Roadworx" because on the road works "On The Road Again" Ford Transit with 302 Windsor V8 conversion, C4 Auto, 9 Inch Ford Diff All Lighting L.E.D., 260 Amp/h AGM, 530 Watt Solar + Kipor Backup Gen.
Thanks Steve...good advice. I had to look up what whizzzzzzz bang meant & that's funny. I'm not really in the backpacker demographic, so maybe I'll confuse everyone when I turn up in thewhizzzzzzz bang
My parents had a Toyota whiz bang, they found you can open the back boor from inside. Needed to drill a hole and attach an open, but turned a whiz bang into a very quite click
Hi Julie. I have a Hi-ace. 1998 model. It had about 250,000 k's on the clock when I got it, about 8 years ago. It's up to 310,700 odd K's at the moment.
Oil seals have been replaced, and tyres when necessary. Having the Power Steering Oil Line replaced next week. That's all. Wish I'd had her years ago.
Before we got our Sunliner MH, we had 2x Hi-Ace vans
Each covered about 300,000km over a 10-12 yr period, and they definately are a "go anywhere" sort of vehicle .... well go anywhere within reason :)
From about 250,000km they started to use more & more oil, and it is still cheaper than a new motor [which are about $1200-$1500 fitted
Beyond the expected tyres, grease & oil services and an occasional other item, they went and went and went
I particularly liked the 2 bucket seats - more comfortable than the Ford/Mazda Econovans, and the storage places for the jack & tools etc. seemed to work pretty well
As with the purchase of any 2nd-hand item, keep asking Qs and get someone who knows a bit about Hi Ace's to kick the tyres while looking under the vehicle etc.
