Browsing for my first campervan. This one looks interesting? (1 Viewer)

[bennyyorkie]

Hi,
I'm considering a toyota hiace japanese import as my first campervan. Found this nice one on ebay but being a novice, would be great to hear your thoughts.
Looks to have been a high spec in its day, and with very low milage and rust free. Many thanks

 

[TUCANO]

I am unable to help as I know nothing of this type of van but others here will no doubt be along to offer advice to you, to the forum.

 

[Terry]

Hi BennyY only my thoughts...it looks very nice....not a proper shower and basically shiting in a cupboard/open into the back of van ....Spares are getting hard to get.....very thirsty....Reasale value? .I would look at something else
BTW welcome

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[bennyyorkie]

Hi BennyY only my thoughts...it looks very nice....not a proper shower and basically shiting in a cupboard/open into the back of van ....Spares are getting hard to get.....very thirsty....Reasale value? .I would look at something else
BTW welcome

Yep, when I first started looking, I totally dismissed these vans due to the toilet...lets call them facilities!! hehe. But considering its only for me and my yorkie Benny, I was thinking it shouldnt be too hard to black out the windows and there is a curtain in there somewhere. As for resale, well, I guess I'd have to really be sure, buying a van this old, but considering I drive a 98 toyota car in mint condition (no rust, low milage), that you would have to crowbar out of my cold dead hands, I'm not too worried on that end for the moment.
Am surprised to hear parts are getting hard to find...maybe you mean for the interior? As the hiace was made for 30 years, I assumed the base vehicle would be easy and inexpensive to get parts for? I also thought (probably wrongly) that the things that would go inside..over etc could be easily replaced...but again, I'm short on experience when it comes to campervans. Many thanks for your funny and blunt reply

 

[TUCANO]

Have you thought of buying a copy or two of Campervan magazine, it could give you a better idea of things and possibly save you some money.
Only real advice I can give is not to rush into it

 

[Terry]

Hi again yep I had one and agree they were very robust reliable vans but things have moved on a lot ...10years ago spare parts were getting hard to find for what was my 15 year old van.. could get them for newer versions .....if you do decide on it make sure you get some underbody treatment done ...like I said not for me

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[Just smiffy]

Looks clean..... you can also sizzle your sausage while dropping logs.....

 

[Puddleduck]

We had a Japanese import Hiace that we self converted. The standard UK parts do not always fit - just one example the exhaust system on ours was different, we had to replace our whole system and there was a long wait for the parts - the cost 20 years ago was more than £300.

Some parts are available from the specialist supplier

http://www.bbcspares.com/

The water pump and turbo were the parts that usually needed attention on import - so check to make sure they are good if you are going to buy.

Having said that ours was a brilliant van (we didn't have a loo in ours as it was used for kayak meets where we were always with people who were camping so always some sort of facility), at over 20 years old it did use quite a bit of oil.

Since then we have had three more van with all the facilities that were / is much more comfortable but I did love that passion wagon!!!!!

 

[Puddleduck]

Am surprised to hear parts are getting hard to find...maybe you mean for the interior? As the hiace was made for 30 years, I assumed the base vehicle would be easy and inexpensive to get parts for?

Please see my previous post.

Parts have changed over time and vary depending on where the van was built. Getting parts for Toyota vans manufactured in Japan can be an issue in the UK. Our Hiace import had to be scrapped because we could not get the correct part and having the part made to order was uneconomic.

That van is only 3 years younger than ours was so parts WILL be a problem. Overpriced for what it is in my opinion. Ours (the minibus version) cost £5K before we converted it. Ours was a "K" prefix registration.

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[bennyyorkie]

Looks clean..... you can also sizzle your sausage while dropping logs.....

O dear!!

 

[Eggs]

I'm not trying to put you off this camper but listen to Puddleduck. I've got an old Mercedes and finding parts for it is a challenge. If your prepared to scour every last advert you can find to get parts then crack on.

 

[bennyyorkie]

Tha

Please see my previous post.

Parts have changed over time and vary depending on where the van was built. Getting parts for Toyota vans manufactured in Japan can be an issue in the UK. Our Hiace import had to be scrapped because we could not get the correct part and having the part made to order was uneconomic.

That van is only 3 years younger than ours was so parts WILL be a problem. Overpriced for what it is in my opinion. Ours (the minibus version) cost £5K before we converted it. Ours was a "K" prefix registration.

That really is an eye opener!! My dad had a hilux import years ago and he was fine for parts but it was only a few years old at the time... The reliability is so important, thats way Im focused on hiaces at the moment but sad to hear of your experience, having to scrap your beloved van Does make me rethink. Maybe id be better off with shelling out another 5 thousand or so and getting a much more recent hiace import, converted in the uk...many thanks, so helpful

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[bennyyorkie]

I'm not trying to put you off this camper but listen to Puddleduck. I've got an old Mercedes and finding parts for it is a challenge. If your prepared to scour every last advert you can find to get parts then crack on.

Not at all. Much appreciated. Better safe than sorry. I've lots to learn

 

[Eggs]

Not at all. Much appreciated. Better safe than sorry. I've lots to learn

There used to be a place in Stoke-on-Trent that sold parts for all sorts of Japanese imports but I can't remember what it is/was called, maybe @Neckender might know.

 

[Theonlysue]

Check to see if you can get insurance for it. Some companies dont like imports.
Also wonder if getting parts will be a problem.

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[Neckender]

There used to be a place in Stoke-on-Trent that sold parts for all sorts of Japanese imports but I can't remember what it is/was called, maybe @Neckender might know.

This is the only company I know in Stoke on Trent.

http://japcarimport.co.uk/

John.

 

[simsy56]

Hi and welcome to the forum. It looks a nice camper to me, and if it's what you want, that's fine.

Toyota have a good name, and usually their vehicles come out top for reliability. As for spares, they will be around somewhere. I used to import Japanese cars from Dublin, years ago, owned a few myself and always found parts available.

I heard many remarks from people saying, 'you can't get parts for them', 'tyres are a different size', and even, 'the bolts are in a different place to the English spec'. As if Japanese cars bought in the UK were superior to the ones made in Japan!

I had one irate customer who bought an MX5 (Eunos) from me, ranting about his headlight had blown (sealed beam) and he had been to the Toyota main dealer who said, 'replacements are not available in the UK'. I calmed him down, removed the lamp, went to the local motor factors, who had one in stock for £6. It was the same unit as for a mini. Just my take on 'Jap imports'.

Craig

 

[simsy56]

Foy information, I got many parts from Harry Feeney Toyota in Blackpool.

Craig

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[Puddleduck]

These people are good for imported Toyota spares

BBC Spares
Searches Farm,
Searches Lane
Abbots Langley
United Kingdom
WD5 0SB

bbcsparesco@hotmail.co.uk

01923-266836

I have a card somewhere for a man we met on a campsite and shared a bottle of wine with. He is Dutch and his retirement business is buying up old and obsolete parts from garages / motor factors which he then sells on to enthusiasts. Martin is looking for his card as he may also be a source of parts. I know his name was "Ad" and the business was "New Old Parts" or "Old New Parts" or something like that. I'll post when I find the card or the details.


Also our van was very much missed but she had become a cranky old woman. Another thing to check out is where the battery (or batteries) are. On ours there was a single battery in a sort of cage thing under the floor behind the driver's seat. It wasn't the best arrangement - I used to have a second battery I'd link in to get it going in cold weather.

After she went we got a Hymer on a Merc chassis which was the size of a single decker bus. Had some fun with that when the kids were into competitive kayak stuff. Our son has just started to do the slalom competitions again after a ten year break, his son, our grandson (age 5) has also just got his first kayak and loves it.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Looks OK until I saw the price! it needs a £5000 haircut

 

[bennyyorkie]

These people are good for imported Toyota spares

BBC Spares
Searches Farm,
Searches Lane
Abbots Langley
United Kingdom
WD5 0SB

bbcsparesco@hotmail.co.uk

01923-266836

I have a card somewhere for a man we met on a campsite and shared a bottle of wine with. He is Dutch and his retirement business is buying up old and obsolete parts from garages / motor factors which he then sells on to enthusiasts. Martin is looking for his card as he may also be a source of parts. I know his name was "Ad" and the business was "New Old Parts" or "Old New Parts" or something like that. I'll post when I find the card or the details.


Also our van was very much missed but she had become a cranky old woman. Another thing to check out is where the battery (or batteries) are. On ours there was a single battery in a sort of cage thing under the floor behind the driver's seat. It wasn't the best arrangement - I used to have a second battery I'd link in to get it going in cold weather.

After she went we got a Hymer on a Merc chassis which was the size of a single decker bus. Had some fun with that when the kids were into competitive kayak stuff. Our son has just started to do the slalom competitions again after a ten year break, his son, our grandson (age 5) has also just got his first kayak and loves it.

Thank you SO MUCH for your help. Have been chatting it over with my dad this morning, and its getting obvious that I need to do a lot more research into finding parts before going any further. I wouldn't mind sourcing parts abroad or even from a company in Japan as long as they are out there to be got! Thats the thing with such an older model! Will definitely be contacting supplies in the coming weeks! It would be such a shame to find that parts are not available for these campervans. In my eyes, considering their reliability, and durability they are classics but will wait and see This is such a great forum! I really appreciate your help.

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[Barclaybasher]

My first MH was a 20 year old one of these:



Cost me about £800 in 1996, 1600cc petrol engine, column change (and it had a steering box, not a rack!), no fridge or toilet. Took me the wife and 3 kids across France, over the Massif Central when they were building the Millau Bridge to Mallorca.

Never let us down - apart from the shame of being overtaken by everything on the road, down to second on some of the mountain climbs

 

[deleted-member02]

@bennyyorkie if your budget is around £13,000 Autosleeper vans could be worth a look.
Should be able to find a tidy example for that kind of money

 

[Eggs]

My first MH was a 20 year old one of these:



Cost me about £800 in 1996, 1600cc petrol engine, column change (and it had a steering box, not a rack!), no fridge or toilet. Took me the wife and 3 kids across France, over the Massif Central when they were building the Millau Bridge to Mallorca.

Never let us down - apart from the shame of being overtaken by everything on the road, down to second on some of the mountain climbs

Your last sentence sounds like me in my truck.

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[Terry]

Hi BY if you are confident on the mechanical side of things then the interiors are no problem.
I do self builds and did a full strip out and rebuild on a Toyota two years ago yes the interior was old and knackered ... it could be replaced no problem ...or bits replaced...it was only the owner who wanted full new interior ....it looked in a lot worse condition than the one you are looking at in your link pics.

 

[Spriddler]

There is no MOT history for M589OBD, presumably because it has only just arrived or never been driven in U.K. except on 'trade plates'.
It's currently shown as on SORN on the DVLA records without an MOT.
Nothing wrong with the above but it does mean you can't research its previous MOT history which a buyer would normally do for a non-imported U.K. vehicle as it's very useful in checking for a history of corrosion, major faults, emissions etc. which might be due to a life of poor or non-existent serviceing.
It's odd that the seller doesn't seem to have obtained an MOT before advertising it. Perhaps he's confident that a local test station will do him a quick one when a buyer appears.
He has 30 other Jap campers and 100% eBay feedback so no reason to be over-anxious about the lack of an MOT.

 

[bennyyorkie]

There is no MOT history for M589OBD, presumably because it has only just arrived or never been driven in U.K. except on 'trade plates'.
It's currently shown as on SORN on the DVLA records without an MOT.
Nothing wrong with the above but it does mean you can't research its previous MOT history which a buyer would normally do for a non-imported U.K. vehicle as it's very useful in checking for a history of corrosion, major faults, emissions etc. which might be due to a life of poor or non-existent serviceing.
It's odd that the seller doesn't seem to have obtained an MOT before advertising it. Perhaps he's confident that a local test station will do him a quick one when a buyer appears.
He has 30 other Jap campers and 100% eBay feedback so no reason to be over-anxious about the lack of an MOT.

Many thanks for the MOT info. Certainly something I need to keep in mind.

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[bennyyorkie]

Hi BY if you are confident on the mechanical side of things then the interiors are no problem.
I do self builds and did a full strip out and rebuild on a Toyota two years ago yes the interior was old and knackered ... it could be replaced no problem ...or bits replaced...it was only the owner who wanted full new interior ....it looked in a lot worse condition than the one you are looking at in your link pics.

That is interesting to hear. I was wondering about that. Inevitably things are going to go over time. Many thanks!

 

[davejen]

Hi and welcome to the forum. It looks a nice camper to me, and if it's what you want, that's fine.

Toyota have a good name, and usually their vehicles come out top for reliability. As for spares, they will be around somewhere. I used to import Japanese cars from Dublin, years ago, owned a few myself and always found parts available.

I heard many remarks from people saying, 'you can't get parts for them', 'tyres are a different size', and even, 'the bolts are in a different place to the English spec'. As if Japanese cars bought in the UK were superior to the ones made in Japan!

I had one irate customer who bought an MX5 (Eunos) from me, ranting about his headlight had blown (sealed beam) and he had been to the Toyota main dealer who said, 'replacements are not available in the UK'. I calmed him down, removed the lamp, went to the local motor factors, who had one in stock for £6. It was the same unit as for a mini. Just my take on 'Jap imports'.

Craig

I'm not surprised the Toyota dealer couldn't supply the lamp, MX5 is a MAZDA........
Cheers, Dave

 

[robnchris]

As already mentioned Autosleeper Talisman or Clubman is a far better vehicle with a lot more liveable space and non rotting body work.