“TOYOTA MOTORHOMES 101”

(aka Toyota RVs / aka Toyota Campers)

To learn all about Toyota Motorhomes, click on READ MORE.

Toyota Motorhomes are a particular type of Class C Recreational Vehicle, often referred to as “Micro-mini Motorhomes.”  They were built on a Toyota pick-up truck chassis from 1972 to 1994, and are known for their reliability, economy, and ability to park in smaller spaces.  While the exact number of Toyota motorhomes that were produced by multiple manufacturers can never be easily calculated, reasonable estimates of the total number could be as high as 60,000.  Currently Toyota motorhomes appear to be retaining their value, more so than some other brands of motorhomes of the same vintage.  It is not uncommon to see well-cared-for vehicles being advertised and selling in the $25,000 - $35,000 USD range for the rarest, intentionally restored ones.  Owners report that they appreciate the better-than-average gas mileage that the Toyota engines deliver compared to other motorhomes of the same age and class. 

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

There are several distinctive eras of manufacturing of Toyota motorhomes, defined by the type of chassis that was used as the platform:

1972-1977

The earliest models of Toyota motorhomes were Toyota Chinooks built specifically for Toyota dealerships to sell.  They were built on the Toyota pick-up chassis with 18r and 20r engines.  In place of the truck bed there was a small integrated motorhome, including access between the cab and the coach.

There are pop-top models of Chinooks with a canvas-sided raised roof to allow a person to stand, and subsequently Chinook produced all-fiberglass models which were full height, known as Newport and Omega models.  There were only two choices of floorplans in Chinooks, with either a dinette behind the cab that made a bed, or a with sofabed on the passenger side.  Chinooks have fresh water tanks, but no holding tanks.  Porta-potties were an option.

1978-1981

Beginning in 1978 Toyota Motor Corporation started selling their pickup chassis with the 20r engine chassis to multiple motorhome manufacturing companies, to use as a platform for various models with a wider variety of floorplans.  In this era, the majority of Toyota motorhomes came into their own as fully "self-contained," meaning they had holding tanks and water heaters added.  

1982-1985

In 1982 Toyota began selling their newer pickup chassis with the 22r engine (carbureted) for the manufacture of motorhomes.  A few were produced with a diesel motor as well.  These chassis were delivered with single wheels on the rear.  Motorhome manufacturers in most cases bolted or welded on additional wheels to carry the extra weight of the coach portion of the vehicle.  This modification stressed the axle in ways it was not designed for, causing the axles to break, sometimes suddenly while traveling.  (See the section below regarding the “Axle Recall.”)  Some manufacturers addressed the extra weight issue by using tandem (two) rear axles. 

1986-1988

To permanently correct this issue, in 1986 Toyota started selling only pick-up chassis for motorhome manufacture that already had dual rear wheels (four total) on a full one-ton floating axle.  This so-called "safe" axle is easily identified by the fact that it has six lug nuts, not five.  (Note that it is possible to be fooled by a plastic wheel cover that imitates five lug nuts.)  Beginning in 1987, the chassis supplied by Toyota had matching six-lug wheels (with up-graded brakes) on the front as well.  

Also in 1986, the improved 22re engine (fuel injected) was introduced for the chassis that was provided to motorhome manufacturers.  A very few were built with a 22re Turbo engine as well. 

At the peak of production (in the 1980s) there were approximately three dozen manufacturers using the Toyota chassis to build motorhomes. (See the list which follows.  It contains almost 50 models, but not all manufacturers were active at the same time.)  These various manufacturers each created multiple floorplans:  some with bunk beds, even one model with a slide-out side (Four Seasons).  For reference, hundreds of online photos of Toyota motorhomes are available in this group’s “Files” Section. 

1989-1994 

In 1989 (1988 in Canada) Toyota began supplying motorhome manufacturers with an all-new pick-up chassis with the more powerful 3.0 V-6 engine 3VZ-E, continuing until 1993.  For a good percentage of these vehicles, the model year of the motorhome is titled as one year newer than the chassis year because manufacturing of the motorhome took several months to be completed.  (This means that any 1994 Toyota motorhome is actually built on a 1993 chassis.)  By this time there were only about 10 Toyota motorhome manufacturers continuing to build on the V-6 chassis.  (See the list which follows.)

TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

The earliest Toyota Chinook models made specifically for Toyota all have coach shells made from molded fiberglass.

Starting in 1978 with the offering of the Toyota chassis to multiple manufacturers, many of them chose to use the more common conventional construction style for the coach portion, using wooden framing with corrugated aluminum exterior siding.  Between 1986 and 1988, most manufacturers transitioned to corrugated fiberglass siding, with some retaining the corrugated aluminum for the curved portions on the front and rear.  A very few manufacturers used aluminum framing too, for more longevity.

Several of the manufacturers continued the style of molded fiberglass for the coach, the most prolific being Sunrader.  (See additional information below.)  The rounded style of the molded fiberglass is considered by some to be quite attractive, and the potential for rain leaks is less; although fiberglass coaches can still leak just as much around their vents and windows as a conventionally built motorhome.  

ENGINE COMPARISONS

Many Toyota motorhome owners report a preference for the 3.0 V-6 engine (3VZ-E) because of its increased horsepower, compared to the 4-cylinder engines, for powering a vehicle of mini-motorhome weight.  However it is also suggested that the older 4-cylinder engines in Toyota motorhomes (20r, 22r, and 22re), especially those with a manual transmission, are preferable because they are simpler to work on and maintain, compared to the V-6 engines.  

Both engines tend to get about the same gas mileage, with manual transmissions being more economical than automatics in both cases.  Gas mileage reports vary widely between 11 mpg and 19mpg, with the primary variable being speed of travel.  Most owners report that driving about 55 mph gives the best performance.  However weather conditions (wind), terrain (hills), type of gas (ethanol), and overall weight are also very significant factors.  

Motorhomes with 4-cylinder engines can comfortably run at highway speeds when on flat terrain, but do tend to slow down significantly on hills.  Even so, 4-cylinder Toyota motorhomes have often been taken by their owners over 11,000' passes in Colorado without issues, albeit going slowly.  For 4-cylinder motorhomes with automatic transmissions made before 1987, adding an auxiliary transmission oil cooler is highly recommended to help prevent transmission overheating.  (Transmission oil coolers became standard equipment after 1987.)  4-cylinder (22r, 22re) owners are also cautioned to watch out for wear on the plastic timing chain guides that can show up as a brief rattle on startup, somewhere after about 75,000 miles.  Immediate replacement is recommended to avoid more costly engine repairs.

Likewise, V-6 owners are cautioned to pay attention to keeping the valves adjusted regularly as per the factory recommendations, and to notice if any exhaust manifold leaks develop (which tend to be more common on the passenger side with this engine).  

Occasionally some owners have chosen to replace the motorhome engine with a different model or brand (such as a Toyota 3.4 or a Lexus or a Chevy V-8) to provide more power for recreational vehicle use.

In addition to these basic descriptions of the several versions of engines used for Toyota motorhomes, one can find many available opinions from other online Toyota groups, regarding specific engine quirks, differences, merits, and recommendations.  

PURCHASING A TOYOTA MOTORHOME

All Toyota motorhomes are now over 28 years old and many are almost 40.  Because of this, prices depend more significantly on condition rather than on the specific model and year as with most other vehicles.  The range of condition is quite extreme, from those that are amazingly well-cared-for and fully functional with multiple upgrades and enhancements such as solar power systems, to those which are truly falling apart from neglect.  

Before making a selection for purchase, buyers would be wise to become well-educated about the various models and engines, as well as familiar with the operation of the various RV systems so that they can properly be evaluated for their functionality and for the level of repair that they likely will require.  This group can provide excellent instruction for potential buyers regarding what to look for in advance, so that their dream motorhome doesn’t turn out to be a so-called “money pit.”  Most buyers can expect that they will need to spend a lot of “hobby time” with a new-to-them Toyota motorhome to make it safely drivable and optimally comfortable for travel.  However when it is refreshed to be fully operational, most owners report that they definitely appreciate the enjoyment that a Toyota Micro-mini Motorhome can provide. 

SPECIFIC CONCERNS FOR TOYOTA RVS

Axle Recall -- 1991

In April 1991, the issue of the overstressed single wheel axles used prior to 1986 caused the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a recall requiring all manufacturers who added additional rear wheels to the single wheel axles to replace them with the true one-ton full-floating dual wheel axles.  (There is an additional document in these Files which is a copy of a notice from NHTSA’s office of Defects Investigation that was sent to National RV Inc. in California.)  

This liability for unsafe axles plus other market factors caused a great majority of the manufacturers of Toyota motorhomes to go out of business around this time. 

For owners of vehicles with the recalled axle, whose manufacturer was no longer in business, Toyota Motor Sales USA offered a free replacement one-ton dual wheel axle.  The cost to install it was responsibility of the owner.  (This free axle offer expired in 2004.)  It is estimated from viewing online sales for the past decade that about 65% of the vehicles with recalled axles have had them replaced.  

Finally in 1994 Toyota Motor Corporation ceased offering their pick-up chassis to motorhome manufacturers in the United States altogether, presumably because of the continuing liability and litigation.  Toyota did continue offering their chassis for the manufacture of motorhomes in other countries (Australia and Japan) with the appropriate right-hand drive. 

V-6 Engine Head Gasket "Recall” - 1996

In October 1996 Toyota Motor Sales USA issued a Special Service Campaign (VO-6 Campaign) for the head gaskets on its 3.0 L 3VZ-E engine used in Toyota motorhomes and other vehicles. (Technically, it is not a “recall.”)  The campaign is for replacement of the head gaskets because the material initially used in these model years has proven to be inferior, causing engine overheating.  The campaign has 2 parts; one for the years 1988 to early 1990  (which expired first), and one for the years 1990 -1993 of Toyota motorhome chassis, which has now also expired.  (There is an additional document in these Files which is a copy of the letter that was sent to Toyota Service Centers with detailed information.)  

Not all Toyota motorhomes of these years were recalled, presumably due to variations between factories.  This special service campaign was still being honored by Toyota Service Centers (Dealers) through December 2018.  Toyota Service Centers were compensated for performing the required replacement work through that date, but the choice to accept the vehicle for service or not was up to the individual Service Center.  Toyota Service Centers are still capable of performing this head gasket replacement, but they are no longer compensated, so the expense falls on the vehicle owner now.

V-6 MANUFACTURERS OF TOYOTA MOTORHOMES (1989 - 1994)

Only a handful of the dozens of manufacturers "survived" the axle liability and market forces, to continue manufacturing Toyota motorhomes with the V-6 chassis in the 1990s.  

Following is a list of the top 9 motorhome manufacturers that continued to build on the Toyota V-6 chassis, in descending order of total number of vehicles manufactured (based on the observed number of vehicles available for sale in the last 10 or so years):

Winnebago Industries (Forest City, IA)  1986 - 1994 manufactured ''Toye'' (no-frills), ''Warrior'' (basic), and ''Itasca Spirit'' (higher-end) models, in both 21' and 19' lengths.

National RV, Inc. (Perris, CA) 1978 - 1994, manufactured ''Dolphin'' (basic) and ''SeaBreeze'' (higher end) models in 18' initially, and then 21' and 19' lengths.

Leisure Odyssey (San Bernardino, CA) 1980 - 1991 manufactured multiple conventionally constructed ''Odyssey'' models (named for their floorplans), and an ''Americana'' model with a molded fiberglass overcab.  Odysseys have the tallest and widest interior of any brand of Toyota motorhome.  All models are 21', except a very few which are their tilt-top model and their four-wheel drive models which are shorter.  

Gardner-Pacific Corp. (Vallejo, CA) 1979 - 1991 manufactured the ''Sunrader'' & ''Sunrader Classic'' models in 18' and 21' lengths.  Sunraders are well-known (and noticeably sought-after) for their molded fiberglass construction with a clamshell design that has the upper and lower portion seamed around the middle.  This construction, without the usual seams between a side-panel and the roof, lessens the possibility of rain leaking into the structure.  The vast majority of Sunraders were manufactured with the 22r and 22re (four cylinder engines).  A very few of these (28) were also made with an 18' four-wheel drive chassis.  (No Sunrader "4x4s" were made with a V-6 engine.)  Since then there are perhaps a dozen or more Sunraders that have been seen on the internet that have been converted to be 4x4s.  The two-wheel drive V-6 Sunraders, especially the shorter 18’ model, are almost as rare, and ads are often seen from potential buyers seeking them.  Additionally, in the earliest years of the company, Gardner-Pacific also made a very few slide-in campers and fifth wheel models with the same molded fiberglass clam-shell design. 

Gulfstream Coach, Inc. (Elkhart, IN) 1989 - 1993 manufactured the ''Conquest'' model, and the higher-end “Ultra'' model, which has aluminum rather than wooden framing.

International Vehicles Corp. (Bristol, IN) manufactured the ''Horizon ST'' model with a molded fiberglass overcab.

Rockwood, Inc., (Goshen, IN) manufactured the ''Roamer'' model.

Bonanza Travelers (Elkhart, IN) made the pop-top ''Bandit'' model.

Slumber Queen (British Columbia) made a model for the Canadian market. 

GATHERINGS OF OWNERS

There are several gatherings per year in various places in the United States where owners of Toyota motorhomes get together for “Rallies” or “Toy-ins” as they are sometimes called.  Locations have recently been in Arizona, California, Washington, Idaho, Florida, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts.  Rallies scheduled so far for 2022 are planned for Arizona, New England, and the Mid-West.  Details about upcoming rallies are posted in this group in the “Messages” section.