As more people find that remote work is here to stay, options for life on the road are on the rise. This is especially true now that many foreign vehicles are past 25 years old and thus legal - opens in new window or tab. to import to the United States. That expands choices to a host of RVs from Japan, which saw a camping boom in the 1990s.
From that era, some of the best campers—like this 1996 Toyota Hiace recently offered on eBay Motors in Cookeville, Tenn.—came from Yokohama Motor Sales. The company is one of Japan’s premier specialty vehicle manufacturers. As RVs proliferate across the globe, those who know Japanese RVs consistently rank the company at the top for build quality. Its campers are primarily converted Toyota and Isuzu vehicles, but in reality, that’s just a fraction of Yokohama Motor Sales’ business.
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The company started building motor homes in 1982. However, they also do brisk business converting trucks to emergency vehicles such as fire and disaster support vehicles, ambulances, and communications and satellite broadcasting vans. Government and news agencies across Japan rely on Yokohama’s vehicles, and the build quality stands up to grueling conditions.
Oh, What a Feeling
The 1996 Toyota Hiace on eBay was fitted with Yokohama’s high-roof option, which increases headroom by a couple of feet while adding overhead storage. The second and third rows of seats can be used as restaurant booth-style seating with a removable table in between, or can be laid flat to create a sleeping surface. In the back, a small kitchen area includes a sink and counter area.
The listing says the air conditioning works great. An aftermarket touchscreen audio unit with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto - opens in new window or tab. was installed, as well.
The high roof has additional exterior storage above, accessible by a rear door-mounted van ladder - opens in new window or tab.. A large, retractable RV awning - opens in new window or tab. is mounted to the left side. And of course, it wouldn’t be a 1990s Japanese van without charmingly retro graphics - opens in new window or tab. emblazoned on the sides. In this case, it’s a very period-correct teal stripe kit.
Slow and Steady to the Next Campground
The Hiace is powered by a 2.8-liter diesel engine good for about 90 horsepower and 139 pound-feet of torque. It won’t win any drag races, but these motors are known for reliability. Besides, vanlife is not about speed; the journey is the point.
The listing says the Toyota Hiace RV turned over 132,000 miles, which means it still has lot of life left in it. The engine is mated to a manual transmission and four-wheel drive to boot.
This Toyota Hiace has a few cosmetic blemishes. There appears to be a slight dent in the front right corner. The decals show signs of cracking due to age, and there are a few door dings in the sheetmetal.
The seller was asking $27,900 but is taking offers, and there was a 1994 Toyota Hiace Super GL offered for $20,000 at the same time. That indicates a rough range of cost for obtaining one of the most spacious vintage campers on the market.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.