I need...a campervan

I would love to own a 1993 or 1994 pop top. Cruisin Cabin or Reimo. Super Custom or Super GL. They never show up in the Japanese auctions. I'm guessing they get picked up before they get old enough the be allowed in the US. Are there used car auctions in the UK?

I think there is an age limit in the US - someone posted it the other day. Not newer than 199X or something.

There are one or two around when you search on the keyword Hiace and model year 1993.
https://carfromjapan.com/cheap-used-toyota-hiace-wagon-1993-for-sale-5c41c270fff378a4a570d1f9

I got my super custom from Japan and imported it myself, so I'm up to speed on that market, but never see any campers come up for sale. I saw a few for sale on Gumtree UK but it seems a bit dicey trying to make a deal from over here. I even reached out to a guy in Hawick but it didn't seem to guy anywhere.

The US has a bunch of stupid rules. One being the car has to be at least 25 years old, and they go by registration month. So we are up to vehicles registered on or before Jan of 1994.

Ah ok, you mentioned more than just campers in you first post. The Cruising Cabin is pretty rare in any year, have you considered moving to a freer country like Britain or one in Europe?



I'm converting my SC into a camper but am keeping the sunroofs, it may be possible to add a poptop roof but IMO getting an original Toyota cruising cabin would be ace.

It is getting pretty crazy over here.

I went as far as to contact Reimo about the pop tops they used to make for the SC.  They sent me a cool picture from their old catalog but told me they didn't even have the item numbers anymore. Damn, if I could just get the top I'd saw a hole in the roof myself.

This is the guy I was talking about, Tommy from Hawick.  At least one of his ads. He's got all sorts of campers.

I just need to find a way to get one here.

https://www.gumtree.com/p/campervans-motorhomes/toyota-hiace-campervan-/1326795698

No reason he cannot ship it to you - ask him. It's not so unusual.
Else pay a specialist importer/shipper, he may know one.

It's a very neat design, I'm not however 100% convinced it's better than a well converted SC however as pop-tops are heavy, cold, need looking after and have no sunroofs. Also consider the storage - the van seats themselves take up a lot of room (as I found out in my MPV layout SC), putting wooden bed supports and slats with foam seats/mattresses frees up quite a bit of storage room (under the fixed single bed) over that arrangement.

Less work getting a cruising cabin though

Keep an eye out in Canada. We can import at 15 years old. My van is a 95 I think but may actually be a 94 if the Vin is checked. I haven’t federalize it here yet as I need e-code or DOT headlights. I will try and license as a 94 to sell in US if it is a 94. Japan export certificate only lists first registration date.

...and Bob's your uncle.

Brilliant, liking those mirrors! Looks nice and complete.

Soon for the interior pics ?

Just got her from the port yesterday and she needs a good cleaning but I'll see if I can get some pics uploaded tonight.

Very nice!

Here are a few inside photos. There is a shelf that i removed to get to the battery too but its not in the pics obviously.

oh, and she is a 1994 4wd with the 2.8L non turbo.  Automatic 3 speed with OD. G145...this thing has LSD...crazy!

Very nice, love the whole thing!
Nice to see a skylight too!

Thanks! I love it too!! Ive been looking for one of these for about 2 years.  Just got the plates today and spent the last 2 hours steam cleaning.  Time for a road trip!!

Actually, more like time to figure out how this electrical system works. 2 on board batteries and one deep cycle near the shore power but I don't know how to keep the power on when the van is off. I'm sure I'm just over looking a switch or something.

Congrats on your new camper! Looks pretty clean. Thanks for letting Derek post your walkaround, so cool to see inside these rare beasts! I didn't have him post ours since the cosmetic condition of our rig was sub par. Though it wasn't as bad as his photos let on, and the inside cleaned up pretty well. The paint on the other hand, ah well, there's always trade offs when you get a grade 3 vehicle, but the price is nice!

Yeah his video is nice but he always seems less than impressed. Plus this one is looking 100 times better after a steam clean and some degreaser.

He actually told me not to buy this because he thought it was in to rough of shape. I drove it off the port and 100 miles without as much as a hiccup.

Hey this is pretty much identical to my van! Mine is a 1991 selectable 4WD also auto, LSD and 2.8 non turbo. Mine strugggles up hills and I only get a bit over 20 miles per gallon but I love it.

A couple of tips. The handle that winds up the window in the roof can snap in half easily. So go easy on that hold the sides as well as the end when windig up and down. Also you mentioned that the domestic electrics don't work when the motor is off? I had that problem and my auto electrician sorted it. There is something called a fusible link connected to the domestic battery and that had gone, so I was only getting power to the fridge, interior lights etc when the engine was running. The electrician replaced the fusible links with proper fuses. I can take pictures if you need them. My domestic battery is in a little locked compartment on teh side of the van.

I have a pdf of the owner's manual if you want it - message me your email.

Nick

Your van has seatbelts on the rear seat which I don't - so mine is really a 5 seater I guess yours is 8 seater - really cool. Are they just lap belts rather than 3-point seatbelts that go over the shoulder? Also you have headrests on the rear seats which mind doesn't. I guess you need to take them off to make teh bed at the rear.

I'll watch out for that handle, I'm sure getting a replacement would be tough.

Pictures would be great! I would love that manual too! I will shoot you a message.

The model code lists time as a 5 seated but it does have 8 belted positions. They are all lap belt except for the drover and passenger sets.

Very nice. The LSD (Limited Slip Diff) is useful for grip (except in snow where it makes the entire back end drift into the camber if you spin the wheels) so it should be quite versatile off road providing you look after the front AC/radiator as that's a bit bashable apparently - Hiace4wd is the 4wd expert!

Note there may be a higher insurance cost for 8 seats as opposed to 5 but I wouldn't expect it to be too much.