This
is the ad I posted online to sell the van at the end of my New2
Zealand excursion:
Toyota
Diesel Campervan For Sale for $3,950
~
scroll down and click on each photo to enlarge ~
click on each photo to enlarge ~ scroll down for
details
FOR
SALE: 1986 Toyota Hiace Diesel Campervan with much preferred
long-body (there is space forward of the bed!). 253,000 km.
Clean and already equipped for living/camping including built-in
tailgate kitchen with 2-burner LPG stove, cooking equipment
& icebox (chilly bin), double mattress & bedding (plus a
brand new sleeping bag, sheets, pillows & cases and bed
cover), curtains, toolbox, road atlas & maps, plenty of
storage, water jugs, two brand new folding chairs, cloths pins,
etc, etc. Power steering, too. Tobacco-free. Running
beautifully. Ready to cruise instantly, with current WOF, road
tax pre-paid, etc. Just add groceries! $3,950, available
in Auckland around January 25th.
Email Contact: campervan@tor.cc
Details
In
order to tour New Zealand for a few months, I bought this
campervan in early November from a Kiwi owner who used it to
take his family camping once in a while. I do not know the
vehicle’s history before that. I had a mechanic go over it
thoroughly and do the following:
-
Check air filter
- Check, top-off all fluid levels
- Check cooling system (hoses, radiator cap, etc)
- Check all lights, front & rear
- Check tires and pressures
- Check battery condition & water level
- Complete lube service
- Change engine oil and filter
- Change fuel filter
- Replace worn power steering hose
The
only mechanical repair it needed was this last item, replacing
an old hose. Everything else checked out A-OK and, to the best
of my knowledge, that is the condition you will find it. I have
already driven it from Auckland to the South Island, all around
that beautiful place, and back to Auckland, living in it
full-time all the while. It ran perfectly the entire way and
gave me no trouble whatsoever. Between now and the end of
January I plan to cruise around the Northland a bit, but
that’s all. Then my New Zealand adventure will be finished.
The
only negative points are minor cosmetic issues:
1)
There have been some small areas of body rust in the past. A
previous owner repaired these and they seem fine now, but you
can see where they spray-painted over the repairs. Those areas
are a slightly different shade of white than the original paint.
There is no rust apparent anywhere now.
2)
The interior paint is scuffed in some places. If I were going to
keep this van for a long time I would give it a fresh coat of
paint, but for a few months of camping it’s fine as it is.
Despite
the above, the overall appearance of the van is clean and the
interior feels homey.
The
main features in favor of this van are:
1)
Size – This van has the long wheel base and body, so there is
space forward of the full-size bed for dressing, sitting (you
can fit the two folding chairs there!), etc. This is MUCH more
comfortable than the standard length campervans, which is what
most of them are here, where the bed comes all the way to the
back of the front seats. Those feel very cramped to me.
2)
Economy - The diesel engine is very economical. Diesel costs
around NZ$0.75 per liter here, while regular gasoline costs
around NZ$1.25 per liter. Quite a difference in fuel costs if
you're driving all over New Zealand.
3)
Reliability – Toyota diesel engines average a 500,000-km
lifespan. At 250k, this engine is barely middle-aged. It starts
up first time every time, runs smoothly, burns almost no oil and
has proven to be completely reliable.
This
is an excellent, economical campervan for kicking around New
Zealand. I would sell it to friends or family with no
hesitation. I have given you as complete and as honest a
presentation of it as I can. Whoever buys it will be glad they
did. I will sell it to the first cash buyer, or I might consider
holding it for someone who wishes to commit (with a deposit) to
buying it on January 25th. Thank you for your interest.
Email
Contact: campervan@tor.cc
~~~~~~~~~
Back
to New Zealand Travelogue
