I know, the wheels throw me off, too, but those are the actual wheels and type of white-wall tires that came on this 1978 Toyota Keystone Micro Mini Class-C motorhome when it was new. I’m assuming the tires aren’t 46 years old, but the seller doesn’t mention this one as having new tires on the list of recent maintenance. It’s posted here on eBay in Broadview Heights, Ohio, and they’re asking $16,500, or you can make an offer.
I normally like things 100% original spec, but I’m not a fan of those wheels and white wall tires at all. I’d probably keep them in storage while having another set on here, as weird as that sounds. Otherwise, this yellow and white Class C motorhome, or camper, looks fantastic to me. The added storage “box” on the rear gives a buzzkill to installing a ladder to the roof, but then again, you don’t need rooftop storage with that compartment on the back.
Carrying a little motorcycle for campground duties makes for an even longer load, and this was originally a 16′-6″ chassis-mount camper mounted on a one-ton, dual rear-wheel third-generation Toyota pickup cab and chassis. Hence, the Class C mention. I know we’ve gone over and over this before, but then again, we’ve seen hundreds of Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros, and other muscle cars, so I don’t feel too bad about showing a small Toyota chassis-mount motorhome and mentioning, yet again, that I think this is the perfect size.
Yes, it’s small inside, but that also means it’s small outside, and that can be a good thing. Having a four-speed manual is nice, but a five-speed could be handy for traveling. An extra gear is often a welcome thing. That being said, I’d want to stay mainly on 55-65 mph two-lane roads with this one if it were mine. This appears to be another gem, although, sadly, it appears to have been in a sideways hailstorm or something. I don’t know if there’s a way to fix those tiny dents, is there? It looks solid underneath, despite having the usual surface rust.
The engine is Toyota’s 20R, as you can see, which is a 2.2-liter SOHC inline-four with 90 horsepower and 122 lb-ft of torque when new. This one has new plugs, wires, filters, and the spare on the front is new. I sure hope the tires aren’t original to 1979. It runs and drives as it should, and everything works. Keystone says this rig gets 17 mpg, that’s outstanding for a motorhome.
The camper portion looks outstanding, perfectly dated with maybe an upgrade or two – the counter over the sink/cooktop, and they say the fridge and freezer are new. The faucet is clearly not from 1979, and there are probably other updates for the sake of convenience. I love a rear dinette model (there were three on Keystone’s lineup for 1979), but I’d be sleeping in the cabover bed myself. The cooktop could use some help, but everything is said to work as it should. The bathroom appears to be missing the toilet, and I don’t see a sink or shower. I really like this one. Could you live in a camper this small?
I had an ’86 Toyota Odyssey, a little bigger than this and with a 22RE and automatic. It was a disaster. My current ’89 Class B isn’t as roomy, but I’ve taken it across the US and back with minimal trouble, and didn’t blow up the transmission like I did on the Toyota.
Unclear as to whether the OEM rear axle has been replaced with the full-floating bearing 6-bolt-wheel “one ton” version. If so the thing at least has possibilities but if not it is a death-trap because the OEM axles were prone to snapping the axle ends due to overloading.
I would hate to be behind this on a long two lane mountain road.
I had a fleeting interest in a small motorhome for a spell, and perhaps why the author chose to write this up. Another great one, and mighty tempting. Howie is spot on^^^, these were created for a more simpler time. Speed limit was double nickel, and somehow, going 50 wasn’t such a crime then. Well, that came and went, and driving today, and the author will agree, is one of the worst things some people have to do. Patience runs thin and this is truly a hazard. In Colorado, one MUST pull over if 4 or more vehicles are behind you. Nice, huh? No sir, I’ve learned that with the Jeep, and to go any distance with this is foolish. What this IS good for, and my interest, just short trips, 20-50 miles maybe, and stay someplace local, if you can. I realize, not everyone has pristine vistas outside their door, but the world has past vehicles like this by, and you’d be the oddball, in someones way.
I’ve looked at RVs casually, and one thing is crystal clear, you get what you pay for. Most have leaking roofs, the kiss of death for an RV. From $1,000 for something the raccoons already left, to $3-$5grand for some nice ones, and that includes these 4 cylinder types, that are usually needing something mechanical. I’ve decided, if only going short a distance, get the 460 and roll baby,,,
We used to have a mobile home w. my ex-wife and we parked it on a piece of land we bought at the same time. A neighbor from the nearby village that calculated that damaging the motor home will force us to sell to him the land did a simple but fatal damage. Damaged the small roof ‘window’. Little by little the motor home was destroyed as the water was seeping in and soon my ex-wife had to sell it as junk.
Don’t get behind these things on a steep grade. 90 hp is a drag!
Does this even have a bathroom? Where?
In the back corner o t ti. !
This would be a great deal for weekend vacations, as it is to small for a retirement travel home. In Florida or Ga. for weekend getaways it’s not too bad. For someone who needs a mobility scooter or wheelchair this probably would not work.
The real problem with this type of RV/Camper construction is the roof! Out here in the west, they rarely last more than 10-12 years and then require replacement. Even the newer Toyota with the Sun Rader ‘glass/plastic body was a dog to drive. (and the larger 22R engine) I always envisioned one of these (particularly the SunRader) with a small block Ford and a 5 speed. That would be a nice set-up. And the fuel economy would still be reasonable. (Running 1/2 throttle instead of full throttle ALL the time.
I think it’s $10k overpriced if this was in the Seattle area it would probably be sold already at the current asking price for some reason these things always go higher in the Seattle market unless this thing has been stored indoors for the last 35+ years I can only imagine the dry rot not showing up in the photos yet.
If I didn’t know better, I’d swear those dimples on the side were made with a BB gun…still a nice rig though! Shouldn’t be too difficult to find an RV toilet to put in the head, everything else looks pretty clean and usable.
I like it too Scotty. I had a 1980 4×4 Toyota pickup in yellow with a 20R in it and a four speed that I put a white camper shell and white custom wheels on and it looked great as does this to me, although the driver’s side dents are a bit of a mystery. I tend to go with Gary’s assessment of BB gun damage though, I think a pellet gun would penetrate the aluminum, but in my experience (because I had one when I was a kid) I don’t think a BB gun would. At any rate, I think it’s cool, and save the front mounted spare (which I’d put on the back) and the lack of a toilet I think it’s an awesome camper for one person. Also the 20R engine, while for sure is underpowered in the mountains would still be good for probably 300 or 400k miles if not more, and if I had the spare cash I’d see if I could make a deal on it.
I like it. Clean, low miles, everything works(per seller). Perfect for a couple doing mostly local camping. Not too sure though about mounting the spare tire in the front and blocking the air flow to the radiator.
I would never bid sight unseen in person on an RV of this construction. A friend invited me over to see a beautiful RV trailer in this style that his daughter bought for stupid cheap money. It looked better than new. Unbelievable deal even for 4 times the money she paid! And then he had me climb the ladder he had sitting at the back end. There was a hole in the roof about the size of a baseball. And looking down inside you could see the rotting wood framework and destroyed insulation. The hole was located in such a spot as you would never see a leak and never see it from the ground. NEVER BUY A USED RV WITHOUT INSPECTING THE ROOF! PARTICULARLY ONE WITH ORRIGATED SIDING. I have seen way too many horror stories with this construction.