I know you had some Toyota models in the late 80's and going by the Specifications would have been slower than a snail up hill.We do have 4x4 versions that are easy to park and traverse rough terrain. No these are not TC's

Video of the Sunliner RangerVideo of the Sunliner RangerAnother mini Explorer MotorhomesExplorer Motorhomes Another Manufacturer : Suncamper

RobertRyan wrote:I know you had some Toyota models in the late 80's and going by the Specifications would have been slower than a snail up hill.We do have 4x4 versions that are easy to park and traverse rough terrain. No these are not TC'sI drove one of those snails for 15 years, maybe 80K miles. It was built on a 1983 Toyota 4x4 chassis. It would go up anything, but not fast enough to suit the folks roaring up hills behind me. Scary. And yes, a C, not a TC.My Tiger CX is the closest substitute I could find. some TC makers are now building flatbed models. There is also the XP camper. But those are not C's.That Sunliner looks great! Any chance of a US version?

Tiger4x4RV wrote:RobertRyan wrote:I know you had some Toyota models in the late 80's and going by the Specifications would have been slower than a snail up hill.We do have 4x4 versions that are easy to park and traverse rough terrain. No these are not TC'sI drove one of those snails for 15 years, maybe 80K miles. It was built on a 1983 Toyota 4x4 chassis. It would go up anything, but not fast enough to suit the folks roaring up hills behind me. Scary. And yes, a C, not a TC.My Tiger CX is the closest substitute I could find. some TC makers are now building flatbed models. There is also the XP camper. But those are not C's.That Sunliner looks great! Any chance of a US version?Depends if Ford brings in the Global Ranger WITH Diesel

Mal Leyland explains the specifications and abilities of his Explorer Motorhome, buit on a 4x4 Toyota Hilux Motorhome, fairly intensive videoMal Leylands Travels with his Explorer Motorhome

No, there is nothing like that here in North America. Wish there was. I'm not sure we would consider one, but it would be nice to have available. I guess the closest thing would be a 4x4 Sprinter van something.It's funny, just about when manufacturers start to do a little something towards better gas mileage, the price of gas takes a big drop. Right now it's way down, under 2 bucks a gallon in most states. I hope that doesn't deter the progress towards better MPG.

Mini Class C's : Any being built? | Good Sam Community

50 Replies

RobertRyan
Explorer
Jan 09, 2015
pnichols wrote:
RobertRyan wrote:
You can park these in tight parking spots, then take them climbing dunes, that is the beauty about them. A sort of Jeep with a "house" attached.

How can they climb dunes any better than the fully equipped for comfort Sportsmobile 4X4 camper vans?

Quite easy, better approach and departure angles, narrower can drive up small tracks, much better with FE. . Off Road I doubt the Sportmobile is very comfortable basically a lightweight Van and , more a weekend warrior, it appears no Toilet. A E350/450 are not exactly great Off Road, need fair bit to make them work Off Road, too big for small car parks
pnichols
Explorer II
Jan 09, 2015
RobertRyan wrote:
You can park these in tight parking spots, then take them climbing dunes, that is the beauty about them. A sort of Jeep with a "house" attached.

How can they climb dunes any better than the fully equipped for comfort Sportsmobile 4X4 camper vans?
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
White Beard wrote:
If you're going to park your RV for 2 or 3 months in the same place , then I agree that you need a lot of space . But personally , I like to be on the move . I can't stay more than 3 days in the same place .

A small RV is a lot easier to travel.
You can park anywhere , you can stop anywhere and hopefully it's a lot easier on gas.

Wish they made them here at a reasonable price . Just a place to sleep , heat and dine would be perfect .

Exactly. You can park these in tight parking spots, then take them climbing dunes, that is the beauty about them. A sort of Jeep with a "house" attached
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
rjstractor wrote:
With rear suspension mods to handle the extra weight, the current Tacoma and new Chevy Colorado would probably work (except they don't have regular cabs available) but I don't think the market is really there in the US. Like Australia, off roading is very popular but I think in the states we have a lot more pavement out into the "boonies". So, folks camp in motorhomes or truck campers and tow their Jeeps or other off road rigs and take them on the off road trips.

Those engines they have are a bit gutless for Off Road work. Also the frames they are built on are very light duty, they would need to be built as 1tonners, or in the US case on a 1 ton or 2 ton frame, then get beefed up for a "house" to be added.
Yes you have a lot of pavement, so do we in the Outback, BUT we have vastly more wilderness areas than the U.S. Roughly more than half of Australia is desert
tpi
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
Enjoy the pictures and hope someday at least a few models like this come here. For me I don't know. If I outlast my 24' current rig, I could see the easy to drive and park advantages. But I'm kind of spoiled-enough tank, storage, fridge, propane, battery that I can run around for a week with little or no dumping or restocking-without too much scrimping. That's freedom in it's own way, always enough food, room in the tanks, plenty of heat..water..
White_Beard
Explorer
Jan 08, 2015
If you're going to park your RV for 2 or 3 months in the same place , then I agree that you need a lot of space . But personally , I like to be on the move . I can't stay more than 3 days in the same place .

A small RV is a lot easier to travel.
You can park anywhere , you can stop anywhere and hopefully it's a lot easier on gas.

Wish they made them here at a reasonable price . Just a place to sleep , heat and dine would be perfect .
rjstractor
Nomad
Jan 08, 2015
With rear suspension mods to handle the extra weight, the current Tacoma and new Chevy Colorado would probably work (except they don't have regular cabs available) but I don't think the market is really there in the US. Like Australia, off roading is very popular but I think in the states we have a lot more pavement out into the "boonies". So, folks camp in motorhomes or truck campers and tow their Jeeps or other off road rigs and take them on the off road trips.
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jan 07, 2015
These are fairly mobile Off Road
RobertRyan
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
DiploStrat wrote:
RobertRyan wrote:
Yes the Tiger is similar, as it is a Pickup based Class C. It think the strengthened chassis on the Explorer would carry similar

Probably not. The Malayan weighs in at about 5200 kg, truck and camper. Double wall aluminum and R10 insulation is heavy, especially when combined with 150 litres of water, 220 litres of diesel, and 160 kg of batteries. ;-(

I am right at the limits for a US "one ton" pickup. The factory really only wants to build Malayans on the "two ton" (550 series) models.

Cut back on the fuel range and reduce the number of batteries and the weight gets more reasonable. But you lose the ability to run the A/C or microwave on battery/solar. On the other hand, if you want to travel in the South of the US in the summer ...

Similar to the Suncamper , Explorer the "House" probably weighs much more than 3,300lbs, the basic Pickup takes 2,900lb, Ranger,Mazda roughly 3,100 to 3.200lb. GVM would have been increased considerably, with chassis and suspension upgrades
DiploStrat
Explorer
Jan 06, 2015
RobertRyan wrote:
Yes the Tiger is similar, as it is a Pickup based Class C. It think the strengthened chassis on the Explorer would carry similar

Probably not. The Malayan weighs in at about 5200 kg, truck and camper. Double wall aluminum and R10 insulation is heavy, especially when combined with 150 litres of water, 220 litres of diesel, and 160 kg of batteries. ;-(

I am right at the limits for a US "one ton" pickup. The factory really only wants to build Malayans on the "two ton" (550 series) models.

Cut back on the fuel range and reduce the number of batteries and the weight gets more reasonable. But you lose the ability to run the A/C or microwave on battery/solar. On the other hand, if you want to travel in the South of the US in the summer ...

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Mini Class C's : Any being built?

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