Are you interested in turning a school bus into a mobile home? Want to explore your surroundings and get away from the 9 to 5 grind? Uncertain of the ideal car for your bus conversion?
Yes, it’s a difficult choice, but we’re here to explain why you should take a Toyota Coaster into consideration for your conversion.
Before settling on a Toyota Coaster as our converted school bus and residence, we did a lot of study. There are a lot of factors to take into account, such as the layout. Will I be able to fit all I need and want? Will I be able to operate it? Is it trustworthy? The list is endless…
The good news is that you will arrive there and make a choice. We concluded from all of our study that the Toyota Coaster was not only what we were looking for, but also more. Additionally, articles like this one that are useful make it slightly simpler to compare and gather data for your selection.
In This Article...
Reliability
Reliability is arguably the most crucial aspect to take into consideration when choosing a car to be your new home. You don’t want to get stuck if it breaks down. If it needs to be at the mechanics for weeks, where will you stay?
A well-liked minibus that is locally available in Australia, Japan, and China but is imported all around the world is the Toyota Coaster. Over 20,000 of them were sold domestically in Australia over the course of over 40 years, and many more were imported.
Toyota Coaster vehicles (mostly those made between 1993 and 2003) share the Toyota 1HZ engine with the Toyota Landcruiser. Some coasters with this highly regarded engine have been discovered to last well over 600,000 kilometers, demonstrating its exceptional dependability.
Because of its robust construction and generous sitting capacity, the coaster is well known and well-liked all across the world. The interior floor of the Toyota Coaster is built of sturdy, superior-quality wood that has been coated in vinyl. Numerous businesses have attempted to imitate the coaster because it has become so well-known, but none have been able to create one that is as robust.
Easy to service
Since Toyota is such a well-known brand in Australia as a whole, practically any mechanic can handle any necessary maintenance or small repairs on a Toyota Coaster. It’s simple to find components because most local shops carry Toyota parts in store or can order them for a reasonable price. This is a significant factor in the popularity of the Toyota Coasters for bus conversions.
Size
We discovered the Toyota Coaster to be the ideal size for what we were searching for because it is a minibus. We could easily fit a queen bed, a shower/toilet, a kitchen, and a living room, with room to store everything we need. While it is tiny enough to drive to and through national parks without causing too much of a hassle, it is also 6.8 meters long and 2 meters broad, which is a great gain as this was one of the reasons we wanted to accomplish this. It is also easy to drive around town and park when necessary because it fits into two car spots and is not much broader than a 4WD.
It may be small and light enough to be used in Australia with a regular car license, which entitles the holder to operate a vehicle weighing up to 4.5 tonnes and seating up to 12 passengers.
An LR license, or light rigid truck license, is the next level up and is intended for vehicles that weigh more than 4.5 tonnes and up to 8 tonnes and can accommodate more than 12 passengers.
The GVM of the Toyota Coaster, which includes seats and 22 people, is 4.99 tonnes. The coaster’s weight will be sufficiently lowered after the seats are taken out for it to be upgraded to a class C, or vehicle license. You won’t need an LR license if you keep the converted weight under 4.5 tonnes gross.
You must complete a truck driving course and pass a computer test in order to obtain an LR license in NSW. This makes it a far more practical and economical solution, as LR courses may be quite expensive.
What is the weight capacity of a Toyota Coaster?
The Toyota Coaster is capable of towing up to 2000kg. This is a braked value; if a vehicle is rated to tow that much in the first place, its maximum weight without employing trailer brakes is 750 kg. If you wish to know the tow rating in tonnes, merely divide the kilogram value by 1000. Kilograms can alternatively be written as kilos. To be sure your Toyota Coaster is compatible with the example given here, verify with the manufacturer or your owner’s manual before attempting to tow with any car, ute, van, SUV, or 4×4.
The Toyota Coaster has how many seats?
The inner compartment of this high-end passenger car offers extra room and comfort. The Coaster delivers maximum seating capacity without sacrificing individual passenger comfort. It has a 23-seat configuration with grey PVC floor trim and grey PVC or fabric* seat trim.
Is a Toyota Coaster a reliable RV?
With sales in more than 110 nations, the Toyota Coaster is one of the most well-liked people mover vehicles worldwide. The Coaster was initially introduced in Australia in 1977 after being introduced in Japan in 1963 as the “Light Bus” and using the Toyota Dyna’s drivetrain. Since then, it has grown to be one of the most well-liked buses used by fleets, tour organizations, and schools. Unsurprisingly, it is also a highly sought-after bus for motorhome conversions.
After 24 years, Toyota debuted the fourth version of the 70 Series Coaster in 2017. Over 20,000 Coasters have been sold in Australia, according to Toyota, out of the 550,000 Coasters that have been sold worldwide (2017 data supplied by Toyota Australia).
In Australia, the 4-liter, 4-cylinder turbodiesel Coaster 70 Series Coaster is offered as a 22-seat bus with a 6-speed transmission. Early in 2021, a 6 speed was added along with vehicle stability control, replacing a 4 speed. The post-2017 model has the same length as the 50 Series at 6990mm, but it has a squarer shape and a higher internal height of 1.89mts, which gives it more room for storage and passengers.
Both the normal variant with a bi-folding door and the deluxe model with a slug door are available for the Coaster. The black fascia on the deluxe model extends below the front windscreen, giving it a more attractive appearance.
The Coaster is only offered as a rear-wheel drive in Australia. While the 2WD is suitable for driving on city streets or on bitumen, it restricts the bus’s ability to travel across rugged terrain in the bush. Although grey importers import the AWD and 4WD versions in extremely tiny quantities and make them available in Japan, there have been worries about maintenance or spare parts. The Bus 44 Conversion, which turns the Coaster from a 2WD into an off-road capable 4WD with High and Low Range 44, is the ideal choice for Australian circumstances. For mining, off-road tour providers, distant transportation, aboriginal groups, and of course RV fans, this 44 conversion opens up fresh and fascinating opportunities.
Both new and used Coasters can be converted to the Bus 44 configuration. New Coasters that are converted to 44 are subject to SSM IPA Compliance (Secondary Stage ManufactureIdentification Plate Approval), whereas used Coasters that are converted to 44 are subject to Blue Plate Compliance (Qld for Bus 44). The independent front suspension and the rear spring suspension will both receive lift kits, lifting the body by 210mm over factory specifications. To make it a constant full-time 44, a Toyota Coaster differential is installed up front and is driven by an AWD transfer case, eliminating the need to lock and unlock the free-wheeling hubs for off-road driving.
For the front drive axles, Bus 44 enhances the normal vented disc brakes, and for the rear drive axle, the drive axle is slung under the enhanced leaf-spring pack. The improved tires, measuring 9.5R 17.5 in size, are kept on the regular wheels while super-single tires, measuring 285/70R 19.5 in size, are an available upgrade that may raise the ground clearance to an astounding 230mm.
On mine sites with stringent safety regulations, the Coaster can be utilized without a ROPS (Rollover Protection Cage) because it is ANCAP approved. We can provide a front passenger swivel seat for guided tours or mine site briefings in addition to an optional downgrade from 22 seats to 18 seats with internal storage. Depending on the needs of the site, additional attachments like bull bars, tow bars, electric steps, 180-liter fuel tanks, seat belt alarm systems, beacons, and illumination are also available.
Australia’s most popular option for motorhome conversions is the Toyota Coaster. With a perfect length, internal height, walkthrough layout, roomy interior that can fit a double bed, a full kitchen, a shower/toilet, and a front lounge, no other bus checks off all the boxes. Add the tried-and-true Hino N04C engine, which generates 110kW at 2700rpm, and you have a strong truck that can easily navigate Australia.
With a motorhome fitout, the Bus 44 Conversion of a Toyota Coaster might be the perfect vehicle to take you everywhere, on and off-road, from the untamed bush to shimmering beaches. The GVM of the Bus 44 Coaster Conversion has been increased to 6 tonnes (new vehicles), while the tow rating has remained at 1.7 tonnes. In order to give you even more confidence when crossing creeks, we can additionally install a No Spin Diff on the back with a breather kit.
After the 44 conversion, the following items must be upgraded: 180 liters of fuel capacity; 9.5R 17.5 on standard wheels; 285/70R 19.5 on super-single wheels; and 6050 kgs.
The Bus 44 Conversion of Coaster might be an excellent 44 motorhome alternative because it allows the freedom to set up camp anyplace. Covid-19 has raised demand for domestic travel and people are trying to travel to new regions.
Are you interested in the Coaster’s Bus 44 Conversion given its Toyota dependability and Bus 44 capability?
The Toyota Coaster is dependable.
The Toyota Coaster meets your needs if you’re looking for utmost dependability, safety, and comfort (along with size) in a people mover. For both families and enterprises, it provides transportation and even logistical solutions.
The great demand for a powerful vehicle has also been thought to be addressed by the Toyota Coaster “An effective working vehicle that can serve a variety of industries, including mining, tourism, and construction, and can carry more than 20 passengers.
Since its debut as the in 1963, “This car, the Light Bus, has become a classic. It was also given a new name in 1969the more well-known “Coaster.”
The ringed body frame that connects the floor frame, sides, and roof components of the Toyota Coaster creates a strong exterior with a streamlined finish. The vehicle’s side is divided into upper and lower halves by its character lines.
The region around the wheels is highlighted by the underbody. Additionally, it reveals a robust body that provides a powerful reinforcement for the cabin.
Additionally, the high ceiling achieves a straightforward but striking contemporary style.
Large legroom and ergonomic chairs are provided inside the Coaster for everyone’s pleasure and convenience. Due to its top-notch engine, which enables the Coaster to stay on course and keep its dependability wherever and whenever, performance is not sacrificed.
High-tensile plates are used on the Toyota Coaster to ensure consistently safer transit. Furthermore, its characteristics adhere to the global safety performance standards set forth in ECE2 Regulation 663 (Rollover).
Here are some of the Toyota Coaster’s standout qualities in case you’re considering purchasing one for your family or company: