“Why are Toyota “”Hiace”” campers predominant? Why are they chosen over “”Caravan”” as a custom base?
The “”Hiace”” is Hard to Break! Is absolute durability the secret of its popularity?
With the rise of the outdoor boom, attention to “”campervans”” is rapidly increasing!
Gothic, retro, and outdoor style! Campervan Customization of Hiace and Caravan is Hot!
There are various models from mini cars to large van campers, and even if they are not complete cars equipped with beds, sinks, toilets, etc., “”camper customs”” that are fully equipped for overnight stays are also popular.
Toyota “”Hiace”” popular for both commercial and passenger use
One of the common features of van-based campers is that the Toyota “”Hiace”” is overwhelmingly used.
The Hiace, the first generation of which was born in 1967, has a history of more than 50 years as a cab-over type van/wagon.
The current model (H200 series) debuted in 2004, and although its contents have evolved through three minor changes and partial improvements almost every year, the platform and other core parts have remained unchanged for nearly 20 years, making it an extremely long-selling model.
Originally developed as a commercial vehicle, the Hiace was designed for durability and load carrying capacity, and it has become popular not only for commercial use but also as a passenger vehicle because of its suitability for outdoor hobbies such as fishing and surfing, and for carrying equipment for camping.
On the other hand, the Nissan “”Caravan”” is a rival to the Hiace. The first generation model was born in 1973. The current model is the fifth generation, which was introduced in 2012, and minor changes were made to the gasoline model in October 2021 and the diesel model in February 2022.
Since it was introduced even after the current Hiace, it is a newer model, and has achieved environmentally friendly fuel efficiency standards, so it is not inferior in terms of vehicle perfection.
The Caravan and the Hiace have almost the same equipment and vehicle rating, and there is not much difference in price, so why is the Hiace overwhelmingly favored as a base for campers?
We interviewed Mr. Y, an industry insider who owns a Hiace himself.
The strength of the Hiace is its overwhelming durability. When you customize it, you upset the overall balance of the vehicle, and it is prone to some kind of trouble, but the Hiace still has absolute reliability in that it is hard to break.
The Hiace has several characteristics in terms of usage and customization: users who use it for work as a commercial vehicle, those who prefer a sporty exterior finish with aero equipment, and those who want camper specifications place more emphasis on the interior.
The Hiace’s absolute durability and the depth of its ability to meet a wide range of needs make it the choice for campers, as it offers a high degree of flexibility.
Mr. Y also says that the long model cycle of the Hiace works to the advantage of the aftermarket, which produces a large number of custom parts.
Pro stores make their living by developing original parts, so it is natural for them to make parts that sell well.
If the parts they have developed no longer fit due to frequent model changes, they will not be able to recover their development costs.
Inevitably, a model with a long model cycle can accumulate more know-how and parts can be developed more easily.
In other words, the longer model cycle of the Hiace allows for greater customization and parts development.
If so, the Caravan, which has been on the market for 10 years, also has a sufficiently long model cycle, but its market popularity, including resale value, is affected by this. The resale value of the Hiace is also quite strong.
The Hiace is very popular and can be expected to have good resale value, and its model cycle is also long. It is not that the Caravan is inferior, but if the performance and new car price are the same, people will choose the more popular model as a base for customization.
And since stores develop parts mainly for popular models, as a result, custom parts for popular models are available in abundance, which further increases the value of the vehicle, creating a virtuous cycle.
Why is the Toyota Hiace camper predominant? Why are they chosen as a custom base over the “”Caravan””?
What are the essential items for a Hiace camper?
In the past, customization of the Hiace tended to focus on the exterior, such as lowering the vehicle and installing aero parts, but recently, camper specifications that are almost stock on the exterior and customize the interior with particular attention to detail are becoming popular.
In fact, about one-third of all complete camper models (vehicles sold fully customized) are based on the Hiace van, and even if they are not complete models, the current mainstream is to equip and customize them to be ideal for overnight stays and outdoor activities.
A Hiace camper that can comfortably stay overnight in a car (Toy Factory)
Complete camper models are still expensive, some costing more than 10 million yen.
Although they can’t afford to spend that much money all at once, more and more people are choosing their favorite parts, finishing them off piece by piece, and finally creating the camper specs they are aiming for”” (Mr. Y, an industry insider).
According to Mr. Y, an “”FF heater”” is an indispensable item for a camper-spec Hiace to make overnight stays in the car comfortable.
The FF heater is a separate heater that can be operated even when the engine is turned off and can share fuel from the car’s fuel tank.
In campgrounds, where the temperature often drops dramatically even in winter, this equipment is essential for a comfortable nighttime stay in the car.
The key to camping is how to construct a cold and hot weather system to ensure a comfortable stay in the car.
In an auto campground with a secure power supply, it is not possible to keep the engine running all the time in the wilderness, so an FF heater, which keeps the car warm enough to spend the night in short sleeves, is an indispensable piece of equipment for overnight stays in a car.
In addition, a refrigerator and microwave oven are also useful for camping. However, the problem with refrigerators is that they run 24 hours a day and consume a lot of electricity, but cooking at camp is a big event. However, cooking at camp is a big event, and they definitely want to have this equipment to keep the food fresh and the beer cold.
Another piece of equipment I would like to see is a “”flat bed. Basically, the Hiace is positioned as a van for cargo loading and a wagon for transporting people with four rows of seats, but even in a van, the stock seats are not completely flat, even when arranged.
Many people have equipped their vans with flat beds, which provide a completely flat floor surface.
Recently, there are box-type beds that are also designed for storage, so they can both organize luggage and provide a comfortable sleeping space inside the vehicle,”” says industry insider Y.
Incidentally, many campers have obtained “”number 8 (special-purpose vehicle),”” which is said to be cheaper in terms of taxes, but there is little merit in spending so much money on a camper custom as to install a complete set of equipment necessary to change the registration.
The Hiace is a sturdy and spacious vehicle, so it can be used as a camper without much work.
Personally, I recommend the combination of a diesel engine and 4WD, which has low fuel costs and high fuel efficiency, because you may have to drive on rough roads depending on where you camp.
And, as a camper customizer, you can start with what you can afford and work your way up, and you can even go with a stock exterior.
I think the secret of the Hiace’s popularity is such a wide range of options.
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The Hiace, which boasts durability that does not break down even after a long drive and stable popularity in the used car market, can be fully enjoyed even without customization, and there is also the fun of customizing it by combining the abundant parts released from the aftermarket in your own way.
If you are considering purchasing a Hiace camper, we recommend that you try renting one.
If you are considering purchasing a Hiace camper, we recommend that you try renting one. You will be able to see what you need and what kind of customization you would like to do.”
