Why we Chose a Toyota Motorhome

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This post was updated in February 2023.

One of our most frequently asked questions is why we chose a Toyota Dolphin for our camper lifestyle. Choosing an RV is a big decision, so let us give you the lowdown on how we chose our 1989 Toyota Dolphin.

Toyota motorhomes are small

We first started noticing Toyota motorhomes at Burning Man. In fact, I got a ride to my first ever Burning Man in a Toyota Sunrader. What repeatedly caught our eye about these mini motorhomes was their manageable size.

At 21 feet long and just under 7 feet wide our Toyota Dolphin is one of the smallest motorhomes out there. We are about the same size as a Sprinter van, but with far more usable space thanks to the over cab bed!

Micro motorhomes are very hard to come by, and in the United States Toyota motorhomes are just about the only micro mini RVs available. There are plenty of towable micro trailers, but we wanted something self-contained so we would not have to worry about purchasing a tow vehicle. We have been SO pleased with the decision to go with a small motorhome.

Why go small?

While a larger RV provides more living space, the advantages of choosing a compact motorhome far outweighed the benefits of extra space for us.

One huge advantage of driving one of the smallest motorhomes on the market is fuel efficiency. We consistently get about 15-16 mpg in our Toyota Dolphin. This is similar to the gas milage of a small campervan, and a HUGE savings compared to the 5-6 mpg many larger RVs get. Our Toyota motorhome’s mpg regularly surprises the RV travelers we meet on the road!

Another reason we chose a very small RV was drivability, as well as flexibility in where we take it. Our Dolphin drives just like a large truck, making it easy and comfortable to drive on a variety of terrains, and we have definitely tested that on everything from asphalt to sand to gravel roads.

This is also where flexibility comes in- a very small RV is shorter and weighs less than a standard RV, which means you can drive it on steep dirt roads, and over soft sand, both of which would be impossible in a larger RV. Since we like to boondock  as much as possible, the Toyota Dolphin RV made the most sense for us.

Brittany Wittig photographing mountains at sunrise, and the words "How to Leap without frying your nervous system"
If you want to take the leap into full time travel, but are struggling with actually TAKING the leap (maybe you feel the timing isn’t right, or you’re worried about whether full time travel will actually work for you) then check out my powerful masterclass “How to Leap (without frying your nervous system)“. In this class I share my exact process for deciding to leap into travel, AND how I supported my nerves through the leap so I could create the beautiful life I now live! (Just click the photo above to access the class!)

Our Toyota Dolphin camper is a mini motorhome Our Toyota Dolphin camper is a mini motorhome

Why choose a Toyota Dolphin over a campervan?

Great question! The truth is, we had a short list of vehicles that we were interested in, and a campervan was number two on the list, right below a Toyota motorhome.

Campervans are awesome for many of the reasons we listed above- after all, they are small and fuel efficient! However, there are some big advantages to the Toyota campers, the first being the USE of the space.

Thanks to the over cab bed design of the Toyota RV we get about 25% more living space than we would in a camper van. Also, our Dolphin RV has a tiny bathroom that is actually a separate room at the back of the camper, which is not a feature we would get in a campervan.

The separate bathroom was not important to us when we made the purchase, but after a year of full time RV living we realize that the separate bathroom has made our life SO much more comfortable than it would be without it.

(Pro tip: For even more living space create an RV patio using a large weatherproof outdoor mat like this one.)

Essentially, our Toyota Dolphin motorhome is about the same length and width of a large campervan, but with a much more efficient use of the living space thanks to the unique floor plan. That extra living space was a huge factor in choosing a Toyota motorhome over a campervan.

Interested in how we utilize the space in our Toyota motorhome? Check out our top 10 essential motorhome accessories!

Toyota Motorhome Video Tour

Check out this video to see the awesome layout of our Toyota Dolphin! You can see for yourself why we chose a Toyota motorhome over a campervan.

 

We chose a Toyota Dolphin for its mechanical reliability

It’s pretty widely known that Toyota builds an extremely reliable vehicle. They stopped manufacturing motorhomes (at least in the United States) back in 1993, yet you still see Toyota motorhomes ALL OVER. This is a testament to the quality of these RVs.

It is not uncommon for a Toyota mini motorhome to run well over 200,000 miles on its original engine. In fact, most Toyota motorhomes feature the Toyota 22R-E engine, which is famous in the auto industry as one of the longest running engines ever manufactured.

At this time our 1989 Toyota Dolphin motorhome has just 41,000 miles on it, and it absolutely runs like a new truck. There’s peace of mind knowing that we can count on our vehicle mechanically when we are venturing into the wilderness to find a boondocking spot, or driving hundreds of miles through the Mexican desert.

(Interested in your own Mexican camping adventure? Be sure to snag this essential guidebook!)

Honestly, even if we only camped in urban areas, we would still save loads of cash by driving a reliable vehicle. Mechanical work is expensive!

We have been so happy with our Toyota motorhome, we certainly would recommend it to anyone as the best compact motorhome on the road. Toyota motorhomes come in a few different models- Toyota Chinook, Toyota Sunrader, Toyota Winnebago, and Toyota Itasca.

All of the Toyota RV’s are mini motorhomes similar to our Dolphin. If you would like to search for Toyota RVs that are for sale, the easiest way to find them is to google “Toyota Dolphin RV for sale” or “Toyota mini motorhome for sale”. These will pull up LOTS of options. Checking your local craigslist is also a good way to find a Toyota motorhome locally.

Would you like to get a closer look at our Toyota Dolphin? Click here to go to our Toyota Dolphin video tour!

Planning your own Toyota motorhome adventure? Be sure you have everything you need!

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About The Author

Brittany is the creator and editor of The Rolling Pack. She is a writer, a traveler, and a dreamer. Brittany hopes that The Rolling Pack will nudge others to rethink their place in the world, and to take healthy risks in order to find freedom and joy in their lives. Follow The Rolling Pack on Facebook and Instagram for the most up to date photos and stories!

46 thoughts on “Why we Chose a Toyota Motorhome”

  2. Bearded wonder

    This is my dream bucketlist and I get closer and closer everyday to pulling the trigger!!

  6. Ruth

    Hello…thank you so much for this right-down-my-alley blog and website!

    I like many things about the ToyotaRV’s but have two reservations:
    1. engine size…how does it do going uphill with 4 cylinders?
    2. age…do you find that these oldies but goodies hold up well over time?

    Thank you…I’m so glad my friend turned me on to your site,
    Ruth

  7. Brittany

    Hi Ruth! These are two excellent questions!

    1. In the 4 cylinder Toyota Motorhomes hills are slow and low speed. I have a friend with a 4 cylinder Sunrader and when he hits a steep climb he gets in the farthest right lane with the 18 wheelers and takes it at 35-40 mph.

    However, many of the late 80s/early 90s models have a 6 cylinder engine. That’s actually what we have in ours, and it definitely makes hills easier. We still only take steep climbs at about 50mph, but the V6 definitely provides more power. The V6 engines are not as famous as the 22RE engines that many Toyota motorhomes have, BUT the 6 cylinder engines are still VERY solid. If you do get a 6 cylinder the one big thing you want to check is whether it was a year that required the head gasket replacement (this was a recall), and whether that replacement was done. You can check this with a Toyota dealer using the vehicle’s VIN number.

    1. Yes! One of the things that makes Toyota Motorhomes so special is how well they hold up over time. We see these on the road a LOT, and they stopped making them in 1993! We’ve been living in ours full time for nearly two years now, and we haven’t had to do any major repairs, just a few small things in the living area, no mechanical issues whatsoever.

    With that said, leaks/water damage are the biggest thing you want to be watching out for when you look at a Toymo. When we purchased ours we found that the plastic roof vents had small leaks because they were the original vents from 1989 and had cracked. Luckily there was no serious water damage, and these cost about $25 each to replace so it was a pretty minor issue, but be sure you push on the walls and ceiling ALL OVER the camper before you purchase it because if the wall feels spongey that means there’s serious water damage (this is true for all campers, not just Toymos).

    Additionally, once every 6 months we completely re-caulk all of our seams with sealant, and that is pretty standard maintenance that needs to be done on all of these (once a year should be okay if you don’t live in it full time).

    I hope this answers your questions, and feel free to check in with us in the future with any questions you have 🙂

  9. Brittany

    Hi Vicky! Our Dolphin is an automatic, but there are lots of Toyota motorhomes out there with manual transmissions.

  10. Vinnie Todd

    Hey y’all! Im Vinn. I just liked you on Facebook and love the content! Posted too. I cannot wait to get "Nav" out on the road! Barbers Road y’all! Thanks for this. You rock!

  11. Chris

    Yes I need this site. I being a senior lady setting out on a adventure with a 1989 Toyota with 37,000 miles. A couple of questions. What size and what kind of topper is above the cab bed..any ideas where I can find a spare wheel. I live in Az and need to make sure I have a comfortable bed at nite and a spare tire. Please and thanks

  12. Phil Seifert

    We have the Dolphin with a v6 and love our trips in it
    We recently drove to nyc then across Canada from our home in New Orleans
    Now planning our trip out west in the fall
    Maybe Le & I and your paths may cross on the road

  13. Brittany

    Hi Phil! The V6 is pretty awesome on those steep climbs. There have been many occasions when we’re super happy to have it.

    Thanks for your comment, and we’ll keep an eye out for you on the road! 🙂

  14. Brittany

    Hi Chris! I’m sorry it took so long to respond to your comment, we’ve been at Burning Man for the past two weeks without reception 🙂

    Full size sheets, blankets, and mattress topper fit the overcab bed well. As far as a spare wheel I’m not sure but you may want to join the Toyota Motorhome Facebook group and ask there. The folks in that group are awesome for questions like this!

  16. Margaret

    I found a 1989 Toyota Mini Cruiser. I don’t know if it is fiber glass or wooden frame yet. Is one better than the other and is a dolphin better than a mini cruiser?

  17. Brittany

    Hi Margaret! It’s hard to say which is "better"- a Mini Cruiser or a Dolphin. The truth is I think both models can be excellent depending on the condition of the individual vehicle you’re looking at. I recommend having the engine checked over by a mechanic (or someone with enough basic mechanical know-how to know what to check for). I’d also recommend checking VERY carefully for any water damage to the coach body or roof. Water damage is a MESS to deal with, and was a deal breaker for us when we were looking for our Dolphin.

  18. Dave

    Hi, my name is Dave, we are from Vancouver, Canada.
    My wife and I really liked your webpage and all the info that you have provided, and we are happy to say that we have just bought a 1993 toyota dolphin a few months ago, I have redone the inside, and we are so happy with it, we got the v6 and made sure the head gasket was done before we got it. wish I could show the before and after pictures to you, but i can’t see how to upload pictures to you. thanks for all your advice on this site.

    dave

  23. Brittany

    Congratulations on your new Toymo Davo! I’ve never driven a Sea Breeze, but I’ve met several Sea Breeze owners on the road, and they seem to be VERY similar to a V6 Dolphin.

  24. Brittany

    Hi Anand! In general the parts and maintenance costs for a Toyota Motorhome are lower than bigger, modern motorhomes. This was one of the major appeals for us.

    With that said you should CAREFULLY inspect any motorhome you are planning to buy. While Toyota Motorhomes run much longer than most other motorhome brands, it is still very possible to find ones that are in BAD shape. So do your homework before you go look at Toymos, and know what you should be looking for!

  25. John

    Hi. Quick question. I came across a 1990 toyota odyssey. Loaded with 78k miles. But needs tires, need battery for the camper, all amenities have not worked in years. And 1owner for 3500. I am always looking for ways to make money on cars and never really thought about rvs . what is your opinion? I do everything from changing whole motors to floors and AC units. So labor is not an issue. Would I be able to sell it once fixed up? Thanx

  26. Brittany

    Hi John! Thanks for the comment, and I apologize for the delay in getting back to you. I can tell you from our personal experience that a fully working (mechanically and all appliances) Toyota Motorhome without water damage at that milage will sell fast and for around $10k. So whether it’s worth it really depends on how much time/money you would need to put into it. An excellent resource for more information about renovating and reselling Toymos is the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ToyotaMotorhomeClub/about/

  27. Bloggin Brandi

    I have a Gasoline Class A Motorhome and get about 8-10 mpg. It’s cost me about $150-$200 for 80 gallons to fill up sometimes more. But, driving 55-60 mph max helps and I also add lucas oil treatment to my gas tank and get an additional 1-2 mpg. Towing my smart car doesn’t seem to change the fuel economy probably because it ‘s so small in significance.

  28. Landra

    Hi there, wondering how you manage the water system as you’re traveling around and when boondocking. Where do you dump grey/black water and where do you fill up with fresh water?

  29. mike Thompson

    Did you have an auxiliary fuel tank installed. Thank you. Enjoy your adventure.

  30. Brittany

    Hi Mike! We don’t have an auxiliary fuel tank so we do have to be very careful about our gas stops, especially in rural areas!

  33. Brittany

    Hi James! The Shastas are very similar to the Dolphins. The big things you want to check with any Toymo purchase are: check for any soft/spongey spots in the coach ceiling as this indicates water damage (ie a leak!), and that can be a very serious problem. Especially push on all the walls in the overcab bed area, as that area is notorious for leaks! Be sure you drive it, and be sure during that drive you take it up to highway speed. These are great vehicles if well kept, but they’re still 30 years old, so definitely ask about the history- how many previous owners, has maintenance been performed on time, and do they have records for this?

    I hope this helps! And good luck! 🙂

  34. Dawn

    dawnoceanside@gmail.com

    Im contemplating buying an 89 Toyota dolphin, but it needs a transmission. Is there a Toyota place that I’d go to or just a regular transmission place?
    He’s asking $3;800, with another few thousand for transmission, would be a great deal. I’m almost 65, live in southern California, and need to travel ❤️
    Thank you for your time.
    Dawn

  36. Lia Fioroni

    Hi,
    I lived the video tour of your Dolphin! You are so knowledgeable, I’m wondering if you might have insight here. We have a ‘91 Toyota Itasca but have to fill up every 150 miles, out mpg is really off. Could that be from driving too fast? Any other ideas why? Thanks!

  37. Brittany

    Hi Lia! Driving too fast can definitely throw off the gas mileage. We average about 55mph, and almost never go over 60mph. This feels like a happy speed for our engine, which is why we have never pushed it beyond that, and it also keeps us in the sweet spot for gas mileage. This does mean that Google Maps always estimates our drive time incorrectly (it will always take us longer to reach a destination) so I usually do my own calculation based on mileage and an average of 52mph (to account for gas and bathroom stops).

  38. Ron Longoz

    Wondering when you were last in the Mexican Baja and what the food, alcohol gas prices currently are? Thanks

  39. Brittany

    Hi Ron! We were there last in February 2020, and at that time the prices were still reflective of this post: https://therollingpack.com/baja-mexico-an-affordable-paradise/

    The only exception to that is that gas prices have gone up over the last year, and regular gasoline was around $4 USD per gallon back in February.

    Beer and tequila are very cheap. You can get a decent bottle of tequila for $10 USD, and a GOOD bottle for $30. Beer is VERY cheap, I believe it was 100 pesos, or about $5 USD for a 12-pack of Mexican beer.

    Food is also very cheap. For example, you can get a kilo of avocados (2.2 pounds) for about $1, and they’re the best avocados you’ll ever eat 🙂

    These prices all go out the window in Cabo, however. We don’t spend time in Cabo when we visit Baja, because the prices are extremely high, it has more crime than any other area, and it’s very touristy. In Cabo expect US prices on basically everything.

  40. Lee

    Hi, I just came across your website. First I’ve seen of a Toyota dolphin. Been considering a transit mainly bc can take to any ford dealer for repairs. I’m mechanically challenged. So, one question, can you just take a Dolphin to a Toyota dealer (or any regular car repair shop) for maintenance and repairs or have to go somewhere specialized.
    Thanks
    Lee

  41. Thyag

    Hello, it was so great to find your website and learning more about your Toyota Camper and the community these vehicles. I first stumbled across the Toyota brand after watching this YouTube video about Tiny Homes https://youtu.be/rBXqiw5UHcE. That was it I went down the rabbit hole and found your site which has such great content. I am in the process of selling my house in Orlando and looking for a Toymo to become my new home and travel around the country. I just subscribed to your newsletter and look forward to staying in contact and possibly meeting on the road in the near future! Really appreciate the content and inspiration.

  42. Brittany

    Hi Lee! You can definitely take a Toyota Dolphin to a regular mechanic. One of the things about the Dolphin (or any Toyota Motorhome) is that they are built on a regular Toyota truck chassis. This means that the engine in these RVs is very well known by mechanics, and is easy to get repaired.

  43. Brittany

    Awesome! Toymo’s are awesome, they’re really such a great value. I hope to see you on the road in the future! 🙂

  44. Sherri Stevens

    I just purchased an ’89 Darlin Dolphin with only 87,000 miles on it. Mint condition for its age and my friend saved it for me. Long story short, can’t wait to hit the road, not far away for my 1st adventure.

  46. Car Nut Tacoma

    Beautiful looking motorhome. This is my idea of what a motorhome should be. It’s small enough that anyone who’s ever driven a Toyota truck can drive this. But it’s large enough that two adults, and maybe a pet could live in it while traveling. While I don’t see myself living full-time in one, I could probably live part-time in one while traveling the country. Assuming everything works like it should and it runs and drives like it’s supposed to, I’d leave it as stock as it came from an RV dealer. I’d also upgrade a few things to personalise it, make it more my own, or our own. 🙂

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