Advise on best appliances for a Toyota coaster

bundydropbear · Newbie

Advise on best appliances for a Toyota coaster

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Pretty difficult without knowing where you are, your budget and how you intend to use this vehicle.

Cheers,
Peter

bundydropbear · Newbie

Hi Peter. I am tassie but have just bought a coaster in Melb. I intend to leave here at a mates places for a couple of months while I source items to put in the coaster. I intend to go travelling on the mainland and a lot of the time live off grid so will need solar. I want to buy a 3 fridge plus gas cook top for inside the bus. Shower and toilet. So will need water tanks. I am looking for ideas and peoples experience of what works for them. I am happy to purchase items interstate and ship them to Melb where I will load them into bus and take home so I don't have to pay shipping all the way. Budget is not really a problem but just don't want to pay for through the roof for something if there are places that sell the same item cheaper.
I will be putting things airbag suspension plus roof rack to carry kayaks. Plus a motor bike across the back.

Thanks for any advice. Bundy

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Search and check builders of Coasters . The model, build etc ..

iana · Guru

While we don't have a Coaster, we use an induction hot plate - portable, and an Air Fryer, both we can use inside or outside the van. Baby Q Barbie does the rest. Both the induction cookers and the air fryer are very quick with instant on & off heat.
We also have an oven and 3 burner gas, and a hot plate, that came with the van, and which is never used.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

bundydropbear wrote:
I intend to go travelling on the mainland and a lot of the time live off grid so will need solar. I want to buy a 3 fridge plus gas cook top for inside the bus. Shower and toilet. So will need water tanks. I am looking for ideas and peoples experience of what works for them. I am happy to purchase items interstate and ship them to Melb where I will load them into bus and take home so I don't have to pay shipping all the way. Budget is not really a problem but just don't want to pay for through the roof for something if there are places that sell the same item cheaper.
I will be putting things airbag suspension plus roof rack to carry kayaks. Plus a motor bike across the back.

Thanks for any advice. Bundy

1. Check the vehicle on a weigh bridge to establish the weight capacity between now and the GVM. I expect that weight will be a major issue for you, especially if the GVM is 4495kg.

Also check the individual axle capacities. These may NOT be exceeded either and air bags will not help in that regard. The motorcycle will exacerbate this problem. Once weight is built into a conversion it is incredibly difficult and very expensive to get rid of it and get an illegal vehicle legal again.

Water capacity is a significant constraint on long term free camping.... and a significant impost on the weight problem again.

2. You should install as much solar as physically possible. The canoes will be a problem here.

Cheers,

Peter

PeterInSa · Guru

I would find out the Max GVM that a standard Coaster and long Wheel Base model can be upgraded to, because without a GVM upgrade with Yaks and a bike on the back together with a standard fitout I think you will be definitely over weight.

bundydropbear · Newbie

Thanks everyone for your advice.Will take everything onboard . Does anyone have a preference for cooking inside their van/bus. I have been told to maybe get a 2 gas burner and 1 electric for when staying in caravan parks. I see iana that you don't use yours but would like to hear what others think.

Cheers
Bundy

agent13 · Member

A motorbike across the back and yak on the roof is an excellent idea, these are essentials IMHO. If weight is a problem I would chuck out the fridge and the stove and just about anything else.

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

We use BBQ and top hot plates . The oven hasnât been used . Thereâs one area weight can be saved . I would have thought taking seats out would be close to fittings .Except water , batteries .

Jaahn · Guru

Hi bundydropbear smile

Here is something else for you to think about when you are considering the layout. I have had a couple of busses.

They are normally front heavy empty and are designed to be loaded so they are rear heavy and the dual wheels take most of the load. The recommended axle weights will tell you that. My observations are that seldom happens with a lot of conversions and the front is too heavy and the rear too light. Particularly if they are done with heavy chipboard kitchen cuppboards type of material.

A bus has good traction in the rough if the rear duals have the weight as they should and the front is not sinking in because it is over weight. hmm Also if using heavy material for the cupboards and benches and beds it will be over weight very easily, and the suspension will be on the stops. Use something good and light weight.

Jaahn

PS we now just use those single burner portable gas stoves x2 and a hand full of the cans of gas. We do not go away to cook four course meals. The local pub or cafe supplies those if there is one near. We take a couple of 240V things for when in a caravan park, jug and frypan.
-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 12th of June 2018 09:54:30 AM

-- Edited by Jaahn on Tuesday 12th of June 2018 10:01:51 AM