1994 Toyota Pickup is a Winnebago Warrior

By John Coyle - December 16, 2020

1994 Toyota Pickup

An upgraded engine and flashy paint job make this Toyota-based rig enticing, but can it really be considered an overlander?

Now, before I get too far into this post, I want to say that I think there’s lots to like about this Toyota-based rig. That said, in the title of the description on Facebook Marketplace, its identified as an “overland” machine. And while it does have four tires and is certainly a land-based conveyance, I’m not really sure it qualifies as an overlander. Because when I think of overland rigs? I think of something like this built Chinook I stumbled across back in October. That baby looks ready to tackle some tough trails.

This 1994 machine, however, doesn’t really look equipped to head that far off the beaten path. Sure, there’s a burly brush guard on the front clip, but the lack of clearance, not to mention the not-insignificant weight of the living quarters mean I’d expect to be stuck for a bit if the going ever got tough. That said, if you did wind up stuck, there is a functioning toilet, so you’d be able to comfortably answer nature’s call, even if the terrain proved too challenging. Maybe I’m wrong? But I don’t think so.

Of course, as I mentioned above, there is lots to like about this machine. Under the hood, Toyota’s venerable 5VZE 3.4L SR5 has been swapped in, and according to the listing, it has just a tick over 80k on the clock. For a Toyota motor, that’s barely broken in, and there are a host of other improvements listed to0. Here’s a sample:

Upgraded HD rear end

Full air suspension.

Fully reinforced frame, hitch, rear carrier and cargo rack with external fuel tanks.

Full solar conversion with mounted roof solar panels to 1500w inverter and 2 deep cycle batteries.

Outside surf shower and inside shower

Full kitchen with oven.

It’s also said to sleep five comfortably, so after everything stops sucking so incredibly hard and we can do crazy things like go camping with a big group of friends again, this machine could prove to be quite the party wagon. As long as you don’t want to go too far off the grid, that is.

At $26,000, the asking price isn’t throw-away money. But if you’re looking to be on the road for an extended amount of time, and have a little more dexterity that some more traditional RVs have, it might be just the ticket. From the pictures, it does look like the cabin and the peripheral equipment has been kept in pretty good nick, which is a huge factor when considering a rig like this. Because the bulletproof Toyota mechanicals are only a small part of the overall package here.

So what do you think? Is $26,000 a fair price for this machine? Or despite all the space it offers, do you think there are better options for the money? Regardless of what you think, hit me up and let me know. And if you happen to be building your own Toyota-based rig, make sure to let me know. I always like to highlight vehicles from members of the forum!

Photos: Facebook Marketplace