Toyota Townace
This is our beloved van. The Townace was a variant of the Hiace Toyota van, and these imported (June 2004 in this case), Japanese factory built/AmCraft habitation space vans are extremely rare (we’ve never seen another out on the road) and take space-saving ingenuity to the max. Its taken us all over England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland during the lockdown years – bought deliberately for how self-contained yet compact it is. The interior has to be seen to be believed: same footprint as a VW Transporter but with a toilet & shower cubicle, kitchen, seating for 6 or more and a queen-size bed when assembled! We bought it for adventures and independence through varying states of lockdown until our planned relocation this year, and that time has come so with a heavy heart weāre selling.
It’s amazingly compact (4.86m L x 1.85 W x 2.55 H) so easily fits inside parking spaces and has a great turning circle. We are 5ā7 tall and can stand up in it – taller people have to stoop a little. It has the original 2 litre diesel engine (often referred to as ābulletproof”) and starts on the button every time. It’s not fast on the motorway, as these older vans tend to be, but will sit happily at 60-65 mph for hours. Fuel consumption isnāt bad, but this and its top speed are the only negatives. Taxed and sailed through the last MoT with no advisories (due 4 Sept but weāre happy to get a new MoT if needed). It only had tyre advisories in 2020 and the previous owners replaced them before we bought it. It had done about 57,000 miles when we bought it in March 2021 and weāve done 9,000 happy touring miles in it since, so know it well and will be happy to go through everything with the new owner and show you how everything works.
Itās easy to drive, the cab is roomy and the seats are in perfect condition (and wipeable which can be handy!). Optional 4×4 with manual locking front hubs, High/Low gearing and all terrain tyres. The engine really comes into its own at low speed / high torque. Front skid bar. Front parking mirror and new reversing camera gives excellent visibility. The ladder at the back makes the roof accessible for maintenance of the solar panels, vent hatches and the TV arial. We had a new cab radio fitted with CD player and bluetooth, and there are speakers in the front and in the habitable space. 2 sets of keys.
We think the van looks epic, and is as-built other than equipment upgrades and a very few minor cosmetic improvements. Other than a new black Raptor colour skirt both the interior and exterior are original as far as we can tell, and weāve left it like that to preserve its originality. Itās in great condition, no visible rust and the back is fibre glass with no leaks.
New 2x100W solar panels fitted May 2021 along with a new 130AH leisure battery and 100 / 20 MPPT Bluetooth-enabled Victron charge controller and control panel. We also had the internal ceiling lights replaced with LEDs and added 2 x LED adjustable reading lights to the habitation side of the bulkhead. The original control panels (rocker switches for checking the water tanks, leisure battery, water pump & gas on/off; master on/off for the fridge & step light and ceiling lights – see photos) all still function and are very useful!
50 litre fresh water tank and similar grey water tank (weāve never measured it as itās never filled up!) integral to the fibre glass shell. The grey water empties via a drain under the kitchen area, released using a cool pull handle in one of the 5 storage spaces also integral to the camper shell under the floor (one houses the butane cylinder with new regulator).
240v hook up and inverter to a standard 3 pin plug socket. Hot and cold running water via a water pump and Carver hot water unit – original but still running well. Space heating via a fairly new Propex heater.
Toilet and shower room with a Thetford cassette loo accessed from outside, and the shower gives you a hot if quick shower (about 5 minutes before the Carverās tank runs low).
There are storage lockers along both sides of the cabin and below the sink plus a large cupboard next to the shower/loo. Weāve added shelves and a fold out work surface on the back of the main door that can be used when its open or closed to create more cooking space. The original 3-way fridge was replaced with a 2-way fridge (12v / 240 when on EHU) before we bought it thatās OK off the battery – one reason we upgraded the solar – but chills ferociously on 240v. 2 ring original propane gas hob – works a treat – with flip up cover that then acts as a heat and draught shield for the window.
The van has been a joy to have and use and is ready for its new chapter.
One amazing feature of the van which sets it apart from other factory made or converted vans of its size is how many people it can transport and also entertain. It has 7 belted seats (including the middle seat in the cab) and the rear bench seats can be configured to be all front facing like a minibus or one forwards, one back around the table. These bench seats plus the side banquette can sit 6 easily for dinner, or 7 or 8 for general socialising – perfect if itās wet out and you still want all the family or friends inside for the evening! It has the original Omnistor 4000 awning and legs which also extends the useful dry area and provides great shade in the heat.
The main bed is made from the 2 bench seats that flip round and slide over easily – Iām not strong and can do it no bother – plus a side section that lives in itās own slot under the window. This with the banquette makes a Queen sized bed, but weāve discovered you can also mess about with how much you use and make small doubles along or across the van that leave more free floor space for access. The floor area at the back stays free even with the queen bed, giving free access to the loo, kitchen area and large cupboards, which would also be useful if you had a dog. The end section can be left up for watching TV (did I mention the satellite TV with DVD player?). The banquette stores another, single bed that goes up above the table area, or you can use just one of the two panels as a long shelf which weāve done on longer trips of 2 or 3 weeks – see photos). Itās more of a childās bed or a very small adult. As I said, this is an ingenious van!
The contact details for this vehicle are no longer available because it has either sold or the listing has expired.
Insurance options are available through our partner, Ripe Insurance.
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