Hi from 1979 Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 05-11-2015, 02:05 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Courier 3.2's Avatar
 
Name: Stan
Trailer: 2.3L Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper
Alberta
Posts: 21
Registry
Hi from 1979 Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper

First trailer... motorhome. What I have just bought? Really, we like it, comparing to other trailers and motorhomes we have seen, it is cute and harmonic, but we have never even tried it yet.
Courier 3.2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 02:22 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
floyd's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Courier 3.2 View Post
First trailer... motorhome. What I have just bought? Really, we like it, comparing to other trailers and motorhomes we have seen, it is cute and harmonic, but we have never even tried it yet.
Pictures! Quick!
floyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 02:27 PM   #3
Junior Member
 
Courier 3.2's Avatar
 
Name: Stan
Trailer: 2.3L Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper
Alberta
Posts: 21
Registry
Quick Picture attached


Name:   motorhome.JPG
Views: 163
Size:  12.3 KB
Courier 3.2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 02:56 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Bob Miller's Avatar
 
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
This was built about the same time (1978)as Dolphin (National RV, Perris, CA) Sunrader (Gardner-Pacific, Vallejo, CA) and a few others were starting to built micro-motorhomes on Toyota and Datsun chassis. Chinook kinda started the truck to micro-motorhome in 1972 with a pop-up version, and had a similar looking/size unit in 1978.


If you look for a builders plate you will probably find out who did the coachwork, for sure it wasn't Ford.



Bob Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 02:58 PM   #5
Junior Member
 
Courier 3.2's Avatar
 
Name: Stan
Trailer: 2.3L Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper
Alberta
Posts: 21
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller View Post


If you look for a builders plate you will probably find out who did the coachwork, for sure it wasn't Ford.
Right, the plate says Toyota. Made in Japan... What would you say in general for this product, Bob?
Courier 3.2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 03:03 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
floyd's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller View Post
This was built about the same time (1978)as Dolphin (National RV, Perris, CA) Sunrader (Gardner-Pacific, Vallejo, CA) and a few others were starting to built micro-motorhomes on Toyota and Datsun chassis. Chinook kinda started the truck to micro-motorhome in 1972 with a pop-up version, and had a similar looking/size unit in 1978.


If you look for a builders plate you will probably find out who did the coachwork, for sure it wasn't Ford.
That is true, the Courier pick-up was a contract vehicle built in Japan. The basic truck used a LIMA 2.3L Ford engine.
Ford was not even allowed to ship whole engine assemblies to Japan for installation, they had to send components which were then assembled using Japanese external parts. I should have bought a Courier, but I bought a Datsun PL620 instead. I am so glad that Ford eventually built the Ranger!

Toyota build plate? Does the 3.2 indicate engine size?
What is it? A courier cab on a Toyota chassis or did Toyota merely supply the camper on the Mazda chassis with the Ford name as the only connection to Ford?
floyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 03:14 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
Trailer: Bigfoot Silver Cloud -1988
Posts: 1,543
Send a message via Yahoo to Kevin A
We bought a brand new Ford Courier truck in 1977 and it had rusted through in many spots of the body within 4 years. It was fun to drive and we put a pickup cover on it for all types of use. But it was not built to last, that's for sure! I've never seen such a thin metal skin on a vehicle.
Kevin A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 03:23 PM   #8
Junior Member
 
Courier 3.2's Avatar
 
Name: Stan
Trailer: 2.3L Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper
Alberta
Posts: 21
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin A View Post
We bought a brand new Ford Courier truck in 1977 and it had rusted through in many spots of the body within 4 years. It was fun to drive and we put a pickup cover on it for all types of use. But it was not built to last, that's for sure! I've never seen such a thin metal skin on a vehicle.
Kevin, I do not see any obvious rust on vehicle. Where to look? Underneath?
Courier 3.2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 03:28 PM   #9
Junior Member
 
Courier 3.2's Avatar
 
Name: Stan
Trailer: 2.3L Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper
Alberta
Posts: 21
Registry
Sorry, typo... 2.3 L Japan engine
Courier 3.2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 04:42 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Bob Miller's Avatar
 
Trailer: Class A Motorhome
Posts: 7,912
Who Did It?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Courier 3.2 View Post
Right, the plate says Toyota. Made in Japan... What would you say in general for this product, Bob?
I have been involved with molded fiberglass & stick built Toyota and Nissan based micro motorhomes for a loog time and I don't know of any that were shipped with coachwork intact from Japan. In fact, in the mid 80's Gardner Pacific was building a special Sunrader for export to Japan with the access doors on the left side.

I think what you found was the chassis builders plate and VIN info.

You might keep looking around. I suspect that you will find a sticker or a plate identifying the "End construction" builder as most were built on incomplete chassis shipped that way to reduce import duties. Look inside the cab, in front of and behind the drivers door, that was usually where they were posted.

Now there is a group for Toyota motorhomes at <<Toyota-campers@yahoogroups.com>> and Linda over there is an expert on orphaned motorhomes and I am sure she will try to help. Because it is on a Toyota built chassis they will flock to your assistance as it is so unusual. On that site I am known as Sunrader Bob.

Good Luck



Bob Miller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 07:12 PM   #11
Senior Member
 
floyd's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Courier 3.2 View Post
Sorry, typo... 2.3 L Japan engine
2.3L Lima Ohio engine.
floyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-11-2015, 07:16 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
floyd's Avatar
 
Trailer: 2004 13 ft Scamp Custom Deluxe
Posts: 8,520
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bob Miller View Post
I have been involved with molded fiberglass & stick built Toyota and Nissan based micro motorhomes for a loog time and I don't know of any that were shipped with coachwork intact from Japan. In fact, in the mid 80's Gardner Pacific was building a special Sunrader for export to Japan with the access doors on the left side.

I think what you found was the chassis builders plate and VIN info.

You might keep looking around. I suspect that you will find a sticker or a plate identifying the "End construction" builder as most were built on incomplete chassis shipped that way to reduce import duties. Look inside the cab, in front of and behind the drivers door, that was usually where they were posted.

Now there is a group for Toyota motorhomes at <<Toyota-campers@yahoogroups.com>> and Linda over there is an expert on orphaned motorhomes and I am sure she will try to help. Because it is on a Toyota built chassis they will flock to your assistance as it is so unusual. On that site I am known as Sunrader Bob.

Good Luck
If it is a Courier, It's a Mazda chassis.... But then an RX3 looks a LOT like a Corolla Skate doesn't it.
floyd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2015, 12:36 PM   #13
Junior Member
 
Courier 3.2's Avatar
 
Name: Stan
Trailer: 2.3L Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper
Alberta
Posts: 21
Registry
It has Mazda chassis. According to Wikipedia

Quote:
...manufactured by Mazda. It had greater fuel economy than the full-size pickups of the time. The Courier was manufactured by Toyo Kogyo (Mazda), and imported and sold by Ford Motor Company as a response to the unforeseen popularity of the small Toyota and Nissan/Datsun pickups among young buyers in the West
.

See picture from under hood attached.
Attached Thumbnails
Courier plate engine.jpg  
Courier 3.2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2015, 02:18 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Trailer: Bigfoot Silver Cloud -1988
Posts: 1,543
Send a message via Yahoo to Kevin A
Our heaviest rust was on both front fenders behind the front wheels and again behind the rear wheels. The body rust went completely through. This would be where the road salt and water would hit when driving. We had mud flaps on, too. Hopefully they fixed this problem by your 1979 model.
Kevin A is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2015, 04:41 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Mike Magee's Avatar
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,020
It has a great looking camper body. I bet I'm not the only one who would like to see some interior pics, too.
Mike Magee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2015, 05:24 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Jon in AZ's Avatar
 
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
Registry
Any progress in identifying the coach manufacturer?

And I'll second the request for interior pics!
Jon in AZ is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2015, 11:54 PM   #17
Junior Member
 
Courier 3.2's Avatar
 
Name: Stan
Trailer: 2.3L Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper
Alberta
Posts: 21
Registry
Interior pics attached...
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_0472.jpg   IMG_0471.jpg  

IMG_0464.jpg   IMG_0458.jpg  

Courier 3.2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2015, 07:40 AM   #18
Senior Member
 
Jon in AZ's Avatar
 
Name: Jon
Trailer: 2008 Scamp 13 S1
Arizona
Posts: 11,925
Registry
Wow! Looks to be in incredible shape for its age! Ain't molded fiberglass great?
Jon in AZ is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2015, 08:22 AM   #19
Junior Member
 
Courier 3.2's Avatar
 
Name: Stan
Trailer: 2.3L Ford Courier Mini Motorhome Camper
Alberta
Posts: 21
Registry
Quote:
Wow! Looks to be in incredible shape for its age! Ain't molded fiberglass great?
You are so right! It is all original. Even plumbing copper pipes. One pipe is leaking and I feel bad replacing it
Courier 3.2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2015, 08:58 AM   #20
Senior Member
 
CindyL's Avatar
 
Trailer: 16 ft U-Haul VT
Posts: 2,867
Registry
I am KevinA's wife. Let me let you in on another secret about this pickup, if yours has it. We went through several months when the pickup would stop, have to sit a bit, and then start and run again for a while, especially on hills (lots of them in eastern IA where we lived at the time - annoying and scary as I was driving to grad school and coming home at the wee hours of the morning).

We looked at the manual, bought other manuals, and even took it in, I think.
Finally, we found and replaced a third gas filter back near one of the rear tires that was not listed in any book. Problem solved.


CindyL

PS: Great-looking camper! I can't believe the space in it.
CindyL is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
SCAMP Mini-Motorhome & Matching Trailer Bob Miller General Chat 6 08-18-2014 08:43 PM
MI: Sunrader Mini Motorhome Thomas G. Referrals: Molded Fiberglass Trailers 9 04-03-2013 08:41 PM
New Mini-Mini or Micro Motor Home Byron Kinnaman General Chat 15 10-26-2012 12:31 PM
1979 Cabana Motorhome - Molded FGlass? Pam Garlow General Chat 7 08-08-2012 01:27 AM
Peer Mini Trailer - Sighting John Truitt General Chat 11 05-11-2009 07:52 PM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:02 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.