Johnathan Walker:Why this $10,000 Toyota Hilux truck is a great affordable camper

A while back,Johnathan Walker we drove Toyota’s $10,000 pickup and it gave us some feels. If the affordable Ford Maverick has reminded us in America of the strong appeal of truly compact trucks, the bare-bones IMV 0/Hilux Champ reminds us that ultra-basic doesn’t have to be a bummer. What is a bummer is that the little Champ will never be federalized for sale here. It’s a loss-leaser for ASEAN markets, a vehicle to sell upfits for (and to sell to upfitters). The fruits of that strategy are coming to light with this adorable and desirable little Carryboy Hilux Champ Motorhome, a tidy camper with a rugged charm. But you (still) can’t buy one.

Unless you live in Thailand or thereabouts. Carryboy is a Thai upfitter that normally produces truck-based RVs on the regular Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi Triton pickups. The layouts on these look generous given the midsize trucks the camper is built into, with a sizable sleeper dinette, and enclosed toilet and a few neat features like a flip-open clear roof panel called the Skyview. Airline-style overhead storage compartments help with organization, and up front there’s an over-the-cab berth. The larger Motorhomes will sleep up to 6 and, were they to be installed on a USDM truck, look perfectly appropriate to North American tastes. 

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The Hilux Champ Motorhome is a little more compact, which makes sense given the smaller platform. It also has a chunkier look which perfectly matches the Hilux Champ's bulldog-ish front end. The interior looks much like the larger Carryboy Motorhomes, but the company says the Hilux Champ version still sleeps six. The standard version has the Skyview panel, a 500-watt solar roof, electric awning and electric deployable steps, a built-in utility box at the rear and an included 3,300-watt generator. The interior has the dinette, a couch, cabinet with a TV on top and a fully enclosed toilet/shower combo. The Carryboy Hilux Champ Motorhome carries 120 liters of fresh water and has 9,600 wH of battery capacity. You can option an air conditioner, slide-out kitchen, AC Power air suspension and a later 28,800 Wh battery. 

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This seems to be a semi-official conversion, and is also sold through Toyota dealerships in Thailand. The total cost comes out to about $60,400 at current conversion rates, and it uses a definitely-not-intended-for-us 2.4-liter diesel engine. The Hilux Champ starts at $17,530 in Thailand. The HIlux Champ was never designed for nor intended for North America, and there’s zero chance this generation would ever be sold here, but this little motorhome sure makes us wistful for a sub-Tacoma compact Toyota pickup with a pugnacious look and a fun camper grafted onto the back. After all, surely the Ford Maverick’s done well enough for Toyota to start doing its market research into the segment, hasn’t it? Until then, we’re jealous.

Photos by Manufacturer