fsprandy

The way I look at it road travel in/on any vehicle is inherently dangerous due to the speeds involved and the other vehicles out there. We run around 40,000 highway deaths annually in the US. Government crash ratings are based on controlled testing which will be drastically different from the chaotic events that happen in the real world. I think how one drives is by far the biggest factor in how safe they are on the road, regardless of what they are driving. I'd also say vehicle condition and maintenance is very important. A front tire blowout, for example, will be many, many times more likely on an old weather checked tire, an improperly inflated tire, or a tire of incorrect load range. Handling is also important to safety as are brakes - how often do most drivers practice emergency stops or other emergency maneuvers in their motorhomes? An overloaded vehicle isn't going to stop or handle safely. Structural integrity of the vehicle is a big factor in safety. One reason people die in tour bus rollovers in this country is the windows are mandated to pop out so the passengers can escape a fire. Not good when the passengers are unbelted and the bus rolls over. However, buses are required to not crush - which motorhomes are not. If a motorhome rolls and someone is in the back they are in trouble for sure. Motorhomes also aren't required to protect the rear passenger area in a collision. A car impacting the side of a motorhome would probably penetrate most of the way through. As far as belts my understanding is they should only be used in forward and rearward facing seats - not longitudinal seats. I think this has something to do with what happens to the body when accelerated sideways while being restrained by a belt. I haven't researched this but I'd suggest anyone using belts in longitudinal seats investigate further. I also understand that rearward facing seats are the safest - but some people are more apt to get motion sickness in them. Probably the safest frontal crash position available in the coach of a typical Toyota based motorhome is prone with feet facing forward and braced - also pretty comfortable if you happen to have a couch! I do think the single passenger pedestal mounted seats are pretty good for kids. The sides nest around the child and with the belt on they are pretty secure and shouldn't be launched into anything during a hard stop or swerve. Make sure your microwave is fastened securely!

You'll probably have trouble finding a ready made pipe to go over the rear axle and snake by the tanks. It can also be very difficult to fit this pipe in place. If you can weld and don't mind exiting the exhaust in front of the rear wheel you can put together a system from the cat back yourself using generic pipe and muffler. Cost ~ $50 and time an hour or two.

Continuing to drive it while it was overheating would have caused the head gasket to fail and probably a bunch of other damage as well. Running it hard may have contributed to the overheating but wouldn't be the root cause. By far the best engine and easiest swap for that Bandit is another 22re. I would strongly recommend a new radiator along with the replacement engine.

Make sure the head gaskets were replaced by an authorized Toyota dealer - there was a factory campaign to do so. If the head gasket wasn't replaced it needs to be as the original head gaskets were defective. It may still be possible to have Toyota do it for free, if not it's an expensive job. Many of these engines were ruined by leaking head gaskets. If the timing belt hasn't been replaced recently it's also do for replacement - not as bad a job as the head gasket. It should also have a recent valve adjustment in the service records. The V6's have a couple of potential issues (head gaskets and valves) but if properly maintained are a solid engine, IMHO. They aren't particularly powerful or efficient however. Opinions are all over the place on the transmissions. The 2 Toyota motorhomes I have still have their original automatics and they still work perfectly - 85,000 and 95,000 miles on them. I expect how the motorhome has been driven and how well the transmission was maintained will have a-lot to do with how long it lasts. Again, scrutinize those service records! A transmission flush every 30,000 miles or so would indicate a well maintained transmission. You may want to have it inspected by a Toyota dealer. They can tell you if the head gaskets were done and will probably have opinions on the rest of the driveline. Also good would be to have an experienced Toyota motorhome owner take a look at it if you can find one in your area. With anything as old as these are it's always a case of YMMV. Even if it is in top shape expect to have to do occasional repairs simply due to the age. Best of luck!

Doesn't sound at all right. Assuming you have a 22r you should easily be able to comfortably cruise at 60-65.