Al Mazza of Berlin, New Jersey, is a Toyota 4×4 enthusiast, and he’s the owner of this unique and super-rare four-wheel-drive 1985 Toyota Sunrader camper. It’s said that only about 26 of these were manufactured in this configuration by the Gardner-Pacific Corporation. The rig grabbed a lot of attention at the 2025 Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania.

Al Currently Owns Nine Toyotas

Over the years, Al—who has over 30 years of wheeling experience—says he has owned over 200 Toyotas. His current stable of Toyotas stands at nine and includes a Trekker (the precursor to the 4Runner) and a diesel-powered, four-door 1983 Hilux. The latter is a former U.S. Embassy truck he found in St. Maarten.

22R-E I4 Mated To A Five-Speed Manual Transmission

The Sunrader is powered by the stock, fuel-injected 22R-E four-cylinder engine. Al says it has the stock oversized radiator and a 21-gallon fuel tank. He upgraded the master cylinder to improve braking power. Another unique feature of the rig is its five-speed manual transmission. Rowing gears in a Class C motorhome? Yes, please. The factory gear-driven RF1A transfer case splits power to the axles.

It’s worth noting that Al will soon be upgrading the engine to improve performance. He’s going to swap in a 22R-TE turbocharged four-cylinder engine, which will provide about 20 more horsepower and over 20 more pound-feet of torque. He’s going to mate the engine to an R151F five-speed manual transmission, which sports a crawly 4.31:1 First gear ratio.

Custom Wheels Solved A Problem

The front axle is the factory 8-inch unit, replete with manual locking hubs. However, it has undergone some modifications. Al notes that from the factory, the motorhome had 15-inch wheels up front and 14-inch wheels in the rear. Additionally, the front and rear bolt patterns were not the same. He wanted 15-inch wheels and a consistent six-bolt pattern front to rear, so he had seven custom 15-inch wheels made for the rig. Up front, he installed Toyota Tacoma–application rotors and calipers and Toyota IFS hubs to compensate for the offset of the new wheels. A set of wheel adapters matches the front bolt pattern to the rear bolt pattern. Out back is the factory drum brake–equipped 8-inch axle. Both axles are fitted with 4.88:1 gears.

The Sunrader’s leaf-spring suspension includes an Old Man Emu 3-inch lift and Old Man Emu shocks. This helps accommodate the six 30×9.50R15LT Toyo Open Country A/T III tires. This combination improves ground clearance, as well as approach and departure angles.

Compact, Winch-Equipped

One of the unique aspects of Al’s rig is its compact 18-foot length. That’s just slightly longer than a 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor at 17.5 feet, and far shorter than a 2025 Chevy Silverado HD Double Cab standard-bed pickup, which measures 20.0 feet.

Up front, the Sunrader has a full brushguard that also serves as the mounting point for a synthetic rope–equipped Warn winch. Other features include roof rails to assist with hauling gear and an Inst-A-Matic 3000 roll-up awning.

Everything You’d Expect Inside, And Maybe More

Inside, the motorhome has everything you’d expect it to have. Actually, it may have more than some would expect, even with its tidy size. For example, it features a four-burner cooktop, a large refrigerator, two sleeping areas, and a bathroom. The cab of the rig remains mostly original, except for an upgraded audio head unit.

1985 Toyota Sunrader: The Bottom Line

Al’s Sunrader 4×4 isn’t a show truck. He uses it to prowl local beaches, and he’s planning to take the rig on a tour of the western U.S. soon, which is pretty darn cool.