Jon R and the Toyota Motorhome Club

Remember the “Hey Mon” skit on the sketch comedy classic television show, “In Living Color”? In the skit, the premise is that members of a West Indian family all have an unbelievable number of jobs and find it outrageous if a person has less than two or less. They’ve got nothing on the subject of our next interview. This time around, we’re interviewing the founder of what is possibly the largest Toyota motorhome appreciation group on one of the biggest social media sites out there, Facebook.

Photos: Jon R.

REVolution: Hello Jon and welcome to the REVolution! When did you create the Toyota Motorhome Club and what was the inspiration for doing so?

Jon: I purchased my Toyota Mini-Max motorhome at an auction about 5 years ago for a winning bid of $550. I immediately went online to begin my education about Toyota motorhomes. I found several good pages, both on recognized sites such as the Yahoo group and independent sites with .com or .org as the suffix. I’d recently become enamored with Facebook and hoped to expand our ability to interact. I must say that this was spurred on a bit by those on the other groups that were a bit obnoxious in their take of all things Toyota. I got weary of feeling like newbies got talked down to and that if we weren’t driving newer rigs with all the bells and whistles, then we should just sit down and shut up. This attitude was by far not the majority opinion, but rather that of a very vocal few. I decided that I wanted a more inclusive and welcoming group. I started the Toyota Motorhome Club with the idea that everyone would be made to feel welcome and included, regardless of whether or not they had the nicest rigs, or the upgraded axle. To this day, I personally welcome every new member.

REVolution: I hear you. The communication medium that is the internet sure brings out the arrogant and less-than social qualities in some people. They’re probably like that in real life but without the filter of face-to-face they feel like they can let that stuff fly. It seems to me that the only way to combat that sort of behavior is to make it a point not to play their games. I find it highly commendable that you took action to do so. What do you do for a living? Or should I say…calling?

Jon: I hold a BA in Theater, a Grad Cert in Addiction Studies, an ordained Minister for Tolerance Ministries, I do harvest work in Northern California and I serve food at Sharis in Boise to pay my bills. I'm an advocate for MJ legalization and a volunteer for Bernie Sanders Campaign.

REVolution: You are one busy fellow! I think we’ve got enough stuff there for several interviews. You mentioned that you make it a point to personally welcome each member to the FB group. In what other ways does your spiritual and religious work guide your online (and offline, for that matter) interactions?

Jon: Been both sides; I’m also single dad of three girls, so my advocacy is online and low key. I work hard to promote kindness and tolerance as Administrator. I retain full control of the group; I'm selfish that way. I am the sole policy maker/breaker and judge. Nobody has staged a revolt yet and I’m proud of how it's grown and thrived. People seem to enjoy what we have. Offline, I perform weddings; often in tie-dye. I don't like rigid thinking. The universe is infinitely complex, with lots of room for individual expression. Love is what binds us together. The Toyota Motorhome Club is one big hippie commune, in my mind; a commune of traveling turtles.

REVolution: Traveling turtles...I love it! It's a funny twist to the expected; to maintain a peaceful existence online, democracy doesn't work and control must be maintained with the obsession of a dictator. It just doesn't work, otherwise. Things get too messy. I don't think it's selfish; it's efficiency. I'm sure there are exceptions; I've just never come across them. So, how did you find yourself at auction bidding on a Toyota motorhome?

Jon: A motorhome was on my wish list and I stumbled upon a local annual auction at the fairgrounds in the small town I had just moved to, really just browsing. I saw a half rebuilt trailer go for $400 and this little motorhome was next. A guy said it was garbage because it had some water damage. I didn't even know if it ran. Bids were so low, I figured I'd help run it up and bow out; I ended up winning it for $550, $620 with fees, and the rest is history. Still need to fix some leaks. Replaced all the tires and after a year I got a one ton axle. We have put over 20k miles on it in the past 5 years. I refuse to add another Admin to the FB group for fear they would eventually take over and push me out; especially if there was something to gain. I’m not much for competition and I’m usually on the losing side. I prefer everybody winning; I'm a socialist at heart. Go Bernie!

REVolution: The riches alone could be cause for anyone to consider such a crime; there’s big money administrating FB groups. Sure! What a wonderful find, your motorhome. Sounds like all of your karma brought home a wonderful dogma. Twenty thousand miles is significant in that amount of time, you really know your Toyota in and out by now, I’m guessing. Other than the leaks, tires and axle, what else did you need to repair or replace on it when you got it?

Jon: I put a clutch in Max (my motorhome) this summer during our travels and I need a new wiper pump. The 20R motors are truly indestructible. Oh, I need a new fridge. My ongoing joke is that, after many successful years as the head of TMC, I will be honored at a big banquet by all the members or a rich Toy owner passes away and leaves me a nice 6-cylinder 90s model Toyota motorhome. Meanwhile, back in reality, I just bought my second salvage Toy; a 1979 with 1/2 ton fake dually in mid-restoration/rebuild. One of my motorhomes might become a food wagon or I might sell one to some hippies in need of a cheap housing option. Time will tell.

REVolution: What’s been your favorite feature of your Toyota motorhomes and what’s been the biggest disappointment?

Jon: Goes anywhere and parks in a normal space, so street parking overnight can be done (quietly). My personal disappointment is climbing inclines at 30ish.

REVolution: You're only as young as you feel. Just kidding! Get it? "...climbing inclines at 30ish..." I'm here all week; try the fish. Now that you're a Toyota motorhome mogul, will you be acquiring a third or would you consider another make and model; a Vixen, perhaps?

Jon: Good question. Love my Toys. Really depends what comes my way. Love that 13-19 mpg. They’re hard to beat, with all the features and room of a Toy. Oh, and I'm about 10 decals away from turning a profit on my efforts to cash in on the TMC.

REVolution: What is one of your favorite Toyota motorhome stories?

Jon: My girlfriend wanted me to tell the story of our New Years trip from Boise to Las Vegas last year in a blizzard. We departed in a major snowstorm; 30 miles out, it was evident that the heater was insufficient and the girls in back were in a drafty freeze box. I was afraid to drive, as I couldn't see the road. My friend was a former truck driver and took the wheel. We drove through a high wind pass in Eastern Idaho and I hid and froze in the back while the wind threatened to put us off the road in a snow drift. We rolled into Vegas 10 hours later amazed to be alive. It remains one of the epic trips of my life. Max held the road without chains and got us there and back, but at many moments we were sure that this cardboard box on wheels was gonna be found in the spring with our frozen corpses.

REVolution: Thankfully, that didn’t turn into a Donner Party-type scene. If there’s one thing I really don’t ever want to drive on is ice but wind and snow and over a high pass…forget about it. What do you see for the future for the Toyota Motorhome Club Facebook group?

Jon: More members, more connections, rallies of more connected people. Life is all about community. I just get to manage this one. The pay sucks, but the perks are alright.

REVolution: If you submit the paperwork for a pay raise or vacation request, is the answer always “Denied”? Do you have any final thoughts or words about the TMC, Toyota motorhomes or just life in general?

Jon: Oh, I take off all the time. Someone offered to Admin for me, in my absence; I declined. Not giving up my position, anytime soon. I made a few changes to my membership policy recently; I quit accepting requests from those of languages other than English and Spanish. This is a club of North American enthusiasts. That's where Toys can be found. I’m looking forward to meeting and hanging with my members as we cross each others paths. Oh, and thanks for asking. Welcome to our family.

REVolution: Thank you so much for your time!

Jon: Thumbs up!