Notlostjustwandering

Right. I LOVE the design and layout and space of our dolphin, and though I keep looking at converted vehicles, I would love to fix up the one I actually have. It's ultimately a question of how much it will cost to fix her up. I will likely have to pay someone to do a lot of the work, but will do what I can! This forum really is gold- where else could I talk Dolphin?! 😜 NO one in my world gets it.

Thank you!!

Jumping back on to say that I DID get the drag issue resolved- it was a case of squashed air bags. I have posted other questions elsewhere, but am faced with so many DIY projects for Tortuga (our dolphin) that I am feeling overwhelmed. I am so grateful I checked this thread again, though, because I needed a new tire filling option- Linda, you saw that post. I needed some fill valve assistance, and your point here was just what I needed. On another note, has anyone just paid someone to put a new metal or fiberglass shell on a dolphin?

I have a semi-related question- I have an 86 with the duallies and my local mechanics insist they cannot top up the air in the inside tire- is there a thread on here about work-arounds for this? I bought some valve extenders but apparently they are not going to work. trying to figure out a simple solution ( if one exists.)

Hi everyone! I have been silent on here for a while due to life changes during the pandemic, BUT I still have my 87 Dolphin and have had a few adventures. Each one has revealed more work that needs to be done. My biggest concern is the shell. It is pulling away entirely at the rear corners of the rig, and -though I have not found proof of water intrusion- I have found damp spots once or twice and I am not sure if they are from leaks in the shell or in the water line (which is a WHOLE other question.) I have gotten to the point where I would like to take the whole shell and all it's contents off, put a new shell on, new floor in, and redo the interior furnishings/appliances with simpler items that require less maintenance (gravity fed sinks/shower/ composting toilet, fold away tables.) I am searching for a company to do the shell because I know I don't have the bandwidth or experience to do that without majorly screwing it up. Has anyone done this themselves with something other than wood successfully? Or found a company to attach a new shell? Or found a shell that someone else could attach? I am looking online and not finding much, but I thought it might be wise to check with the experts before I go too far down the research rabbit hole. The simplest idea is to sell it and buy something newer I can customize, but I am attached to the Dolphin, and not sure if it would really be more economical or practical in the end. Thoughts from folks who have taken one or more of these paths? I truly want opinions. My son and I love "Tortuga" but I am bracing myself to part with her if I really can't manage the repairs needed to keep her roadworthy and safe for my kiddo. I have a slew of other questions but am still looking for the right threads on which to put them.

ALSO- got covers for my spare and tires for when my rig has to sit. ( i take her out every other week or so to stretch, but it can be quite brief)

got my new tires! will see how they go. got a good price, and same day. SO APPRECIATE all your help- I was able to walk in and ask for exactly what I needed without sounding like the noob i am 😜

i am hopping on here with a slightly unrelated but still connected question. i dont like to run my A/C too much, and have pondered removing it....was wondering if this seems like a good offgrid option to more experienced boondockers? https://www.etsy.com/listing/590660972/solar-battery-110v12v-portable-air?ref=also_bought-2&frs=1

ok SO i filled the air bags through the side valves- that was the easy part. i could not take my rig out to test the balance because...dun dun dun.. i have a bulging tire. i have posted about it on another thread, trying to figure out what kind of tire i should try to get... but the other thread was....divided. any ideas here?

according to various threads on here, It looks like: I need B tires or possibly a 185R14 Load Range D or maybe a C? One member has the same model I do, and said this (there was some debate about it, but i am a total rookie) "Unless you are carrying Lead, the older Toy MH's fall well within the Load Carrying Capacity of "B" Range tires (5000Lb-6000Lb loaded running). If you have abnormal wear running Load Range "B" tires (assuming the weight on EACH wheel/wheelset is within the Load Carrying Capacity of the tire and the Tire Pressure is correct for that weight), you will probably have the same thing with "C" or "D" tires as well. Look at Wheel Alignment (including bent parts) and unequal weight distribution side-to-side (which seems to be a chronic design fault/compromise especially seen in small RV's). Did all the rear tires wear equally?? We run "B" range tires on our '86 21Ft Dolphin (right at 6000Lb running down the road) and got 38,000Mi from the Passenger side Dual Wheelset but only 28,000Mi from the Driver side Dual Wheelset, due to unequal side-to-side weight distribution.1987 TOYOTA Pickup Camper Cab (DRW) with a standard tire size of 185R14/C" Then i found a WHOLE bunch of debates on this, and now feeling overwhelmed. how am i supposed to get the right tires?

hey all- i am hijacking this post a bit, as I just found a bulge in my passenger side rear wheel (I have dual wheels)- toyota dolphin, 87. Do you have any specific tire recommendations? i have been researching~!

This is so helpful! What I have been doing to fill my air valves is just using the air pump plugged into the cigarette lighter of my car- i run the cable from my car to the camper. sometimes i have to run it through the window, but my screens are super easy to move out of the way. I will check out the chucks!!!

Hey TR! Not a problem! I think the one I have came in an emergency vehicle kit I have. I bought it ages ago. It was not this kit, but it is similar https://www.amazon.com/Bridge-stone-Bridgestone-Auto-Emergency-Kit/dp/B07J28DNN9

Fine by me- i am learning so much!!! i am a total novice, learning everything quite literally from the ground up! I have a tire inflation kit that works great- will do that asap

THIS FORUM IS GOLD. Thank you all- I am learning SO much

excellent points!! i found the fill valves and the air bags- they do not look completely squashed- now i just need some time to fill them and see what happens.

Thank you- this is enormously helpful. I think there are, in fact, air bags, but they look very squashed. i will see if they can be inflated and if they hold air! An excellent place to start, and i appreciate the links!!

i am looking at replacing all/some/most suspension parts: leaf springs, air bags, shocks- i found the original thread, I think. Looking at these options so far, per recommendation of a member here: https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/leaf-springs https://www.sdtrucksprings.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=7242 A new pair of shocks - KYB or Bilstein (according to that thread - 4 Bilstein's would run about $275 and two Leaf springs ~$225 from desertrat.com for a total of around $500 for a suspension upgrade.) I will have to pay to have them changed out and labor in my area will be $$$$ When it comes to bushings and things- I am a NOVICE novice... i am going to have to get an outside opinion on all this. I'm nervous about the cost, but need to drive safely, and i don't have the skills or tools to do this myself. (YET)

Thank you- after researching more (largely on this forum- wow is this a great resource!- and online) it looks like this is an air bag and leaf spring issue- I am trying to find the part numbers again (someone posted them on another thread)so that I can get this sorted out- she is riding REALLY low over the back tires.

hey everyone! i was looking into re-painting the exterior of my 87 dolphin, and the professional quote was.... prohibitive. Has anyone done the work of scuffing off the old paint, priming and repainting a Dolphin successfully, cheaply and not taking an exorbitant amount of time? I don't HAVE to do it, but I would like to...

Thank you everyone! I am learning so much!

YES, that is my plan She is an old beastie, and i don't know how many years i will get out of her, but the plan is to get out and have adventures( sans carpet)! Thanks for the good luck wishes- I will post the floor once i get all the nastiness up, and if i really get a chance to fancy her up, i will share that too.

Thank you! I will double check this- the people i bought it from had lived in it for 10 years, so i (perhaps naively) assumed they had taken care of basics like that (since they detailed all the care and maintenance in several pages) - BUT i have not personally checked that. I have done an oil change, i add coolant and check the air pretty much every time i take it out. kiddo sits in the front in car seat (i do not feel safe installing the car seat anywhere else in the camper.) I have kept him rear facing as long as possible (past the age/height) requirement, but there is nowhere to seat him that way in the camper. i have heard there are seatbelt clamps available for RVs but have not found one- will look again. everything loose is put away or if it is really heavy, in the bathroom/on the floor. cabinets- i installed extra child locks on them to keep stuff in and him out.

thank you! thank you!

Thank you! I don't have a tv or microwave, or any hair appliances...and i can run my phone charger off the car engine, so i would likely use the inverter for powering up lights/fridge occasionally, but i need to battle the beast and make friends with propane...