KirkGray

I was driving from Santa Fe to Albuquerque and met a fellow in Bernalillo where he was fueling up with a trailer carrying a Toyota Pickup and I was dumping. We spoke briefly and I learned that he rebuilds the vehicles and RV's with the Dolphin and Sun-riders (sp?) and knew EVERYTHING about them. Well I got to Albuquerque and am having charging problems with the recharging of my RV battery. I wish the heck I'd gotten this fellows name and contact just to have but didn't think of it at the time and when I did he was gone. I you happen to be or know this fellow please call me at 510-220-5682. If you know of a knowledgeable RV repair person and could help resolve this charging problem I'd be forever grateful. Right now the rig is in the Northeast Heights of Albuquerque. I'm running in an '81 Dolphin that I've upgraded the rear axle, changed out the shocks, added 2 leaves to the stack and rebuilt the rear brakes on. She's been running fine except I got a tank of foul fuel that I've since treated and burned out. I've had the Alternator tested and it passed 3 times, I've changed out the Multi Battery Isolator and the little breaker beneath the voltage regulator and now it's running real rough. I've checked some of the fuses but they so far are good and I'm on the prowl to find more. Any advice or help would be appreciated. We can connect by phone (see above) if you are in town or know of someone in Albuquerque that may be able to help. I've just begun my journey up to Vermont from the San Francisco Bay Area. I'm hoping to continue however I am having some doubts. This is Rollin Dolphin (need to add this to my profile once I take care of this charging issue).

I'm headed X-country from the left coast to the right coast and am looking for a safe place to leave my recently, fully updated '81 Dolphin for 5 days while my family and I see New York City. We're also thinking of a quick visit to Philadelphia if we can find a safe place to leave it for a couple days. I'm imagining some RV park(s) just outside the city but am of course concerned that when I return I'll find a shell of what I left. I'm also looking for a nice lake, pond or river to rest a few days somewhere between Albuquerque and St. Louis. I enjoy swimming, biking and hiking. I've also heard of the AllStays app and am thinking of getting into the Pros version. Any thoughts?

Thanks Derek !

I just purchased these tires (Forceum 185 R14 C8PR 102/100P - EPTYRES.com) for my rebuild of a 1981 Toyota Dolphin. I put a 1 ton full floating axle that I found from a 1986 Dolphin that they crushed but kept the axle out. I found two 6 lug, 14x5 wheels with a 7 3/4” lug distance when measured across in New Jersey two rims in Michigan and one came with the axle for the spare. I got my rear seals from the Toyota dealership. Had to have new U bolts made because the 3/4 ton axle assembly that came with the rig has a smaller diameter and I added 2 more leaves to my stack to give me more lift. The hard parts where is the perch plates (that didn’t come with the axle assembly) for the U bolts and the shocks. A friend and I had to fabricate them using Chevy perch’s that had the right U bolt separation. Hoping to mount these perch’s and shocks tomorrow, fill the brake system and get this rig off the blocks and rollin’ again. ** What air pressure do you all recommend for these tires? I have a model 500 Dolphin. Sent from my iPhone

Derek, You're Awesome, and so very generous with your knowledge & experience. Thank you for your time as well.

OK, I'll confirm that the LH threads are only on the drivers side and then begin to look for the RH threaded studs (6 of them). I'm having some difficulty finding another 2 rims to match the 2 rims that the yard has that are 14x5. I was thinking, if I went up on the rim size it may be easier to find 4 of them instead of 2 more of the dinosaur rims and the tires for the larger rims may be easier to find as well. How much larger of a rim could I go ? When it comes to tires, what's the recommended number of belts to have, or what features shall I emphasize other than the fact that they'll be carrying the Dolphin (4650 GVW). One fellow said that I'd ought to have something in the LT ("light truck") line meant for heavier weights.

Hey Derek, I "mis-wrote" - below are the photos of the Toyota '86, 1 ton, 2x4, full floating that can accommodate the 4.10 differential that I have in my original 3/4 ton foolie that started this sauga. We've measured the inside to inside and outside to outside spring perches and the spring mounting plates on each others axles and they match. He has 2 rims but, I need 2 more - 7 1/4" lug pattern (center to center cross wise), wheel is 14x5 and I will also need 12 reverse thread lug nuts. Anyone have any of these that want to make room for something else to store? (anyone need 2 - 5 lug duall rims?

Hey Fred - Got it ! ! ! ! My plate is not as well organized as your plate but from other research I've been able to identify the G082 sequence buried in other #s. I've got a bead on an '86 4x4 axle with the 4.10 ratio, full floating bearings with only 32K on it that I'm hoping will fit in the place of my current '81 4x4 foolie. I'll use my differential in his assembly and save some $. Now my question is, will the drive shaft be the proper length, will the sway bar and braking hoses and cables marry with what I currently have on the '81? Any thoughts or experience on these themes and their solutions if they arise along with any other variables that I'm not factoring in? I'm running 215-75-R14's on the 5 lug dualies rims that'll have to be changed out . II'll need to match the rims with the axles and see what tires they call for re: tire size with the 6 lug axles. Any recommendations? Feels like I'm working toward a solution of finding the materials however I know assembly and installation are another phase of this venture. Good Day ! !

What a GREAT explanation of "foolie". Now I understand better the (mechanical) floating concept as well as the root(s) of the word. Thank you for taking time to inform me and other's as well. and Derek - Thank you as well for the decoding of the coding of the axle type.

Thank you Fred, I checked under the hood and it only has the catalytic converter info stickers. There is a metal plate on the passenger side of the engine compartment with: Model RN44L-KDA; C/TR/A/TM 033ZJ41G082L48 along with the VIN and 2366 cc / cub. inch. 144.4 #s. I've heard the 4.10 ratio batted about and was just told that from about '78 - '83, Toyota put the 4x4 differentials in their 3/4 ton trucks. That's what I have so its been suggested taking the differential out of my assembly and placing it in his assembly with full floating bearing arrangements and it'll work. Hesaid that he'd mark it down as well. I'm wondering about the back 1/2 of the drive shaft and whether it's length'll be OK? How would I determine if I have the CO82 axle since the mfg plate doesn't say. I've also checked in the cab with no luck. I plead ignorant - what is a "foolie" = ? did I get "fooled" into buying a rig with this problem? If so, I guess I am a "foolie", but still gotta deal with it. Any (more) help you can offer will be gratefully received from you Fred or other forum attendees.

Thanks Derek, I've done some calling and have located a 1986 1 ton Rear Axle Assembly - Toyota Truck, Off a Dolphin with ~ 36K, full floating for $1250 delivered to my door and another ’87 1 ton rear axle assembly, full floating with 68K = $1500 about 2 hr. drive from me to pick up. They both appear to have a 3.90 gear ratio. As I mentioned, just above Derek's entry, I've got an '81, 3/4 ton Toyota Dolphin that I'm trying to determine the ratio for - any body know? I've checked the owners manual cover to cover and it doesn't mention it. If I have a match the next big question is what mechanical accommodation or modification will it take to mount an '86 or '87 axle assembly on an '81 chassis and might that also include a drive shaft change? or would it be possible, cheaper, easier, to buy 1 ton axle shafts with their bearings, seals, lugs, nuts, keeper springs, etc and go that route? (? number of splines on the axle shaft in my '81, 3/4 ton?) If I go this route then aren't I obliged to redo all my braking system and incur all those expenses as well? Ugh what to do???? Any body done it? either way? or even another way? Thanks for considering my dilemma.

I bought my '81 Dolphin Model 500 (the one with the big rear window) without knowing or being informed of the axle issue (by the seller). It's got only 55 K on it, all the facilities work in the RV, the gas gauge is the only thing that doesn't work. I am re-arching the leaf springs, adding 2 more leaves and changing out the shocks at the moment because it was riding a bit low. I've read the axle article a couple times now and have checked the national recall site and my vehicle has no recall on record. I went to the Toyota dealership to see if I could get some more information about the vehicle and maybe some part numbers and they said that the vehicle is referred to as "Heavy Duty" . The vehicle owners manual states that there was a 1/2 ton and a 3/4 ton manufactured. The leaf stack have 8 in it and the GVW is 4650 = corresponding to the 3/4 ton. Is the article referring to both the 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton vehicle or just the 1/2 ton? How reliable is the National recall site? If they note that the vehicle has no recall history does it mean that I'm OK and do not need to replace the axles? If new axles are needed any recommendations on who to get them from? I'd imagine getting the axle shafts with all the bearings, seals, lugs, nuts ... would be the best way to order. I've been asked if I have a 27 or a 30 spline shaft. I suppose I'll need to take it out to determine which I have, to order. Would the number of splines indicate whether the shaft is adequate (3/4 ton vs. the 1/2 ton)? Hope I haven't asked too many questions but I'm uncertain on what to do. A lot of facts, unanswered details, some conflicting info and I'm not a master mechanic. Thanks for any guidance and advice.

Thank you for your reply. For some reason the thread for more info about air bags didn't make it to your message. Would you please try again? I'd be very interested to read more about it. You may know also about the axle recalls for the '81 Toyota Dolphin. I read the article that was a resource noted in this forum and went to the recall site and entered my vehicle. It did NOT come up as a vehicle that was to have been recalled. I've got a 5 lug dualie in the rear, not a 6 lug. For the sake of information, I have a model 500 with the big rear window and the toilet/shower right behind the driver. Would the weight, mid-vehicle make a difference regarding the stresses on the rear axle and therefore make it a vehicle that wasn't recalled? Would you advise replacing the rear axle with a 1 ton, 6 lug axle? I've got 55K original miles with everything working like a top. If I were to switch the axle out to a 1 ton, would it still be necessary to put air bags on? Thank you for your time and advise.

It's been raining cats and dogs out here in Cali and I sprung a small leak around my central roof vent. After looking very closely the caulking around the vent seems to have finally dried out and cracked. Guess I should have look more closely last Fall. What is recommended for sealing around roof vents, roof rack fasteners and aluminum seams?

Thanks for the advise of getting Heavy duty adjustable shackles. I'll look into where to find them and see what it takes to install them.