Jump to content

iamblakeh

Members
  • Posts

    6
  • Joined

  • Last visited

About iamblakeh

Previous Fields

  • My Toyota Motorhome
    1986 Toyota Dolphin
  • Location
    East Bay, CA

Profile Information

  • Gender
    From Outerspace

Recent Profile Visitors

The recent visitors block is disabled and is not being shown to other users.

iamblakeh's Achievements

Newbie

Newbie (1/14)

  1. Wow. WOW! Where do I begin? Thank you all for the outpouring of support! I’ve been elbow deep in “it” and am just now getting back to this post. So, in order of your comments: FredNewell, The floorpan I have is referred to as the “Model 400” in the 1987 catalog. It’s got an odd little “L”shaped seat to the left when you walk in. What’s strange is that the exterior paint is in the 1986 catalog but the “L”shaped seat doesn’t exist in that year’s offerings. Anyhow, my VIN# and paperwork states that it is a 1986, the seller told me it’s an ’87 and apparently the exterior and interior are half and half. But I digress…As far as if I’m trying to “rebuild the beach to as good or better than new, or just fix it?” I’ve decided to rebuild it with a few changes to the layout and customize it in ways that will work well for me (and the family). I am “working on the cheap” but I’m going to sink some money into a few items: but the big expense will be that I’m planning on outfitting it with solar. That’ll cost me! Thanks for writing! Here's the layout from the original catalog - it's what I had before I destroyed it. The main difference was that the roof had collapsed due to the weight of the A/C, an old leak, and rusty metal bones and rotten wood. CanadaSunrader, The floorpan certainly is open now. EVERYTHING, is out at this point, I’m down to the studs and about 1/4 of the floor is gone - as in: I can see the wheels, metal frame, and ground. Yes, motor and transmission are good. 86k original miles too! AprilOstara, Best wishes with the work! I hope the project is just challenging enough to keep you out of trouble! ReallyRural, Dale, I found your first post incredibly inspiring. I thought, “If someone can rebuild one of these after a tree falls through it, I can definitely fix what a few decades of water has done to the frame.” I’ve decided to rebuild some of the frame with square metal pipe. Basically, I’ll weld a cage so that I can have strong roof (not only to keep this thing plumb and square but also to support the solar panels I’m putting up top). There’s a partial metal frame up front in the walls behind the drivers/passengers seat and I’m going to build on this concept, passing through the floor and securing it to the frame. Should be plenty strong. (If all goes according to plans - do things ever?) In your second message you mention getting everything out. At this point, what’s left is the toilet (that’ll go soon), the shower, the wall between the main cabin and the bathroom, the water system (holding tank, pump, water heater). I need to document how that’s all plumbed and then it’ll go too. Regarding the electrical, you’re right, what a mess. I think I’m re-running most of it. Someone once relayed the same wisdom to me as a kid regarding an electric fence. Thanks for everything you wrote! Feeling encouraged! But man-oh-man, at this stage, what a mess! Here's what I'm dealing with. Since this was taken, I've removed the subfloor along the left side, tomorrow, I remove the water system and the subfloor on the right, and then, the toilet and bathroom floor needs to go. There's most of my rig's guts on the ground at the dump! Regarding "on the cheap" here's how to save on dump fees: 1. Offer your services for junk removal to someone without a truck. (my brother-in-law needed some stuff taken) 2. Let them know the minimum dump fee. 3. Fill the truck with your own junk 4. Stack your brother-in-law's crap on top 5. Tie it down and drive slowly 6. Dump it all on your brother-in-law's dime!
  2. After purchasing an '87 Dolphin I started getting curious about the roof sag near the AC. I knew this would be the first project to attend to when I purchased it and had hopes of removing the AC, swapping out with a vent fan, re-framing a little around the opening, and hitting the road. Silly me. I'm now knee-deep in gutting the entire interior due to extensive wall and roof wood deterioration. All wood framing in the kitchen wall is rotten, as is most of the ceiling wood between the bathroom (in the back) and about 1/2 way forward. More rotten wood can be found here, there, and everywhere. The floor is solid along all walking areas but now that I've removed the couch bed, seat, fridge, kitchen, etc. I find that a previous floor repair job was not performed along the perimeter - so I'll be doing that too. I have the skills to do the work myself (I think) and the way I'm the approaching this is to remove, from the inside, all wood paneling, insulation, and rotten framing, until I seen the inside of the aluminum shell. I'm considering making a metal frame and securing it through the floorboards in four corners and attaching wood framing where needed to support cabinets, kitchen, cupboards, and so on. Anyhow, mostly just reaching out. I've taken something that looked really nice just a few days ago and after scratching the surface, it's a shell...and I'm kinda freaked out by the task at hand. Thanks in advance for the inspiration to keep going.
  3. Thank you Derek! That's what I have. I appreciate you taking the time to help. So, what model is the chassis exactly? What model should I be searching for as I search for chassis related items? Specifically, leaf-springs and/or suspension related items. But also, brakes, bearings, etc. (I'm sure there will be more down the road)
  4. YES. But apparently I'm stuck in the 90's so I was making the same decade-related typo repeatedly. I've edited it now. Thanks!
  5. I'm new to the forum. I have what I believe is a 1987 Dolphin. I'm writing to ask you all, the powers greater than me alone, the hive mind, the great group conscious conscience, WHAT are some helpful terms to use online for when searching for make, model, engine, year, details, etc. I'm confused because I understand, and correct me if I'm wrong, that this 1986 Toyota is actually a 1987 Toyota Dolphin. That the truck was made in 1986 and the RV was assembled and sold as the 1987 model. The person who sold this model (400 - L-Shaped bench style according to the catalog only made in 87 not 86) to me told me that it is a 1986. Additionally, I assume that there are many parts that fit whatever chassis this is and if I only knew what I was looking for I'd probably have a heck-of-a-lot of an easier time searching and finding parts. Thanks in advance. I feel lucky to have found you all so early in my journey with this Dolphin! While your at it, I invite you to post your favorite Toyota Motorhome slang or shorthand.
×
×
  • Create New...