Deb Mac

Got a couple of pictures and this really caught my eye. These are the tires that were new in January. The date code says 13/19 so they are only 1 1/2 yrs old, but something is definitely wrong here.... I have since decided that I think I will pass on this one. If they didn't realize the condition of the tires, what else are they not aware of? Was maintenance done? Shame, the perfect floor plan for me, but I'm not willing to take on that big an unknown after seeing these. I'll keep my eyes open. Lots of time. Winter is here and no where to go till spring.

Thanks Linda. If I decide to make an offer (all depends on what the mechanic and Oregone's buddy with the axle have to say) I would arrange to get the axle set-up shipped up here (get a commercial carrier to haul it across - pricey, but might be worth while - we'll see. Might be the mechanic would have some contacts down that way) and I would meet it at the border with my 4Runner and utility trailer. Got some video from the seller - looks OK - not as nice as in the pictures, but in decent shape. It looks like Pacific northwest coach. Seemed to catch a bit of rust on the springs as the video passed by. I have asked about the frame and rust specifically. Tires are March /19 so they are good. But I would be driving it up here from the Vancouver area, hence the questions about how to check if the axle would be in good shape to drive it here. Continuing saga!

Thanks Oregone!

Thanks much, folks. I'm chatting with the seller later today, after I view some video. I wouldn't even make anything beyond a "would you consider" offer until I saw it & drove it a bit. And even then, I would have a mechanic down that way give it good going over first. And Linda - you are a fount of information! If Oregone's buddy still has the axle & wheels, etc, and if I decide to make an offer, and IF everything checks out at the mechanic, what specifically would I have him look for in that rear axle that would make me comfortable to drive it the 350 km from the lower mainland back here to the interior of BC? I realize that they could go at any time. This one has 150K km on it (maybe 250K if the odometer has rolled over once!)

Excellent. Do you have any idea (ball-park) what he would be wanting for it? Or put him in touch with me - you can PM me for contact info if you want. Trying to figure out the overall cost of doing a swap out so I can work out what I might offer on the coach, if it gets to that point.

Thats the one Linda! I like it, but the axle is a big stumbling block. I can wait till I hear back from my Toyota guy and see what he has to say about the possibility of getting it done. I figured I would be looking at a good $2-$3K just for the axle work, plus there’s always something you know nothing about and couldn’t be noted at the time. Tires might be “in good shape” (they always are) but more often than not, they are aged out. And 6 plus a spare is another $2000. But from what I’ve seen on prices on these, if the rest checked out, and I could negotiate a reasonable price, because of the axle, it might be worth a go. I can leave it at the shop all winter if that’s what it took to track down the parts. Not going far in the winter up here anyway. I don't even really know the exact parts I would be hunting for, but hopefully the mechanic could track things down over time. It might all end up moot if the seller isn’t able to come down enough for me to take the chance. And that’s only if the rest of it checks out well. Thanks for the input - it might work, might not. Once I get a better look at it on video, and chat with mechanic, I’ll have a better idea of where it might all land. Or not 🙄

Were you attempting to start with a remote start switch? If so, does it start at the generator? It runs while you have the starter switch engaged, but quits as soon as you release the switch, or does it just turn over while you have the switch engaged? Not familiar with the Microlite, but the old Onan 6K in my GMC occasionally had issues with the remote start switch, but would start at the control panel switch. Other possibility is that the control panel may have decided to quit just then, and nothing to do with what you were doing. The LOP cut-off switch may also have quit - that was another common problem with the old 6K units like mine. If that's it, I believe it is a generic switch that you can pick up easily. So many possibilities!

Have recently passed along my old GMC motorhome (loved that coach but the pension and 9 mpg don't play well together) and have become somewhat enamoured with the Toyota Sunrader. I like fibreglass (I also have an older fibreglass Bigfoot trailer which would likely be sold come spring - don't need 2 RV's) and Toyotas (have a 14yr old 4Runner with 410,000 km on it). I have found a 21ft '82 Sunrader R22, 4-spd RWD, relatively locally, with about 150,000 km on it. It appears to be in very good nick, solar upgrade, all appliances work well (fridge a bit fussy on LP, but I can work on that). Interior is very nice, clean and little signs of wear. Upholstery looks good - not new, but in nice condition. Orange shag rug around the cockpit and overhead bed! Seller is going to do some videos for me tomorrow. Was originally a US vehicle, recently brought up to Canada. Don't know where in the US (desert vs seaside), but the videos should give me a much better idea of the condition of the frame (rust, etc) It does, however, still have the original axle with dual wheels (foolies?). I haven't been down to see it yet, and I have a call into a local Toyota shop for a ball-park $ complete, to help me if I decide to make an offer. (private shop, old school mechanic, does nothing but Toyotas and he comes highly recommended by 3 other Toyota folks I know up here - all older Toyotas too). I am up here in BC, & sometimes auto-wrecker parts can be a little harder to come by than down in the US neck of the woods. Any suggestions, clues, hints, regarding the axle issue (have already downloaded the "Axle Facts") or anything else particular to these beasts I should look out for when I go to see it, would be appreciated. Hoping that I can make this work out, but if it doesn't look like a good bet, also willing to walk away, sadly, but I will walk away. Thanks for the help. Hope to be able to join in the conversation with my own at some point in the future.