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Freestone

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About Freestone

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  • My Toyota Motorhome
    4x4 1987 Bandit
    1986 Sunrader Shorty
  • Location
    Washington State

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  • Gender
    Female
  • Interests
    Fly fishing

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  1. In August, I bought a 1986 Sunrader Shorty. While I love it, apparently so do the mice and now rats. The invasions have happened at campgrounds, not at home. I have spent a small fortune on traps of all kinds (snap, sticky, bucket, plus stinky repellent sachets). Each time, I got rid of them before returning home but then I had to spend hours cleaning and bleaching. Luckily, none of them got into the living space, just inside the lower cabinets and settee (and I keep all food in the upper cabinets and leave no food in the camper between trips). I bought steel wool and spray foam to seal points of entry. However, I cannot figure out how they are getting in! I know that they can fit through tiny tiny spaces. So, I spent two evenings after dark crawling around underneath. I removed all the settee’s wood covers, the under-stove cabinet box, the access panel by the gas and vent lines - basically tore it apart. Then, foot by foot, I moved a 500 lumen lantern around in the cupboards and settee and crawled underneath looking for light. NADA. The mouse invasion sounded like they were getting in somewhere near the back passenger side rear corner near the water heater. But I can find no access point there, although I haven’t removed the cardboard cover from around the water heater yet as I don’t want to ruin it. Is there any way they could get in under the water heater? The pack rat sounded as if it were getting in near/under the shower. Is this possible? There is a gap where the shower plumbing comes through. Does anyone foresee a problem with spray foaming the heck out of that area? I also discovered that the gas and vent line’s cover (like a dryer vent cover) has detached from the floor. I want to replace it anyway as it is in bad shape. For now, I’ll put a little spray foam down where the lines come through the floor. Any other suggestions for how the critters are getting in? Any known source of entry in your Sunrader? In 10 years of owning a Bandit, I never had a single rodent as there aren’t as many holes through the fiberglass. Luckily, I still have it and may go back to it if I get rodents in the Sunrader every time I use it! Thanks!
  2. Skytech, if the roof is too damaged, someone is selling a Chinook roof for $100 on Craigslist not too far from you: https://seattle.craigslist.org/sno/rvs/d/snohomish-toyota-chinook-pop-up-roof/6985493795.html
  3. Check on the left just inside the door, just above the steps, on the end of the cupboard below the stove.
  4. One of these just showed up for sale on Facebook a few hours ago so I guess they did exist, LOL!
  5. Thanks, Linda! I called them years ago for a quote and couldn’t find their contact info again now that I am getting closer to having the work done.
  6. Would you mind sharing the name of the shop? I need similar work done and don’t really want to put air bags on my 4x4. I could easily take the train back home over the pass while they did the work. Just curious, did you talk to Gitt Spring in Auburn?
  7. I would never buy one that had the bathroom ripped out. I shake my head every time I see someone rip out the bathroom; to me, they have ruined the rig. Like Derek said, who wants to go out in the rain or snow? And as a female, there is no way in heck that I am going to walk down to the empty restroom by myself in the middle of the night. It’s too creepy.
  8. Thanks, Sue. It is in good shape but I could fill a notebook with all the things I would love to do to it, especially when I see everyone ‘s make-overs. I try to restrain myself though and just use it. However, going 35 mph up Snoqualmie and Stevens is frustrating so I wouldn’t mind more horsepower and a lighter weight interior. My wise mechanic has convinced me to save my money just live with the slowww, LOL. Luckily, I mostly stay on my side of the mountains. But if there is ever a NW Toy camping trip that I can make, I’d gladly cross the pass to attend. Freestone, aka Sue too.
  9. I have had a ‘87 Bandit for 9 years. I love it! I live in eastern WA where it gets very hot in the summer, so the poptop is perfect for our climate. I really enjoy sleeping ‘upstairs’ in the summer. Because of our heat, I wish my rig was white, not black, so I will get it repainted someday. My rig is a bit different than the other Bandits, however. It is a 4x4 on a Dogde Ram 50 chassis (which is really a Mitsubishi Mighty Max). The interior is basically original, although I did replace the countertop plastic edging with wood veneer and added some shelves inside the cupboards. I also have the rear curtain that can be drawn to provide privacy while on the potty. I am in the process of re-doing the camper headliner (which was also on the upright columns). However, before I redo it I want to add some support, insulation and a couple of vents/fans.
  10. taking this off the other guys thread. Yup that's the one. Seems I missed your earlier postings about it. I lived in San Jose at the time and the rig was in Stockton I think. Wasn't too big of a deal missing out cause I already had my Sunrader. Just impulse wanting a 4x4. Glad you enjoy it.

    Linda

  11. Was it the guy in the Bay Area that was selling it in 2009? I flew down and drove it back up to Wenatchee. I love it! Since I go way back on sketchy forest service roads, the 4x4 gives me peace of mind. Plus, it sure is nice going over the pass in the winter (albeit slowly, lol). However, with zero insulation, it gets cold inside over here in the winter and really hot in the summer. I am in the middle of re-doing the headliner and roof supports. But I am kind of stuck trying to research and figure out the next steps. I want to reinforce the roof and then add some insulation, both for the heat as well as the cold, as well as add a roof fan or two. I’d also love to get it painted white because of the hot summers over here and somehow insulate the walls without removing all the cabinets. As much as I love my Bandit and never thought I’d part with it, thinking of going full-time for a while has me reconsidering. The Odyssey is surely tempting, though it would be hard to give up a fiberglass shell. But, it would be much easier to travel in full-time and I might be in a nursing home before I find a 4x4 Sunrader!
  12. @thaiten Please post pics of the interior when you can. I am very interested and might reluctantly part with my 4x4 Bandit if I like yours. I am thinking of going full-time for a while and that would be hard to do in my Bandit.
  13. On the road trip up I-5 from CA to WA, I averaged 15mph with a low of about 13.5 in the mountains and a high of 16.9 on the flat. It is a bit gutless on hills, but it goes downhill like the wind! bajajuice, no, it only has the flipdown counter not a door on the front. I thought about adding one, but I discovered that it is a great place to store things enroute. I store stuff in that space that I want to access quickly like my steps plus tall things like chairs, rolling camp table, flyrods, etc. until I get to camp. Now, I'm thinking of adding a curtain instead of a solid door.
  14. Thanks Derek. This is the first thing I've ever owned besides a tent so I'm a little over my head. I originally had a fantasy about doing all the work myself but it hasn't worked out that way - yet! I haven't made a final decision about the paint color but I was only considering white as it is always over 100 degrees in the summer where I live. Most people look at it now and think I'm crazy but I keep pictures of Ken Tinder's 4X4 Bandit in the rig to show them what I hope it looks like eventually, lol.
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