Scott iv

From the pictures looks like a nice model. Rear dining area is desirable. No specific info on that model from me but a few general considerations as an owner of a non fiberglass unit and owner of numerous other campers: - Coachman was a reputable brand then and made quality campers - I am envious of the manual transmission and think that is a big plus. Clutch replacement is more manageable than automatic transmission replacement if ever needed. My understanding is the gear ratio on the manual transmissions work well. - Hunt for leaks in the camper ceiling by looking in cupboards, corners, and the overhead bed compartment. Inquire about what current owner did to repair the leaks and plan on researching ways to address and prevent leaks; all non fiberglass Toyota motorhomes leak at this point unless the owners have been incredibly diligent. Touch and press on spots in the ceiling that look unusual, discolored or wrinkled to determine integrity; is the wood firm, soft, crunchy, etc... - fridge is a pricey item, be sure to inquire about function in all 3 ways; gas, electric, dc. Look at the propane tank and see whether the valve is open or closed. If the valve is closed ask why so you know about propane leaks. Ask about all camper appliances and heater. Look in water heater area for water damage; not just the outside compartment, but inside as well. - the 22re motor was designed to not leak any fluids. Look underneath the engine for drips of any fluids. Leaks will have to be addressed promptly. Ask the owner whether the motor has ever overheated while they owned it. Take it easy with it if you buy it for a few until you can be sure the cooling systems are working properly (radiator, hoses, fan clutch, belts, pulleys, temp gauge in the cab). Ownership of these is a labor of love. Plan on needing to repair and maintain the vehicle no matter what the owner says about it due to age. Overall, very reliable once you address aged components.

A house I owned in Milwaukee 25 yrs ago had a lime green, yellow, and tan patterned linoleum glued to the walls to a height of 4ft from the floor. It was topped off with a stainless steel molding. You wouldn't believe how ugly it was. Was a lot of hard work to remove it. I can be done.

I agree with Ctgriffi's suggestion about becoming the best shade tree mechanic you can be. I think these trucks are reliable once most everything under the hood has been gone through and I mean most everything. Double whammy with these trucks being old, and RV's generally sitting a lot more than other older vehicles which wears the rubber components. A thoroughly gone through 22re is very reliable. If you do the work yourself you will have an awareness of most likely issues and will know the tools and parts to have on hand (at the least a spare set of belts) if you're leaving civilization. I find myself looking under the hood and inspecting after every trip I take to try to catch potential issues.

I'm not a sunrader owner but admire how well these vehicles have held up over the years. Most manufacturers don't build vehicles with the expectation they are still in use 40+ years later; especially rv manufacturers.

You will need a 3000w + inverter to run the microwave and have anything left to spare power wise. The inverter will be pricey and you don't want to risk an ultra budget model. Plan on running one dedicated circuit from the inverter to the microwave to maximize the efficiency (no power strip, splitting power). Pay attention to the BMS power output ratings on the batteries. Some will limit the amount of discharge power at any one time. Low temp battery protection BMS is a must in cold climates unless you plan on lugging the battery in and out of the camper. I run a 2000w inverter and use a 750w microwave and it pushes my system.

I had an astro and wasn't impressed. Myriad small problems and irritations. Uncomfortable small driver compartment and I am not a tall man. Bad gas mileage stock; as a camper probably comparable to the other big America class C's. Looks neat but a pass from me.

Hopefully she's now good for many trouble free miles!

Cool to see this process in images. Many have done this, but I don't recall anyone documenting in photos.

You're doing the right thing by asking a lot of questions before buying. Ask away as a lot of folks here learned from many mistakes and there is a lot of owner knowledge. An old timing chain with low miles shouldn't matter, however, an old low mile motor is not always a good thing. Seems counter intuitive. A lot of people will jump on a low mileage vehicle. But modern motors (70's to present especially) have gaskets that rely on a regular soaking of oil or whatever other fluid they are in place to hold. The gaskets dry out when not used regularly and then fail when they are re exposed to the heat a motor produces.

As you consider the 6 cyl Toyota motorhomes be sure to ask about when the valves were last checked. I see the one had a timing chain replace but that still doesn't mean they checked the valves. The 3vze motor requires hands on maintenance with the valves as does the 22re. Many dead 3vze's because the valve clearance checks were avoided. Can go about 100k before valve clearance becomes a serious issue requiring major time and expense (totaled to many). The 3vze valve clearance check takes shop time as it requires specific tools to hold down the buckets while you measure the clearance, and if the valves are tight, replacement shims have to be ordered (most shops won't have the shims readily on hand). A costly regular interval maintenance job if you want to keep the machine alive long term. It'd be worth purchasing the tool needed to hold down the shim buckets so you can learn to do the job at home if you own one.

These motorhomes don't die easy, but now that they're in their 30's and 40's they do get hurt a lot.

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I really like the dual vertical windows on your machine. Of course the beauty of owning one of these is making it however you like. Yours looks great the way it currently sits IMO (and I know you didn't ask).

The V6 is a strong motor but is still old school in the sense it requires regular hands on maintenance. A very common problem I see on the forums and online is burnt exhaust valves. The valve clearances have to be measured at recommended intervals and there is a learning curve to the style valves the 3.0 has; bucket shim style. More often than not I've seen significant valve issues at the 100,000 mark on these and likely because no one got in there to measure and install new shims. https://madison.craigslist.org/rvs/d/new-lisbon-1990-toyota-winnebago-warrior/7662618279.html

Is that the oversized "emergency exit" vent up front? I saw what I thought was a dolphin out my way with one, but you don't see too many like it. Camper looks real nice.

It will sell locally as a non running toyota motorhome. The motor likely isn't completely dead. An honest post on craigslist or facebook will sell it. It is not worthless and I would try to sell it whole; not parting it out. Choose a number and post it; if no one bites for a few weeks, reduce. Hopefully you have somewhere it can sit while you list and wait. Especially if the camper is useable/ liveable/ non leaking.