canadasunrader
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Posts posted by canadasunrader
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Sorry to hear of your COVID predicament. Hopefully this will all work out for you in other ways.
I am prepping to paint soon. I will leave the truck cab for another day, but hoping to get the house painted at some point soon. Removed all the decals and did some final epoxy prep all around. Soon..... -
Hey Sally.
If you have fat stacks to spend, certainly a rig like this is attractive.
As others have said clearly here, this is the type of recontructed 40 year old motorhome that can be great for a mechanic/carpenter/electrician possessing myriad skills and a lot of tools.
The Sunrader is a difficult beast at the best of times in its stock state.
One that has been modified like this one will require a lot of TLC and it doesn't sound like you are prepared to this. So that means cash, and lots of it.
Also, this rig looks to me to be water damaged inside. This means pulling things apart to investigate and repair. Again, this means cash.
I would politely pass, and keep your eye out for something better. There are lots of great choices for someone patient enough to just wait for one. -
Just to follow up on this:
Got the word from the mechanic today. Fuel pump, excellent. Fuel gauge sender unit, good.
Float was off and floating free. Reattached now and all back together. Gauge working. We are toasting you all with a nice tequila tonight. -
IMHO 30k is far too steep.
Because, as you say, you don't have the skills or tools, it is going to cost lots of time and far more money to get it livable than you may be willing or able to invest. And for what?
It's a 40 year old rig and there is a lot of work to be done, and you don't even know the half of it.
Be patient. You can find a stellar Toyohome in great condition for under 20 and be up and running in it the minute you sign the papers. -
"How would they know if it's actually 'working'? "
I believe these inspections have a checklist. And if anything on the checklist fails it has to be repaired before the vehicle can pass.If the fuel gauge doesn't move from empty when they turn the key they may figure out it's not working.
Rick
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Thank you, Linda.
I passed all of that great info onto the mechanic, and crossing my fingers that we can get this sorted soon, and get out on the road.Rick
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Hello all.
I realize that the fuel gauge is a problem in the Toyotas, and there are many answers here on the forum.
My fuel gauge is not working. I can not get a vehicle inspection/registration etc without a working fuel gauge. Argggggggh.I took my 86 21' Sunrader to my mechanic this weekend suspecting that the problem is the sending unit, which he confirms it is.
He says the first option is to drop the tank and clean the unit and hope that that solves it.
Otherwise, no one sells the sending unit. Finding one in a bone yard is the only hope.... and not a good one at that.
I am not a mechanic so forgive my questions, but would it be feasible/possible to just completely replace the tank with a 'new' one?
Are they expensive? Is this a solution?
Thanks again. Rick -
Thanks Jim. Really appreciate that description.
I live here in Victoria BC and we have a lot of boat folks. I'm sure if I need I can find someone to help with this.For now maybe I will search out some life seal.
Part of the problem as I see it [and as Linda has pointed out many times] is these windows tend to bow with time. Perhaps I was a little hasty in getting them back in before giving them a good chance at straightening out.
My holes seem good, and right. My windows fit with a very acceptable gap, so I don't think it's that.
I plan to pull the one problem one out next week and try again to get it in right.If it's not one thing....
Always an adventure.
Rick -
Jet. Yes, it was a lot of 'fun' playing with those windows.
I have only done it once so far. And I still have a small leak on one side that will force me to pull it out and try again.
What finally 'fixed' it for you?
And, yes, that is just cheap mahogany door skin. If you poke around the lumber yard you can find the most amazing things.
I wanted to curve something into that space and that is the best $8 I have spent so far.
A little tricky bending it in there, but is good now, and insulated behind.
I plan to stain that piece as it turned into a nice little feature.
Thanks Jay.I don't want the house to be a dark box of wood so I got up this morning and began putting the first coats on a few things.
I tend to like the dark tones, and wood is so warm to live in, so it's hard for me to go completely to the light side. But I will try.I am - as usual - doing things in a completely unconventional way for a number of reasons.
What I am sure many here can sympathize with is the problem of not having a fat stack under the bed to draw from whenever you need/want something.
I haven't got the battery or all of the electrical things I need just yet, so I can't close everything up.It's ok doing it in this chaotic way, and as I have said before, ideas and solutions come with time spent not quickly finishing just because you can.
It's far better to just hang out and think of the Sunrader as a big chess board. If you move too quickly for your own little brain you end up making mistakes or boxing yourself into things you may want to change later.
And as far as the COVID goes, it is a big PITA, but one positive around here at least is that it has slowed everything right down.
I am reluctant to just run to the hardware store every time I desire something. Instead, I have been limiting my trips and attempting to use a lot of materials and tools I have on hand.
We'll see how it all plays out. These are interesting times. And I'm happy to have the health and time to work on this crazy project.
Rick
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It's been a while.
We have been quaranteened here for what seems like forever.
Actually... I've been at work on this 86 Sunrader for nearly three months. It's Groundhog Day. Get up. Coffee. Head out to the Sunrader.
Work all day. Come into the house around 6pm for dinner. Watch a little Netflix. Sleep. Repeat.Just a quick update here to follow up on our complete gut and rebuild.
Just today I finally insulated the back wall and got the wall board on. It was a struggle - as everything is - but it's on. Seems a shame to have to paint over the mahogany board.
Working on a lot of things at once now.... onward and upward.
Rick -
Ok, sounds good. I don't have a riveter, so are you suggesting thin bolts with washers into a backing plate?
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Hmmmm. Jay. As far as cabinets go I just measured off of that outside edge of the wheel well.
I wanted my space to be much more wide open than the original so my cabinets angle outward from there giving me some more room.
And Derek, can you please let us know how to reattach the ladder the 'right' way?
I am going to take mine off and once painted etc reattach. Derek please let us know how.
Thanks, Rick -
Thank you Jetalkington.
Yes, LED, and thanks for the tips.
Rick
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I haven't even looked at rear cameras yet. Just thought I'd ask.
Maybe someone here knows something.... and can advise
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Thanks Jay. Did enough wire come with them? Or did you add your own, or tie into the existing?
And are you going to install a backup camera, if so which one?
Rick -
Hey Jay.
Can I ask a stupid question?
You just replaced all of your running lights.
I just ordered some.
Are they easy to install?
Rick -
And that second one looks good. How many feet did you use?
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Oh.... I thought you were talking about your bumper...
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Looks really great. What do you mean by screw cover?
Rick
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Jay.
We don't have a smog inspection here in BC. We used to but they stopped it a few years back.The inspection I need is to get it registered and licenced here as I imported it from California.
Everything else seems good on the list, but the fuel gauge has to be working to pass. It's a pain in the behind, but will be nice to have a working gauge in the end.
For the studs I just used a good Sika adhesive, but I am guess that if you want to do it "right" you probably should use an epoxy.
I did not because it is upwards of $40 a tube here. So I make do.
Nothing I have put on the walls is going to have much pressure on it so I feel good about it. Mostly it will just hold the 1/4" wall panel.The upper cabinets are screwed into two headers I ran across the sides at the top, and into the ceiling frame.
The Rockwool has been perfect in price and the installation is fairly easy. Certainly not as nice or easy as say Thinsulate, but again cost was a factor for me.
The batts are very easy to cut down to fit with a bread knife. And I just used some 3M spray glue on the wall to hold it on.
Rick -
Jay. Here are a few pics of what I have been up to in isolation.
We have our van listed for sale [what a terrible time to try and sell a vehicle] so I am waiting on some of the more expensive items I need in order to continue.
In the meantime I have been plugging away at the cabinets and the ceiling.
I don't have a clue of what I'm doing but making it up as I go along.As said before, I built a two foot square space in the bottom cabinets where a steel door will front the safe.
A while back I pulled off the two plexi windows and did everything I can do before reinstalling them.
I was hoping I could finish the cabover area completely after doing that but there is a small trickle leak when it rains hard on the one side so I am stuck now with what to do with that.
Frustrating.
Otherwise, once we get some cash flow again I plan to get all the battery, solar, lights stuff and wire all that in. Can't really button anything up completely until everything is wired and working.
One hurdle we have is that our fuel gauge has never worked. And I can't even take it for an inspection with that not working as it will not pass.
I've been reading about the issue here on the forum. Seems to be 'normal' with all these toy homes. But what a pain in the behind.
I am not a mechanic, so deathly afraid to begin poking around in there.
My biggest fear is that I will screw it up somehow and then have to have it towed to a mechanic to get fixed.Anyway..... considering the world in crisis right now, these are all small, first world problems, and I feel lucky to live where I live and that my family is healthy and doing well.
I hope yours is in the same boat.Rick
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Interesting way to deal with the vents, Jay.
I just fiberglassed everything up because I am not planning on having too much in the way of appliances - except a fridge, which doesn't need the large vent in the original Sunrader. Also, those older doors, locks and boxes are often rusty old toast and if I'm going to have an outside access compartment I want to get one built or order something new.
My only suggestion as you move forward planning your interior - be flex, and leave yourself some room to change and for your new ideas to filter in. In architecture we talk about livability studies, and light tracking. Spend some quiet time inside meditating on how the flow will go once you are living there. Too often, motorhomes get jam packed with every bell and whistle known to man, every nook and cranny crammed with stuff. Especially in these crazy times it's nice to think about all the things we don't need, as opposed to everything we believe we do.
Just my two cents....
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Looks great. Can't wait to see what you do with your blank canvas.
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Jay. I know it's hard to give up headroom after working so hard to get more space.
I struggled with it, but I wanted something up there that was a little more than just white panel.
Did you buy the rear lights online?
I cleaned mine - probably the originals - up and repaired what I could and they seem good for now.
And, yes, it will be a big step getting it water tight and moving on.
I am still struggling with one of the plex windows in the front that has a very small leak that I can't seem to figure out. Frustrating.Rick
Sunrader Floor Repair, Gut and Rebuild
in Improvement and Do-It-Yourself Projects you have done to Share!
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Ongoing work on the 86 21 Sunrader.
I am hoping to get the inspection soon so we can move on towards registration/insurance and road tripping.
It has been a long haul since Xmas 2019 when we began.
Cleaned up, painted rearview mirrors and braces.
The fuel gauge is now working. Turns out the float was detached.
Reattached, cleaned up and back together, working now.
Windshield wiper motor went on the way to the mechanic's.
Replaced. But through this we now know there is an electrical problem somewhere near the fuse box.
I am no electrician so who knows? But looks like the fuses and box have some corrosion.... needs attention.
Also, before inspection have to replace tail lights. Ordered Bargman and hoping to install next week.
Do I need resistors to make these LED tail lights work properly?
Inside is coming along. Ceiling done. Upper cabinets need doors.
Saving money towards house battery system etc. Fridge and small stove top to come.
Anyone attempting to restore one of these should know it never really ends.
And that could be a good thing.