AprilOstara

Not sure how to edit, so sorry for the new post. I meant it IS stick built, not fiberglass. Sorry!

Hi all, The time has come. I panicked last spring and bought this camper, but I don't have the time for it. Single mom, lost job (thanks pandemic!), Not mechanically inclined. So,here we go... Low miles,correct lugs, solid frame, not stick built, note it's a Rader, not Sunrader. Has had leaks previously, think they are mostly fixed and I rebuilt the back wall and over the cab where it had leaked previously. It was mostly gutted by the fellow before me, I tore out the orange smelly shag carpet, got some laminate wood flooring, haven't put it in yet. Got a new mattress for it. 22 r engine fuel float keeps getting jammed, so it periodically doesn't start. I filled it up with non ethanol fuel. My kids grandpa who is an old mechanic was quite impressed with it. Someone who knows a thing or two can fix it. This tired momma cannot. Think a pop-up or a flipping teepee is a better route for me. I paid 3000 for it. Would like to not lose money on it. Have put some work into it, asking 3500. Please only serious inquiries. Can text, please don't call. I hate talking on the phone. In southern vt. 8023806157 Or email sisterterrasky@gmail.com April

no shit. Thats too funny. So are they rarer then sunraders, but less desireable because it is stick built?

So remember i was feeling frustrated and about to sell my dream little camper.... Well i think i got a second (ok like 8th) wind. I panicked because the fuel float kept getting jammed or something and it was not turning over. Then a few weeks back when i wrote my last post, it started but was idling low and weird and started smoking. I felt like that was beyond me. Anyway, a fellow got a hold of me and asked for pics. I sent him some and he told me that i have a stick built rader. He said he doesnt believe its a Sundrader. The door says its a Sunrader and the paperwork does, but it simply says Rader on the back and the front above the cab. I have no clue because im not well versed in campers in general. Just sort of stumbled upon this one and knew i wanted something i could potentially live in with my kids if shit hit the fan. So when i was texting back and forth with him i gave it a shot at starting and it turned over on first try, idled great and didnt smoke! YAY!!! Think i pumped too much gas into the lines that day or something? Weird that it was being funky that day and then today just bam! Anyway, if you want pics you can email me and ill send you my cell number and text you pics of my Rader. (cant take pics with this computer) So curious as to what the hell i actually have if it potentially isnt a Sunrader...

I hear you Linda, its a little trickier then that though. They live pretty far and the uncle is in the process of building a house, and has two kids under 4. The grandpa who is a mechanic is just getting older, works two jobs still and is equally as far. I put an add up on a local site and got a number for a fellow who knows older engines. I hope its nothing too big a deal, as im running out of steam, and money. lol.

I know my post yesterday said i was thinking of selling, but i really dont want to give up. So today i did the, take apart, bang on the carb dealie that seems to get her running. It did, then it wasnt idling right, started smoking. shut her down. Any ideas?

Feeling fed up. Sure someone who knows what they are doing will be a better fit. 84 Sunrader. Keeps not starting. I take off the carb hood and bang on it, make sure fuel is getting in there, and then usually it will start. Someone mentioned i may need to drain the gas and put in a new fuel filter. Not all rusted out. Got the right lugs. New battery. Had previous leaks under back window and over cab, so i sealed those and its dry as we speak, even though its been raining. I pulled out most of the carpet, just a little on the edges im still working on. Have the sticky laminate floor stuff to put in. I re framed where the leaks were. It needs new tires, current ones are dry rotted, but holding air. Small exhaust leak. Guy before me took out fridge and stove and bathroom. Im a single mom of two young kids. I really wanted to pull this off but not sure i can. I havent even registered it in my name yet, and i am crunching for cash. Still furloughed, thanks Covid. Im thinking 4,000. I can send pics via text if you email me. I am in Vermont. Email: Sisterterrasky@gmail.com

Mine never was clicking. It ended up being something with the carb.

Thanks!, So the edge molding goes around the edges after i apply the peel and stick stuff? Do i leave a little space for the edging? I will give the stick stuff a shot and if it doesn't hold up in a few years hopefully ill be in a financial spot to be able to buy something better.

Hey there! So, Silicone Sally, who is my 1984 Sunrader wasn't firing up. I finally called in the mechanic in the family and he took the carb cover off and noticed the well wasn't filling with fuel. So he banged on it a little and then blew some air through one of the hoses and it powered right up. It runs nice and smooth, drove it around a little, was starting it every few days. I went for quite a trip, in my rav 4, not the camper, to get non ethanol gas for it. Filled it up. New battery. So this am my car battery was dead, so i went to jump it with the camper and it wouldn't start again, same shit as before. Is there anything i can do to remedy this problem? I don't want to have to take my flipping carb apart every time i want to start it..... Any ideas greatly appreciated! p.s. The mechanic in the family is actually from the was-band's side of the family, so i try not to call on him so much! Thanks for all your help!

Hey there! So I'm redoing the interior of my 84 Sunrader and have pulled out most of the horrific and stinky orange shag carpet. Sure is tough to get the edges! Using a utility knife, is there anything better to use? I got some nice "oak" peal and stick, simply because I'm on a budget and read up that its good stuff. I'm assuming just clean the floor real good after i get the carpet out, then go at it..... Any useful tips from anyone who has done this would be helpful. Thanks!

UPDATE!! So i called in the big guns, my kids grand dad and uncle are both mechanics, in whom i thought wouldnt have time for me, but they came!! The carb needed a spray and a banging and boom, worked! I just drove forever to get non ethanol gas, and lots of it!! Im so excited its running like a dream now!!

I hear you buddy! i got a 84 sunrader that im doing the same thing too, not super extensive, just back window and over cab leaks, so fixing the walls. Im a newbie at this stuff!

Also what are those lights!! I love them!!

That looks so nice!! Very similar to my plans. What did you do there on the back, the leaves? It looks awesome, great job!

There isnt a click click nothing though. It almost turns over but then doesnt fire the engine.

Thats what i was thinking, there are no clicks, it seems to turn over fine, just not making the final leap.

Yes, new battery. It started good before battery got dead dead. Yes sir, carburetated, and yes, the engine almoooooost gets there, but doesnt all the way.

So long story short, started great when i bought it. Then it started great a week later. Then i must have drained the battery beyond repair by accident. Then it would start at all, i tried charging the battery, jump starting, brought to autozone, they charged it. Battery wouldnt hold a charge. So i bought a new battery today. Hooked it up and it almost turned over.....sounded like it was gonna....my heart was fluttering, but no. AHHHH! So, i checked connections over and over, tried contacting any mechanics i know but they are all too busy with their own lives to care about me and my silly camper. It has new premium gas in it. I put seafoam in the gas tank to try to give her a boost. Not sure what else i can do. It was fine before the battery died. started strong. No knocking that i hear or anything, i dont know, any suggestions would be deeply appreciated.

Where is the starter on these bad boys?

Hey, thanks. So i brought the battery and got it charged up. It was empty. Brought it back, almost started.....but to no avail. Again, it started great last time. Wtf

So I bought this Sunrader a few months back. It had been sitting a while, but she started right up. Got it brought back on a wrecker. A week or so later I had a fellow come show me around the camper a little, this is my first one. It started right up. I must have left something on, drained the battery empty. Not even a jump start was doing the trick. So I brought it to an auto place today and they charged the battery full, it's a new battery from 12/2019. Brought it back, tried to start....allllmoooost! I dont know. It is almost there, but won't turn over all the way. I pumped the gas like 10 times before trying to start it, as advised by the previous fella. It has new premium gas and seafoam engine stuff in it too. Help please! I'm doing so much interior work due to a leaky back window and a leak up above the cab, it feels like it's all for nothing if the sucker won't start! Anyone in Vermont want to come help a lady out!

Could I have been jumping it wrong? I didn't realize about the negative on the stalled car going on the engine block, so I put it on what I think is the alternator. It definitly improved with jumping, but never quite got over the hump!

The battery for the camper is brand new. I did add some gallons of gas, premium and some seafoam engine stuff.

The camper has a brand new battery, but the one I'm jumping it with is old and questionable, would that make a difference? My Rav 4 is what I'm jumping it with, and the battery light has been flickering, looks to be the original from 2007, or Toyota put one in, it says Toyota on it