Karma
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Posts posted by Karma
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On 9/17/2019 at 4:55 AM, Derek up North said:
To try to keep things simple, Toyota shipped the '1-Ton' DRW C&C (in 1986) to the motorhome manufactures with 185r14 Load Range C tires. At their maximum inflation pressure of 50psi they were rated to carry 1600lb in a single application.
A 185R14 load range D at their maximum pressure of 65psi are rated to carry 1875lb in a single application.
Compared to other sizes, the selection of 185R14 tires is relatively small. Most available are LR D. There are only a few in LR C. Other sizes in LR D that will work (but I see no point in them) are 195R14 and 195/75R14. I know of only 1 or 2 in each size.
To tell if they're LR C or LR D? Check the Maximum Inflation Pressure. LR C is 50psi. LR D is 65psi. There are no LR E in our size.
Way back in the last Century, tires were rated by the number of 'plies'. 6 plies = LR C. 8 plies = LR D. In this Century there is an International shift to refer to a tire's 'Load Index'. A 185R14 LR D (6 ply) is a 102/100.
Some tires are marked as 185R14C. In this case, the 'C' does not indicate LR C, rather 'Commercial'. They can be either LR C or LR D.
Some tires are marked as LT185R14. In this case, the 'LT' indicates 'Light Truck'. They can be either LR C or LR D.
You might be offered tires marked ST185R14. Here the 'ST' indicates 'Special Trailer'. You do not want these. They are not designed for 'steered' or 'driven' wheels even if they are rated as LR D.
Any tire whose size begins with a 'P' (eg P195/70R14) is a passenger care tire and does not have the load carrying capacity of an LR C or LR D.
That's all I can think of as 'pointers' for now.
Be prepared, when you walk into a tire shop, for the tire 'experts' at the counter to treat you like a fool by telling you that your '185R14' size request is "missing the middle number". They're just too young (or too old and have forgotten) that pre ~1968 ALL tires had no 'middle number'.
Searching online sites for the size, they'll also ask for a 'middle number'. Some sites will offer '-' or 'None' or '0' as an option, some won't.
Searching by 'Vehicle' will have no luck finding a Toyota 'Dolphin' or 'Sunrader'. I don't even remember any site showing a 'Toyota C&C DRW'. My best success is from searching for a 1986 VW Vanagon, which had as standard equipment 185R14 LR D.
Thank you so much for this concise and very complete explanation of tires. We are just trying to replace 13 year old tires on our Dolphin, and this info is great.
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Thank you for the post, and for Linda for pinning this. We just bought some e-bikes and were looking for a way to put a hitch on. Too much for us now, but we have a former neighbor who comes up every year to see family, and loves to stay at our place and do projects. This looks right up his alley.
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1 hour ago, MaineJed said:
If your traveling on the Maine coast check out Searsport Motor Company.
I hope to visit Maine, its on my list.
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2 hours ago, linda s said:
This place has a 5 star rating and says on it's website it does motorhomes. Get that clutch checked out
Linda S
Thank you.
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2 hours ago, WME said:
Is your Toy a V-6 with a 5 speed transmission, you have a Unicorn Motor Home.
If things are slipping going up hill the clutch IS slipping!!! Why its slipping can be many problems, find a new shop.
Yes, it is a 3 L V-6 manual transmission, 5 speed. Now I need to learn why its a Unicorn.
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We just retired and are lucky to take over the use (and costs) of my father-in-laws Toyota Dolphin, 1992, but the chassis is either 1990 (per father in law) or 1991 (per dealership), but not having much luck in finding places that can work on the clutch and brakes, (and was told by the Toyota dealership that we have to replace the timing belt every 6 years, and wondered about that frequency). I would love to hear about any auto repair shops that you use and can recommend, that will repair these small motor homes. We are looking forward to driving it to all states, so any state info will be welcome.
We thought the manual clutch was going out, as slipping when on hills, but the dealership said the clutch was fine. Kinda scratching our heads about that one.
Help. Tell me your tire blowout stories. Need to convince hubby we need new tires.
in Whoops, Mishaps and Murphy's Law
Posted · Edited by Karma
We have the semi luxury of taking ownership of my father-in-law's 1992 Toyota Dolphin, along with the insurance, licensing, and all the upkeep. Looking forward to years of retirement pleasure with our Dolphin, but need to first convince hubby we need new tires. The ones on the Dolphin are 13 years old (we know exactly what year they were purchased, as it was the only time we were allowed to borrow it, when we had a family from France here, who had hosted our daughter in the Alps one summer.). Early on a trip around Washington State, two tires blew, and we had to replace them on the road.
My hubby not only seems to forget that those tires looked fine when they blew, he wants to now take out the studs on some beautiful Swedish quality snow tires that also came with the camper......the dot codes show that these tires must be over 21 now, able to drink legally.....so we can drive through mud and dirt, snow and mountains.
I can't believe we let three very responsible 20 year olds (oxymoron) drive the Dolphin to the Rockies for a ski bum vacation last year on those tires. I think they are more responsible than their parents and grandparents, at least just as lucky as us.
By the way, thank you to all the people who shared their expertise in small Toyota Motorhome tires. After reading the posts, I now seem to know more than most tire store employees, who have suggested ST tires, P tires, and changing our wheels to 15 inch. (I am trying to find some tires that will handle gravel, mountains, snow, and a trip to Alaska in the next few years.)