linda s

Yup looks to have the same wheels, axle and rear duallies as our motorhomes do here in the US. Meant to carry more weight and now you know thats why ours are set up that way. Looking at the chart of GVWR for your regular trucks looks like the best load capacity is around 2500lbs. Cutting it pretty darn close if your adding a motorhome to it. Linda s

Wow sure shows what motivation can do. You guys did an awesome job. You go girl he's a hunk Linda S

If you want lightest weight and super insulated look at this camper build http://thesupercamper.blogspot.com/2006/09/super-camper-construction-begins-nida.html Linda S

I think he might be able to see the logo if he just jacks his rig up and takes the tires off that side. it aims right towards the tire Linda S

Well you got a hell of a deal. Just 6 custom made 15 inch duallies would cost 1200 bucks plus another few hundred for the adapters on the front wheels. Really glad that someone who seems to know their way around vehicles got it to restore. Not a lot of them out there. Still shocks me when I see them ripped apart and left that way. Can't wait to see what you do with it Linda S

Yes the early duallies were a mess and that's why they were recalled. As far as a payload of a ton these campers including the first one you posted a picture of, weigh so much more than that. I would love to know the gross vehicle weight rating of that truck and how much it actually weighs with the camper section on it. Not just the chassis that had to carry the weight but the tires needed to be able to support the weight of a house on the back of a Toyota truck. It's not uncommon for some of these rigs to weight 7000lbs. I'm sure Americans didn't request lightweight little trucks. We were just looking for better mileage the same as yours get. Measely little trucks is just all Toyota gave us. We would also love to get some of your diesel trucks and many have been asking Toyota for years but still we get nothing. Basically we are stuck with what they are willing to ship or produce here as many Toyota's are made in America now. Linda S

So glad your posting here. This is the one that was in the Rouge valley in Oregon right? I thought he had it listed as an 87 Sunrader. Seems like it's got quite a few alterations. Got a full float axle in the back and the 1 ton adapters and wheels in the front. So are the wheels all around 14 inches. The mercedes diesel conversion has been discussed before but never heard of anyone who had actually done it. Can't wait to hear more Linda S

No it's an 83 or earlier. Those separate little side lights went away in 84. Linda S

Max pressure is about 90 but I usually run mine at 50lbs. Small Sunrader I would run a 21 footer at at least 60. 20 is too low. Keep an eye on that one that was all the way down. You might have gotten a hole in it driving while empty. Not meant to ever be empty Linda S

Best actual Mileage I have ever gotten is 19mpg. You have to remember though this is an 18 ft Sunrader, no roof AC but I do have a generator that weighs at least 100 lbs. I said 17mpg cause that's what I get at factory timing which I just had to set it to for California smog. I will tweak it back to improved the mileage a touch. The only Toyota Rv that can get 20 other than the pop tops, there are more than just Chinook, is my rig with a manual tranny. My friend Tony can get 21 driving carefully. Other pop tops are Bandit, Sandtana, Ranger, and I have seen one Easy Ryder. This thread started out as a discussion of the 4x4 Sunrader. Whenever your talking 4x4 simple highway driving isn't the most important factor. It's are you going to be able to handle that road less traveled. Linda S PS I also have a Nissan 18ft Sunrader with a v6 so I have my power there. The Tiger will be sold if I ever get it to look pretty again. I'm a Sunrader girl

Sunrader shorty with the 22re gets 17 mpg driving on flat terrain. The Tiger gets 15 but I usually am driving that faster because I can, so sounds about the same to me. One of the serious Toyota guys in Colorado switched out the turbo 22re In his 87 Sunrader 4x4 to the 4.3 and loves it. Much more responsive at high altitude. If your going to drive any off road you really need that extra power. I got stuck one time in my Sunrader cause I got down the hill fine but it just didn't have the power to get back up. Had to dump water tanks and passenger to make it back out of the campground. Power is good Linda S

Just to clarify. The unisolar peel and stick panels will not just pull back up with one hand. Mounted on a Zacks fiberglass Sunrader roof that he cleaned throughly first I could not budge it at all. Tried getting my fingers under it in several places and it was stuck about as solid as anything could be. I would not be the least concerned about it flying off at highway speeds. Now as far as cutting them. It can be done but rewireing the segments is not for the novice and cuts have to be made in very specific places. Linda S

Well thanks for that info. I'm thinking Bargman is not doing too well. Not letting their dealers know about stuff and not returning messages from customers is usually the sign of a business in trouble. Linda S

Well the panels I posted were slightly flexible not like the unisolar ones and quite small, 42x33 for 100 watts. My friend installed the unisolar on his Sunrader. Not too likely that fiberglass roof is ever getting to 180. I can sit on mine on the hottest day. It is also never coming off at any speed. You have to be very careful to have them lined up exactly cause that is the strongest glue I can imagine. As solid on that roof as can be Linda S

Well I'm the one who asked but that is awesome info. I was sure there had to be something out there that would work. Linda S

It's a bid on 2 of those panels. Click on the same link tomorrow and see what they actually sold for. Bet it's 350 or less Linda S

The weight of conventional solar panels is an issue. A member of the toyota campers group Jeff is in the solar business and had 1000 watts of panels on his roof but it was too top heavy. He removed half of them and now just goes with 500 watts. I found these on ebay. Shipped from china but light weight and not too large for the amount of watts. Not a lot of room on top of a shorty Sunrader. I'm thinking about adding some solar cause I'm off in the boonies most of the time camping http://www.ebay.com/itm/200Watt-2x100W-Semi-Flexible-solar-panels-for-car-boat-RV-2pc-100W-solar-moduls-/400420797163?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d3af07aeb Linda S

How about 11 panels Linda S

If you need everything I would think about upgrading to at least a 22re. Some Sunrader 4x4 owners have gone with a chevy 4.3 v6 for the extra power. very dependable engine and you will get the same mileage as the 4 bangers. There is a lot of info about toyota swaps to the 4.3 online. Very cool rig but I am wondering where did you buy it. Linda S

Well you didn't post the comparison so I don't know what the opinions were. Fact is 195/75/14 tires that are out there are mostly car tires. They hold less air pressure and they don't have as stiff sidewalls. Not really the best option. Ride is not as smooth either as the 8 ply 185r14. I know because I have the 195/75/14's on my Nissan. Enough load capacity for a 5000 lb Sunrader shorty but not really a full sized toyota rv. It was the only tire I could find on short notice when I picked up my Nissan and had to buy tires to get home. Not the best option. There are 195r14 tires but they will cost you more than the 185r14 and you don't need them Linda S

These are way overpriced but I like the idea of not having to climb onto the roof to load and unload. Pretty sure you could make one out of a hitch carrier and some pipe. http://www.rvkayakrack.com/gallery.html Linda S

You might try some Timbrens. I found one place that has them pretty cheap. otherwise they cost as much as air bags but they are way easier to install. And extra support but without the bounce of the air bags which I don't really like. Well price has gone up a little since the last time I looked. Still much cheaper than air bags http://www.albanyspring.com/sitedirector/site/product.cfm?id=6576B32F-33E8-4435-B494D7999970B43B This is the right model Linda S

I have helper springs for my Nissan Sunrader that go in front of and behind the air bags. Haven't installed them yet though. Got them at Summit racing. Linda S

I wouldn't know.I only have shorty Sunraders and bottoming out is not something I have to deal with. Does it really happen that often? Linda

May I ask what they are for? Linda S