linda s

Yes I have a Nissan v6 Sunrader. Strange I picked mine up in New York and drove it to California. Guess your going the other way. So what do you want to know. I've kind of been tracking these things and I think only about 8 exist. Mine I found in New York. It had been abandoned in a field for a couple of years. and had little maintence before that but the previous owner managed to drive it from Alaska. Still ran and I drove it to California with no engine problems. This is one tough little engine and an even tougher drive train. 9.25 differential instead of the Toyota 8. Flys down the highway like an Suv instead of an overloaded 4 banger. The only important maintence issue is the timing belt. It is an interference engine and timing belt needs to be done every 60,000 miles. The one you are buying the guy just bought at a small dealer and the owner claims not to know anything about it's history. You need to do it before you drive home. I was just lucky cause I don't think mine had ever been done and it was at 120,000. PM me and I would be happy to give you my phone number and answer any questions. Leaving for Christmas so email directly at Linda

Tire rack has warehouses in Connecticut, Indiana and some other places. You only pay shipping from the closest warehouse. Bus Depot is in Pa. Linda S

One other thing. The floor I repaired had previously been covered by a 3/4 inch piece of plywood to support it. Because you can't get this extra support wall to wall and because it weighed so much it created a rubber band effect. Bouncing up and down in the middle of the rig causeing all kinds of vibration while driving. A little flex in a camper with a flexible fiberglass shell is a good thing. I would not advise cutting out any of the old original plywood floor cause of that foam underneath. Nothing to screw another peice of plywood too. I drilled a few small holes and poured resin into them and all over the floor. Made a nice hard surface to attach the new plywood to. LS

Don't think I've ever seen a shorty Sunrader without a soft spot in exactly that place. Greg has a write up somewhere on this site that describes how how fixed his. Basicaly took up the carpet and put down 1/2 inch plywood. I didn't want to lose headroom so I used 1/4 inch marine grade and then put c channel rods used for shelving underneath for more support. Sunrader brochures are in the toyota-camper site on Yahoo groups and include a drawing of how the floor is put together. Plywood, foam another thin plywood and covered underneath with thin steel. No i it leaked you coach frame strength does not degrade. I have 2 Sunraders. The other one is soft too but not too bad so I haven't done anything yet. 7 years later it is unchanged, no softer LS

Darn I was so sure my bitty Sunrader would come under those limits but it doesn't. 112 wheel base would mean the rear of the camper couldn't extend more than 67.2 inches but it's 71.5 inches. The Nissan is a little closer cause 60% would be 69.6 inches.Rear overhang is the same probably because the nissan has a roomier cab LS

Yeah you got it wrong here. I did the axle seals on my Nissan which is exactly the same design as the Toyota and there is a seal the axle slides into which blocks the diff fluid. The bearings need to be removed and greased. When the axle seals are bad it doesn't just grease the bearings, it greases your brakes LS

The v6 is 86 1/2. Came out mid year. I searched and searched for potential problems and all I found was some guy on a Nissan site that was complaining because his lifters were starting to make some noise at 400,000 miles. My friend Aaron is a Nissan certified mechanic and he says it's one of the best engines out there. Mine was as abused as an engine can get. 10 years of winters in Alaska and then abandoned in a field in New York. for a couple more. Drove it home to California before having any work done. Oil was almost solid when we finally changed it and Differential was almost dry from leaking seals. Compression now is pefrect, no major repairs just tune up and timing belt, and diff still runs fine Indestructable by my figuring. Derek I don't know what it is you want me to compare. My Toyota 4 banger Sunrader to my v6 Nissan? If so my Toyota runs like a corolla with a house on the back and my Nissan doesn't feel much different driving than my Ford Explorer v6 and thats got a lot of get up and go LS My Toyota is not really that bad. Little Sunrader it can zip right along as long as there isn't a hill. Problem in Cal is everywhere you go there's one of those damn hills

I have a Nissan and I love it. Not finished restoring it yet but very powerful and better mileage than what I hear about the Toyota v6. Unfortunately it's not really a choice. In 7 years of being on these groups I have seen 8 nissan v6 Sunraders, 2 or 3 Four Seasons and 3 Odyssey's. All together less units than Sunrader 4x4's. If you find one buy it. You'll love it. Linda S

Not mine but I'll give the best example of dependability I have ever seen. Saw a guy at a rest stop in Northern California with the most beat up old Dolphin I've ever seen.Early 80's no later than 83 Lived in it and probably never had it tuned up. He said he bought it at about 150,000 miles and when I saw it it had 268,000 miles. Still running and didn't sound too bad. Still had the old 5 lug dangerous axle too. Not telling you to expect that though. Guy must have been kissed by God for that thing to still be running LS

Don't quite undestand what your talking about. We are discussing Toyota motorhomes, none of which ever had a 4 lug axle. All 5 or 6 lug but the best case scenario is 6 lug full floater. And why would we replace our stuff with Ford parts when suitable Toyota parts are available. Did you get your groups mixed up LS

I'm in San Jose and when I don't have time for a longer trip I go to Santa Cruz area for weekends. Nice to have so many choices so close LS

Very small and light weight. Unless you plan on loading up with a lot of stuff., I wouldn't worry about it at all. Just because of the age though wouldn't hurt to have bearings and axles inspected before a long trip. LS

Here is a Sunrader 4x4. Not actory but a conversion. priced very well considering all he has put into it http://santabarbara.craigslist.org/rvs/2746617002.html Linda S

Some of those imports I've seen are on Land Cruiser chassis. Full floaters everywhere in the world but here. Even the ones that aren't seem to be newer than here and the axles just kept getting stronger. Lightweight camper on a newer truck I don't think the axle is such an issue. LS

Been a while just wondering if you ever checked the size on that gas tank. Love to hear measurements. I know a regular pick up tank will fit a T100 so everything must be basically in the right place. Have you pulled it yet or do you have measurements for it. Sure would be nice to have a 24 gallon tank LS

Derek's right. Mght be easier to find a 18t Sunrader and do a 4x4 conversion. Cheaper too. Remember only 26 factory built 4x4 Sunrader's Your in Canada so overseas imports are more readily available. You actually have more options than we do in the US. Of course there is always the 4x4 truck and camper option. http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/pml/rvs/2727922966.html LS

1987 Dolphins came with standard ajustable air suspension. Don't know what happeded to yours but it didn't come that way. Look here under cab and chassis specs at the bottom http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/8MjZToME5Gjn5ngTkZLQka1b5kWkzC8_2H72xcC4ACFfdCFEASrCdaDVS80_KU4vK-PLklovs--BS3LunQGvhX_G69DO7Eg/Coach%20Manufacturer%27s%20Information/Owners%20Manuals%20and%20Brochures%2C%20Etc./Dolphin%20%2B%20Seabreeze%20%28National%20RV%29/Dolphin_Seabreeze%20Sales%20Brochures/1987%20Dolphin%20Micro%20Mini.pdf LS

So happy for you.You have a very special little camper there LS

How about just slipping some of these on instead of cutting your table. On the edge you'd have more room on the table too. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Clip-Plexiglas-Drink-Cup-Holder-Poker-Table-Use-/330428874742?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4cef187ff6 LS

Air bags should never be deflated completely. They will develop leaks. Always keep at least 10 to 20 lbs in them. I usually run mine at 50 for driving. Yes good shocks are the answer. I like KYB but Bilstein is considered the best. LS

The Bandit he's going to look at is in Tenessee. Air conditioners don't just cool they dehumidify. I'm assuming he too lives near there and the heat is made much worse by the humidity An air conditioner will make it much easier to sleep in an area where it really doesn't cool off much at night. Portable AC's don't drain constantly. The drain is in a closed position when in use. . They will vent off some water but in humid areas you really need to drain them every day. Where your going to put it in a tiny Bandit is another issue. LS

My portable ac works very well and even though I have an onboard gen set I never use it. Too loud. In California heat isn't a big problem but when going to the central valley which is very hot I make plans to be at a campsite with hook ups. Have plans to eventually remove the current generator and buy a honda eu2000. They have more than enough power to run my 8000 btu air conditioner and are very quiet besides being outside the camper. I have also seen small campers like yours with a window air conditioner below the seats. Just have to make sure there is a way to drain off the condensation. Truth is I would never cut into your beautiful fiberglass sides. It's a beauty. Good luck LS

I would expect this Bandit to sell easily for 6 grand. The only reason it's still for sale is because he listed it in cars and trucks instead of RV's so it was hard to find. The pop top should make a huge difference in mileage and the 4 speed too. With the engine tuned up I think you can do better than 20mpg in this baby maybe more. I can get up to 19mpg in my Sunrader on flat terrain and I have an auto with of course the taller overhead. You mentioned adding air. Are you talking about to the cab or the coach. Adding air to the cab can be done easiest if you find a complete system in a junked truck. Adding to the coach is a problem. Not a good idea to try to put a conventional rv air conditioner on the pop top roof. Just asking for problems. Huge windows on the sides of the Bandit limit installation area for a conventional window air conditioner to be installed on the side of the camper. I use a small portable floor model in my Sunrader. That way you don't have to make any harmful cuts in the camper and don't have to carry extra weight when you don't need it. LS

One last try. This place repairs rv refrigerators and they are in Everett, Wa. They might have an old knob. They also have a forum so maybe one of their customers can find one for you. http://www.rvmobile.com/ LS

Wow I wonder how many of those thousands of parts they list complete with price even exist. I'm kind of shocked. I haven't ordered from them but thinking they had all these replacement parts for my old camper stuff made me feel more secure. Now I find out I'm probably going to have to buy all new appliances when they break. The site Derek posted looks like a possibility for the knobs. maybe you can jury rig something together that will work LS