Plain Jane

Yes, I was planning to bomb it anyway. I'm more concerned about the presence of dampness that the cockroaches suggest. In general I just want to protect it from any further damage besides what has already happened. Again, no idea what to use for sealant - I've seen so many different products suggested, even just on TMH.

Ohh-kay, I'll just continue here. @john*thomas, that is why I bought mine too. To get away. I'm happy to seal, repair and paint. This actually is a relief - I was afraid I'd bitten off more than I can chew, but thanks to you all, I feel more confident. Having listened to you all here, I've decided on a few things: I'll seal it myself. At least everyone agrees that that's a priority. I won't rip anything out. I will remove the cabinet where I saw the cockroach disappear, along with that wall panel, then check for rot and seal. Then replace the panel with something else, maybe a FRP panel. Then I'll put the cabinet back. I've read somewhere that I need to use special screws for that. Any suggestions? I don't mean to sound obsessed about this but it is the cabinet above the stove and I kinda think I'll be using it for food. I'll probably paint all the cabinets white. After priming with Kilz, of course. @extech, the hump next to the coach door is a wheel. Maybe I can get a handyman to build me a bench seat accommodating the hump (after I remove the carpet of course). New question: I want to redo the shower so it's waterproof. From what I've read, it looks like my options are FRP or vinyl paneling. The problem I see is that I'd have to cut a hole in it where the hot and cold handles are. So I like the other option better. Painting it with something that will resurface and seal it. I've seen various products recommended. What's your consensus on the ABSOLUTE BEST product? Also, whatever that product is, can I use it to seal the outside of the camper? Dang, Linda, I just ordered three caps for the vents because they were missing. I had a feeling I needed whole new vents - wish I'd thought a little longer about it before ordering those caps. But they were needed in a hurry. That's all for now. Jane

Wow, guys (and by that I mean people), didn't mean to start a brush fire! @Linda, thanks for your honesty. I'd still like to learn all I can from you all. If you think I can do the sealing by myself, I'll do that. Also, I realized this was not the forum to post my question on to begin with, so it's no wonder you posted your answer somewhere else, Linda. I'm heading over to General Discussion so I can keep asking questions - and I still have a lot of them!

There was no link to the post. Now I'm curious! Okay, no crowbar. Got it. Before I mentally replace the walls, here are some pictures (finally), focusing on the ceiling. Rot or not? That will tell me if I need to replace everything including the ceiling.

Thanks again! I guess I was afraid the gas appliances would blow up. I guess I need a crowbar to take the cabinets and paneling off, too. What would be a good material to use to replace the paneling? Is there one I could cut without a saw? I saw one remodeling job where they used Coroplast. Input on that?

Thanks, Scott and extech. Appreciate the advice. I think I'll have the sealing done by a pro and then try to do as much as I can on my own. It sounds like there are a lot of water-damaged Toyota campers are out there. Can I work on it (remove the paneling, etc) before I get it sealed or does that have to come first? The pro can't fit me in for another two weeks. There's an original gas range and furnace. Would it be better to replace those with an electric stove and heater? Just concerned about their age and possible gas leaks. The sink is fine, but I'd like to replace the cabinet containing it. Can I sort of build around it or do I have to disconnect and reconnect it? What I thought was the AC without a front panel is actually the circuit breaker. Looks like there are some parts missing from that too. (Resigned sigh) I guess I'll have to get a pro to fix that too. As for the parts I want to do on my own, I'll ask again - what kind of tools/equipment will I need? Thanks for your help so far, Jane

Ha, sorry, guys. I did leave out a lot! @Maineah, thanks for the suggestion! Maybe I'll do that once I know what I'm doing. Where: Eastern North Carolina. The truck is great, seller did some repairs to truck like new belts, etc. but nothing else needed right now. I love the crank windows and especially the little triangle vents in the cab. The camper part is the problem. It is 99% original. There's a leak at one corner of the side window next to the door, and the wall paneling is peeling away there, showing wood but not the fiberglass (yet). The wall under the window in the cabover bed space is stained as if there is a leak there too. However, the camper doesn't smell damp. Also the ceiling vents need replacing and there's staining around them too. I was hoping I would not need to gut it completely, but opened an overhead cabinet today and a roach scuttled out of sight behind the paneling that's peeling away at the back of the cabinet, which means moisture back there. Do I need to pull out all the cabinets? That seems expensive. On the other hand, it's not like the cabinets are really that sturdy or nice anyway. I just don't have the equipment to make new ones, like a power saw. I do have a drill and an orbital sander. I would like to use it in cold weather so that would be another reason to replace all paneling. A local RV repair guy said the first thing a Dolphin needs these days is for the joints and the windows to be completely sealed, which makes total sense. He quoted that work and it seemed reasonable for the labor that goes into it, so maybe I should leave that particular thing to the pros, but I don't know enough to say for sure and am reluctant to spend the money all at once ($1200). I got another estimate, which was higher. That's when I posted my initial question. Any input on that? I've seen talk of various methods of sealing here and elsewhere, but no idea how much expertise is actually needed to do it. Also, I don't understand how they can do the sealing without replacing the paneling at the same time. Seems like you'd have to remove the paneling around the windows to seal them properly, but of course the paneling is all one piece. How do they do that? Electrical: The works of the camper A/C are there but the front panel is gone so there are no controls. I wouldn't know how to wire it. Plumbing: The shower stall (rear bath) has the original paneling that's everywhere else, which doesn't seem very practical. Didn't notice any water damage around the edges, though, but if I put in a fiberglass or acrylic shower stall I'd need someone to install/re-install the fixtures. Don't think I'd try that myself. Cosmetic: It has the original carpeting but would rather have a hard floor I think. The carpeting goes all the way into the truck cab so I wouldn't know where to cut it off or how to finish the edge. The table, which flips down, needs to be re-mounted and there's only one bench seat (the side close to the door has a bump as if there were a wheel there, and it's covered in carpet). I've only had it a day. It was under a carport until I bought it yesterday, and I've parked it at some friends' house for now. I gave them a huge tarp to put on it in case it rains, but I know not to keep the tarp on it - better to leave it under the sun, and there is a lot of that here. Hope this helps! Sorry no pics for now but when I park it at my house I can provide those. TIA Plain Jane

Hi all, Just bought my first camper ever, an '87 Toyota Dolphin. Long story short, it needs work - work that I myself don't know how to do. I read great blogs and posts here about the amazing things people have done to their Toyota campers, but the writers are either trained, related/married to someone who can work on them, or just amazingly talented in RV repair from birth. For regular people like me, there's only one option: hire someone else to do it. Or is there another way? I'd love some information on how regular people like me can fix up their campers themselves. I can do basic DIY around my home, but I know better than to assume that transfers to RVs. What kind of basic equipment, like power tools, do I need? Where could I park it to work on it (I live in a townhome community where we're not even supposed to change the oil in the parking lot)? I'd like to partner with someone and learn the skills needed to fix it up - has anyone here ever done that? TIA for any information!