johnnyonthespot

while camping out last weekend... we tried to use the propane on the dolphin and we could hear gas leaking out at the main valve.... so we cranked it down tight and put it back in the compartment... better safe than sorry, and i believe the unit is probably outdated and needs upgraded... any advice? anybody want to give me some advice: 1. Where do I shop for a new Tank? 2. What hardware/Parts do I need to make sure to get? 3. Can I install it myself or do I need to get a Pro? thanks for your replies and advice guys...

i have a buttload of documentation with my 83 dolphin peggy i will look close for the schematic.... but honestly i doubt i have it.... even though i have the original manuals they are very vague... each appliance is described in one paragraph and thats about it from what i recall off hand... other than the schematic for the wiring do you need a copy of the manual? im sure our model numbers are different but its still an 83 dolphin and there is some really good info in mine handwritten in on some of the documents... such as proper inflation of the front and rear tires... some of the guys on this forum would never say so themselves but there are some real experts on these things lurking these forums... I am definitely not one of them some of their names elude me at the moment but I know Diesel Mike has been very helpful with advice for me... and i never cease to be amazed by some of the modifications and repairs these guys have made to their rig... they have seemingly done or thought through doing EVERYTHING... its absolutely amazing to me, being new to these things... i will try to get the documents scanned or at least the good parts... welcome to the group...

the more you guys talk about it... my dolphin is my first home too... so i paid cash and a piece of dookie ford f150 for my first home!

welcome aboard Peggy!!! I also have an 83 dolphin although mine has the kitchen in the back design... Photographer eh? cool... I use photography alot in other artistic processes (studio artist) so I totally relate to you wanting to modify this thing to fit your needs... These things are so much fun... you are going to have a blast... tell me how you dumped the blackwater tank please.... ???

yeah i realise it looks a little bit like a bum trip.... I was thinking more of an "I just ate a 2 dollar canned, fake japanese meal and now i have awful intestinal cramping..." kinda image. but when you look up the word psychedelic it literally means : "Mind expanding" so maybe its a good thing...

thats a really cool avatar with your diesel in it Mike... I want to "get lost" in my toyota on dirt roads... maybe one day I will feel confident enough in my rig to drive it anywhere... That is if my nosy stuck up neighbors dont force me into getting rid of the toyota b4 then...

awesome shanda keep working on it! I just hope Episode 4 isnt called: The Search for more Water Damage! im just jealous cause mine needs serious paneling work... good luck and keep us posted!

welcome to the forum! and congrats on the 'rader wonder why it needed a trans so early? not that that would scare me off... my 83 dolphin had a 3 inch binder full of maintenance records... mine has had 2 or 3 clutches, timing chain... i just hope i dont have to spend all that much keeping mine running... but good luck... you can already tell how much fun these things are... My first time out, I had several strangers stop me to tell me what a neat little camper I have... POST SOME PICTURES!

Hello... I am kinda new and wont pretend to know the technical answers to your questions... but i can say this: I own a 1983 toyota dolphin... it has been upgraded to a one ton six lug axle... this weekend while camping we had 7 people pile into our camper... on 2 different occasions... of course we werent driving at the time... I have heard you can add 1000 lbs in people and gear but i tend to think thats a bit conservative.... ??? People talk alot about how slow my 4 cylinder must be.... but honestly i think that the 22r engine does very well moving my rig along... i cant imagine wanting to drive a bigger rig just to go a little bit faster ... i have had mine going 65 and i would rather not go that fast in one... its a great way to see the land... keep looking into these "toy" campers... they are alot ALOT of fun .... and the responses they get are amazing strangers stopped me everywhere i went this weekend... welcome to the forum! good luck

welcome to the group! i also have an 83 dolphin.... i had some cracks in my vents when i got mine and i just temporarily sealed them up.... you have come to the right place... somebody on here will lead you to what you need... ps great score on the dolphin mine had 105k miles and it still runs like a TOP.

welcome to the group.... I am fairly new myself and i cannot answer your questions... but i thought i would wish you welcome and good luck... sounds like a great idea for a family vacation... show us PICTURES!!!!

I havent tried one... sorry Dennis... But While you were on the topic I thought I would ask if you or anyone else would know how I could replace the original split mattress with the flip cushion in the middle for the cab over of my dolphin... when i got it it just had a foam mat... i need to try to get the original equipment or similar back in.... thanks a lot,

i suspected that but didnt want to force or break them... thanks moosepucky

i think Dolphin folded into another company that also folded... im not surprised to hear the same about sunrader... they just dont make these things affordable when new so how many could they possibly sell??? I have a list 2-3thousand dollars long of things I plan on doing to my dolphin... and thats just for repairs, tires and engine maintenance... then there is the WANT list... LCD tv... Generator, replacement Fridge...electric heater AND whatever comes up along the way... I need a job... if anyone has any leads or advice for someone venturing into online sales... feel free to enlighten me.

well I have taken every visible fastener (screws) off of the cabinets in my dolphin.... trying to get at the ceiling panel renovations I am working on... anyone want to offer me some advice on cabinet removal? what in the H is still holding these bad boys on here???

my dolphin has the same problem and i also am anxiously awaiting some good no GREAT advice on how to proceed... so far i have just been advised to take the windows out and reseal them... but the outer gaskets will need attention as well... if you find any answers let me know and i will do the same for you... good luck!

well jersey... i am kinda new to this... but im gonna throw my two cents worth in anyway... if you plan on driving it in the mtns .... i would get a 6 cylinder... you dont wanna be puttin' up hills over heating in the 4 cylinder... I have a 4 cylinder with a carb... no fuel injection... and i wouldnt doubt if i need a new carb... ($400.00) i have read so many great things about the 22r and the 22re that i have no idea which is better... probably depends... with your interests... I would be looking at 6 cylinder FI sunraders... if you are lucky you can find a 4 wheel drive... I agree with you that the funnest layout is the dinette in the back design... seems like the bed may be bigger back there as well... i have an 83 dolphin and its way fun and worth restoring.... but the roof has leaks and now its a definite money pit.... if i had bought a sunrader i wouldnt be having half of my water problems... although i am sure there are some very nice, leak free dolphins out there.... aside from my reasons here... also the sunraider just looks like a snowboarder-wagon... the dolphins look more conservative/ less sporty if it comes down to $$$ buy what you can get a good deal on and make it work... these toycampers are so much fun i doubt if you would regret buying any of them... also.... i have seen used generators that were almost new selling for a fraction of the 2 grand they are worth new... i would expect to spend 1000 - 2000 dollars on a generator if its not included in the rig... maybe even more! go look at some and ask the seller to take you on a ride... tell them its important that you see how it can handle hills/inclines... also... not all of these toyotas have a place ready for a generator... i know mine does NOT. hopefully some of the people out west who drive in the big mountains will reply as well and let you know how their rigs handle the high elevations.... good luck with buying a camper and good luck with the snow... either way, KEEP IT FRESH!