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Clean the battery terminals and the isolator terminals. Check all appliances and water systems before your first trip. Congrats and best of luck.

Pulling to the right could be a simple alighnment problem or it could be something serious requiring frame alignment or replacement of suspension components. If you are not able to tell these things for yourself you probably should have an alignment shop look at it. Water damage to the coach can be a deal breaker. If the framing is wood and rotten, repairing it is usually more work than most people are willing or able to do. If the fridge doesn't work and needs replaced you are looking at around $1000, the rooftop air is probably more, furnace is probably $400. You might look at yahoo groups, they have a Toyota motorhome group that has considerable info on purchasing used vehicles and are always posting ones they see that are for sale. I don't know what's wrong with your generator but I have one and never use it, it's just too noisy. I use the dash air when traveling and if I'm camping in hot weather I stay where there is an electric hookup, then I can run the coach air.

Great fish story! Did you get any pics of the hot chick? Never heard of a chip in a fish. I'm guessing it's a salmon? Can't believe they tore it's face off, did you report 'em to Peta? My biggest was a 42lb flathead. I was in a 8' jon boat and when I would try to pull him in the edge of the boat would almost go under. I solved that by shooting him in the head, that took the fight out of him and he slid into the boat quite easily. Mike from Kansas, the land of catfish and largemouth bass.

Shademaker is the name of the company that manufactures the awnings. I compared them to Carefree of Colorado and they are about $50 cheaper for an 11' roll up awning.

Beautiful job, really updated the appearance.

I saw the two cute pics of your daughter too but I was hoping to find more pics of your fish. Mike

Thanks for posting that site, I have also been looking for an awning and thought the two big names were too high.

I have been towing two four wheelers through the mountain passes in Colorado and New Mexico with my '86 Escaper 4cyl 4sp no problems other than a bit slow.

I want to install a 19" flat screen using a swing away type wall bracket and have a few questions. Will it stay in place while driving with the bumps, vibrations, stopping and starting and all? I believe it only weighs about 6 or 7 lbs. The bumps won't tear it loose or damage the tv will it?

Cheryl, I have owned every kind of camper except the popup and I now have an '86 Escaper that I was fortunate to find in top shape with no rust or leaks, 40,000 miles and everything original and working. That said, there were still some maintenance items and tire replacement to take care of. We too had a beautiful fifth wheel but the kids grew up and the wife wasn't interested in going anywhere with it. So, I found this little gem on the internet and thought it would be just right for me. Lo and behold, my wife started going with me. It is easy to drive and low stress and mine handles much better than a cabover camper I had on a pickup. However I don't think there is room for more than two people to travel comfortably. One thing I have found, it doesn't matter if you have a tent or a $500,000 motor home, what is important is using it, enjoying it and your company and having fun. The fanciest camping outfit sitting in your drive will do nothing for you but sharing even a tent site with those you love and enjoy is a memory you will have forever. Best of luck, Mike

I'd like a console but am wondering if I would still have room to crawl back to the living area?

Regarding the generator. I have a generator in my '86 Escaper and have never used it. It's noisy and I think the only time I might use it would be to run the ac for a little bit to take a nap while traveling. Because of the noise I don't think this would be posible. Any other time if it's ac weather I stay where there's electric and don't need the generator. If I'm dry camping in cooler weather my batteries are fine. I've camped in freezing weather where the furnace blower ran all night and the battery was fine. I've never understood the need for solar panels. Whenever you run the engine both batteries recharge as long as they are in good condition along with the isolator. Don't waste your money on a generator. Spend the extra money on a good solid coach that has no leaks, is all original and everything works like the day it came from the factory. The truck is just a truck and can be repaired as long as it's not rusted. If the coach is rotten don't buy! I wish you the best of luck. Mike

I paid $7700 for an '86 Escaper with 46,000 mi. two years ago and am still happy. It came from New Mexico and had no rust, dents, dings other damage. Everything was original and working except for the furnace. I spent $15 for a relay and it was fixed. It has original on board generator and roof ac. I added a roof antenna, one of the original equipment type that crank up and rotate. Plan to add an awning this year. Been to Yellowstone, Colorado, New Mexico, Little Sahara, Arkansas and more. I've had every camper and motorhome combo there is except for the popup and this is best for our present purposes. It runs and drives like new. I even tow a small trailer with two four wheelers. Did I mention it's a four cylinder four speed?