sparky60

Thanks 4 the info...going 2 take care of it today hopefully......

Check this RV very carefully for leaks. Looks for any water staining however slight on ceiling and around windows. Also look closely around bottom of chassis in front of door and behind rear wheels for rotten wood. I bought a 1983 Dolphin 3 yrs. ago that I also thought looked pretty good. 55,000 miles on engine. Paid $3,500. Since then I think I've put at least $7,000 into the darn thing! Complete engine rebuild, new tires,new shocks, rip out and replace all the rotted wood inside and out,new hot water tank, new paint job etc. etc. I'm not trying to scare you but trying to say look very close at the details and expect to put some money into it. $7,000 seems pretty steep. If he's done a lot of work on it, maybe so. With everything I've done on mine I probably would ask around $9,000 but I doubt anyone would give that much. Good luck.......

Hello, I have a heater bypass kit on my 1983 Dolphin. I used it when I first started using my RV because I didn't need hot water at that time. Now I use hot water. I know the bypass is used to take the hot water tank out of the loop but as far as winterizing why would I need to use the bypass ? Is it wrong to get the RV antifreeze in the tank ? I just put a bit of air pressure in the lines to blow them out. Tomorrow I'll try to figure out how to drain the hot water tank. I think it's just the large plug near the bottom ?! Should I use a bit of antifreeze in the toilet to keep the seal moist? Also , what is an antifreeze tap kit ? As you can see I'm a fairly new owner.....Tks.

Well...I removed the gauge cluster today. Bit of a hassle but not impossible. Removed the odometer and put a small square drive in my drill and spun the speedometer while exerting a bit of pressure to the other wheels on the odometer and Voila ! it now works ...at least untill it gets to the next 1000 mile point ..we'll see then. Now I just have 2 figure what that 2 wire senor thingy is for? Thanks again.........

Thanks so much 4 the tech. info Bodybagger and Turtle......looks like I got my work cut out 4 me ......cul.....

Hi all, been using my '83 Dolphin a bit recently after fixing it up . Runs great, although the odometer just quit on me. It's now at 56,999 and now just cycles thru the 10ths of a mile. I'm sure one of the little gogs is hung up. Banged on it a bit but no luck. Has any one had this happen to them ? Do I have to remove the whole dashboard to get at the little sucker? The speedometer works fine. Also there a small twisted 2 wire sensor that runs down from the engine to the drive shaft. It dosen't touch the drive shaft but is positioned about an inch away from it. I'm just courious as to what this puppy is for? Would this have anything to do with my odometer? Any one know ?........Thanks.....

thanks for the info....nice pics........guess I'll have to keep looking around.....

Hi all, I,ve been looking all over for info on new ft. and rear shocks for my 1983 Toy Dolphin. Alot of mfg. have them for 1984 and newer but I can't seem to find ones for 1983. Has any one replaced shocks for there 1983 Dolphin ? What part number and shock did u use ? Also I have the 6 lug 1 ton axle so when a parts guy asks "do you have a 1 ton chassis" do I say yes or do I say I have a 1 ton axle but a 1/2 ton pick up chassis ( which I think is what the think this puppy is ) ? I a bit confused here. I do know a little about mech. things but I'm lost when it comes the the suspension.......thks for any help....

Thanks for the info turtle.........nice pics...sure wish I could get those Bilsteins......oh well...I'll keep checking around...cul..

Hello Glenn, For what it's worth...I bought a 1983 Toyota dolphin 3 years ago and have been fixing it up ever since, in between work that is. Paid 3200.00..55,000 miles on it. Had engine rebuilt, new paint job on front cab , new hot water tank, tons of work on inside, all new tires, lots of time and effort to be sure but I am finally semi confident to take it out for a long drive. It seems to be a solid little RV. If ur willing to put a bit of money into these puppies I think you'll be happy. I do wish I'd looked a bit closer at mine before I bought it tho. Lots of rotten wood inside. Look carefully under the cab over bed along the front and both sides , If it ever leaked or still does you'll notice these areas will be wet and spongy. In fact mine had rotten wood all along both top edges of the roof . The sealant they used originally was not the greatest so check carefully. If u see any water stains up around there then probably it leaked and someone slopped a little caulk on the roof edges outside. Also check around the windows on the outside and see if anyone chaulked them too recently. Check around the outside bottom edges of the unit. Mine looked OK but when I laid down and REALLY looked the wood there too was all rotted and I had to replace it with 3/4" treated wood. If any of these checks show up on yours I think due to the high mileage you might get him down to $4000 or less. Good luck...............

Thanks to all..........I checked on the Pro Guard and the Monroe shocks and it said there for 1985 -- models but I have a 1983 Toy Dolphin and I don't know if they'll work or not. Guess I just gotta go down to Autozone and check this out...thks again...

Hi all, Just returned from my first trip with my 83' Dolphin. Got around 24 mpg ( better than I thought I'd get). Unfortunately the water pump blew out after the first 150 miles or so. What a nightmare that turned out to be. Luckily a very nice fellow helped helped me locate a nearby garage for repairs so it wasn't to awful painful. I did notice my rig road a bit rough tho so I believe I need a new set of shocks. My question is ,,what type is best ( air shocks..regular gas type shocks..load leveler type(with the spring wound around the upper part) and where would you suggest I find them. I think they need to be suited for a 1 ton chassis ?........Has anyone ever replaced them themselves ...it doesn't look to difficult ........ not really sure about any of this........Thanks.....Oh yeah, the steering wheel is a bit sloppy ,not much, still a bit. Isn't there a way to stiffin this up somewhat ? At the steering gear box maybe ?.......thanks for any help......

I put up fiberglass dippled sheet (white) on my Dolphin ceiling..glued with PL construction adhesive (works great) and a few aluminium button-head screws here and there. Lowes sells vinyl white T-moulding for the seams. I used treated lumber for the exposed skirting underneath. Boy ..I thought I did alot on mine....you got me beat partner...good luck tho..you seem to have it under control. When you get to sealing the roof if needed , check out the post on here about using spray truck bed liner. I wish I'd have done that on mine........later..

Sounds like you got a real goofball Denis. Believe me I've worked with many over the years up there on the border. Used to be the only qualifications you need to work for Customs are " Can you walk and breathe at the same time". Pretty bad hugh ? Unfortunately, now the only qualifications you need are "none" ! There are a few decent fellas still working up there though..........a very few.......better luck next time........

Don'y know how many gallons it is..but its probably 10 gals or so , not big but a bit larger than the bar-b-q ones. I'm gonna figure out how to post pics here someday.....when I can get the time...thks to alll,,,,,,

Thanks nibs...great info...

Hi all. getting my 1983 toy/dolphin back from paint shop soon. Gonna finally use it soon too. Been rebuilding it ...seems forever now. Anyway..my question is when I take out the horizontal propane tank to get it refilled ..do I transport it horizontally ? Does it get refilled horizontally ? I know this sounds dumb, I've only ever used upright tanks in the past. Not sure about these ones...Thks

I forgot..have the dogs shot paper with you just in case. Thats all you need for the dog/cat. Never seen anyone ask for it but you never no with some of these new monkeys up there....puppies need nothing....

Hello Wen, I recently retired from Customs and all you need to get back into the U.S. from canada is your passport. I know theirs a bunch of new jazz you can get and use also ( enhanced drivers license, nexus card etc. etc. ) but believe me the guy at the booth never has a problem with a U.S. passport. He'll just swipe it in his trusty passport reader, ask you a few questions ( where do you live?..why did you go to canada?..do you have anything to declare? or in other words did you buy anything in canada?, blah, blah, blah). If you did buy something in canada or if someone gave you something while you where up there you MUST declare it. The inspector will determine whether the items are admissable (95% will be ok) and whether or not there is any duty on the items. I believe U.S. citizens have a $300 or more exemption, its been awhile for me....most things made in canada and the U.S. are duty free anyway. Also agricultural jazz ( fruit, nuts, meat etc.) brought in from foreign soil must be declared. I forget whats not admissable, used to be clemintines, mangos, palm fronds, ackees etc. but I sure alot has changed since last year. Alot depends on politics believe it or not. As for tips..as a fella that worked for 20+ years on the border, the number one thing that can tick an inspector off more than anything is when someone lies to them. Never make false statements at the border. Lots of trouble! Big fines! Delays,Delays.Delays! I've seen it many times. But the worst part is they put you in the computer and your there for life, so when you cross again no matter where you'll more than likely be sent in for a closer inspection. So basically have your passports ready and declare EVERYTHING. Hope I didn't scare you ....I used to clear thousands of honest people in 1 or 2 minutes flat . I have a feeling your going to fall into this category.....good luck...have a nice trip....

Tried ur link ..but it dosen't seem to work ? I went to www.colehersee.com and they show 10 different isolators. Which one is the Smart Battery Isolator ?..........seems like a good idea ..tks

85mirage...I think you'll like the wht. fiberglass jazz. It can be cut with a pair of straight type metal shears and is easy to work with. Not cheap but then again u don't need much. I used PL400 heavy duty construction adhesive ( I think it's polyurethane) sticks like crazy and also some white button head square drive screws here and there. Where the sheets butt together , I used this t-shaped like channel (wht. vinyl) also from Lowes. that covers the edges nicely....good luck...

Hi all. I too am intersested in a set of air bags for my 1983 Toy/ Dolphin. I checked a few of the links montioned here but its a bit confusing. The micro mino's on Ebay are listed for 1984 thru 1994 , so I guess there no help for me. The Firestone Ride Rite ones are listed for 1965 thru 1995 for Toyota PICK-UPS. ( Model 1130), but it dosen't say for RV's just pick-ups. So would these work for 84' Toy/Dolphin ? Also would you have to adjust the air pressure in them constantly or just when you install them ?.......thks...

Thanks...I'll give them a shot......

Boy..that looks really good, very professional job. Can u just use regular rustoleum or similar type spray can spray paint for the white right over the bed liner stuff ?