[Cigarette lighter and oven does not work?]

I hae the 83 Dolphin and for some reason the lighter will no longer work, I checked the fuse (under the steering wheel and it looks fine) any suggestions... Also wondered why the oven won't turn on, the pilot is lit?

Thanks in advance, if it's already been answered, please direct me to thread ads I can't find it...

Thanking you in advance.

[Our first trip in '83 Dolphin]

I bet the kids loved traveling in your toy! Do you have any tips to share? Learning experiences? What was your favorite family moment?

shanda

[Our first trip in '83 Dolphin]

Thanks guys, was a truly memorable experience. We got lucky in Yosemite valley, Bass Lake, we were informed of a 'Run off' RV parking which was free, there were spots at the Lake tho', I think the gas prices and economy has impacted the availability of paces positively.

The kids loved the experience, I built a very simple bed that sat on the chairs so, we slept six, we also took a tent which proved popular with the boys.

Big Sur was wonderful, great spot on a cliff looking over the ocean, about 3o miles shy of Henry Miller's library (South of it). We also spent a night at a forest which was my favourite, cool temp and the best air I've breathed since Scandinavia in the early 80's.

Only just figured out the hot water and at medium temp it's very hot!

The only downside of the experience was coming home to Los Ang and having to climb the very busy 'grape vine' on the 5, at 17 miles an hour with trucks bullying us. Pretty scary, I'll plan the drives in future, definitely early starts and will time the tricky mountainous areas.

We traveled to mammoth lake last year in our 83 VW Vanagon camper and the Dolphin trumps it in just about every way... The ac, the hot water, the cooking, the shower and the eaze of settling down for the night...

We're off to Sequim in Washington in a few weeks and I hope to have everything running...Still a lot to learn but..

[Our first trip in '83 Dolphin]

A few pix from our first trip..Bug Sur and Yosemite valley...

[Just bought a Dolphin 83 and my searches thus far have failed]

See attached.

Brilliant! I rechecked and found if I pulled it 'all the way' it was solid... I will print this out for future ref. Thanks so much... We just left Big Sur, no internet or cell, fantastic! Tonight Carmel and tomorrow Monterey and San Fran and beyond...

Can't get the darned water heater to light, it's brand new too.

Oh we got 20 miles a gallon from Los Angels, pretty impressive if you consider much of the driving in 3rd gear due to winding climbs and falls. Loving it and so is my wife (who took a lot of convincing to buy this vehicle) and my 4 kids...

Cheers everyone...

[Just bought a Dolphin 83 and my searches thus far have failed]

Hi evereste

I'm new to this too so I hope I'm doing this right. Sorry if I goof up. If your parking brake is too loose and no one has changed the adjustment on the cable you should adjust the brake shoes first. This will usually take care of the parking brake assuming all else is status quo. It is of course always a good idea to pull off the brake drums, wipe out any dust with a damp throw away rag or use brake cleaner while wearing a particulate mask, and check the thickness of your brake linings and for any lip on the inner edge of your brake drums. Toyota says if you are down to 1mm its time for turning the drums and new shoes. On the small trucks I've seen the rear shoes go anywhere from 60K to over 100K depending on braking habbits. On the motorhomes with all of that weight I don't know how far they will go, but I suspect its alot less. I just bought an '87 Dolphin with 52K and the previous owner had already replaced the rear brakes, so maybe you can use that for some comparison.To adjust the brake shoes you turn a star wheel at the bottom of the brake assembly. You can do this with your fingers while you have the brake drum off or you can turn with a special tool or a flat screwdriver through the backing plate slot after removing the oblong rubber plug. Keep testing the shoe to drum clearance as you adjust. If after all of this you still need to adjust the parking brake cable you will see a cable coming from each rear wheel. Follow the cables forward until they meet a threaded rod which is attatched to a lever and another cable going up front. With the parking brake cmpletely off run the nut on the threaded rod forward until the park brake handle pulls tight at about half travel (turn test turn test). The adjustment nut has a little hump built into it that will keep it from turning after you're done. Remember if someone has tightened the P/cable before without adjusting the shoes first you may actually have to loosen the cable after or as the shoes are being properly adjusted.

Hope this helps

AREVEE87

Thank you Areevee87... I'll have a go... Appreciate the detail and time. You rule!

[Just bought a Dolphin 83 and my searches thus far have failed]

Hi, I'm new to this forum and also the Toyota Dolphin 83, drawn by the mpg and dry camping. I did find manuals here tho' (Thank you Robert and Jackie Daniel)... We used a 1983 westfalia Vanogan in the past.

I need to tighten my parking brake, this is the most crucial as we're taking our first trip to Big Sur in a few days... I figured it can't be that difficult and maybe someone has a how to or at least where to?

I haven't figured out how to get the water and heating, ac etc running but ne step at a time...

I did try to search the forums but alas.

Oh we've already done a ton of work on the interior...I'll post the pix soon.

Thanking you in advance...

[Unsafe Lane Usage]

Hello All,

The first few hours on any of my RV trips appear to be the most interesting.

Last Friday (May 30th) I was two hours into my one week trip to Wisconsin and I was

stop by the Indiana State Police. I asked why I was stopped and was informed that I

was moving around in my lane. It was a bit windy out and I told the tropper that I was

getting hit by cross winds. I asked if I crossed any of the lane lines and was told no, just

that I was moving a bit left and right in my lane. The tropper returned a few minutes later

and issued me a warning ticket for "Unsafe Lane Usage".

Has anyone else experienced something like this?

Is a "Unsafe Lane Usage" the default warning ticket to issue for failed DUI stops?

Thanks,

Dennis...

It's just a warning ticket..Maybe the cop was actually concerned for your and other road users well being.