Jump to content

RHS

Toyota Advanced Member
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    88

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Posts posted by RHS

    Newbie Wants to Buy Toyota Dolphin

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    MY 2 cents

    I have had both. If you are doing a lot of driving the V6 may be worth the extra. If you are not in a hurry or not doing that much long trips the 4 cyl will work fine for you. There is not really any difference in the interiors just find the layout you like. Look at as many as you can. Toy owners usually love to show you there units. When you see one stop & talk. I do not really like driving the 4 cyl. auto just a personal thing I guess. They all need maintenance if you keep up any make will work if you are behind & rot is present sunraders have some real pluses. I have noticed that the people who feel comfortable doing their own maintenance have different attitude than people who have to hire it done, certainly understandable that may be why opinions differ at times.

    Are There Any Decent Ones Left ?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I have sold quite a number of toyhomes just listed on CL emailed a few pictures if they are interested they will come. I have always been honest may have lost some by being too honest but I must sleep at night. These little units we have are not perfect but most things are repairable. If people do not understand this maybe they should buy a gas hog or quit complaining.

    Rich

    Are There Any Decent Ones Left ?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I have repaired & rebuilt a number of toyota motorhomes. The fiberglass on most units is just siding that is glued to styrofoam & wood framing. If there is a leak in any seam rot can start. I have taken a whole side off 2 dolphins and glued new framing to the siding the styro usually holds the siding together while you work. That was easier for me than trying to repair around intereor parts. The reason Imention this is on one theser units & another that I did not go this far on some manufacturers were not carfull to lap roof material down over siding on a '91 dolphin ther was a foot long space that had no lap it must have started deteriorating at the start. I am convinced that some builders did not use properly dried framing material & started dry rot soon after mfg. Sunraders are easier to repair from my experience because there are a lot fewer places to leak. I have redone 4 Sunraders & they all had particle board framing & who ever cut out the window, vent, water heater, etc openings had a lot to drink before coming to work. The floors that I worked on had 1/2 plywood on the top but not enough framing to make it not seem to move when walked on. I have found that some angle iron can be welded to the framing underneath up against floor to help elimanate much of the spongy feal. I would rather repair a Sunrader than most of the others but most all brands can be repaired if you have the will & the time it is more an issue of labor than expense. Ripping some 1X2s & paneling is usually not that costly. Just my 2 cents worth.

    Rich

    Instamatic 3 way refrigerator

    in Coach ApplianceTech Issues

    Posted

    What ever works it's not good to mix voltages for safety reasons but it sure beats a new unit. I would use a DPDT with a center off one direction 120 v the other 12. If you really want to be safe a set of relays with 12 volt coils.

    Thought about using relays just trying to keep power usage to minimum.

    thanks

    Instamatic 3 way refrigerator

    in Coach ApplianceTech Issues

    Posted

    I have 2 refrigerators that do not work, In the past I just tried to find replacements but they are getting hard to find & exspensive. Thought I would take time & check a little closer. These are both Instamatic 3 way units out of '82 & '83 sunraders model # IM433C. What I had been doing was plugging into 115 v & gas to check. Neither worked on 115 v I checked the voltage coming out of the 12v -115v selector switch had 75 volts. By passed the selector switch works great. I looked on line found that these switchs are no longer available. I am thinking of using a 4 pole toggle switch. Any one have a better idea.

    thanks

    Rich

    Best time / season to buy a Toyhome

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    It took almost 2 weeks before I got a response from the people who were selling the Sunrader I purchased. They had gone to California. Their son posted the ad and they did not even know how to respond to people by email. If I had not put my phone number in the email I would not have gotten any response from them. A lot of older people just don't use computers often enough to do a good job of selling on craigslist. So be sure you put a phone number in. Also don't ask a ton of questions in the email you send, save it for the phone call. Most people have to hunt and peck when keyboarding and hate long list of questions and never respond to emails that contain questions. People can also be very spooky about sending VIN numbers by email, they are afraid of being scammed, so save that question until after you get two way communication going.

    I would have responded to that email with...

    I have been looking for this model of toyota motorhome, I was very excited to see your listing. I would love to talk to you about it and make an appointment to come and see it. Please call or email me.

    phone number######

    Keep it all positive, enthusiastic and very simple. Don't ask anything of them except to contact you.

    Thanks Karin I just asked if it was still available but did not leave number. (I do not really need another one just can't pass up a V6)

    Rich

    How/Where to transport a kayak.

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I think you could add in a strut support to the front of the cab over bed wall. You would need to put in reinforcing extra fiberblass and a metal plate to bolt through inside the rig. The support pole would have a V or T at the top. You would want it to be removable for times when you are not taking the boat with you. Most of the weight would be behind that area, it would just serve more as an anti vibration cushion.

    Yes I have thought about doing something like that just being lazy I guess. I also tried a "sea eagle inflatable just not the same. It would be interesting to hear what "Sea Kayaker" has to say. Thanks for input.

    Rich

    How/Where to transport a kayak.

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I've been wondering how to haul 17' wood strip kayak 45# on 18' sunrader don't have problem with climbing, length just sticks out so far over sloaping front roof seams unsafe. I should get shorter kayak I guess, just spent so much time building it and it handles so nice I do not have heart to change wondered about trailer I think I will just keep thinking keep the ideas coming.

    thanks

    Rich

    Sunrader With Concave Roof - How To Pop It Back?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    The '81 that I repaired had a broken roof vent & the whole interior was soaked the upper cabinets were mostly on the floor. I stripped it out & redid the interior except for the bath. Sunrader liked to use particle board & plywood strips for framing. With everything out it really is not that difficult to put in new cross 1x2s in place. If they are longer than the span, once they are in place it is amazing how strong they are you can get on the roof and see. Glue new styrofoam between the 1x2s and cover with thin plywood. The upper cabinets actually add support to the roof. Trying to push up roof without redoing cross members just does not seem to work very well at least it did not for me. If the cabinets are intact they come out relatively easily it just looks difficult. Some of the early ones did not put plywood on the ceiling but I think is a better way to go. Good luck. I have another one to do this winter.

    $500 Sunrader

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I did not need another project but saw a sunrader for $500 just had to check it out. I drove an 18' 1982 sunrader 420 miles home. Drove well, has upgraded axle, very good tires. Has exhaust leak, oil leak some where on top of engine, needs some cabinet work, front curved windows have cracks. All this is pretty easily fixed, has great bones. But I have a problem I am not sure about. The speedometer does not work right, it said I was doing 75 mph when I was actually doing 55 mph. I have seen several miles difference but that seems to be extreme. There are some very sharp people on this web sight, can some one tell me what the problem is. It has a 4 spd manual it originally had 5 spd they said. The speedo gear may well be wrong but could it be that far off?

    thanks

    Evaporative Air Conditioner

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I did some "horse trading" for roof ac unit that is evaporative with 12 vdc fan. It is fed water through 1/4" tube that turned on & off by a float. I do not like listening to a generator but there are times when a little cooling while camping in some locations would be nice. I t would be much like operating furnace with 12 v fan. It is a RECAIR model 12B3. Has any one used such a unit ? How well does it work?

    thanks

×
×
  • Create New...