Derek up North

'86 was a transition year. Some were fitted with the 'correct' 6-bolt axle with the 5-bolt front end. So without removing the rear hub caps, it could be good. Or, of course, it could have had the rear axle replaced by the recall. The rot doesn't look promising. Could be just the tip of a much larger iceberg!!

Which axle do you have installed? 5 bolt or 6 bolt?

Here's another 4x4 Bandit you might enjoy. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/toyota-campers/photos/album/1769328047/pic/list With temperatures like that, I'd be investigating a 'Safari Roof' as used on Land Rovers!

Doesn't bother me if it's on a D50. The camper part's the same! I used to own an '87 myself. I'm not sure if there's any need to worry about the rear axle on the D50, especially with the relatively light Bandit mounted on it. Get the rear springs re-arched and maybe add some air springs. I also like to see motorhomes that are painted colors other than white! I guess it makes sense to paint at least the roof white. But if I was repainting, I'd be tempted to keep at least a little bit of color! Good luck with the refurb and I'm sure people here won't mind helping answer questions about the coach systems.

http://www.carterd.c...uals%202007.pdf

Google will often turn up needed manuals. As an example:- http://www.google.ca/search?q=dometic+rm2400+manual&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a http://www.google.ca/search?q=suburban+heater+sw6p+manual&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a http://www.carterd.com/customer/cadiin/customerpages/PDFs/Atwood%20Service%20and%20Training%20Manuals%202007.pdf

Welcome to the Forum. Where, roughly, are you located? Here's a link to the '83 Dolphin Manual:- http://toyotamotorhome.org/forums/uploads/1169594953/gallery_1_48_530695.pdf For the individual 'systems', it might be best if you let us know which particular models you have installed and maybe we can help. You could also try Googling:- http://www.google.ca/search?q=dometic+rm2400+manual&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

I'd at least go and try it on for size. At that price, if it's in any kind of shape, you could try it out and if it doesn't work out you could easily get your money back.

Just plan where you're going to locate your 6-Ton axle stands once it's in the air.

If you look here:- http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrv/tires-retreads/load-inflation-tables.jsp you'll see that Michelin gives different pressures based on the load per axle. Unfortunately they don't list information for our 185R14 tires, but you get the idea. I'd guess that all tire manufacturers have similar information, so I'm guessing that if you contacted your tire manufacturer they could/should send you the information. Of course you'll have to get your rig weighed!

If I was on a 'farm' then there would be no height restrictions on the 'barn'. Unfortunately, I'm not classified as a farm.

Welcome from me, too. And thanks for making me aware of the Ultra Van. I wish they weren't so rare, because the chance of my acquiring one look pretty slim!

There you go. Info from someone who's done it into BC. Not sure what forms you're talking about, Andrew. My experience was to show up at US 'Export Control' and all they did was take the Title and a copy of the Bill of Sale for the 72 hours. No form was ever filled out. I've heard mention of the ICBC but don't really know too much about it. I'll just caution you to make sure with which ever State you think of buying from that they'll accept whatever paper the ICBC provides you. You don't want to get stuck with a motorhome in Idaho that you can't drive home! It almost happened to me in Maine. Happy hunting!

How about this one? http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/rvs/1755343595.html I've never even driven a 4 cylinder, but I find it hard to believe that there's a road or driveway that you couldn't churn up in 1st gear. How long is this driveway?

I wish I could offer to help you out, but I've already got enough grief from my neighnours when I brought one home. They don't even know that I have a second one stashed elsewhere! Where (roughly) are you in Pa? Maybe we can keep our eyes open for one for you. Remember, it's only the cab that's by Toyota. The coach is all American and can still nickle and dime you to death quite effectively. The onlt alternative that comes to ming that's all foreign is the VW Westfalia. But with the whole gang along (inc 2 dogs) you'll probably find it a bit cramped. Unless you happen to be a young musical band on tour! P.S. I'm afraid that a case of American beer is a disincentive to most Canadians!

I'd avoid paying $8500 for one that might have that work required, especially if you'll be paying someone else to do it. I paid $3k for a '90s SeaBreeze with a similar but worse problem, but doing the work myself, I feel confident I can 'cure what ails it' for a reasonable amount of time and money. Paying someone else to do it would change everything. As above, it's hard to say from one picture. Have you got any others? I doubt if a seller will let you do any 'exploratory surgery', but what does it feel like when you push on the areas (outside and inside)?

Thanks. Can't say I've ever driven a vehicle with that feature. At least I don't think so! Closest, I guess, would be a 'fly-off' handbrake.

Thanks for the pictures and description. There's nothing more frustrating than finding a bunch of photos on line with no captions/descriptions!!

Can't remember how I put my Avatar picture, but I remember it wasn't easy to figure out. So it'll probably never change. Would it be easier to put your pictures in Photobucket? Then we could download them!

For those not in the know (as I wasn't):- http://www.systemthree.com/store/pc/T-88-c27.htm Not cheap!

Thanks for going the extra mile to post a second time. As I'll be 'living' in mine alone (plus the 2 80lb dogs), I like the idea of having 1 comfortable chair for my old bones and the dogs can 'suffer' on the couch. I'll have to give some thought to sacrificing the dinette for something similar. Thanks for the inspiration.

Actually, it was a PITA! I suggest you start by asking your current car insurance broker if he can insure you for the drive home. And as far as I can tell, DMV rules are different in each State.

At the border you'll pay a bit of duty plus the GST. Then PST when you go to plate it. Duty plus GST came to about 10% ot the border, so not much duty. Don't recall the exact %age. If they're awake at the border, they'll also ding you $100 Excise Tax for the dash air. I recently brought 2 across and one was awake, the other asleep.

I assume we're talking about the Nexen SV-820. Oddly enough, there's very little info about them on the Nexen site (ie no spec sheet). http://www.nexentireusa.com/tires-10/SV820

ANYTHING over 15 years old can be brought in from anywhere in the World and does NOT have to be brought into compliance with Canadian Safety or Emissions Standards. All the blah-blah on the RIV site only applies to vehicles newer than 15 years from the date of manufacture. http://www.tc.gc.ca/.../Section2_0.htm