[PA/MD/DE/NY rally?]

Anyone in the Northeast interested in having a Rally?

It looks as though most rallies are 10 hours or more away from me, and as much as I'm willing to go, my family does not like to drive that far if for only a weekend because most of our time in the Toy would be driving.

Anyone welcome & I'd be willing to attempt to put it together if there's enough interest. As an idea of a general area, I'm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, although depending on where everyone would be from, I'd try to make it a central location. Lancaster is about an hour from Baltimore & Washington, D.C., 1 1/2 hours from Philadelphia, & about 4-5 hours from Pittsburgh.

E-mail your info and what time of year would be of interest to you. I can be contacted at amy.b.huber.smkp@statefarm.com.

Thanks for your time!

[What's your rig and where's it at?]

We just purchased our '91 Seabreeze last weekend. Can't wait to take it out because I've been looking for over a year and hopefully found "THE ONE"!

Located in the southern most tip of Lancaster County (home of the amish), Pennsylvania (5 miles from the Maryland border - Harford County).

Still would be into a Toy Rally in the NE if anyone would still be interested...

[Mini East Coast Toy-IN first week of June 2010]

I'm curious about that too. Has anyone considered meeting in Lancaster, PA? I would think that would be a good "middle"...?

[Major project?]

I think the 4 cylinders are great! I've driven the same model 4 cylinders in Toyota cars and trucks since at least 1980. I have a 22r and a 22re now - both in Toyota motorhomes. The 3.0 V6 is one of Toyota's poorest engines (I have one of these too) and is a maintenance nightmare (requires too much preventive maintenance and is hard to work on). The very quantity of Toyota 4 cylinder motorhomes still in service after all these years is testament to their durability.

All that said are you sure you can't find a pop-up light enough to tow? That would be an inexpensive and simple way to get in some camping time without having to sleep on the ground. If not then how about a bigger tent and sleeping cots? Getting up off the ground goes a long way to staying dry and might be an easier transition to camping than sleeping on the ground.

If you do go with a Toyota motorhome understand that it's an old vehicle and expect that there will be regular repairs required.

Believe me, I've been fighting this camping/RVing fight with my boys (husband & son) for a couple of years now (whimps!). A small motorhome was the compromise. We own a '93 Toyota Corolla wagon & an '05 Honda Element. My husband does not even want to attempt to pull even a small pop-up w/ the Element. We considered buying a truck (Tundra or Tacoma) & a lightweight camper, but I just can't afford the monthly payments for both - even if I traded in the Element & we found a cheap trailer . Plus, he works an hour away & the gas mileage on a truck would kill us each week on gas. A Toy was my aim because it was affordable, reliable, plus no need to buy a truck & a trailer. Plus, if I had to sell it, I probably wouldn't lose much.

I guess I'll just keep looking. It seems like all the toys for sale - that are somewhat reasonable - are out on the west coast ( I know that's ridiculous. I said it SEEMS like it).

(Sigh). But, based on experience, if I wait patiently, the right one will show itself to me; like my Truck & Corolla did (both known elder customers - what luck!). I just didn't want to wait; A.) because when my OCD & Bi-polar kick in, I do nothing but obsess over something once I decide I want it & B.) he won't be 10 forever...

Thanks everyone for your input and help! I will keep searching & keep checking here to see what's up & for sale. I now need to go play the lottery...

[Major project?]

Guess you have not tried any of the California Micro Brews.

Aimlessly - The passenger side picture you posted shows damage on that side also. That's really bad news. Personally I would not pay over $3500 or less with that extent of water damage. And that would be me doing the work. My guess is the whole cab-over would need to be rebuilt seeing that both sides show separation.

That's good enough for me. It looks as though that's out the question. And the 4 cylinder I found in Allentown isn't listed anymore, so I think I'll keep looking.

Gulfstream Greg, what's your thoughts on 4 cylinders? (I promise I'll stop asking questions once you answer this)...

[Major project?]

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 was afraid you would say that - about the beer I mean. ; )

I'm in Lancaster County, home of the amish. However, I'm only 8 miles from the Maryland border, so I also always look on CL in Baltimore.

Only one more question; what do you think of 4 cylinders?

[Major project?]

If you want to take your son camping, which is awesome, a couple backpacks, sleeping bags and a tent is much cheaper and easier to maintain. Thats camping. A motorhome is RVing. Get him hooked on camping and a motorhome turns into a good tool to live and travel in between trips. What ever you do, have fun.

Believe me, if I had my way, I would take a tent anytime! That's how we did it when I was a kid. But his Dad hates tents (everytime we did camp in a tent, it rained!) and, believe it or not, my 10 year old BOY absolutely hates bugs and he's afraid something will crawl over him when he's sleeping.

I'd even take a pop-up, but we have no truck & we have 2 dogs (1 a husky) we'd like to take with us on occassion. So, to comprimise, I thought an RV would be the way to go. I think the Toys out there are awesome &, I hate to use this word, but; cute!

What do you guys think of the 4 cylinders? If I hear all of you say your not too keen on 4 cylinders, I guess I'm going to have to be satisfied with an american winnebago or some other american made motored RV. And hope someday my finances will allow me to trade in my not so great american made motor for a redone Toy.

Derek up North, wanna fix this one for me? I'm in Pennsylvania and would be more than happy to bring you a new project. I'll even throw in a case of beer.... ;

[Major project?]

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)?

I wouldn't have a clue on how to fix it. I would have to pay someone or learn via the internet. I'm hoping to take my husband to look at it tonight and will push & prod it more. I can say that they pointed out (without me even looking for it) that the seam on the inside (under the mattress) had split. When I asked how or why that happened, they made no indication that it was from water. They put a piece of metal in to connect the metal on the front to back seam & the metal that was from right to left seam (does that make sense?) & caulked it. There was no smell & the interior & the rest of the exterior was in decent shape.

I REALLY want a Toy! We've always owned older toyota vehicles & never have any problems. When we had american made vehicles, they always started to nickel & dime us by 80,000 miles. That is the main reason I don't want to buy an older motorhome with an american (or mexican) motor.

I've been looking on & off for about 2 years & there seems to be plenty of 4 cylinders. I found one for $2500 close by, but I haven't looked at it yet. However, my husband took a HUGE pay cut when he was laid off & found a new job ($4 an hour!), so $2500 is more feasible. I really don't want to wait much longer as I have a 10 year old that I want to take camping now - before it's uncool to do anything like that with his parents. What's your opinion of 4 cylinders? I noticed that people are on the net saying they are horrible when you have to go uphill & our driveway is a huge hill. To give you an idea, we had a '91 Toyota 6 cyl. truck that if I stopped 1/2 way up our driveway, I wouldn't be able to go any further. I had to back down & start again.

Whatever we get, I'm hoping to keep for years to come. But for now, I have no extra money to put into upgrades or redecorating. Here's another picture:

[Major project?]

Does this look like something I want to avoidin purchasing a Toyota? This is a 92 Winnebago w/75,000 miles for $8500. I'm willing to spend a little to make improvements, but not thousands of dollars...