[Sadie heads North]

Cheryle,

I have not regretted one moment of buying my little motorhome. I did have to have the dreaded 5 lug, light weight rearend replaced. (Just shopping for the 1 ton rearend assembly was an empowering experience.) Then there was the "research, research, research", since I'd never even stepped in a motorhome, let alone "owned" one. Also, I embraced the quality time it took to "refurbish" the house, since she had quite a bit of water damage around the dinette. (Ultimately, I'd still like to gut her and start over, but for now, she's happy, and I'm happy, so we'll leave things as they are for now.)

I've been known to drive Sadie to the office when I start suffering from traveling withdrawals. She just sits in back, and I'll run out at lunch and have a quiet moment and read....(usually something about Eqyptian Jewelry or French cuisine.) I always knew I was going to paint her....my blood is thick with art....When I finally "had the vision" of "how", I bought car enamel from an actual auto paint supplier.....chose my colors to match her 80's stripe. (That paint is good and stuck......I didn't seal it.) You can see the brush marks, and that's part of the affect I wanted, but I'm sure a person could make templates and airbrush too. Somewhere on my profile here, I've sort of documented certain "Sadie moments".... Click on Sadie's avatar, and it should take you to the profile, then under the picture (I think) with be a list of my "topics".....I think they go in reverse order, and I think some of the older entries fall off to make room for newer entries, but it'll be an interesting read and hopefully encourage you.

Life is what we make it. Make it fun!

keep in touch!

Shanda

smcdonald2@allstate.com

Hi Shanda!

Thanks for the info and I will check out those links. I sometimes think I need a bigger MH , as I can still back out of this deal as it is with my X but then I think well why not start out this way. If I live in it someday and sell my arts n crafts on the road I may need to go bigger.

that is good that you got the axle done. mine has the 6 in back and 5 in front so I guess I am ok. So much to learn.

It has had some leaks too but think we got them all sealed again and I may go get some Rubber Roof or something and do the whole roof, there again I have no idea what I am talking about. Just learning about what tires to buy is daunting.

It does have a hitch but seems all the posts I read say you can't really haul anything. I also would like to gut her sort of and make a different table, take out some seats. (it wont be for entertaining but for doing arts n crafts to sell while on the road) but the upholstery is pretty good for the most part and of course matches the interior of the cab and it is blue with tiny muave roses. and I am prone to go shabby chic. I think they are muave have to go back and make sure lol

so it is kind of nice. I almost wish it was in worse shape so I could start from scratch. I will need to re wallpaper and some curtains are missing. I think I will get some upholstery material sort of like they use and get some of that BlackOut fabric you can get it at walmart. It is room darkening and also helps keep heat and cold out. I sometimes work at night and sleep in the day so if I the curtains with the BlackOut that should work. It isnt cheap though.

Or I have some muave decorator fabric in stripes so could use that and line it with the black out.

Guess I am just rambling. I love the way you made your sleeper look so elegant.

I know what you mean about going out there for lunch, I sometimes go out and sit in her and feel so free!

I want to use it to to take my mom n sis shopping. sis is blind almost and mom is 88 so they are very slow and I get worn out waiting. this way they can shop till they drop and I can go make some coffee and relax lol

most people think I am crazy lol but oh well lol

Some times I wonder about the necessity for new tires. They have so much great tread on them I saw a post of aperson who still had original tires and they were like 12 yrs old. but then I guess better safe than sorry

I will probably try to make a photo album of before and after before I start doing much so maybe can post it on here. Trouble is nothing is going to happen overnight like I would like it to!

Would love to hear from you again! and will go check out the links now!

Cheryl

[Sadie heads North]

Thank you Cheryle. I appreciate your comments (even though I'm now reading them after the fact ) . This time I went through Cheyenne, Billings, Missoula then down 3 to St Maries. It was wonderful!!!!! You're right about the wind though, on the way up between Bozeman and Missoula it was head on. North of Wheatland WY too....was thankful when the sun went down and the wind died down. Coming home, the wind favored us until I-70 East of Denver and we hit the plains. All in all though, it was a wonderful trip, and Sadie was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!! Averaged 18.5 mpg. Used premium gas. Stopped every 150 miles or so for a short break and to top off the tank. Just went Sadie speed....averaged 55mph or so....against the wind was closer to 50 mph....with the wind-60mph....down hill with the wind-70mph....uphill on steep incline 35-40pmh....maybe once (twice at the most) 2nd gear 20-30 mph.......still passed a semi carrying a load of coal.....THE WHOLE TRIP UP AND BACK.....JUST AMAZING!!!!!!!! 1780 miles one way!!! Did it in 2 days coming home to Oklahoma. Just a couple of real slow spots. However...I learned this. Going 55 is the best not only for gas mileage, but for overall "experience". We saw everything! The grass, the trees, the hills, the creeks, the rushing rivers, the antelope, the buffalo, the ground squirrels, the flowers, the buttes, the prairies, the peaks, the plateaus, the rolling vastness of Kansas, Colorado,Wyoming, and Montana. We drove with the windows open. Each State had it's own smell. A cool front hit the first night at McPhearson KS. We slept with blankets every night after that. Camped by the St. Joe for 4 nights. Went garnet hunting, wading Emerald Creek, sight seeing, fell in love with Harrison, Lake Cour d'Alene and the palouse area...(high farm land ....just beautiful.). Our last day, we bought fresh morels, just picked that morning by a mountain boy named Tyeson (trying to raise money to fix his truck) at the farmers market and fried them up beer batter style for supper. NO HUMIDITY!!!!!! NEVER GOT ABOVE 75F!!!!!! Pine trees, Firs, Spruce, Hemlock, Cottonwood, Wild Rose, Huckleberry!!!!! Fresh Water!!!! Trout, Salmon, Pike!!!!! Coming home, we listened to books on tape (no CD player in Sadie). The farther South, the warmer it got. First night on trip home, Walmart parking lot, Casper WY- great place. Decided to push it the 2nd day, and drove 976 (which google says is about 15 hours...I'm guessing at 70mph.) It took us about 20+ at 50/55mph. Came sneaking home to Shawnee OK at 4am ish in a rainy drizzle and beautiful light show in the South. Hugged my sleepy puppy, kitty, youngest daughter Jen and snuggled in next to Gary....so glad I'd taken an extra day to recover. Cleaning out the motorhome, and making plans to do it all again as soon as possible. Maybe tomorrow. (Pictures to follow)

Wow I am glad you are home safe. I was worried about you two and I dont even know you LOL Sounds like you had a wonderful trip! You are so brave. You will be an example to me to what I can do. I am excited to go somewhere but have to earn money for tires etc.....

I might someday paint my truck with some neat things like you did. Can you tell me what you used for paint and sealer?

I found some pictures you posted .......not sure if they are all up yet but I will check in more often!

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

1993 Seabreeze named Toto and we're in Boise, Idaho

I am only about an hour west of you toto. Just got my rig and willpost some before pics. Lots I want to do with it.

It may be next year before I can head out but his is a fun project!

[broken front camper window]

Replacement windshields for the pickup should be available from most any windshield/autoglass installer. If what you need is a window on the cab door, you could save some $$ by going to a salvage yard that specializes in toyota pickpus.

If what you're looking for is a replacement window somewhere on the coach, it really depends on the maker. Some of the coachmakers were really nice and used standard frames that will allow replacement with either stock glazing or custom cut. If, like me, you have something like a Sunrader where the front windows are unique, wrap-arounds, it is a bit more complicated. There are sources like http://www.rvdoctorgeorge.com/ who stock all sorts of salvaged and hard-to-source parts. Really nice guys whom I've worked with multiple times. Hope that helps.

andrew

thanks Andrew! Mine is an Odyssey. The window is flat ........I appreciate these boards. So much to learn and they are great sources for information. Sure glad we dont live in the non internet world anymore lol I will check that site out too!

[Help! need tips on getting into the back!]

Thanks so much for sharing Maineah and Derek. Wow I never thought of that Duh.....move the steering wheel forward, the seat, the passenger seat.......and yes will figure out where to put a grab bar or two. I have mostly

tried this from passenger seat. Havent driven it yet lol it is always intimidating to learn new things but I am sure I will do well. I drove an 18 wheeler all by myself all over the country for 6 months. Now am intimidate by this how funny........but that was 10 years ago it is a matter of getting used to things. I remember after being on the road for 6 months in that semi, when I got home and tried to drive my car it felt like I was grabbing onto a donut and my rear end was dragging on the payment lol

so they DO call it a walkthrough? wow....I wasnt even sure and I started thinking I was trying to do something that wasnt recommended lol that is good to call it a crawl through instead though mine might be a Struggle through lol

whoops an afterthought here I think I will need to move drivers seat way back so I maybe will have a place to start out with my feet.? Iwill figure it out.

I guess I'm still limber enough to have not had too much trouble scrambling from front to back. I guess having the steering wheel tilted all the way up and perhaps partially reclining the driver's seat would help. And the passenger seat upright and all the way forward. Beyond that, perhaps Yoga lessons? I'm not too sure about grab handles, since I find I've been more crawling than 'walking' through the improbably named 'walk-through'. Unless, of course, you're awfully short!

[will Toyota Odyssey fit in regular parking?]

The current Chevy Suburban is

Length 222.4 in (5649 mm) Width 79.1 in (2009 mm)

Your Odyssey is 22'(?) long (268") and 84"-85" wide (excluding the mirrors).

Maybe the parking spots are made bigger in the US. I'll maybe measure the distance between lines next time I'm South of the border.

Hey thanks.......yeah that would be 40" or so longer in length , more than 3 feet. would maybe stick out too much. I think someone said regulation for parking spaces is 19 feet in length.

but usually will park in handicap spaces and some are wide.......hmm guess I could always take up two spaces but couldnt park in handicap as there is apost in between.........

maybe someone with an Odyssey will chime in. Yeah it is 22 feet we just measured it.

[will Toyota Odyssey fit in regular parking?]

I keep reading (especially in the brochures) about being able to park in a standard parking spot. Well, maybe if there's nobody in the spot on either side! I just did a bit of Googling. You (our) motorhome is as wide as the original Hummer H1 and 6' to 8' longer. You'd probably be all right in a handicapped parking spot for width, but length m9ight still having your rear end blocking traffic. I always park way out in the back when I go to Walmart. I enjoy the exercise/walk to the front door.

Thanks for your input Derek! Yes I just found some archived messages on another board that say they park in a regular parking so will just have to try it out. I can see where it could be too long and I certainly dont want to cause an accident. The handicaps have those you just pull in and out of, but are for wheel chair only so that probably isnt an option Still. I am hoping it will work as both my mom and sister are handicapped (sis is almost blind and mom is 88! ) so would have to let them out at the door and go park and I need to help them in. Arent those super cab trucks real long and park in regular spots? perhaps they are shorter. so much to learn so little time........

[broken front camper window]

i need help finding a replacement window for the front of our motorhome

I am a new Toyota owner so dont know for sure.......others will chime in here soon. Is it the Coach window in front above the cab or the main vehicle window?

My window is also broken, the one on the coach in front of the sleeper. I am assuming so far,the best thing to do would be take it to any autoglass shop I dont know. I will watch too for replies as I will need to get mine fixed!

[will Toyota Odyssey fit in regular parking?]

Obviously I havent had a chance to drive my Toy yet, I want to get new tires first. They have alot of tread but I think they are 10 yrs old

anyway, do any of you park your Toy in like regular parking places, ?

I want to take some family members who have a handicap sign, so I am thinking if I park in one of those that have a large area on one side for wheel chairs etc that maybe I can park this in the regular parking places.

Thanks so much for any help. I know I need to get out there and drive it lol and test this stuff but am just slow and my brain is worrying about things that havent happened lol

[Help! need tips on getting into the back!]

Hi, I just aquired an 88 Toyota Odyssey. I am a Sr who has trouble getting to the back from the cab.

is this just me or does anyone else find it difficult? Yes I have taken out the bed section to make it easier.

I have thought about installing an extra grab bar somewhere to help me do this. I dont want to always have to exit the vehicle for safety reasons ie at night etc.

Any ideas are very welcome! thanks!

[Sadie heads North]

Sadie and I head out for Idaho on Sunday night, (after a weekend of playing music and sound engineer at the Oklahoma Celtic Heritage Fest in Stillwater.) I'm super stoked about the trip, and nervous all at the same time. She's been running like a champ, and I've had everything I can think of checked. My 19 year old daughter will be traveling with me, and we've mapped and figured and figured and mapped. By tomorrow afternoon, if it aint packed, it aint going. (Money..check. Fiddle....check. Peanut butter....check.) Within memory, I haven't been North of Winfield KS. The vast openess of of Montana and Wyoming beckons to me!!! The Mountains call!!! I wonder how she'll be received at the little rv park on the St. Joe. 3 nights there, and then it's back home to Oklahoma. A whirlwind of a trip. I hope we make it.

Have a great week all.

shanda, gil and sadie

Good luck and have fun on your trip. I see you could either go North from Cheyenne to Billings MT then Helena MT to St Maries. Beautiful drive but I think you would have much less mountains to climb if you go West at Cheyenne , cross Wyoming straight across heading West. to Salt Lake UT, Twin Falls Idaho , Boise Idaho then North. to Lewiston n St Maries.

Seems like there are alot of mountains and curves if you go the Helena way.

But perhaps you had already decided to cross southern Wy. it is pretty but no real mountains, mostly rock and sagebrush but pretty. Also pretty flat going from Salt lake to Boise area. Maybe better on gas except for Wyoming. Very windy usually so hopefully you will have a tail wind.

Be sure to gas up alot in Wyoming, at least if you go across the southern part. It is sometimes a long way between stations.

Let me know which way you are going as I have been through there.

will try to get back on later and see if you would like advice.

If you go through Salt Lake City Utah and Boise then West and then North.....you will get into some pretty mountains and forest trees

going North then.

[Sadie - A Wild and Crazy Gal!]

Wow! I've been major out of touch! Look at all the new members!!!!!!

Hiya everyone!!!

It's gonna take me weeks to read up on all the savvy bites and updates from the toy gurus and cool-as-beans posters. While I catch up, I'll toss this out there.

I am itching to take Sadie to visit St Maries Idaho: Starting point Shawnee, Oklahoma. I have been told that I was there once as a child. I don't remember. I've also been told by people I love, but don't want to believe, that my little 81 Sunrader won't make the mountains. (I think this is strange since her prior owners drove her down from Spokane WA.) I know uphill will be slow going. I have no problem with that, but my very boring and stodgy flatland advisors have put images of "the little train couldn't" in my head. I've begun having nightmares of my precious little motorhome sliding backwards down steep gravely mountain roads into the cavernous black abyss.

I don't even know what kind of questions to start asking? I won't be leaving until the end of June

I hope I'm being silly, and the only thing standing between me and the St. Joe is really just MPHs and MPGs.

Any pointers????

Thanks

shanda

Hi Shandra, I cannot figure out how to get my reply out of this box but oh well.......here goes! Oh wait it worked so am editing now wow

I just wanted to say Hi! I am new to the board. I just got an 88 or 89 Toyota Odyssey.....There is so much to learn that I am scared to death. lol

I am from Idaho but the southern part. I would think St Maries is a big enough town that there are no gravel roads but don't know.

this is one big concern of mine. will it make it over the mountains. Would like to go to Stanley Idaho but think there is a high pass to go over. I dont mind going slow but going backwards is out of the question LOL

I love your toyota! I sent all my family pics of it. Well I hope to say hello to everyone soon and have some before and after pics. Needs some work and Ihate woodgrain so want to paint, make curtains etc but first have to seal the roof.