dayoff53

Thank you Wayne! I haven't checked out the new campsites yet, but it sounds like quite an improvement!

Hey, it's starting to look like a party! I think that is at least 5 spots reserved. I hope we will get a few more yet.

I'm definitely up for a Meet 'n Greet on Friday evening - I'll bring some wine! As to a pot luck dinner and a communal breakfast - I'm not much for advance planning on my vacation time, but it sounds like fun to me. I know my wife and I would like to spend a little time exploring some of the island, though. Probably get back to Butchart Gardens for a bit and maybe spend some time in Victoria. As usual on vacation, we tend to pack too many plans into too little time. Along with my brother and sister-in-law, we will probably leave Boise around 6/18 or 6/19 and go through Glacier National Park and Waterton Lakes National Park before heading west. If anyone wants to join our caravan along the way, tell us where you're coming from and we can figure a way to meet up!

My brother and his wife (CraigD) are coming, too. They will be in G19 with their 1990 Seabreeze.

Okay, okay! I reserved already! Kay and I have reserved G20 for June 24 and 25 and they are holding it for us for the 26th, as well, in case we decide we can stay another day. This is going to be fun!

Sorry, I haven't visited the board in a while and missed your note. I found mine on craigslist minutes after it was listed for $15k. There were numerous serious lookers - and at least one offering full price, but his financing fell through. I felt lucky to get it for $12k. It's all about condition, and this one is in very nice shape. Nearly new tires, interior and exterior immaculate, 28k miles, engine recall work done, awning - it was the whole package that made it worth the price for me. Since I got it, I have added a 27" flat-panel TV, a spare tire and carrier, a jerry can and carrier and a few smaller things. I am really enjoying it.

I just put a 5 gallon jerry can (Blitz brand - essentially identical to the old military jerry can) on the bumper of my '92 Winnebago Warrior. I used the carrier, also made by Blitz, designed for the can. It is designed to bolt to either a horizontal or vertical surface, and I attached it to my rear bumper. Because the bumper was a little too close to the back of the coach, I had my brother (a machinist) make an aluminum plate to attach to the bumper using U-bolts, then the jerry can carrier was bolted to the plate, using holes my brother tapped in the plate so that no nuts are required and it fits flush to the bumber. I bought metal straps (instead of nylon) to hold the can to the carrier so that it can be locked. The strap also keeps someone from opening the can and siphoning the gas.

I can tell you that I bought my '92 Winnebago for $12,000 last October and haven't heard of anyone paying more than that for a similar rig recently, so that might be near your top end. My rig has a generator and had only 27,000 miles and was in excellent condition all around. At the other end, my brother bought a '90 Sea Breeze (same maker as your Dolphin) last summer - equipped like yours but more than twice the miles and with a number of structural, mechanical and cosmetic issues - he paid $6,000. The way you describe your Dolphin, it sounds like a $10k to $12k unit, but prices can vary a lot with the season and and other factors. In the end, it all comes down to what a willing seller is willing to take and a willing buyer is willing to give on a given day. Good luck, and let us know how it comes out!

Well, it looks like the seller is trying to give a clear assessment of the issues he is aware of - doesn't seem he's trying to hide the problems. The water damage shown wouldn't scare me too much as long as the leaks are fixed and the structure is still sound. I don't know if there is a reserve, but I would say it is a steal at the starting bid price. The "buy it now" price may be a good deal, but I would want a really close inspection before committing to it. When camping season gets in full swing, it may be worth a couple grand more than it is today. The mileage is certainly nothing to be afraid of, but it would be important to make sure the head gasket recall has been taken care of - if it has not, Toyota MAY still do it, even though the recall is expired. You certainly need the date codes on the tires. 6 - 8 years old, plan on replacing them soon. More than 8 years old, look for new tires before you drive it home. Also, check the air bag suspension and make sure it is still holding air.

So, by the time baby gets new shoes, you'll have less than $8,500 in a rig that is spiffy and new inside and out and you will know everything there is to know about it. On top of that, you've had all the satisfaction of making all the improvements with your own hands. What a deal! I hope you enjoy it.

So, not counting your labor (don't we all work free for ourselves?), what do you figure you have in it, including original purchase and all the repairs and upgrades? I'm jealous - it's beautiful!

Wow! You didn't say much about the condition of the coach, roof, window seals, etc., but it sounds pretty spectacular to me. In October, I bought my '92 Warrior 321RL with 28,000 miles, the original Kohler genset (wish I had your Onan - Microlite 2800?), all service records, head gasket recall done, gorgeous condition inside and out. Paid $12,000 and was happy to do it. Based on that, my position has got to be that you did great! Post some pix!

Hey, I travel with a good flashlight, an old Old Timer pocket knife, a cheap multi-tool and a $1.99 4-in-1 screwdriver. Of course, I also try not to get anywhere that I will not see another rig in a few hours... Don't get too paranoid - some folks want to be able to change out the tranny by themselves on the road; the rest of us still manage to get by just fine.

Ours, too! It'll be fun to get a few rigs together and compare notes. So far, it's not looking like a huge gathering, but the ball is rolling!

At one point, he is talking about how the new '88 is no wider than last year's model, or something like that. I figgered, if he was talking about new '88 models, it must have been filmed in '87...

What you describe sounds like largely cosmetic stuff - find the right cleaner and apply some elbow grease; put in a little handyman time, and you will have improved your investment a great deal! To get a Toy home that age and in good mechanical condition at that price is a steal! It'll be worth putting some improvements in. I hope you enjoy it.

Wow! That's some old rubber! Congratulations on making it from PA to WI on them. You might want to read some of what people have posted here about the appropriate tires - they are a bit of an uncommon size/weight rating and some tire shops will sell you the wrong tire.

Spiffy!

It's a circuit breaker. Inside the little box is a thin, flat piece of metal that bends if it gets too hot and breaks the connection. Then, when it cools down, it straightens out and makes contact again. I had one that was all busted up, so I could get a good look at how it works. They come in different amperages - should have a number on it. You can get replacements (identical shape - material and/or color may vary) for about $5 (20 amp) or more at you friendly RV shop.

Cool beans, man! A word of advice - if it has been sitting a while, please check the date code on the tires before you drive it too much. On the sidewall, find the "D.O.T." followed by 10 to 12 characters. The last 4 digits (3 if made before 2000) tell week and year of manufacture. 1203 would be twelfth week of 2003. 123 would be twelfth week of 1993. If they are over 6 years old - be cautious. If they are over 8 years old, it would be safest to replace them.

My daughter will be at Burning Man - her third one. Hope you have fun!

There is probably no "best" - the best is the one that fits your needs best and is in the best condition at the best price. Condition and price tend be proportional, unfortunately. I wanted a newer 6-cylinder and really like my 1992 Winnebago Warrior 321RL. People swear by their Sunraders, SeaBreezes, Escapers, Dolphins, and so on - there were nearly 30 manufacturers of Toyota RVs at one time or another. You want a truck in good shape and a coach in good shape or that you can repair. $10k will get you a lot of choices if you are patient - $15k or thereabouts is about the top end for these rigs. Prices are lowest in the winter - will start to rise about now and peak in late summer. Good luck!

I had this same problem in my '92 Winnebago Warrior. Turned out the isolator was fine, but there was a circuit breaker inside the coach battery box that had been smashed by the battery the last time the battery was put in - a $5.00 part. It was a little tough to reach at the back of the battery box, but a cheap and easy fix. Your Dolphin may have the same problem, but the breaker (a little rectangular box held on with two screws) may be in a different location.