TacomaSue

Freestone: Really nice pictures. It looks like your Bandit is in great shape. And, would travel well on the 4x4. Thanks for sharing. I really loved my Bandit. Wishing you well. Sue

Bandit Jo--Welcome to the Toyota website, your best source for great information about "oldie, but goodies" Toyota motorhomes. I had a 1977 Bandit for 2-3 years and LOVED it. Great rig. The Bandit was designed to provide sleeping space over the cab although I only slept there a few times. I used to over the cab space for storage and as a work space. The previous owners used the space over the cab as a bed all the time. I rebuilt the bench seats to be a few inches taller for more storage and used that area for sleeping. The table top fit between the two benches and the back cushions on the benches acted as mattresses. I did quite a bit of work. I replaced the old carpet with vinyl flooring, but new seat covers on the old seats I am attaching pictures of two bandits that were here in the Pacific NW. Mine is the smaller of the two on the left from the rear end. The interior layout was slightly different. The '76 Bandit had a curtain that closed off the whole back end of the camper for a port a potty. In the '86 the potty was under a cabinet more toward the front. Ibelieve the '86 was a v6. It was located in Portland and had been pretty extensively updated. Sue

Inside of Bandit

Bandit Jo--Welcome to the Toyota website, your best source for great information about "oldie, but goodies" Toyota motorhomes. I had a 1977 Bandit for 2-3 years and LOVED it. Great rig. The Bandit was designed to provide sleeping space over the cab although I only slept there a few times. I used the space over the cab for storage and as a work space. The previous owners used the space over the cab as a bed all the time. I rebuilt the bench seats to be a few inches taller for more storage and used that area for sleeping. The table top fit between the two benches and the back cushions on the benches acted as mattresses. I did quite a bit of work. I replaced the old carpet with vinyl flooring, and put new seat covers on the old seatsI am attaching pictures of my bandit. The inside picture of the bench seats are the 1977 original seats and table. I will try to attach some additional pictures and this Bandit next to a 1986, but these are old pictures and sometimes my computer bulks at transferring old pictures. I did not have a manual, but used a 1977 factory truck manual for under-the-hood information and electrical. It was very helpful. What I had for a manual went with the motorhome. The current owner told me a year ago that this Bandit was just about on it's last leg. He drove it to Baja each year and last year he had to stop several times to make repairs. So do not know if it is still on the road.

WME--I sure hope you get to feeling better and back on the road! I haven't been on this forum for a long while. Sold my Toy home, but every once in awhile, I have to look in and see how everyone is doing. TacomaSue

I agree, the Adventure is perfect for Baja. Lots of ventilation with the top up and better traction on the sandy roads. I delivered the Adventure to Wally, then he drove me back home....during the 2 hrs home, he was making a list of improvements he wanted to do.....what fun! If you are coming up this way to visit family, ...give a whistle. Sue

Linda: I sold my Sunrader Adventure this week to Wally who bought by Bandit, 3 years ago. He was extremely pleased with how well the Adventure drove and how much more stable it was on the road than the Bandit. He really wanted a bigger motorhome as he is carrying more weight now. The Adventure was beautiful when it left here...but needed several minor repairs/updates. Sue

Hi All: I am considering selling my 1986 Toyota Sunrader Adventure (Sunrader pop-top) and looking for sales advice. The rig runs smoothly with about 110,800 miles, dual rear wheels. I have kept meticulous records and get 17-19 mpg (a bit less in mountainous terrain). Here's the full description. I'll be interested in your response. What do I need to add to this description? Additional pictures? Sue 1986 Toyota Sunrader Adventure Motorhome (Pop Top) Rare mini motorhome---only about 50 made 22 RE engine Mileage 110,800 mpg 17.5 to 19mpg (meticulous milage records) Dual rear wheels PopTop (Interior height--top down- 54”; Top up 74”). Large rear access door Rear dinning area Dining area converts to sleeping area (72” x 48”) Two sizes of dining tables included ( 24’ x 32” and 19” x 221/2”---seats 4 people) Toilet and Shower (no hot water--shower pan needs to be sealed) SR5 seats replaced original Passenger door sealed to stop cold draft Air conditioning works! New 2-burner cooktop New larger sink and tall faucet Corian countertop Storage added in kitchen (full-extension drawers) Wooden fold-up counter extension and covers for the stove and sink All interior lighting converted to LED New headliner New fronts on all cabinets--enlarged access to storage areas New cushions for sitting area and bed Pull down shades for privacy New windshield (does not leak) Passenger side windshield post rebuilt by body shop All windows sealed Roof vent sealed Added tail light above rear window for night-time visibility OTHER Has 12-v cooler (no refrigerator/ice maker) Marine battery New Radiator Screens in pop-up for ventilation

Thanks Linda: Good to hear from you. I would have posted pictures, but the great Apple/Mac System has changed photos are stored and it is difficult to retrieve photos taken over a year ago. I will figure it out in a couple days and post some pictures. This is a pretty sweet rig, but I'm just not getting out enough to make it make sense to keep it. I do not have a garage for storage and the gel coat needs to be under cover or it will deteriorate. I have deliberately not kept track of the money I've spent on the Toy---$100 here, a $100 there (I think it was over $500 for the new windshield plus rebuilding the post on passenger side to hold the glass in)....probably a total around $5000 -$6000 (including the purchase price). I'm sorry we never had a chance to get together. I'd pack up and come down to visit next week (even if you did not invite me) if I were not committed for the next two to three weeks. Really miss the interaction with everyone on this forum. Sue

Hi All: Been awhile since I have visited with you. I am considering selling my 1986 Toyota Sunrader Adventure (Sunrader pop-top) and am wondering what it a good selling price might be. I posted pictures when I worked on it in past years and would be glad to send additional pictures so that you might evaluate it and make a realistic estimated sales price. The rig runs smoothly with about 110,000 miles, dual rear wheels. I have kept meticulous records and get 18-19 mpg (a bit less in mountainous terrain). I replaced the original seats with SR5 seats and I have rebuilt much of the couch--including new headliner and led lights (brighter than daylight), cooktop, sink and full extension drawers under the cooktop, new cushions and dinning table. The windshield was replaced and the passenger side window post was rebuilt by a body shop. All windows were resealed. An additional rear tail-light with brake light was added for increased visibility. With the top down, the interior is about 5-foot; with the top up, the interior height is about 6-foot 2-inches. It is 18-foot long and can be parked in most garages. The carpeted floor had been replaced before I got it. I replaced the three-way refrigerator with a 12-V cooler that has worked well for me. Problems: The side door lock has never worked exactly right and I am in the process of replacing (rebuilding) the lock to use another type of lock. The tail pipe needs to be replaced and you need to be careful not to overfill the gray water tank. Oh yes, and the bed size is 48" x 72"---a bit tight for someone over 6-foot; not a problem for me at 5.0' Thanks for any help you can give me about this. Sue

Congratulations pyasodelmar on acquiring and saving a Bandit. I had a much-loved 1977 Bandit that I sold a few years ago. Also thanks to all who have posted interesting information about the Bandit---that was more information than I was able to locate about the Bandit and I enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Since selling the Bandit, I have kept in touch with the new owner and am happy to report that the Bandit has now made its third trip from San Juan Islands, Washington to the southern part of Baha, CA. Wally, the new owner, says it is starting to show its age... rusting a bit and needing more maintenance, but still going! What a great machine!! Here is the link to a picture of the Bandit in Baha https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/Z_TU3kytZC1P_E-XqYhruKC7pCr1iZlP5p6Uczei_af5TmUwSu4UeJKK_6fnZ5f0rzWrpA=w1147-h717-no HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL and good traveling.

Hi Ron and Sue: I'll be in site 196. Ron and Rose. Sorry to miss you...see you next year in your new "rig". Sue

Hey Guys...I changed my calendar. Looking forward to being on Vancouver Island this fall...at least past the heat wave we are having! Hope others can join us. Sue

Hey--- great inquiring minds are on the same track. I signed in today to ask the same question. I love going to Living Forest RV park and would like to go back there. The last part of June or the first part of September would be good for me. Today's the day that I uncover my little Toy MH and get it ready for summer. Sue

This is a fantastic ski chalet! Happy skiing... Happy post skiing, too. Sue

I had a helluva (local Swedish term from Seattle's Ballard district) time sealing the vent that some previous owner installed on the roof of my Sunrader Adventure. After a couple failures with recommended sealing procedures, I cleaned the vent and the roof very well and used 3M 5200 marine sealant. Zero leaks since then.... I don't ever plan to remove that vent----believe the roof will deteriorate before the sealant. s

No question about it, Wayne and Irene did a spectacular job organizing this event and everyone had a great time....Extra thanks to Darrel and Gun for negotiating the crab feed. Ron and Sue---you beat me to uploading pics of rigs with owners---but all to the good as all my pictures were a bit fuzzy; likely I had moisture in the camera. So good to see friends and meet some new ones. Here's Rita, checking the weather.......Nope, not a cloud in the sky! Looking forward to next year. Sue

Hi All: I thought I posted a note last week, but it does not seem to have "taken". My current plans are to arrive Thursday evening, Sept 4 and leave early morning Sept 8. I have a reservation for site 201, close to everything. Looking forward to seeing everyone. Sue

Whoa.... I covet that poptop Toyota Land Cruiser. Nice! If I get to Australia, maybe I can at least rent one.... Easy to raise pop-up top like my old Bandit. Sue

Great photos of your adventures around WA. Your Sunrader looks so much like one that was at the Overland Expo in Flagstaff in May that I had to go back and look at the pictures I took. The only difference was that the Sunrader shorty 4x4 at the Expo had a winch on the front. You listed a good summary of activities around Washington. I was just at Cape Disappointment (state park at the mouth of Columbia River) and, while it is a bit out of the way, it is a really lovely drive along Willapa Bay. Mt Rainer and the Olympic Pennisula top my list of essentials for out-of-state visitors.

September 5-6 works for me.... I plan to join you in Sept---good weather, less crowded seems like a nice time. Sue

What a great series of pictures! Good photography.

I had a chance to attend the 4th Annual Expedition Expo, in Flagstaff AZ last weekend, May 16-18. I was not there with my Sunrader Adventure, but I wanted to report on this trip. There were approx. 6-7,000 people registered and I’d estimate over 3000 vehicles...from motorcycles, to unimogs and EarthRoamers plus hundreds of exhibitors. Truly an amazing expo. I only saw 3 Toyota Motorhomes---a Dolphin from NM, a 21-foot Sunrader from CO, and a Sunrader shorter from AZ equipped for overland travel. I talked to the owner of the NM toy home, but did not see the other owners. It was cool (40-ish) at night and a sweltering 90+ during the day.

Hey Karin: Anytime...let me know, I'll put a pot on. I've got one of those stovetop espresso makers like Linda...between espresso and flavorings, we'd be flying. Or, we could join up for the wooden boat festival in Port Townsend.... I think it is Sept 5.