TacomaSue

Inside the lock is part number 018859. I need a handle on the inside. I have been using a pliers to open the door from the inside. The locking mechanism is jammed so that it cannot be locked. It looks like a part may be broken--- and I am afraid that if I take the locking mechanism apart, I'll never get it back together. I'll let everyone know what I hear from Trimark. Sue

The side door latch on my Sunrader Adventure is falling apart. The door latch is quite different from all that I have seen in several searches. The locking mechanism locks over a post in the door. Anyone have suggestions for where I might go for a new door latch/lock or has anyone replaced one and rebuilt this latch? Sue

John: Thanks for posting pictures of the inside door panels---that was very helpful. I lifted up my door panels and found vertical slits in the plastic on both doors. It looked like someone had put a straight-edge tool down the door from the window to release the latch on a locked door. It must not have worked since they did it to both doors. The parallel vertical slits were in the same place on both sides and hard to see. Also, the plastic had separated from the sealer along the bottom edge in a couple of places. I used clear packing tape to seal the holes and along the edges. If you find out why the air flow system blows cold air when it is supposed to blow warm or hot air on some heat/air adjustments, please post the information. Fortunately, that is adjustable so not so critical. Sue

Cascade: Nice job.. I just wanted to be sure you knew there was a Toy Rally on Vancouver Isl. June 22-24, 2012. Information is in the Rally Section. It's at Living Forest a really lovely spot. We would all (well, I guess I should speak for myself) love to see your Sunrader now that it is finished. Sue

Gail: The ferry from Pt Angles to Victoria is the Black Ball Ferry Line, http://cohoferry.com/main/ It is quite a bit smaller than the Canadian ferry between Vancouver Isl and Tsawwassen (Blaine) and it is advisable to have reservations to avoid a long wait. I was at the ferry terminal in Victoria almost 3 hours before sailing time and the ferry was already totally booked. Last year, I went to Living Forrest through Blaine and came back through Pt Angles. The drive between Living Forrest and Victoria was a lovely and, I remember, it as a 2-hour drive, but I paid more attention to the scenery than the time. To get to Pt Angeles and the Olympic Peninsula, from Portland or other points south, you can split off I-5 onto highway 101 at Olympia or you can continue north to Tacoma and take Highway 16 to Bremerton and cross the Hood Canal Floating Bridge. Highway 101 either from Olympia or from Bremerton is two-lane and a bit windy---but, I think really lovely. Need-less-to say, the Olympic Penn. routes are slower than i-5 to Blaine. Sue

The picture was taken from the back looking toward the cab and shows the front lift. The lift is almost directly over the driver and passenger seat backs. There is an identical lift in the rear over the hatch door. There are no lifts or braces on the sides of the coach. I had not thought of using gas struts. Good suggestion. Currently when the brace is released the top crashes down and I have been afraid I might catch my hand in between the bars. Using a gas strut could slow the drop of the roof. I have found a local source for gas struts as I plan to add gas struts to the rear hatch door. To lower the roof I need to be able to raise the roof a bit to release the brace. I have been thinking about some type of jack (scissor or bottle) jack to help raise the roof. Gas struts would be nicer. Thanks. Sue

A few comments back, there was a question about the lift mechanism in my Sunrader Adventure. A picture of the lift with the top up is attached. When you push the top up, you just push the brace on the right side hard enough to lock. (a bit like locking your knees) The weight of the top keeps it in place. To release the lock, push the top up and pull the brace toward the center.

I am speechless. (Derek --- you were right to make note of it -- doesn't happen often!). The new Sunrader cabinets are exquisite! I also appreciate the very good explanations for constructing them ---- despite the fact that my skill level is not up to this. I found the pictures and explanations inspirational and it gave me ideas for making some of the changes that I want to make in my own cabinets. Last summer, I spent a day on a sail boat looking at how things were kept in place while sailing and thinking about what could be adapted to the motorhome. There were many items like the counter edge that make sense for the little motorhomes. Thanks for sharing your work. Sue

Wayne and Irene: Thanks so much for offering to organize BC ToyMH get together. You were great host and hostess last year. I looked at the Park Sands RV Park and the past yrs' sand sculptures. Wow. The resort is a little pricey during the middle of the summer, but may be worth it to be in that location and to participate in the festival. If we decide to meet during the fesitval time, I would favor the middle week of July, if we can reservations. An alternative date for the same place, would be the second week of September. The rates drop a bit Sept 2 and the weather will still be lovely. My question is whether there is a group meeting place. I also looked at Campbell River. A couple of the Campbell River RV Parks had excellent reviews. A friend of mine sailed around Vancouver Island last summer and raved about Ladysmith where they docked for some days. I do not know if there is anything there. So here's my bottom line: since you picked a wonderful site last year, I think that you should make a recommendations about what you think is best for this year and invite the crowd. My overall preference for dates is the second week of September or middle of July. I hope others chime in. As soon as the site is selected and there are some details, I would be glad to post it on the Yahoo site(s). Tacoma Sue with a "new" Sunrader Adventure

This is rather short notice, but Hancock Fabric (at least in my area) has their headliner fabric with foam backing on sale for 30% off until Feb 1, 2012.

Hi Derek. My other ToyHome is a Bandit ('78 coach on '77 chassis). The Bandit has the pop-up mechanism similar to a Chinook with the spring and turn-buckle. I have poured over photographs on both this Forum and the Yahoo Toyota Camper site and there are very few pictures of the Sunrader Adventure. I have not seen any with the lift mechanism that is on my Adventure. It is a very simple lift----you just push it up and locks in place. It is not very adjustable. Also, if I had your height, it would be a lot easier to push up. The lift parts should not interfere with replacing the headliner, but I've not checked this out closely. When the rain lets up for more than a day, I will take the tarp off, photograph the lift, and post some pictures as there are none available, now. In 2008, Dutch uploaded pictures of a Sunrader PopTop which shows the other type of lift mechanism that raises and lowers the top using a crank. (I think that this is a chain and gear mechanism.) The lift on the front and back folds inward in the middle like some types of folding tables. This is the same type of lift mechanism that is on Sunrader Bob's Adventure. Sue

Thanks. Very helpful Info. Do you glue the fabric directly to the fiberglass or do you add some insulation first---such as 1/4" rigid foam insulation? I have a large stack of hemlock strips that are 3" wide x 1/8" thick, very light weight and flexible enough to go over a rounded ceiling and I have considered using that. Gluing on strips of wood, however, seems as challenging as gluing on the fabric. I need to go back to re-measure and check more details. I will let you know what I do and how it comes out. Sue

Good point. Weight is a very serious consideration. The SR Adventure has at least two types of pop-up mechanisms. Mine is manual and the top is already heavy for me to push up. I am hoping to avoid replacing the headliner by adding more buttons, but it is sagging more in my damp climate than it was in sunny so CA. (It may have a small leak around the vent which is adding moisture. ) Has anyone had any experience with cork on ceilings? What are some other lightweight materials? Thanks for your suggestions. Sue

Thanks. Great description of removing the headliner. A birch ceiling would be lovely and easy to clean. Does it make sound echo at all? What type of insulation did you use? I should have said that I have a Sunrader Adventure (a pop-top) so if I need to take the headliner down it should be a clearer shot---no cabinets in the way, but there is a lift mechanism. I am also concerned about how it is attached to the edges of the top.

I understand from this forum that it is common for the foam-backed cloth headliner on the '86 Sunraders to sag as the foam deteriorates and that it is very messy to remove this headliner. I am looking into adding more "buttons" to keep the headliner in place. The buttons have a small screw on the back If the sagging becomes worse, I will need to do more to hold it up or replace it. I would like to know what others have done to repair or replace their sagging headliner. If you replaced your cloth headliner, did you use cloth or some other material and how did you attach it, what type of glue? Sue

I am glad you started this post. A couple of weeks ago, I drove my "new" Sunrader Adventure from So. CA to WA and cold air blew through both the vents and the door handles. It was not so obvious in warm So CA, but very chilly in the mountains. I covered the vents and put a blanket up against the door. I would like to see pictures of what you find when you take the door apart and how you solve this. Also, I must have a disconnected heater hose as cold air blew from the passenger side heater when if was on Fresh Air and stopped with on Recirc Air.

Clip-on cup holders ---what great idea! I measured my favorite travel mugs and they all fit. On a slightly different topic, what are you using for a console between the cab seats? I have been looking for something that would fit and hold pencils and misc stuff. Sue

You should talke to Tacoma Sue she has a bandit..... I replied on the Toyota Camper Yahoo Group site earlier, but here's some additional comments. My 77 Bandit has a 20R engine, 4speed. I averaged 21 -- 24mpg on trips this summer. My gas gauge does not work so I keep meticulous gas records. A fun part of having a Bandit is people always want to know about it and while waiting in a ferry line, I had someone approach who used to sell them and was excited to see one again. Another consideration is that you may need to be prepared to modify the coach for today's standards if important to you---computer and TV hook up, better radio speakers, and hot water. I stay in places with full hook-ups, showers, etc. I agree with the earlier comment that I would not cut into the fiberglass body or the roof. The fiberglass is heavy-duty and really solid. I would think long and hard before cutting into it unnecessarily. I'd consider a portable ac before doing that. A thought I have about installing ac is that the walls in my Bandit are not insulated and neither is the canvas with its screened windows. Keeping this coach cool may be a challenge when the top is popped up even if the ac works really well. Sue

Have a great time in Felton. I wish I could be there, but just gutted my mini-mini to put in new flooring and fix cabinets and electrical. See you in Big Sur or Felton, if you have a Rally next spring. Sue

While this thread has had some very useful information on painting, I need more help. At the spot where the coach sticks out beyond the cab, the PO had hit a post and made some hap-hazard repairs which were starting to crack. There were also a number of 1/4" holes just under the window. I removed the cracked gel coat. The fiberglass under the gel coat was good and seemed strong despite the dents. Right or wrong, I filled this area with what the can called fiberglass filler (epoxy) and I have been sanding the corner smooth. Needs a bit more fine sanding, but its almost ready to paint. What do you think is the best paint option? And, how do you match the color? All Toyota Motorhomes look to me to be about the same color. Do Toyota dealers have matching paint colors or is it better to go to an automotive paint company? When he made the previous repairs, the PO brushed on an off color that I think was some type of latex house paint. The off color made the repairs much more noticeable. I also have an area on the roof that will I will need to re-fiberglass and so would like a paint that can be used on the roof as well as the sidewall. Thanks. Sue

I checked my passport and made a reservation for this Rally. I was assigned site 203 and will be arriving late Friday afternoon, via ferry from Pt Angeles to Victoria. Google maps estimated it would be about 100 mi shorter and almost 2 hours less via ferry from Pt Angeles. That was a good tip about reserving a spot on the ferry---there are so few sailing times. If any one else is ferrying from Port Angeles, maybe we can link up. Looking forward to meeting everyone and the pot luck for Saturday night. I'll be the one with the very small and old Toy Home---a '79 Bandit PopTop. Sue