Davidadro

Hello< things have come abundant that I now will not be able to attend, as much as I want to. Being so close to me made it an awesome oportunity to attend my first Toy Rally, but due to work, a wedding Saturday, and the obvious rain conditions for today thru the hours I would be there, I feel making it would be too much to squeeze in for hoping to make it enjoyable for the short time I could attend. I wish you all a great time!

Yeah Bufbooth, you have a great family to be able to manage 5 in your Toyhome without bloodshead, LOL! I'm thinking the added passenger weight is at least 700 pounds with all 5 and the dog aboard? Where do you come in at GVW when all and everything is loaded up for the trip?

Ah, New England in the Fall! What a great time to have a rally there, and I wish you much success for an awesome time had by all! Happy travels!

Hello all! I am just informing you that I do plan to attend the Rally, but only for a short time unfortunately. I will arrive Friday to visit and stay the night, and will visit and participate in what I can on Saturday, leaving in the afternoon about 1:00 PM as I need to attend a wedding later in the afternoon. It will be real nice meeting those in attendance, and putting people where we only have words of those here in our forum. Happy Travels!

Yeah Baja, it will be nearly 7 days of just driving there and back, but will leave me a good week to visit old friends and family. I am originally born and raised in Southern California but also lived in the Monterey Bay Area. I went K thru 12 and college in SoCal, left for 4 years during my time in the Air Force, then went back for 3 years, moved to Philadelphia for 3 years, and then back to Sacramento for about a year, then moved away in 1993 to Iowa, Arizona and now Illinois. I have visited California, both north and south many times since; and my best driving time was not in my Toyhome, but in a Ford Escape from Central Illinois to San Jose (2130 miles) in 36 hours of driving straight through. Needless to say, I will never do that again, whew! Actually, the way I have my Dolphin all decked out with Harley-Davidson flair and signage, those on the Hogs usually give big nods and thumbs up when they ride past me, especially when I am pulling mine. It will be awesome riding up PCH, and hitting the old stomping grounds again, and to see my late Mother's Sister, my Auntie Mar. She will be 90 by the time of my visit, and though in really good shape, I don't think there will be many more opportunities to visit her in the years to come. Thanks for the comments and interest Baja. You're right, having a particular traveling plan with a long venture as Hedgeman and Partner are attempting is a far cry from those that barrel down the road in a pusher bus or full sized Class C. I think it makes sense to use the Toyhome if one can by getting by with just what one needs, and being able to squeeze around the narrow conditions there in Mexico. I find their Blog outstanding, and anticipate more updates. Be well and happy travels!

How throughly cool! Thanks for the share and ideas!

Wow, great reading your Blog Hedgeman, as well as all the comments and replies here in this post. This must be an adventure of a lifetime, and chugging down the road in the easy to drive and fit anywhere Toyhome to boot! I plan my first long distance Toyhome trip next spring, pulling my Harley with a1983 Dolphin from Illinois to Southern California. Nothing as adventurous as your awesome journey mind you, but a 4100 mile round trip is a good haul for a 2 week vacation. I envy you and yours in the ability of experience and for such exciting and memorable moments in your life! Be safe, and happy travels!

Is it the metal rtim that the vinyl goes into like these your looking for? If it is, then the trim screws down, that is why it is covered with the vinyl insert, to seal around the length of the track where the mounting screws are holding it down, You dont need any sealant, but under the trim one can use butyl tape. Good luck! http://www.interstat...lu_moulding.htm http://www.rvplus.co...campaign=google here is a 100 foot roll of new insert vinyl if you need it, but it is available many places, maybe even cheaper. http://www.rvsupplyparts.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=8952

Well, Today I sanded down the hood where my painted stripes were beginning to flake and peal off due to my neglect to do it properly last time. After I sanded to remove most of the old chipped and flaked paint, I brought most of the areas down to bare metal, prepped the metal and primed the areas completely. I sanded from start to wet sand, and prepped the primer to accept the paint. I then repainted the two-tone stripes and feel they will now last for a long time. I just took the pictures as it was beginning to get dark, it took me the whole day, but worth it I think. Here are a couple pictures below.

I used my electric 2 burner cooktop just last month for a 2 week vacation in the Wisconsin Dells, cooked eggs and bacon, boiled water, made oatmeal, etc. I used my convection oven as well to cook pizza, lasagna, and baked taters, and my 800 watt microwave. I used them all hooked to shore power and other times with my generator without a single concern or over drainage. Even when using both the cooktop and microwave at the same time, the watts were under 2000 with my 2500 run 3175 peak generator. The electric instant heat water heater worked like a champ as well. I dont miss the propane one bit. Here is a gasoline stove one could recess and custom mount in place of the propane? Coleman 2 burner, uses unleaded or Coleman fuel, and has over 17,000 BTU's.

Awesome adventure PurpleCaman! I cant wait for the tales of the road and photos!

Thanks for the tips!

Here's the National RV floor plans and types I posted in another reply and 5Toyota mentioned. They include Dolphin and Seabreeze. Most Toyhomes have exact or very similar floor plans I know that some travel with a Family of 4 in them, I travel alone so have no experience with others, but we all make work what we want to. Welcome and good luck in your search! The nice thing about a Toyhome is that they are easy to customize, and have often thought of making the rear sofa floor plan in mine with a jackknife style couch to allow ability and room for it to pull out, and then have the room when folded back up. http://www.mediafire.com/nationalrv

Not sure what your saying? they want to sell it blind on E-bay? Not worth the possible scam or misrepresented crap no doubt.

I think there is an idle spring connected from the throttle to a load sensor that increases RPM when under loads. I would check to see it that spring or lever is connected properly or to the proper place. Sorry, other than that, I am clueless. I am sure there are many possibilities, but that is the only one I could give any experience on to. Good luck my friend!

I like the idea of small LED lighting, as they are usually able to recess, and as ststed, nice along the under cabinets, and small spot lights too. last forever, use very little juice, yeah Karen, great suggestions!

I agree with Waiter, a thermostat is inexpensive and easy to install. It could be beginning to get sticky, and a cheap fix to something that could cause an expensive one later. I would also check the wires to the sending unit to see if they are free of any heat retaining crud, oil or exposed wires shorting out against to block. The head gaskets of the V6 are prone to failure on some versions, and if you concerned or have not had the repair, check out this post by Boots, as Toyota paid for the replacement. http://toyotamotorhome.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=5010&hl= Good luck!

They look awesome, and thanks to you and Bunneys for sharing! Dont worry about the espresso I think it looks fine, but, you can always go back sometime and go with black? I have some shopping to do for next seasons project list!

Yeah, I agree, the newer options are very limited to our segment. We all are rebuilding our Toyhomes, and as such, we might need to have a Genset reworked too. If one finds an older one at a reasonable price, there are still parts out there for them, even for Kohler and for the Honda. Just type in Kohler RV generator parts in a Google search and there are listings for various places still offering a wide selection of them. If I were to get one used, I prefer the liquid cooled Honda or even a Kohler to any Onan, even if it had to have work done to it first. Here's the place to get the Honda RV generator parts http://www.hondalawn...Generator-Parts Here's a used Honda 4010 rated at 3200/4000 watts for sale at $800 bucks. I think, even with the needed muffler and any refurbish work needed, it wouldn’t be much more invested than a new or newer smaller sized portable Honda, and definitely less expensive than any new comparable sized Honda portable. It could be a great option for one wanting a run while travel generator for a Toyhome for one wanting to lay out the cash. http://www.reachoo.c... (Pontiac) $800 Here's a 6010 max rating at 6000w for $500.00 http://ocala.craigsl...3269686195.html Here's a Whole 1987 Dolphin with the 4010 already installed for nearly the price of a new Honda 3000W generator/inverter, LOL! http://www.reachoo.c...sa, GJCO) $2950 This Generac 3600W generator at 29.5L x 19W x 13.5H will fit into a customized compartment on a Toyhome or on some kind of back bumper set up no problem. http://www.norwall.c...CFcne4AodOUcA2g For as much as I need mine, I chose to forfeit the expenditure at this time, but who knows what the future holds. As many do, I choose to carry a generator that I pull out of my side storage hatch and run it outside, and at 2500/3175 watts, it works fine for me presently. There are many options for those out there, and I guess with all things Toyhome, it all comes down to what one wants to put in, and how much work they want to do or have done, and how much they wish to spend. Happy Travels!

RV supply, E-bay, and trailer supply places all have 12 volt lighting options.

I like the rear dinette, no doubt mostly because that is the model I own. It has that huge rear window for light and views. My 1983 does have those dual skinny windows on the sides which dont allow a great viewing experience, but the later models do have larger side windows. I like the idea that the weight of the appliances being more forward, as Totem mentioned, weight the rear is the last place one wants it. It is the extended off the actual frame, and in my thoughts, the weakest portion of the frame. not to mention that one doesnt want a lot of weight in the rear pulling anymore contact weight off the front tires than possible.

You are truly a metalsmith! Pretty darn impressive work and your frame will no doubt last till the next millennium! Keep us posted on your continued progress. Maybe attach some custom made side flares to the rail just above your rear tires to cover the width of the dual rears. I'm not 100% sure, but I believe some states do have a requirement for unprotected tire protrusion. You have an awesome custom build!

Yes Waiter, the mentioned 1-70 outside Denver is Eisenhower and a nasty grade both sides of the tunnel, and your mentioned Grapevine on I-5 is a long grade, but nowhere near what it used to be before it was tied into the interstate system and widened and grade reduced, showing my age now, hee hee. Take care while on Snoqualmie Pass to Seattle, not to mention Stevens pass in the Cascades as well. Stevens may not be as steep of a grade, but it’s switchbacks along with the grade is also one to be concerned about. While not a lengthy grade, Cajon Pass out of San Bernardino will really slow ya down, but it’s wide and roomy like I-80 Parley’s in Utah and has a long slow truck lane its length to help. We drive where it will take us, and if one takes it easy, and does not try to rush or tax the motor, I think we could go anywhere the road is laid before us. I still think I would be hesitant to attempt Tioga unless I knew it would be a good weather situation, and not do it on the busy weekends or holidays.

I dont think Onan is exclusive to the market.... I have seen Kohler, and even a Honda liquid cooled RV generator set options in Toyhomes, . This one was mounted into a 1987 Dolphin Generac is another maker of them as well

If one were to remove or bypass the fuel tank, mount their portable generator and run a fuel line directly to the carb with a small electric pump, couldent this remedy that occurance? I wouldnt suggest this for a bumper mounted one.