straygoose

I think I saw this one listed on CL a couple of months back. PA or MD maybe? I think they just wanted it gone for like $400 or something. No title either IIRC.

I dunno. Mine is an '87, and my understanding is that from '87 on all Toy scalpers were sent out with 1 ton axles. Of course, mine is an '86 chassis with an '87 coach, but I don't think that matters. Also, my Toy is not unique in this regard. Others report the same configuration. Another thing that leads me to believe that the axle is OEM, is that there are no airbags. I suspect that anyone who had the axle upgrade done would have installed them. It does have spring helpers, so that theory may be shot to hell too, but all indications from the previous owner and what I can see under there is that the axle is original. Just my opinion, with not much basis in fact, but there it is.

Well, don't think I have to worry about that. This thing couldn't do 80 with a hurricane pushing it. ) However, I am thankful I have the good axle. I would not have bought her otherwise. I just can't wrap my head around the 1 ton rear and the 1/2 ton front, WTH was Toyota thinking when they did that? I will be changing the hubs to 1 tonners, probably when I get back home to TX. Do you have a parts list for the conversion? I'm assuming there will be hubs, wheels, rotors and calipers, but what else? Apprently there is a Toyota boneyard in San Antonio, about three hours from where I live. I want to be able to walk in, get what I need, and take it home with me.

The draw is happening on shore power too. Maybe the power from the post is inconsistent.

Well, everything seems to check out. Maybe it is the battery. There is only a deep-cell 12v in the compartment, obviously a replacement. It's strong, but I probably need to get some 6v units lined up in there. I'm on shore power for the time being, so I'll just make a note to check it next time I boondock.

You know, I have noticed a drag on the furnace blower when I turn on a light or something else, which makes me wonder if one or the other are pulling too many amps. This is happening on shore power, so unless I'm getting less than 30a off the post, something may be wrong. Of course this could be completely normal and I don't know that. I don't ever remember this happening in my old unit, so I just don't know. As far as the sail switch goes, this blower, when running at full power, blows hard and loud. If anything it would be a sticky switch, but it would have to be really sticky, since this thing puts out a lot of wind, whether its cold or hot.

Ba-da-boom...HEY! D

The GM ones were actually on the outside of the frame, between the frame and the fender, IIRC. The gov. finally told them no mas. Every time one ran a red light and got t-boned, the occupants got fried. It was a pretty dumb idea.

I thought about that. Won't it be too heavy? I know they are relatively light, but Toyhomes don't have the sturdiest roofs either. I'm thinking thick ABS plastic, with quality locksets. Its weatherproof, sturdy, light and secure, unless someone goes after it with a sawzall, which I don't think you could do unobstrusively.

I'm kind of considering splitting off a line for a BBQ tank, even though i don't want to carry the extra. I may just do the plumbing work so it wil be there if I ever need it. Oh, I also remember the side tanks on GM pickups bck in the 70s and 80s. Side gas tanks inside the skin, but outside the frame. WTH were they thinking? When one got broadsided it blew to kingdom come.

There's a joke about Canadian porn in here somewhere, I just can't find it.

Good for You! I hope you have a great time with her. She sounds like a winner!

I work in PA, MD, and DC, so I'm game, but only during the summer months, and even then, only if it doesn't interfere with my work. Let me know if you put something together, when and where. After October or so, I'm gone down south.

OK so a saddle tank is akin to those old Fords pickup truck tanks that were right behind the cab. Kinda like leaning up against a bomb when you were driving it. Don't want that. Maineh, I take it the stock Toy tank is 8gal? I can't see it being any bigger than that, and I'm going to find out just as soon as I run her out of LP.

South Philly is no big deal...I grew up in inner city Detroit. Problem in places like that is that kids f*(% with stuff just because they're bored. So, it has to be at the very least juvenile delinquent-proof. They"ll mess with a tank if its parked in one spot long enough. I can't be with the vehicle 24/7, so I have to protect her the best I can.

What's a saddle tank? I'm assuming I don't have one. I'm also assuming I want one.

The only time I switch to ELEC is when I'm at the campground otherwise she's on LP, even when I gas up. I figure its a good 10-12 feet from the pump and since it's outside, everything is well ventilated. Hell, half the time I forget to shut it of when I fill up on LP, but then again, they shut off the main valve when filling anyway, or at least they are supposed to. And you're right; they will run forever on very little LP. My old one had an 8gal. tank and it would last two months. And I use my fridge. I'm in and out of it all day long, grabbing munchies, beer, more munchies, more beer, some beer, maybe another beer.... I haven't figured out just how efficient this new one is yet. I'm not even sure how many gallons the LP tank holds. I'm trying to run it down to nothing right now, so I can refill and find out what my capacity is, and if I maybe need to do a little surgery and add on a BBQ tank.

Well that makes sense, since this thing has about as much insulation as a chicken egg. I cleaned out the intake/exhaust today, and we shall see if that fixes the problem. It will be warm tonight so it may be a day or two until I figure out if that did the trick.

Does anyone actually shut off their LP and switch it over to 12v when they go on trips? I sure don't. She doesn't use enough LP to worry about saving a few ounces. Seems like a big hassle for nothing. Matter of fact, If I have her parked in the driveway for long periods, I just leave the fridge running on LP, since I need to keep the beer inside cold! My old unit would run for almost two months on 8gal. of LP, and I figure this one is probably even more efficient.

True enough, I hadn't considered the alt fuels angle. But tell me, is there much in the way of alterations you have to make to the motor so that it can run WVO, or other fuels? My understanding is that some adaptation is necessary, and that depending on the fuel used, you may not be able to convert back to diesel without undoing the alterations. That brings to mind another question. Are there any Toyhomes out there that have been refitted with a diesel drivetrain? Seems to be a worthy project for someone who has the skills. $700 seems like a good price for 3Kw.

Oh, I know that, but the more of a deterrent I have, the better off I'll be. I park on city streets in places like South Philly and Baltimore, and I have to leave the vehicle to go to work, so I need her to be as secure as possible when I'm not around her.

I was just looking at Totem's new box and I realized that I need a nice secure storage space on my roof. I'm looking for something like one of those hard-sided roof carriers that are aerodynamically shaped. Only thing is, I don't want one of those flimsy REI ones. I need one that's tough and can be locked up tight as a drum, and is weatherproof. Obviously weight is a concern, so a steel fab job is probably out, but if its thick ABS plastic, has something stronger than an access panel lockset on it, and can be bolted to the roof, I'm interested. Obviously the end facing forward would be smaller, to account for the aerodynamics. I'm going to be carrying some toys with me that I really can't replace very easily, and I need to be able to secure them on the roof, and make it look as unobtrusive as possible. I figure a good tough carrier, painted white like the AC cowl, will do the trick, but it has to be secure. Like I said, those flimsy access panel locks like we have on our little storage areas will not cut it. Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind replacing those cheap things with stronger locks, so maybe I can store my tools in the bin, instead of under my dinette. I am looking at dimensions in the 60"L x 18"-24"W x 18'-24"D. Fairly long, and a little tall, but I don't think there will be a weight problem. I will probably be carrying no more than 50-60lbs. total, including the enclosure, up there. I'm kinda running out of space, and I don't want to have to use my dormer for storage and my sofa as a bed. If I have to do that I might as well go to a bigger RV.

Did they have them smaller? I wouldn't mind one that's about half the width. Assuming its sturdy enough to keep people from ripping it open to steal things, I could see this working for me.

Isn't carrying around two different fuels kind of a PITA though? I would be worried about not thinking and putting regular in the diesel can.

I learned the something similar with trying to run the fridge on 12v. It killed the battery, and I mean killed it dead, as in I had to get a new one. I never tried that again. Propane, even at $3.50 is cheap enough to use all the time, unless of course you can plug in to a shore line. That 12v selector on the fridge must be the most useless thing on a MH.