chefdave

Hi no lines fitted at present. fill valves on side are still there. need to check fittings on top of airbag and see if i do a leak test using an air pump.

Hi my rad on a 1989 v6 dolphin 21ft is all metal. think your rad might be a post 1992/3. This seems to be when it changed for replacements.

Hi derek thanks for link will sort out when i get back to earning money as on sick pay at moment. should be an easy install as bags have already been fitted. cp blaster on nuts for a couple of weeks should help with removing nuts. :-) :-) :-)

Hi thanks for tips i have located orginal document for air bags it 3-tm. says in leaflet designed for micro motorhomes. deffo NOT looking for monster truck look. Hoping it will work for adding stability when passing trucks,crosswinds and keeping dolphin level when i load up for a trip. avoiding back end sag. which i believe was why they were made in the first place.

Hi derek thanks for links none seem to match my air bags. i have approached european air bag suppliers and get yet again a US import cannot help. i give them the toyota pickup chassis (loads in uk alone) ask for 5000lb capaicity approx 2200kg in metric. as pound is gaining in exchange market thinking its easier to go to US supplier who knows what a dolphin motorhome is. cannot believe suppliers customer service in europe for US vehicles. as US servicemen sell there cars here before returning to US. thousands over here and two in a 10mile radius of me in the lowest population density in uk.

Waiting for our snow should be falling now. if it comes now it will be a serious blizzard wind up to 50mph and increasing. :-( roll on march so i can start outside jobs.

Hi derek will check when storm lifts. air bags are bolted to leaf springs. since i have owned my dolphin have wire brushed and lubericated springs with a liquid grease. i now have more top of wheel to wheel arch. top of wheel arch is now level with top of tyre. gained about 1" in height. so think springs had stuck after being laid up for 12 months. weird but true. in paperwork with dolphin 3-mt? airbags where fitted. Emailed address and was told they where never fitted to motorhomes????? Judging by size they should be more than capable. would like to try and repair for testing to see the difference in behaviour on road. Before buying brand new.

Hi boxing in height goes to roof height so not much more can be done.

Hi derek up north thanks for tips. been watching my dolphin rocking in the wind. despite being boxed in on three sides. front is the part not boxed in. so this will not be done today and snow is now forecast :-(.

Hi slightly off topic (sorry everyone). i have air bags on my dolphin but no air lines for filling them. back end of my dolphin seems to be very high off the ground. i have a 7 leaf spring pack which does not feel stiff on the road. considering how to test air bags for leaks. each bag has its own air pipe for filling.

Hi derek up north yes uk petrol prices hurt. when weather lets up i will look at dizzy cap and rotor. check leads for leaking by running engine in dark and see if leads are leaking. toyota wires on at present. O2 sensor has not been checked since mot and readings were lower than a 3 year old car. i think hills wind and cold are not helping mpg. seen on another posting to upgrade all earth leads (3 wire upgrade). Block to chassis alternater to earth and battery to earth (?). This suppose to improve electric (flow ?) and provide a consistly strong spark at all rpm.

Hi im getting 17 english miles to the gallon not sure what this is in us mpg. my toy is the v6 so dont think its to bad. i too will be removing roof ac not working or needed in uk. keep us posted about oven stove replacement as my lpg cooking/heating system looks to be beyond repair. Thinking of using camping stove with its own gas bottle. have one in the house with 2 rings for power cuts that occur about 3 times a winter.

Hi sorry to hear you have a very poorly engine. updates will be good to have. not a an easy job to remove an engine. last one i did took 4 hours from opening bonnet then labeling wires etc etc. rebuilt carb at same time. needed a hand to get block out one on engine hoist and other to guide block off gear box and then out of engine carpartment. took engine rebuilder 4 days to rebuild my entire engine. since sold car but understand motor is sweet as nut. so must of run it in correctly.

Hi does someone have a photo or diagram of exhaust route on a1989 dolphin 21ft. i need to replace my only silencer. while this being replaced need to up diameter form cat back as the pipe diameter is 1 3/4 inchs at most. as posted in other forums on toyota hilux's 2 1/4" gives a power boost and possiable fuel economany improvement. also need to keep fairly quiet so will need two silencers. at present my exhaust follows orginal toyota until back axle then goes in a diagnoal across rear over hang. exhaust is not orginal but well put together pieces. will need to cut exhaust as every join is welded. no sleeve joins any where. i was always told to replace whole system as any new part will put addiation strain on rest of system. espcially if i have 10ft of pipe leading from silencer to rear of motorhome. long pipe always seems to be wet inside from condension. Thanks Dave

Hi i have thought of moving mine to the front of camper. two options avaliable to me are bolt to bonnet or attach to my bull bar. have seen a photo of it bolted to bull bar. Still have to fit a spare wheel cover where it ends up. wont make a huge difference front to back weight but every little helps.

Hi i have always wondered why manufacturers put spare wheel under car. it collects water dirt and salt all the wrong stuff for smooth operation. had one car with a under car spare wheel. took it to tyre fitters and they spent 2hours to it working. then gave me a tip to put copper grease on thread every six month and wind it up and down.

Hi what model is your motorhome. on my 21ft dolphin my spare wheel is bolted to rear wall under back window.

Hi took mine out last year if i remember it 6 screws. had some 6mm plywood lieing around which fitted with no cutting. i used some 3x3 to make a support to run along wall. used same size to make mini legs to make a frame to hold plywood. as fresh water tank is under former folding bed. hardest bit was getting folding bed out through door.

Hi scott thats a good pointer. loads of places advertise rims for road and competition. will make inquiries thanks

Derek up north bugger. thats put paid to that idea as mine is US import.

Hi scott just out curosity i did a search on tyres for single wheel, yes they make some but price is way to high £150 per tyre. i would also need to carry two spares one for front and one for rear. Ummmmm will talk to wheel and tyre specialist before dismissing idea. :-) :-) :-)

Hi scott 2013 Just like to point that i live in uk. interesting going down one rear wheel only, problem with that is a would need a low profile tyre to fill rim width and not alter gearing. not likely to find this tyre type in d rating or van spec. have read in other forums with camper attached to truck bed duellies are 100% recommended for stability and carrying the increased total all up weight. remember my dolphin has approx 2 ton on rear axle and 1 ton on front axle. unless an expert can come up with a benefit to go from duellies to single without endangering load capitcity and safety of motorhome and other members of the public going about their daily business. i have expeniced a front tyre going flat in a matter of minutes on a sprinter van. something i would never wish to experiance again. you try fighting a violently shaking steering wheel and unresponsive steering. both van and me made it safety of service station with no damage. Just pointing out what seems a good idea may not be as good as first thought.

Hi this is interesting topic. as with 15" wheels i would be able to specially made rv tyres made for european market. so no rating probs a single tyre in this format would be able to support 3/4 of a ton. so with duallies i would have a massive safety buffer on weight. weather the cost of going down this route would be viable would need more research. due a set of new tyres this year. another costing to add on to my costing list.

Hi corbin k yes have a list that will keep me busy along with kitchen diner in house that is going to have full make over. new floor, wall paper along with redesigned kitchen layout new lighting all 60square metres of floor space. Leave me no time for paid work lol :-)

Hi should of added when i go back to work im on light duties for 2 months :-( means no work on dolphin for minium of 3 months unless i can pull some favours on off friends. one specializes in aluminium and stainless steel fabrication so he can guide me on roof or carry out any nesscary repairs.