86rader

After 8+ years of toyhouse ownership and a year and a half of sobriety, I am back in the game. Started with an 86 RB22 Sunrader which served me well. Got a "deal" on a V-6 Odyssey that was supposed to be a quick flip. Well, we know how that goes. Sold the SR and kept the Odyssey. After a few years of worrying about seam leaks and not really having the time to use it, I sold it. Too cheaply, IMO. Fast forward a year and a half and I keep clicking on fb posts from that cursed toyhouse group and I started to get the itch again. This time I was set on another Sunrader or maybe a Nova Star. Yesterday, I scratched that itch. 87, Indiana built 22RD Sunrader. 39K miles. Looks to have been very well cared for. Interior looks near new. Apparently the various systems have seen little or no use. It has been setting a few years, so I haven't attempted to start yet. Siphoned the gas out today. Going to install new cab battery and gas soon, cross my fingers and start her up....I hope. Paid 5500 with the understanding that it will run fine. Given the time of year and overall condition, I think this is a fair deal. In top shape, with new tires, in May, I think it could bring 7-8K without trouble, given the mileage/condition. Hope to have her ready for the VT toyin this spring.

I just bought a Sunrader. Fridge condition is "it worked the last time I tried it, but we usually just used a cooler". So, there is a distinct possibility I will be in the market for one soon. If you have the place to stow it, for awhile, you may have a buyer. Anyone know what it costs to ship a fridge from SF to Connecticut? I would think that strapped to a pallet, shipped slow and cheap, it ought not be too bad.

Here's another interesting CL find..... https://sierravista.craigslist.org/rvs/5926041590.html Too bad it is 2700 miles away. Would love a 22RE MT Nova Star.

Looks like the seller realized his mistake after a bunch of calls and it ended up going for close to 10K. Still not a bad deal, but a steal at 6500.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/rvs/5921242691.html 4x4 SR. Low miles. Says it is rough inside. Don't look that bad to me. I assume most of the work that needs to be done is in the cabover. I have done this work. Piece of cake! Apparently it is already sold. Assuming it is mechanically sound, this could be made into a 20K dollar rig without a whole lot of work. I suspect the owner does not realize the value of it, especially in the bay market. If it is as described, I would guess that it is worth close to 10K as it sits.

too bad. it has THE drivetrain to have.

I love that pop-top cabover. Yeah, you do want to make sure your hatches are suffciently battened, but it's not as though these things ever see the speeds where they will be ripped loose if they do pop up. Anyway, I would like to say thanks, Greg. Thanks a lot for tormenting us with more pics of amazing toyhouses that we can't have here in the US.

I had the weathervane thingy on my Sunrader and I can attest to its worth. We used to get terrible smells from the bath going down the hiway with the cab windows open. This completely cured it.

Linda beat me to the "are they upside down question". I recommend you get everything good and dry, get inside with a flashlight when it is pouring rain. Someone outside with a hose would do, I guess. Just make sure the water is hitting in a normal downward direction. And watch.

Looking through the pics I noticed this is not a typical layout. A toyhouse with the door behind the rear wheel usually means rear kitchen, but this one is not. It is a rear bath with a separate shower.

DIY, a few hundred, tops. Have someone else do it, who knows? If I had to make a guess, I would say 1000-1500. It takes time and working with fiberglass can be a messy job. This was my first crack at it and I thought it came out well. There are lots of youtube videos out there that are excellent teachers. If I ever get a cali built Sunrader, I would do it again without hesitation.

Never mind, I see it is a different one. Wow, it really is nice. All the bells and whistles and plenty of extra little things that Tika is good at adding. I asked if it was a shorty because I was the one that fiberglassed over the windows on her shorty. I guess she liked the look and found another or had it done. Given a brand new engine from a reputable rebuilder and all the little extras, I would say that 20K is not an unreasonable asking price. Might not get it this time of year, but I have noticed that the Sunrader asking prices have actually gone up over the years.

Is it a shorty with fiberglassed over cabover wraparound windows?

The ugly noises she heard were likely rod bearings. Sounds like for 2 grand she can be back on the road. I would jump on that.

The interwebs are full of picture of people doing really stupid things. I place most of the above pictures in that basket. It is not a matter of lack of pulling power. You can tow heavy things.....very slowly. It is a matter of a flimsy hitch mount, which I suppose can be fixed, an dmore importantly, a lack of braking power. These things don't stop on a dime. Hell, they won't stop on a piggy bank full of silver dollars. Adding a ton or more to shove this already near brakeless machine, really isn't all that smart. I do suppose that the newer rigs with the one ton front ends do likely have a little more braking power, but not enough.

If you want to pull a 2000 lb boat, get a Ford/Chevy C Class. Way too much weight. A 500 lb aluminum boat with a very light trailer would be all I would consider.

Good to hear. Hope it wasn't trashed too badly.

If you have the ability, time and desire to do an awful lot of work and the drivetrain is in good shape, you'll be OK. If the rot is that extensive, I can't imagine it hasn't gotten into the roof though. I do like the idea of gutting it and rebuilding the interior to suit yourself. Wouldn't mind doing it myself someday. But I would do it to a Sunrader.

Good question about getting vehicles across the border without proof of ownership. I do know that years ago, there was a big problem with vehicles being stolen and brought into Mexico. It could be that that problem has been addressed.

I'm going to guess that this thing is now someone's casa in mexico.

Rust is bad in the northeast in general, but it is plain evil in places like upstate NY and PA. Would love to have one of those chinooks on a modern pickup.

Ellington, Ct. I actually have a wild hairbrained idea to someday build a toyhouse from scratch. This would be something good to start from, but, I suspect there is a good bit of frame rust. Remember, this was a daily driver a decade ago. I can't say for certain, but I think that was year around. And toyota pickups driven year around in Ct all broke in half from rusty frames long ago. 10 years in a field didn't help any.. Look at the axle bearing cap. Rusty as hell.

This was owned by a farmer up the road. I remember seeing him drive it around town. It has been parked in the field for close to 10 years. I believe the farmer passed away quite a few years ago. The place is getting cleaned up and the house, probably bulldozed. I suspect the toyhouse will be gone shortly. If anyone in the area needs an axle/22RE drivetrain, I suspect they could get it for near nothing.