paulnptld

I have a Dolphin 900, which I believe is 21' long. Is yours one of the smaller Dolphin models? You sure you're not looking at KPH vs. MPH? Hah.

I'm already sold on the concept. How much do differential locks tend to run? This would have been a life-saver for me a few months ago on an unfortunate beach trip...

It's hard for me to imagine doing 54mph in second gear. At 45 it sounds like the engine is revving at the same speed as a jet engine! BTW, what's an air locker? I'm frequently traveling in marginal traction situations since I'm using my Dolphin as a portable ski chalet.

I'd read in a few places that it's advisable to leave overdrive on and ECT off on Toyota trucks for maximum fuel economy. That being said, this advice probably doesn't apply to heavily loaded RVs. So I'd love some opinions here. 1) Overdrive: I've noticed that turning overdrive off allows my foot to fade off the gas pedal considerably, especially on minor hills or when there's a headwind. The engine revs considerably higher (naturally). Safe to assume that I'm saving fuel in this scenario? Also, without a tachometer, what is the fastest speed you feel comfortable running at with the overdrive off? 2) ECT: Same thing here. With it on, the shift points seem to make more sense. 3) 2nd Gear: On steep climbs I shift and lock the transmission in to 2nd. What's a safe speed for sustained climbs? Would greatly appreciate your feedback!

Thanks for sharing. I'm sure this will help!

Two new favorite creature comforts: First, the Bose SoundLink Mini. You won't believe how much sound that little speaker can crank out for 8 hours. I use it in the cabin, but also when I'm outside next to my second recent creature comfort, the Little Red Campfire. http://amzn.com/B00D5Q75RC http://amzn.com/B000O51VJ0

I still have the factory cassette in mine. I purchased a Boss bluetooth dvd single DIN system to replace it, but it's clearly wider. Not going to be a simple swap out as hoped. Let me know what you find...

In the 900 series Dolphin will this leave enough clearance for the closet door to open? Thanks!

See the threads on this topic. Brake bias is adjustable in our Toyhomes.

I'm preparing to do the same. Has it made a difference?

I'm guessing that finding spare rims for a 1990 dually Toyota can't be easy...

Last week was my first experience driving my Toyhome in the snow. Some lessons: 1) The front brakes are WAY too aggressive. It takes nothing for them to lock up vs. the rears. Looks like I need to have the bias adjustment done. 2) The tires aren't especially effective on snow or ice. Les Schwab told me that I should have the tires siped. When they tried to sipe them, they found that the 14" rims weren't fitting on their siping machine. So...question. Is siping worth it, and if so does anyone have a recommendation as to where I can get it done? Finally: If no, I'm going to explore buying Nokian snow tires. That's an expensive option that I'd prefer to avoid.

A good heater will keep the lines from freezing in my experience. The issue is that once you're done using it, you'll need to go through a complete winterization every time. That's the lesson I learned. In Portland, it's incredibly rare that we get a cold snap like the one we just went through. The last time was four years ago. Regardless, I have the feeling that this is going to be an expensive lesson.

Wow, that's awesome. More work (and money) than I think I could commit to something like that. Besides, it really is nice having a shower and toilet!

No sure about the toilet and showers yet, only because the water pump isn't effective when there's a leak in the system. The upside? This:

Some learnings from the field: I clearly did not know how to winterize my RV. Yes, I put RV antifreeze in the grey and black water tanks, drained the fresh water tank, etc. However, I failed to remember the water pump...and more importantly, the hot water heater. Then this happened. Suggestions would be appreciated.

Might I suggest: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F38YI2/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=1KNF00XWYHXT2&coliid=I3G5JKJQM97LCP

It's been in the low teens this week. Over the weekend I visited the RV storage site where I keep my Toyhome. Even though I'd drained the lines, it wasn't enough. The water pump is frozen solid, as are the sink traps in the bathroom and kitchen. So the issue isn't the ability to keep them above freezing when using it. The real issue is that you need to re-winterize the vehicle once you decide to park it for a few days. Of course this weather is really unusual for Portland, but I honestly have no idea of what to expect once I thaw out the RV. I'm planning a ski trip to Mt. Bachelor this weekend, and I'm concerned that I'm going to have a cracked line or two. Fingers crossed.

Ok. Another crazy idea has come to me. My brother recently introduced me to a product called Plasti-Dip. I found a local company willing to do my entire Toyhome in anthracite, gunmetal, or silver for $1,500. The stuff is easy to apply, incredibly durable, and peels off like a giant decal if you want to 'undo' your paint job a few years down the road. I've heard it's good for at least 4 years, and is easy to touch up. Here's the local company that's bidding on it. I'd love to hear some color combo ideas for all of you! Should I do the entire thing in one color, or keep the truck white? http://www.thecarskin.com/#!colors/aboutPage Some additional examples: https://www.dipyourcar.com/examples.html

41. Wife is 39. Baby Sura is 5 months old. The fun of it for me is that my friends NEVER expected 1) that I'd buy and RV, and 2) That it would be ahem...'vintage.' I love the damn thing! Can't wait to try it out at the local ski resort this weekend.

You aren't seeing things. I have a 91 and the length is 21 feet. It's a Dolphin model 900 which also has a different floor plan than the 300, as well as a full bathroom. Of course you come out ahead on fuel economy!

We're finally experiencing some typical 'deep winter' weather here in Oregon. Temps on Mt. Hood are in the teens at night. So here's the latest from spectacular (and completely frozen over) Trillium Lake, just minutes from the ski resorts. Current exterior temp: 22 degrees. Inside: 90+ (I'll explain shortly). This is day two of boondocking it, and I'm pleased to report that the Dolphin is handing this with aplomb. For winterizing I've only dumped two gallons of RV antifreeze in the grey and black water tanks. The fresh water tank is full, and the water heater is running. I just took a scalding hot shower with no issues whatsoever. I also put a 1 inch layer of reflective polystyrene under the mattress (incredible difference) and an insulated blanket between the cabin and living area. I still plan on adding reflectix to the area around the refrigerator. Other than that, the Dolphin seems to be handling cold weather just fine. The Big Buddy has generally been left on at the lowest setting (4,000btu). I've cranked it up a few times just to see how warm the interior can get. High temp? 97 degrees. So far...for the entire weekend...I've used less than 1/4 of a tank of propane. Other things worth noting: I'm running with a single deep cycle, LED lights throughout the interior, and haven't needed to fire up the generator yet. So it seems the Dolphin may end up being the ultimate skimobile after all! Can't say enough great things about the Mr. Heater Big Buddy so far. Condensation inside hasn't been a huge issue. I have the window by the dinette cracked open, and one ceiling vent open approximately 1/2 inch. Both CO detectors have indicated 0ppm.

Hey John, Just out of curiosity, how much do the Nokian tires cost?

Hey ORrogue: Riding Meadows, although I'll probably make a stop or two at Ski Bowl this season. Also planning some long weekends at Bachelor and Whistler. If you're at Meadows, look for the Dolphin. I'll be up there most weekends. Tons of pow falling right now, so let's hope for an early opening.