toyohome

I just bought an Onan 2.8 to install in my 1987 Dolphin. At some point, the previous generator was removed leaving a fully enclosed compartment. With the installation of the replacement generator, is the floor of the compartment supposed to be fully open so that the generator can breathe? As is, there is no provision for outside air intake, exhaust exit or oil drain. Also, what is the best sound deadening insulation for the compartment?

I had one of those once upon a time (Honda power). It worked great. Unfortunately my wife (sr. citizen) refuses to ride on the handlebars or on top of the motor. (Maybe I could mount a sidecar or pull her in a small trailer)! Our C70 seats two, goes 35-40 mph, and gets over 100 mpg. That's wasteful mileage compared to yours but sometimes we like to live extravagantly.

Good idea, but I like the FBI Internet Fraud Division better. It has a nice impressive ring to it.

Linda, I was hoping to find one that matched the others in my MH. But this will work also. Thanks.

JD, A positive for you today. The forum says I have reached my limit of positives for today although yours was the first for me. Is it legal for me to give you positive here in this manner?

Me too! Me too! We just completed a 6000 mile trip from Gulf Coast Mississippi to CA and back.. Very similar to your trip. Absolutely amazed at how well she ran without missing a beat! This was our first big trip. We also joined PA and there are some great bargains out there. But we found that we really enjoy boondocking and the peace and quiet it affords. Surprisingly, we got our best mileage while in the mountains. Loved the great gas prices too! We also went to the Toyota Rally at Quartzite and had a fantastic time with the 30 other Toyo-owners. Tika did a fantastic job of organizing the event and we would like to encourage other Toyo owners to attend next year if at all possible!

I have a 1982 Honda C70, Passport I plan to carry on the back of my 87' Dolphin. I have already replaced the tin foil bumper with a heavy gauge steel bumper with integral receiver. I plan to beef up my supports to the frame. Now I'm looking for a lightweight suitable carrier for the scooter. I am looking at a Harbor Freight, aluminum, handicap scooter carrier. It may take a little modification due to my Honda wheelbase. Can anyone suggest an aluminum carrier option that works well for a C70? For you folks who are carrying scooters, what are you using?

...over $20K is not unrealistic... That all depends on whose pocket you're pulling $20K out of. I doubt very much if it will be my pocket any time in the future. About all I have are pennies and lint in my pocket.

Debbit, But my Westphalia really IS speedier than a Toy home. I have a 1973 Campmobile with a Toyota 2TC in it. And it runs like a scared rabbit. It is the best of both worlds. I can boast that it is one of the first "true hybrids". Not only that, but it really does have a 'hemi' engine. And it will easily do 75mph! And go uphill without downshifting. Love it!

I have a current ad here for a WTB dome light for my Motorhome. I received an interesting reply to that ad which I will quote here. Please review my ad first. Here's the quote from Robert Green, rg810806@gmail.com: "Hi Paul, Thanks for writing", (I did not write him). "I have a 1987 Dolphin Double interior dome light for sale in excellent condition and shape. I am asking a $200 shipped. Asking price includes shipping via UPS or FedEx which ever you prefer, and I'll accept payment via Western union or Moneygram. What's your complete shipping address? Thanks, Robert" And now to quote my response: "$200? Really? Western Union or MoneyGram? Who are you and where are you from? How about if I have the local police come over and complete the transaction for me? Or perhaps you prefer the FBI Internet Fraud Division?" As of today, I have not heard back from Robert. Do you think his price was fair? Should I have accepted his great offer on the dome light? Has anyone ever heard of Robert Green on this forum? Was I a bit too critical and skeptical ?

You may try a special request at; www.car-part.com. This is a great source for locating old or obsolete parts. I have had very good luck with the yards I have bought from.

Thank you! That's an excellent point on absorption vs. compressor. I never thought of that. Out of curiosity, how did you arrive at that 15A draw figure? Do you have a formula? I'm just trying to find a solution to my propane burner going out when I'm on the road. Any suggestions on that?

I have a Dometic RM2410 refrigerator which is 110v and propane only. I would like to operate it off my house battery with a separate inverter to up the 12V to 110V. I have a separate 750 watt inverter for that sole purpose. For all you electrical wizards: The RM2410 is listed at 120v and 1.3A. Is there any reason why this would not work during road travel and boondocking?

21 MPG and it's a Michelob engine!

Vanman: Thanks so much for the tip! The seal would have cost $9.99 and a new flat, stainless steel mirror was only $18. So, I ordered complete mirrors. Is this a great Toyoforum, or what?!!!

Good advice on replacing the rotors! I wish I had known that they were so cheap when I had mine turned. P.S. To my original post: I also discovered that my original MC was malfunctioning and replaced it also. After a 300 mile trip everything seems fine. No more shimmy problem and mileage increased about 2-3 MPG! Now looking forward to some major travel! Thanks to everyone for your input.

There's another reason why correct spelling is most important. It fosters a clear understanding of what needs to be communicated. A quick spell check costs nothing and helps teach spelling. Ignorance is no excuse for not making an effort to communicate clearly.

I have a 1987 Dolphin with some outside mirror problems. I need to take the glass out and am concerned about the U shaped seal that holds it in. I am afraid that it is too brittle to save it and am looking for a source for replacement seals that will fit. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks.

I recently acquired an old Honda Cub (1982 C70 Passport). I would like to take it with me and was considering carrying it on a very small 4' by 4' trailer modified to carry the 300# scooter. The trailer probably doesn't weigh over 120#. I'm guessing that my tongue weight will not be over 40#. I've replaced the original bumper with a heavier steel bumper with a receiver. I'm looking for opinions or comments on my proposal. Would this plan work with a minimum of problems and risks? 1987 Dolphin. Thanks.

I've had a difficult time diagnosing my problem. Declining gas mileage and a serious and spontaneous death wobble or death shimmy. Three different shops checked the steering and suspension joints with a clean bill of health. I replaced a slightly leaking steering stabilizer which seemed to alleviate the shimmy problem - for awhile. Then it started again with a vengeance. Then one day I noticed that the brakes seemed to be dragging a bit. Back to the shop to replace the soft brake hoses. The hoses on aging vehicles may look perfectly good on the outside but can deteriorate on the inside. When the brakes are applied, fluid is pushed through to the calipers. When the pedal is released, the fluid (normally) returns to the master cylinder. If the hose is starting to deteriorate on the inside, the fluid may not be able to return to the MC. As a consequence, the brakes may drag, sometimes imperceptibly causing decreased gas mileage. In addition, the constant friction on the rotor will generate excessive heat causing the rotor to warp. Once the rotor has started to warp, it will cause the brakes to pulse imperceptibly. An oscillating effect sets up that only intensifies until the MH seems like it is trying to shake itself apart. Solution: Turn the rotors, replace the brake pads and most importantly, replace those old brake hoses! Any vehicle that is 25 or 30 years old should have new, quality brake hoses whether there is a problem or not. You can neglect most any other maintenance, but your life depends on perfectly functioning brakes!

I have some good used 87 seats I would sell very reasonably. I can't ship them. You would have to pick them up in southern Mississippi (not far from New Orleans). $75 each.

I'm hardly a mechanic, but I wonder if it is something as simple as bad valve guide seals. New seals are a fairly easy fix and is likely the cause on an old vehicle. Do you also get a cloud of smoke on start up after sitting overnight? If so, then that is a pretty strong indication that the seals are deteriorating and letting oil leak down into the cylinders. On starting, the oil is instantly burned up and then there is usually no more smoke. In your case, idling at a stop light (low speed) allows excess oil to flow down into the cylinders. Then when you take off, it is burned up. This is very similar to getting smoke after sitting overnight. Given the durability of these Toyota engines, I would bet that the old tech 'rubber' seals are finally wearing out and new high tech rubber seals will solve the problem. A good professional mechanic should be able to confirm my diag-guesstimate. Let us know what you find.

Wow! Could I pick one of those up at Walmart!?

I just bought a new set of Bargman (47-84-530) LED taillights for a complete replacement on my 87 Dolphin. No instructions were included and I believe I read somewhere that the installation was tricky; i.e., criss-crossed wires, new heavy duty flasher, etc. I checked Amazon for one of those books titled, LED installation for 87 Dolphins for Dummies. Unfortunately, that title is either out of stock or backordered. So, I am looking for one of our resident Toyo-electrical engineers to help me out with complete details to get the installation right the first time (or at least within three or four tries). I have two LEDs and one incandescent backup light that need to be hooked up to the stock Dolphin harness. To quote Tonto, "How"?

Any auto glass shop can replace a windshield on an old Toyota truck. There's nothing special about that.