88WIT
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Posts posted by 88WIT
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Is this possible? I would expect that the alternator would be fighting a loosing battle trying to keep the battery charged as the inverter sucks the life out of it.
I ask this because we are planning a trip out west this summer including some driving through the desert. My 86 sunrader has dash a/c, but the previous owner took the drive belt off as most of his use was trips up to nova scotia where they haven't even heard of a/c!!. He believes the a/c would work if the belt was replaced. I ain't buying it. It is a 21 year old R-12 system that hasn't been run in quite some time.
What are the odds of this system still working? If not how difficult/effective is an r-134 retrofit? My previous experience with retrofitted systems is that they loose some effectiveness. Maybe when I'm out west, I'll just shoot down south of the border and get me some cheap r-12. I here it is available there.
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futar, and everyone;
I need to get back to the Cascade Lakes Highway, La Pine, and see east central Oregon (Baker?). I've got an '88 Itasca 319RB (don't think it has a model name at that vintage) and like the idea of a clutch of micro-minnies gathered for the world to see, or should I say, not see? I would prefer boondocking or at least having some boondocking on an excursion.
I need to see these Sunraders that have recently piqued my interest. No dissatisfaction with Winnebago, but changing needs. Quite a few 'Raders tucked away in driveways and yards down here, many melting away back into the land.
On a trip of that length I would likely be travelling solo, as my partner is tired of the distances and only wants to stay in hookup campgrounds. We've put on about 20,000 miles together in five seasons. Her change of heart began in mid-June 2005 when daytime snow was forecast while we were at Paulina Lake. It turned into another driving vacation instead of staying put. She's no longer happy with that, either.
I'm starting a sabbatical on March 1, ostensibly to remodel my stick house, but have many irons in the fire and am open to suggestions.
In the future, if people turned out to be compatible, I could offer overnight parking in my neighborhood here. This year will be difficult because the utility company has the streets torn up. Street parking is the reason I kept the Toyota after the first season, for which it was acquired (Glacier's 21-foot length limit), and now I've bonded with it.
Steve R.
San Francisco, Oregon (almost)
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Rocky;
I thought I was the only one who acquired this chassis for the specific purpose of challenging the Rockies. It'll take you there and you'll be a more patient person on the way back. I've got an '88 22RE with the overdrive automatic so it's not a direct comparison, but if your 4th gear is an overdrive, then westbound on your outbound leg I believe you're going to face a general headwind that will punish you, and you'll live in 3rd.
If you cross the Appalachians you'll get a taste of what any slight grade means to this engine with this load. On the flats you can draft a tractor-trailer for relief if you get your timing down. I recommend downshifting earlier than necessary to stay in the power range even though the rpm may seem (and sound) shocking. I have the Toyota factory manual for '88 and the high rpms are in the design range comfortably, to my pleasant surprise. Basically, if you can't hold the gear, and your roadspeed is drifting down, then you've got to find the high end of the next gear even though you're not ready to downshift. If you don't, then on the long grades and against the headwinds, you'll lose the lower gear as well.
Hopefully, other members and readers will affirm or correct me on your 4-speed. Now, a few minutes later, I'm wondering if it is an overdrive. Sun-Land may have been wise in selecting a tranny with smaller steps. If top gear is 1 : 1, then you won't get as good a roll with terrain in you favor, but you'll do less shifting. In any event, with whichever gear is 1 : 1, you can hold 70 mph on the freeway. In my experience this unit is built to take it.
I make some time back on the down grades with my overdrive, running 80, 81, 82. It doesn't last long and the tires are rated 85.
Speaking of tires and air pressure, I'm not sure you want to run at 50psi, if that's the maximum pressure stamped on the tire. That pressure is specified for the max weight that's also stamped on the sidewall. It's been five years since I did my calcs, but I settled on 40 front and 40 - 45 rear depending on load. My wear pattern is uniform, the handling crisp, and the ride much softer than at max pressure. By the way, I'm an Itasca 319RB which is almost exactly 20 feet bumper-to-bumper.
The three generic technical columns I read keep repeating this discussion and my predominant recollection is commentary by the tire manufacturers that the tire is engineered for a range of weight and performance specs, and that they're not party to the specific application, only the maximum. Apparently they publish weight/pressure charts. The consensus in the advice columns is that the coach builder, as the final assembler, is responsible for determining the pressure settings. You might have them in a Sun-Land document. It would take precedence over any attached Toyota plate or manual.
I'm new to the board as well, and will make the opposite trek in the next few months. I'm starting a long sabbatical from the plumbing trade to work on my house and my life, and then this week I stumble on to this forum and suddenly I'm enthused with the realm of the possible for these sturdy little workhorses. This is a major distraction and a welcome at the same time. Both the coaches and running gear of our vintage do need to be upgraded from original to be long-term viable.
I'd be happy to share any pertinent regional experience with you through the message function. I'll mention two relevant experiences that might be along your way. Logan Pass in Glacier Park belongs to us if you're no more that 21 feet (exact!) long. The eastern approach through Great Falls is likewise restricted at 21' as you near the park. You'll be the only Class C up there. You have to check to see when the pass opens for the season. You don't mind slinking along halfway up an eight thousand foot (?) granite face do you? I bought my Itasca for that road so we wouldn't have to break camp and take a tour. It was supposed to be for one summer trip only, and then on to a Winnebago 24F to place in a rental fleet. I've made the San Francisco - Missoula run five times, five different ways, but I came upon the limitations of two-wheel drive this last time.
I would also recommend the Cascade Lakes Highway in west central Oregon if it's not too far off your track. If it's before July it'll be quite cool but nearly deserted at the tail end of hunting season. The Toyota is in its element here: gentle hills from a high plateau with very good two-lane blacktop; campgrounds every 10 -15 miles, creekside, lakeside, deep forest.
I hope this tome means something to you and spurs further thoughts on your mechanical and geographic quest.
Steve R.
Has anybody taken the 22RE (or the V-6) through the Eisenhower Tunnel? It's on my agenda this year.....
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Thanks for the reply.
What's the difference between display name and title. Perhaps I should mail you directly.
SR
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That was a good price for a 4x4. Could have sold quickly. Keep looking as it may reappear if he had to drop the ad for some reason other than selling it.
I can change your Display name, PM me what you want. Your title can be changed by you after 5 posts but the display name is separate.
Greg
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Webmaster?
How do I change my display name without un-registering and re-registering? I get to the control board and see where to change e-mail, password, etc. I was a little too quick on the trigger in the wee hours.
Steve R.
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Birds of a Feather;
I'll jump in as a Newbie with a little splash. I can envision a mad scramble for this item, but then again it might already belong to one of you by now. I presume members of this forum are alert to any gems tumbling down the stream.
On Wednesday and Thursday last, the San Diego Craig's List showed an '85 SunRader 18' 4WD for $9500. The pictures looked pretty sharp, the ad was very agressive, a Sunday viewing was implied, and I received no reply to multiple email and phone queries. The ad was gone on Friday.
Don't those ads stay up for a while even after sale? Something seems amiss. It seemed to me it would have been a third-party sale, as the seller had 'collected' it in LA this week. In any event I'm interested in pursuing this unit post-haste if anyone has information as to its location.
I'll post my background and evolving equipment needs in the proper place as I learn to navigate this site. Let's just say that San Diego photo and the pic of two members' 4WD 18-footers have struck a chord in me even though I've never set foot in a SunRader. That will change...
Steve R. (Display name to change as soon as I can find out how to alter it)
'88 Itasca 319RB
grey water recycling?
in General Discussion
Posted
86rader;
There are already restrictions against disposing of waste from chemical toilets and porta-a-potties in many locations, and more coming soon. Not sure of the rationale, but I believe it's about messes and liability.
A portable tote would be viable for a campground with a dump station -- not to be confused with pit toilets.
I haven't seen the undercarriage of the Sunraders yet but I bet you can get another tank under there of some amount and either gravity or pump to it as noted by others, then drain it separately. There are some nifty little shapes -- long, thin, short, squat, tapered -- that you can research.
In a true boondock situation, meaning a field or road to nowhere, the local disposal idea is workable because it won't have negative impacts on a site that'll soon be visited by others. Grey water is attractive to a range of plants and animals.
I'm hesitant to divulge my modified capacities because they're an embarrassment of riches and will sound absurd in this discussion: 45 gal. fresh, 35 grey, 25 black. Yes, I'm a tail-dragger in driveways and have skids to protect the drain and rearmost tank. This isn't meant to impress, but to illustrate that capacity upgrade can be targeted to the need. Obviously, mine was severe: my partner is a water-baby. She expects a bath every morning. I gave her everything I could and she travelled with me five seasons. The 26 gal. freshwater upgrade is about 220 lbs., and the coach seating capacity (separate from the cab) is about 450 lbs. Our only passenger when loaded has been our 50 lb. Border Collie / Chow.
The original 15 gal. tank went onto the roof where it can provide a decent shower from solar gain. It can be hosed directly to a sprayer outside or connected to the city fill and gravity down through the inside shower valve with head removed.
I added a Hot-Rod electrode (6 gal. kit) to the 4 gal. water heater to improve the recovery during the lady's immersion. It pains me to leave camp with 4 gals. of hotwater, but I agreed to never again turn the off the heater halfway through her procedure. I conducted only one efficiency experiment and it went bad, ending in shrieks and growls.
It sounds, rader, that your need is also sever, with 4 people on board, and that's up against some kind of limit. I think driveability issues will be more pressing for any kind of excursion. It looks to me like you've got to get the water heater combined for simultaneous gas/electric, train yourself and companions for a 2 gal wet/lather/rinse with the water off in between (push-button head), and stay in full hookup campgrounds.
Your thinking is entirely appropriate for our circumstances, and is in tune with a huge segment of the industry, notably the 19 - 23 foot class B world with exactly the same capacity issues. Ultimately someone will make a fortune with the solution.
Expanding on the tailpipe evaporation method of disposal, I like a combustion idea that burns wastewater and solids, a furnace that serves as water heater and space heater -- or powers the dual-fuel 22RE conversion of the future.....