starbrightsteve

While I do think its important that the battery not be allowed to slide around, I question that it is important tie it down. On my sunrader,the battery is located midpoint between the front and rear axles. Since I drive slowly and avoid motocross courses, it just does not jump up and down. My old battery tray and box were completely rusted out on the bottom. When I rebuilt the battery compartment I made no provision for a tie down although the battery can not slide front to back or side to side and there is a rubber cushion under the battery.

I'd like to suggest some items that folks might find useful for repairs. I'm a retired insulation and sit sealing contractor and I know foams and adhesives. Urethane, one part foams are available for both insulating and as adhesives. If you google efi.org and choose the contractor catalog then choose product catalog and choose the area on low expansion air sealing foams. I have used a lot of the PUR fill low expansion foam that comes In a can that screws onto a gun. My gun of choice and the lowest cost one is the PUR shooter. There is also a PUR stick that is an incredible adhesive. The place I buy from is on the east coast but someone must provide comparable products on the west coast. One caution on using a gun. Once you screw a can on, you need to finish the can and not remove it from the gun until you are ready to screw on another can. Guns without a can are dead guns. Partial cans that have been removed are dead cans. These things are typically used by pros that are continuing to use can after can. If you buy the urethane cleaner you can clean a gun immediately after removing a can.

If you are getting only 10 mpg, I think that is an indication of an incomplete combustion process in the engine. The catalytic converter is supposed to complete the combustion process. Under normal conditions the cat gets hot in the process of burning unburned fuel and completing the combustion process, but not as hot as you are experiencing. Your cat is working on maximum overload. Your solution is related to the oxygen sensors.

I noticed that I don't have any, but what are warning points? Steve

Red pants ants!! Ian Tyson is on my bucket list and I missed it. Dang!! But I couldn't just drop by, I'm 2000 miles away but I'll be there next year!

I just took the top off the cabinet that encloses my refrigerator. The previous owner of this Sunrader told me that the fridge had been replaced once upon a time. When I looked down onto the top of the fridge, I saw a full 1.5 inches on both sides of the fridge and room for 2" on top of the fridge. I plan to slide foil faced foam board (polyisocyanurate) down the sides and add 2" of the same on the top. There may be room for insulation under the fridge but I have not gotten to that area yet. I will. I think its important to get air flow over the coils/fins but insulation works without any electro-mechanical help.

Maybe this thread should be put into another area of the forum. Its turned into a plumbing issue.

You might be right on the mice but I would not sweat the rain. We get 50" a year and if the camper was out all year, that would ad up to .4 gallon a year.

After reading all of your comments, and I do appreciate the input, I'm going to remove this stuff. For me, they are useless decorations. If I need to do repairs or maintenance, I'll use an 8' step ladder. Much nicer to work from and I can move it around. I will do these things using the ladder at home. I don't watch TV and I'm not even Amish. It does seem that the ladder is a good place to strap on folding chairs. And concerning the plumbing vent, it should be secured at the bottom end and then sealed where it penetrates the roof. The vent cap is another of those useless decorations,.....unless you don't want to seal around the vent pipe. Steve

Derek, I need a new set of air bags and these ones seem real cheap! Will they work for my Sunrader?

Like all Toyota motorhomes, my Sunrader has a ladder up the back and a short rail around the top edge in the back. Some of the ladder bracket screws are loose as well as the rivets on the rail. I'm considering removing both of these items. Before I do, I'm wondering if these items have a use.

Does anyone know what these strips are for? There is one riveted to the top edge of the roof on both sides of the Sunrader.

Vanman, Plastic screen is restrictive to air flow. Try using hardware cloth. Mice can't chew through hardware cloth.

I have found in my 86 Sunrader, that all the propane lines and tee connectors run inside the coach. I am considering running a new distribution line under the floor (outside) and installing all the tee's that serve each appliance outside on the new line. Have any folks already done this modification? It will move 4 potential gas leakage sites outside of the coach.

I am impressed that so many folks are removing the AC unit. I rarely have an ac hook up and mostly boondocks. Are you folks doing anything specific to vent the range/ oven?? And thanks for all the replies and ideas! Steve

I'm still planning the renovations to the 86 Sunrader I bought. This Sunrader has no fan driven ventilation at all. There is a roof vent in the rear bathroom. The hood over the 4 burner range / oven recirculates. There is a roof top AC unit and I've been told it works but I would not bet any money on it working. There is no hatch/vent over the sleeping area (this is, I think, a Midwest Sunrader). When I go camping, I go to cool places (I prefer above the arctic circle). I never go south, although I might consider it in the Winter. I say this because I'm not attached to the AC unit on the roof. Folks that pull Casita's often remove the hood over their stoves an install a make up air vent that relies on the fantastic fan to exhaust the cooking gasses and odors. I would appreciate the opinions/ ideas of those that view my post as to what to do about coach ventilation. I know I need some but I'm not sure where. Thanks, Steve

So, does everyone carry two spares? One for the front and a replacement for the 6 lug rear? I'm new, that's why I ask. Is it possible to get a rear tire off by jacking the axle or is it necessary to jack the frame? Thanks

I also need to get rid of the carpet. I have an 86 Sunrader and the carpet extends to the outermost edges of the coach. Its even under the battery box. My plan is to gut the coach of toilet, cabinets, everything!!! When you replaced the old floor covering, did you remove all the carpet out to the edge of the coach? Is my plan to do so even possible?

Corbin k, thanks very much for the good info on Sunrader construction.

Hi folks,I just bought a Sunrader and it is a real shitbox. I need to do a gut rehab. I was looking for a project and I did get one. First, it does not have the wrap around windows over the cab. I expect to learn a lot in the process of renovation. The floor is sound, the roof does not sag, the engine and transmission are amazing, but the interior is shot. I will have lots of questions and will ask after checking the archived posts. First question: why does the tub in the bath have a large vent on the side? Is the furnace ducted to the bath? Thanks, Steve

Hi folks! I'm a newbie with a 1986 toyota Sunrader. I drove it home about 600 miles and I am impressed with the engine and transmission. I was also lucky making it home with no issues. The tires are 12.5 years old so first things first, new tires. Before i left Indiana I checked the lights and noticed that none of the marker lights at the top front and rear of the coach work. Why do we need marker lights??? They can leak and i doubt that any low flying planes will hit the coach if they are missing. My casita travel trailer is just as tall and it has no marker lights. What would happen if I just eliminated them? If there were none when I showed up to get my state inspection and all my other lights worked I think everything would be fine. I know the place i get inspection done have never seen a Sunrader and would not miss them. So what do you folks think about eliminating them? I have a lot of repair and cleaning to do to renovate the sunrader and it would be easy to include eliminating the lights.