Scarlett O'Hara

The plot thickens. After the Oroville Dam disaster only recently, I best be cautious of "flood refugee" Toys from that area... Thanks, Fred

Thank you for that info. A crap shoot is right, sounds like! The one I spotted looked to have suffered a fairly minor fender bender on drivers door, but who knows what the impact might have done to the undercarriage? On top of that, despite the listing stating it "just needed a little TLC", it was plain the interior was rotted out & would be a real "project." Asking price: $5000 FIRM. (Poco a poco I am learning a lot here.)

The Toys are beginning to come out of hibernation! I clicked on a listing only to discover discover it had a salvage title. Should salvage offerings be immediately dismissed out of hand? If not, what are the issues for clarification? Would it *ever* make sense to buy one? Does a salvage designation forever remain with the vehicle.? Scarlett

Linda, thank you. You are the cat's pajamas! Well, just returned from mad dash to credit union (two hour round trip). Early this morning I spoke to neighbor/mechanic, who agreed to drive me there & help go over everything. He's not specifically a Toyota man, but he's experienced & sensible. Before all that, I called the seller, got only voice mail, left message that I could schedule for tomorrow. Said I had cash. My heart sank when, just now back from town, found No message from seller. I checked & discovered the listing had been removed. I am disappointed, naturally. But I am getting my ducks in a row. Once rainy weather breaks, folks will be in the mood to buy goats! That's next. It's plain I need to be quickly ready to leave & travel a distance to find what I need. And tho this prospect fell thru, I have learned much and am "up another peg" in the Toy search. Let me take this opportunity to say how much I ***greatly appreciate*** your help and awesome wealth of critical info. Thanks go to Derek also. You and this entire Toy community are a treasure!

Sunrader not sold yet. Getting my ducks in a row. Please provide *ballpark* estimates ASAP for negotiating asking price: $6800/OBO. 1. Price per tire for acceptable quality D load tires 2. Water pump 3. Hot water heater I already know cost of fridge replacement. I can wing it on list of other trouble areas, which likely include roof, window seals, properly patching fiberglass where awning was ripped out, and so on. I am hoping to take a neighbor/mechanic with me, but if not I will crawl around under coach myself and check for rust, etc. I'll take my own ladder. Etc. Any other system components in coach I have not thought to check? (I'm hip to water damage issues...) Any wild guesses as to how *low* I might go in offer if all these things are bad? Thank's ***immensely*** for taking a stab at this!

How far do you think I'd get driving my old farm truck, an '82 Toy pickup? And as to that link/ad you would think that, even at that asking price, they coud at least offer some pics! BTW, I know Redmond well, at least I used to. Back in the day, my ex husband and I had a little farm in Redmond. I was breeding a few Appaloosa horses and we had what was referred to back then as a leather shop in Seattle. We made custom leather sandals, belts, bags. and other items adorned with macrame...I have learned these days never to say we had a leather shop; here in the greater SF Bay Area, that's now taken to mean something randy. Ha Ha.

Yikes! Why is it, I wonder, so many of my friends end up with so much of my dough...Were you a salty in a previous incarnation? Not much blue water in Wy....

Will do, Boss. He's likely to grab the first cash offered before I can get there, but I will pursue this to the extent I am able. When I asked about tire size I could almost hear him tearing his hair. The man is frantic to pursue his ex to Minnesota... I tell you, this Toy search is not without comedy.

Fingers crossed. It[s a soap opera. Seller is desperate to pursue ex girlfriend back to Minnesota. By the way, I did ask why, if he needed to drive to Minnesota in a rush, why he wouldn't make the trip in the Toy. I believed his answer; he didn't realize Toys require upkeep and would not thrive with neglect in Minnesota. His Toy dream is dead. I do not care one way or other if fridge works, but will not pay for non working fridge. I much prefer a chest style 12 volt, which is not picky about "level". Thanks, Linda for the "take my own level with me" suggestion. I will take a step ladder, as well, to get up on the roof. I may not trust that old '83 ladder... He is desperate to sell quickly, so I may miss out. Like I said yesterday, I need to withdraw funds from credit union to have available. No ATM will give that much cash. I am beginning to get the drift. Goddess, this is intense!

Derek, thank you for looking...Now if we assume the possibility of proper axle, give me your best intuitive stab at the whole rest of the ball of wax. Don't worry, I won't hold you responsible for any travel decision I make, and I won't rob your berry patch next summer on my maiden voyage... Just give me your take on pics and so far available suppositions. All in all, she's a pretty little rig. Lots of room for solar and Fantastic fans. Yes, will follow up on inquisition regarding tires! Now thoughts on above..

You bet I will check. I once owned/sailed/lived aboard a 1972 Ericson 32. West Marine got a lot of my dough, and I still find useful gear there. I Installed a nifty solar powered stainless vent in the skylight of my Westfalia and it worked wonderfully. Thanks for the tip. My old Ericson had a Norcold which never failed me, as did my trusty Atomic 4 gasoline engine...

OK. Followed up with seller by phone. Here's what I learned: 1983 Sunrader 21 feet, Rear Dinette, 98000 original miles, manual transmission, FWD, clean title, smogged yesterday. Owner, young guy (probably late twenties) said he bought it a year and a half ago. He & ex girlfriend had a "dream" of traveling. He sounded firm on its' having a proper axle. I grilled him about water damage in the coach, he claims he hasn't noticed "anything much." Apparently knew nothing at all about RVs when he got it, thus has since paid little attention to any details. RV was driven on several long trips, but has been parked for seven months. Currently, battery fires right up. Said PO claimed all systems worked fine. but with exception of AC, seller claims not to have used any systems while traveling. Did say propane stove worked, but hasn't fired up the oven. Ditto with shower/water pump. Ditto refrigerator. Said AC was used camping in Joshua tree. I don't care a whit about AC, never use it, will remove any roof units asap, but good negotiating price down if not working... I am a Luddite, only got this laptop recently, and yet don't know how to copy/paste live links without a mouse. Mine died. This seller made it clear he is motivated and anxious to sell. He wants to follow his ex girlfriend back to Minnesota asap. He my sell it this weekend, but if he does not I will drive down there and have a look. He is entertaining offers eagerly. BTW: He bought 4 new tires a year ago and put two on front, two rear. Didn't know age of old tires. Probably not a good idea to replace two of the 4 rear tires...Your thoughts? He seemed an intelligent and decent young man, but already packing up and sounding a little frantic. Please check listing: craigslist SF Bay Area/'83 Sunrader ***Thanks!***

Since most any *old* Toy I'm likely to find may not have a reliabe working fridge, my plan is to convert old fridge space to panty, since my habit is to boondock for two weeks at a stretch in, often, very warm climes. I cook from scratch and carry a lot of bulk dry food. What I want is a large 12 volt compressor fridge, which draws some amps. Too, I travel with a Singer Featherweight sewing machine and use it often. And there is the matter of keeping my starting battery well topped off. In Mexico I might need to make a quick getaway! Always good to have plenty of solar.

Linda, thanks, good to know. Looks like I will rethink the "shorty" idea. I'm 'gonna need lots of solar.

Laughing my ***off for my mistake of the extra zero! That does make a difference! Of course, what I meant was 3-400 watts... ; }

I'm pretty sure it can be done. I've looked into this and have watched many youtube videos, & compared sizes/prices of panels. Solar panels have come a long way recently. Many cargo van conversions have been outfitted with this amount of solar. There is excellent info available on Bob Wells' website and youtube channel: CheapRVliving. Renogy makes a really nifty "suitcase" style for setting up on ground a distance from rig, allowing parking under shade of trees. Downside to that, depending on where one is camped, is possibility of theft. Those who can afford it, use both systems...

Linda & Derek, Thanks for this link! I've never seen one of these before. Were it not that I travel extensively in mainland Mexico, I would indeed be sorely tempted by this cutie. While I may have little dough, I've always plenty of elbow grease. But I need more rooftop "security". It's one of the drawbacks of my Westie. When I find the right rig, I'll be installing 3-4000K watts of solar on roof, plus a Fantastic vent fan or two. I travel with a medium size hound & I must be able to keep my rig cool *and* secure. I plan to install a C-Head compost toilet, thus avoiding black tankage. And for long term travel, I do enjoy an oven as well as a stove.

How right you are! I've been *thinking hard* since this morning re a game plan for finding a Toy. #1 Withdraw cash from bank to have immediately on hand. #2 Find new home for my three lovely dairy goats. I'd hoped to keep them till just before travel time, as I am terrible fond of them and enjoy the fresh milk and homemade yogurt daily. But with goats I can't get away on short order to inspect a good prospect. So goats must go. Oh, how my life is changing. About to sell my Westie, now my Nubians... #3 If I make phone contact with seller, and am even vaguely hopeful, I will post to this list and hope a few kind souls will have a look at the listing and offer feedback. Already, I find I am learning to "read between the lines" in a listing. Now, let's just have a gander at a listing I spotted two days ago, but dismissed. Was I unwarranted in doing so? Yes, this Sunrader is no Shorty, but that length is my preference only. On my limited budget I can see that I will have to make compromises. Now, thanks to Lindas' Sunrader pointers, I've left a message to the seller for a call back. Here's what put me off initially: From the pics I suspected *strongly* that this interior has serious water damage. I do not need any more remedial carpentry projects! I would, however, enjoy sanding, painting, redoing a floor and reupholstering & sewing curtains, etc. The seller stated also that he would trade for a van or truck that, in its' current condition, could make it to Minnesota. Why not this rig, if the engine is in such fine shape? Couldn't seem to copy the link. But it's SF Bay are Craigslist 1983 Sunrader 21' Adapt and overcome!

HI Linda, Yikes! That being the case, I am *really* sorry not to have jumped on it. Someone else acted quickly perhaps, for the second time I tried to view the listing it was gone. The interior was gorgeous, fresh and clean. On occasion a listing will disappear only to be relisted again. From now on, if a phone # is listed, I'll write it down immediately. Thanks for keeping an eye out. We're almost neighbors!

Thank you gentlemen, Good to have info on lengths, very helpful. \ As to fuel injection: more expensive to maintain or swap? I like to keep everything simple...And what about mileage? Any improvement with fuel injection?

Ha Ha! Another thing, Derek I would consider a 22re, but am pretty firm on it being manual. I LIKE to drive. Which of the benefits of the 22R would I lose if I bought an RE? Except for oil/filter changes, I am no good with a wrench. My old boyfriend gave a set of socket wrenches years ago and it took me a few minutes of head scratching just to figure out how to release the sockets! Since 22R is an easy to get to engine, that should save labor time/costs for me...

Derek, I feel honored to be graced with a quick reply from such a forum heavyweight! Thank you. Yep, that's about my budget for now. I am hoping to get my cabin and acreage cleaned up, repaired, and do some ruthless downsizing by this time next year so I can rent my place and take off again. All must be accomplished by my own sweat equity, as usual. I could wait six months or more and have a bit more money to throw at a rig, but would prefer to find something soon so I can drive it a lot, work out the bugs, and make repairs as they come up. I am three hours north of the Golden Gate, in the coastal redwood forest. Best if I could find prospects within a days' round trip, since I've got chickens and dairy goats going, and later in season, a vege garden. Hard for me to get away. I love the little Sunraders, but most are pricey. Saw a cute one on craigslist, in Santa Rosa, hour and a half away, but even in the pics I could see a lot of external delamination, which explained the 5K asking price. I've got enough dry rot in my cabin to deal with, no urge to take that project on in a Toy! I would be willing to accept something a bit longer, but prefer a shorty. Sometime I check the Oregon listings, but they don't have the stringent smog issues like CA, and an Oregon buy might be dicey. On the other hand, if I bought a rig there and it needed tires, there is no sales tax in Oregon. Here it is 8-9%.

Greetings All, I'm a recovering Westfalia owner. About to jump from frying pan to fire... First post here, so something of an introduction. Since the 1960's I've owned and traveled in 3 different Westies. My '85, which I've had 18 years, is awaiting parts/repair before (sigh) sale. She's a beauty. But I am finally ready for a little more comfort and a little less white knuckling! A Toy would be just right. My daily driver is an '82 Toyota pickup I've had since new! I've learned to love and trust a manual 22R. I've done months of research on this site. I feel at home here, just as I did for years on the Vanagon listserve. This forum has a familiar mix of gurus and knuckleheads. What fun! I will be counting on all of you. So, I watch craigslist, hoping in this endless rainy CA winter, to find something I can afford. I need a miracle. Most anything that is clean/running well/free of water damage: $10-$16K. But once in a while, in winter, someone *needs* to sell. Fast. Here's where the trouble starts: I've found a craigslist offering a few hours away. 1984 Coachmen, claimed to be 17 feet. Looks like a bit more to me. But just what I want: manual 22R shorty with rear dinette. It looks good in the pics, so I called with a list of questions. Non negotiables would be: extensive water damage, no proper axle "fix" and sitting too long without use, etc. I liked the owner, a young single mother who says she's owned it 7 years. Right away, when asked, admitted to a bit of water damage in overhead bunk; says leak is now sealed. That could be a project I don't want. Admitted has *same* tires as when she bought it. Seemed (deliberately?) unclear about "axle" question. The ad claims all systems work, but when asked claimed never to have used shower due to low pressure; claimed not to have needed use of stove/oven. Claims she took it on a week long trip in the fall without incident. My question to all of you is: Should I go have a look? I've got to begin looking things over and getting good at inspections. I am suspicious of this rigs' axle, but would hate not to inspect since asking price is low & it's a cute rig much to my liking. If you care to, take a look at the ad and pics: search craigslist SF Bay area RVs by owner. Is it worth a couple hours' drive to sharpen my inspection skills? BTW, it's in a storage lot, thus we cannot plug anything in. I told her if she cannot demonstrate something is working to my satisfaction, I will have to assume it does not work. Any digital sleuthing/intuitive stabs/opinions appreciated!