3travellers Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Hi, I'm new to the Toyota camper world and need some advice. I am going to look at a 1985 Dolphin. What specifically should I look at before buying? Any recalls on anything? It has about 37,000 miles, been stored outside in very HOT climate, has had roof leaks around the bathroom and rear airconditioning unit. Thanks for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob C Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 I would make sure that the axle has been replaced with the full floating 1 ton. Get the floor plan that you are happy with. Check for water damage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90toydolphin Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 check out as many as you can before making a decision. drive all engine and transmission combo's as possible. i found prices all over the place for very similar rigs. the more i looked the more units i found out there for sale, i looked in a 150 mile radius. as presley said, "fools rush in" ) good luck and have fun looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90toydolphin Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 almost forgot, personal experience, low mileage can be a curse, everything rots instead of normal wear which isn't always bad. 2 more cents worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3travellers Posted September 28, 2011 Author Share Posted September 28, 2011 Interesting point. We looked at one yesterday that SUPPOSEDLY had only 37,000 miles on it. It is an '85. However, it was really a wreck, with the engine showing much more grease/oil/dirt than should have been there in those few miles, and the interior was very worn too. (We think someone messed with the odometer). The front seats sagged like they had been sat in far more than 37000 miles worh. The ceiling had leaked and was sagging, the engine ran very rough, the air conditioning didn't work. The exterior was very rough with caulking put on many places by what looked like a 3 year-old with playdough, and on and on and on. However, she thought it was in great shape and she wanted 6,500 for it. We have decided against that one in favor of a newer one. I didn't really think about it the way you put it, that miles may not be nearly as hard on a camper as sitting is. Thanks. almost forgot, personal experience, low mileage can be a curse, everything rots instead of normal wear which isn't always bad. 2 more cents worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3travellers Posted September 28, 2011 Author Share Posted September 28, 2011 What do you think is a fair price for ... let's say a 1990 Dolphin with the floor plan you like and .....let's say 90,000 miles? I checked NADA listings for campers and they are VERY low compared to what people are asking. Thanks. check out as many as you can before making a decision. drive all engine and transmission combo's as possible. i found prices all over the place for very similar rigs. the more i looked the more units i found out there for sale, i looked in a 150 mile radius. as presley said, "fools rush in" ) good luck and have fun looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackson Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 Take your time, took me a year to find my Sunrader. Found it one Saturday morning on Craigslist. Prices will vary depending on mileage and condition, just like a car...mine was priced fair for a 60K mile vehicle.....but they absolutely hold their value well if you keep it in good condition. My main suggestion is once you narrow down to a few, take your time to check out everything. Try each plug, have the owner cool down the frig, turn on the heater, A/C roof unit. Pour some water down each drain, look for leaks, use a hose on the windows and roof.Feel for saggy, soft floors. A set of tires will cost you over $1K so make sure they're in good shape...make a checklist and follow it......good luck! They are great fun and this is a good site for support. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90toydolphin Posted September 29, 2011 Share Posted September 29, 2011 i'm in ca, so location may effect the price. we found 1990 dolphin, 83000 miles for 4500, pretty good shape. a few days later ran across one for 4000 in better shape. looked at 87 in good shape for 5500. 90's were v6's and actually in better shape than the older one with fewer miles. within 100 miles they were priced from 2500 to 12500, yep 12500. right now there's one in santa cruz that has been parked awhile, covered but needs tlc. he wants 3500. thinks it was an 86, 4cyl. just take your time, they are out there. our thought was a newer one with stuff needing replaced was a better deal than older with everything working. if replacing with new raises the cost up to the one with everything working or a little more you are better off, the stuff is new not 20 years old. replacement roof air, about 800, new 2-2ay frig about 900, if you do the work. some people have had them for many years and just don't use them and so they sell based on what they paid way back when and the age. others have done work on them and expect to get their money out of them. just my two cents worth. have fun looking, the right one will come along, there are choices out there even 20 years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3travellers Posted September 29, 2011 Author Share Posted September 29, 2011 Thanks for the info. I'm in California also. Do you think there is much difference in upkeep/quality from one brand to another (e.g. Dolphin vs. Sunrader, etc)? Is an aluminum camper better/worse than fiberglass? Is there one model that has a higher ceiling? i'm in ca, so location may effect the price. we found 1990 dolphin, 83000 miles for 4500, pretty good shape. a few days later ran across one for 4000 in better shape. looked at 87 in good shape for 5500. 90's were v6's and actually in better shape than the older one with fewer miles. within 100 miles they were priced from 2500 to 12500, yep 12500. right now there's one in santa cruz that has been parked awhile, covered but needs tlc. he wants 3500. thinks it was an 86, 4cyl. just take your time, they are out there. our thought was a newer one with stuff needing replaced was a better deal than older with everything working. if replacing with new raises the cost up to the one with everything working or a little more you are better off, the stuff is new not 20 years old. replacement roof air, about 800, new 2-2ay frig about 900, if you do the work. some people have had them for many years and just don't use them and so they sell based on what they paid way back when and the age. others have done work on them and expect to get their money out of them. just my two cents worth. have fun looking, the right one will come along, there are choices out there even 20 years later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noahrexion Posted September 30, 2011 Share Posted September 30, 2011 3travellers, Shoot me a pm. I will be driving through California (south to north) in about 1.5-2 weeks with my 86 dolphin. I can show you around the Toyota RV if you have interest. Austin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nam Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 Where about in Calif. are you? Southern Calif. often has more choice and better price than nothern Calif. for some reasons. From what I see Dolphin's ceiling is slightly lower than others e.g. Winnebago but the Dolphin is much larger than the Sunrader. I think the Winnebago is among the highest ceiling's but I could be wrong. Besure to look for leak around the cab over areas. Take your time, the right one will come along. Thanks for the info. I'm in California also. Do you think there is much difference in upkeep/quality from one brand to another (e.g. Dolphin vs. Sunrader, etc)? Is an aluminum camper better/worse than fiberglass? Is there one model that has a higher ceiling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dolphinite no longer here Posted December 29, 2011 Share Posted December 29, 2011 I have an '85 Dolphin with the rear dinette plan and I like it a lot. I've had this rig for over fifteen years and the main problems with mine and many other rigs has been leaks. When these wood-framed motorhomes leak, the framing and inside paneling rots and, if you aren't handy enough to do the repair yourself, the repairs can cost many times what you originally paid for the whole unit! I've rebuilt the cabover bunk area on mine and from the driver's door, all the way around the motorhome to the passenger's door and about twenty-four inches up from the bottom! I'm a retired shipwright and I specialised in repair and construction of wooden boats. I have a nice shop, with all the tools and it still was a big job to get this Toyhome back on the road. I've posted pictures on the toyota-campers@yahoogroups.com under '85 Dolphin Rebuild if you want to see what it takes to get into the walls of these things. The advice posted here by other members, particularly "90toydolphin" are right on the money. Keep looking and try all the floorplans, you'll find one. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3travellers Posted December 29, 2011 Author Share Posted December 29, 2011 I ended up finding an Itasca Spirit and absolutely adore it. Within a month of getting it into our driveway, I had done some major interior renovations Pics below. The V6 engine is strong enough to get us WAY up into the Sierras, though we were glad we didn't try it on a day when there was lots of traffic. The Spirit has the bathroom in the back, which at first I didn't think I liked, but now I think it's the best floorplan for us. I got a really nice piece of birch plywood (thin) and used it to panel over the ugly plasticy cabinets where it was possible. I primed the vinyl wall paper, and then painted the walls. I removed the bulky built in seats and table over the wheel well, then built a little sturdy box to fit over the wheel well. Then we built a light weight tabletop, which rides upright agains the frig, and easily sets up when camped. It gives us LOTS more table room. 2 folding chairs from Ikea work perfectly, and store in the bathroom closet when not in use. We took down the enormously tacky window treatments (OMG), and are replacing them with roman shades (home made). The carpet/linoleum was awful, so the carpet came out, and we put a teak colored floating vinal floor over the existing linoleum. All in all, with the stuff we removed and the stuff we put in I think we reduced the weight of the camper by about 100 pounds and about 10 pounds of dirt and dust. The camper now feels VERY roomy, and the over-cab bed, fitted with a memory foam pad is very comfy. We have had a few leaks, but we caught them right away (it had been parked under cover, and they thought there weren't leaks because it didn't get rained on). There was one mystery leak somewhere on the right side of the roof, and when we couldn't find it, we just recaulked everything on that side - which took care of that. The front window was horrendously siliconed, we had to remove all of the old stuff and do it right. One of the side windows in the over-cab section also needed a bit of silicone, but I think we are done sealing for now. This is really a nice camper, and it was well worth the price. Heck, I even like to take my morning coffee out and just sit in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe&Lynn Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 Hello everyone and this is a truly great resource for new people to the Toyota Motorhome world. I have been reading this thread. Question for all of you how does this one look? http://sfbay.craigsl...2764404921.html I am also in Santa Cruz Ca. My Wife and I are looking for a Toyota to do the full time thing. I really don't want to buy a roach , But then again I don't want to spend 14 K for one either. It looks to me like the prices have no relation to the quality of the Motorhomes. Just looks to me like that people have set the value to what there warm and fuzzy feeling were for the Coach. Anyway thanks for this great forum and we will keep you all updated on our search for the perfect Toyota Motorhome. I am leaning towards the Dolphins and Sunraders . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 The camper you posted is an Odyssey. Looks to be in good shape, low miles and the price is decent. Odyssey's have the most headroom of any Toyota rv and are roomier because they are a little wider too. Not my favorite color upholstery but it does look to be in good shape. Get out there and drive as many as you can find. Check all the stuff the other guys said cause new appliances or heater can cost big bucks. LS Hello everyone and this is a truly great resource for new people to the Toyota Motorhome world. I have been reading this thread. Question for all of you how does this one look? http://sfbay.craigsl...2764404921.html I am also in Santa Cruz Ca. My Wife and I are looking for a Toyota to do the full time thing. I really don't want to buy a roach , But then again I don't want to spend 14 K for one either. It looks to me like the prices have no relation to the quality of the Motorhomes. Just looks to me like that people have set the value to what there warm and fuzzy feeling were for the Coach. Anyway thanks for this great forum and we will keep you all updated on our search for the perfect Toyota Motorhome. I am leaning towards the Dolphins and Sunraders . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3travellers Posted January 1, 2012 Author Share Posted January 1, 2012 Hi, Joe and Lynn I took a look at the Craigslist ad you are wondering about. After just having been in you shoes, and having very recent experience of Toyota rvs in California, I would say that this one is definitely worth looking at. It would be nice if you could get it for a thousand less, but it does LOOK very nice. One thing I found is that they invariably look much better in pictures than in person. Try to look for signs of leaks (both with your eyes and nose), and make sure that everything works. Our last motorhome had a much better refrig. This one has a Dometic, which I find to be a real pain. It is very sensitive to being not-level, unlike our other Norcold was very very acceptable to tilt. Ok, it seems like I'm quibbling, but it really is a pain for us because our driveway has a slant, and we can't pre-cold the frig before a trip. Tires will cost you over a thousand, so they should be taken into the equasion. Having just ripped a lot if interior stuff out and simplifying ours, I can tell you it's not a big deal to do remodeling, and it's pretty fun to make your Toyota your own. I'm happy for you, and hope 2012 brings many fun times in this or another Toyota RV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
84TOYRV Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 My driveway is slanted, as well. I can back up on planks, to make the fridge level, or put gel ice packs in fridge, then put chilled food in, as usual. The ice packs keep the fridge cool, until you can start it up. I, usually, pick up hard to keep frozen things, like ice cream, on my way out. Always works well for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3travellers Posted January 2, 2012 Author Share Posted January 2, 2012 Goof suggestions. We need to get some boards to put the front wheels on to level it, but fIf this refrig ever quits working, we're going to replace it with a Norcold for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
84TOYRV Posted January 2, 2012 Share Posted January 2, 2012 I installed a new Dometic. It's not as persnickity as my old one. My driveway has a lot of slant. With the Dometic, it works fine, unless it is obviously off level. I won't push my luck, though. Running off level can ruin a fridge. New ones are way too spendy. :-/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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