“TOYOTA MOTORHOMES 101”

(aka Toyota RVs / aka Toyota Campers)

To learn all about Toyota Motorhomes, click on READ MORE.

Toyota Motorhomes are a particular type of Class C Recreational Vehicle, often referred to as “Micro-mini Motorhomes.”? They were built on a Toyota pick-up truck chassis from 1972 to 1994, and are known for their reliability, economy, and ability to park in smaller spaces.? While the exact number of Toyota motorhomes that were produced by multiple manufacturers can never be easily calculated, reasonable estimates of the total number could be as high as 60,000.? Currently Toyota motorhomes appear to be retaining their value, more so than some other brands of motorhomes of the same vintage.? It is not uncommon to see well-cared-for vehicles being advertised and selling in the $25,000 - $35,000 USD range for the rarest,?intentionally restored ones.? Owners report that they appreciate the better-than-average gas mileage that the Toyota engines deliver compared to other motorhomes of the same age and class.?

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

There are several distinctive eras of manufacturing of Toyota motorhomes, defined by the type of chassis that was used as the platform:

1972-1977

The earliest models of Toyota motorhomes were Toyota Chinooks built specifically for Toyota dealerships to sell.? They were built on the Toyota pick-up chassis with 18r and 20r engines.? In place of the truck bed there was a small integrated motorhome, including access between the cab and the coach.

There are pop-top models of Chinooks with a canvas-sided raised roof to allow a person to stand, and subsequently Chinook produced all-fiberglass models which were full height, known as Newport and Omega models.? There were only two choices of floorplans in Chinooks, with either a dinette behind the cab that made a bed, or a with sofabed on the passenger side.? Chinooks have fresh water tanks, but no holding tanks.? Porta-potties were an option.

1978-1981

Beginning in 1978 Toyota Motor Corporation started selling their pickup chassis with the 20r engine chassis to multiple motorhome manufacturing companies, to use as a platform for various models with a wider variety of floorplans.? In this era, the majority of Toyota motorhomes came into their own as fully "self-contained," meaning they had holding tanks and water heaters added.??

1982-1985

In 1982 Toyota began selling their newer pickup chassis with the 22r engine (carbureted) for the manufacture of motorhomes.? A few were produced with a diesel motor as well.? These chassis were delivered with single wheels on the rear.? Motorhome manufacturers in most cases bolted or welded on additional wheels to carry the extra weight of the coach portion of the vehicle.? This modification stressed the axle in ways it was not designed for, causing the axles to break, sometimes suddenly while traveling.? (See the section below regarding the “Axle Recall.”)? Some manufacturers addressed the extra weight issue by using tandem (two) rear axles.?

1986-1988

To permanently correct this issue, in 1986 Toyota started selling only pick-up chassis for motorhome manufacture that already had dual rear wheels (four total) on a full one-ton floating axle.? This so-called "safe" axle is easily identified by the fact that it has six lug nuts, not five.? (Note that it is possible to be fooled by a plastic wheel cover that imitates five lug nuts.)? Beginning in 1987, the chassis supplied by Toyota had matching six-lug wheels (with up-graded brakes) on the front as well.??

Also in 1986, the improved 22re engine (fuel injected) was introduced for the chassis that was provided to motorhome manufacturers.? A very few were built with a 22re Turbo engine as well.?

At the peak of production (in the 1980s) there were approximately three dozen manufacturers using the Toyota chassis to build motorhomes. (See the list which follows.? It contains almost 50 models, but not all manufacturers were active at the same time.)? These various manufacturers each created multiple floorplans:? some with bunk beds, even one model with a slide-out side (Four Seasons).? For reference, hundreds of online photos of Toyota motorhomes are available in this group’s “Files” Section.?

1989-1994?

In 1989 (1988 in Canada) Toyota began supplying motorhome manufacturers with an all-new pick-up chassis with the more powerful 3.0 V-6 engine 3VZ-E, continuing until 1993.? For a good percentage of these vehicles, the model year of the motorhome is titled as one year newer than the chassis year because manufacturing of the motorhome took several months to be completed.? (This means that any 1994 Toyota motorhome is actually built on a 1993 chassis.) ?By this time there were only about 10 Toyota motorhome manufacturers continuing to build on the V-6 chassis.? (See the list which follows.)

TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION

The earliest Toyota Chinook models made specifically for Toyota all have coach shells made from molded fiberglass.

Starting in 1978 with the offering of the Toyota chassis to multiple manufacturers, many of them chose to use the more common conventional construction style for the coach portion, using wooden framing with corrugated aluminum exterior siding.? Between 1986 and 1988, most manufacturers transitioned to corrugated fiberglass siding, with some retaining the corrugated aluminum for the curved portions on the front and rear.? A very few manufacturers used aluminum framing too, for more longevity.

Several of the manufacturers continued the style of molded fiberglass for the coach, the most prolific being Sunrader.? (See additional information below.)? The rounded style of the molded fiberglass is considered by some to be quite attractive, and the potential for rain leaks is less; although fiberglass coaches can still leak just as much around their vents and windows as a conventionally built motorhome. ?

ENGINE COMPARISONS

Many Toyota motorhome owners report a preference for the 3.0 V-6 engine (3VZ-E) because of its increased horsepower, compared to the 4-cylinder engines, for powering a vehicle of mini-motorhome weight.? However it is also suggested that the older 4-cylinder engines in Toyota motorhomes (20r, 22r, and 22re), especially those with a manual transmission, are preferable because they are simpler to work on and maintain, compared to the V-6 engines. ?

Both engines tend to get about the same gas mileage, with manual transmissions being more economical than automatics in both cases.? Gas mileage reports vary widely between 11 mpg and 19mpg, with the primary variable being speed of travel.? Most owners report that driving about 55 mph gives the best performance.? However weather conditions (wind), terrain (hills), type of gas (ethanol), and overall weight are also very significant factors. ?

Motorhomes with 4-cylinder engines can comfortably run at highway speeds when on flat terrain, but do tend to slow down significantly on hills.? Even so, 4-cylinder Toyota motorhomes have often been taken by their owners over 11,000' passes in Colorado without issues, albeit going slowly.? For 4-cylinder motorhomes with automatic transmissions made before 1987, adding an auxiliary transmission oil cooler is highly recommended to help prevent transmission overheating.? (Transmission oil coolers became standard equipment after 1987.)? 4-cylinder (22r, 22re) owners are also cautioned to watch out for wear on the plastic timing chain guides that can show up as a brief rattle on startup, somewhere after about 75,000 miles.? Immediate replacement is recommended to avoid more costly engine repairs.

Likewise, V-6 owners are cautioned to pay attention to keeping the valves adjusted regularly as per the factory recommendations, and to notice if any exhaust manifold leaks develop (which tend to be more common on the passenger side with this engine). ?

Occasionally some owners have chosen to replace the motorhome engine with a different model or brand (such as a Toyota 3.4 or a Lexus or a Chevy V-8) to provide more power for recreational vehicle use.

In addition to these basic descriptions of the several versions of engines used for Toyota motorhomes, one can find many available opinions from other online Toyota groups, regarding specific engine quirks, differences, merits, and recommendations. ?

PURCHASING A TOYOTA MOTORHOME

All Toyota motorhomes are now over 28 years old and many are almost 40.? Because of this, prices depend more significantly on condition rather than on the specific model and year as with most other vehicles.? The range of condition is quite extreme, from those that are amazingly well-cared-for and fully functional with multiple upgrades and enhancements such as solar power systems, to those which are truly falling apart from neglect. ?

Before making a selection for purchase, buyers would be wise to become well-educated about the various models and engines, as well as familiar with the operation of the various RV systems so that they can properly be evaluated for their functionality and for the level of repair that they likely will require.? This group can provide excellent instruction for potential buyers regarding what to look for in advance, so that their dream motorhome doesn’t turn out to be a so-called “money pit.”? Most buyers can expect that they will need to spend a lot of “hobby time” with a new-to-them Toyota motorhome to make it safely drivable and optimally comfortable for travel.? However when it is refreshed to be fully operational, most owners report that they definitely appreciate the enjoyment that a Toyota Micro-mini Motorhome can provide.?

SPECIFIC CONCERNS FOR TOYOTA RVS

Axle Recall -- 1991

In April 1991, the issue of the overstressed single wheel axles used prior to 1986 caused the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to issue a recall requiring all manufacturers who added additional rear wheels to the single wheel axles to replace them with the true one-ton full-floating dual wheel axles.? (There is an additional document in these Files which is a copy of a notice from NHTSA’s office of Defects Investigation that was sent to National RV Inc. in California.) ?

This liability?for unsafe axles plus other market factors caused a great majority of the manufacturers of Toyota motorhomes to go out of business around this time.?

For owners of vehicles with the recalled axle, whose manufacturer was no longer in business, Toyota Motor Sales USA offered a free replacement one-ton dual wheel axle.? The cost to install it was responsibility of the owner.? (This free axle offer expired in 2004.)? It is estimated from viewing online sales for the past decade that about 65% of the vehicles with recalled axles have had them replaced. ?

Finally in 1994 Toyota Motor Corporation ceased offering their pick-up chassis to motorhome manufacturers in the United States altogether, presumably because of the continuing liability and litigation.? Toyota did continue offering their chassis for the manufacture of motorhomes in other countries (Australia and Japan) with the appropriate right-hand drive.?

V-6 Engine Head Gasket "Recall” - 1996

In October 1996 Toyota Motor Sales USA issued a Special Service Campaign (VO-6 Campaign) for the head gaskets on its 3.0 L 3VZ-E engine used in Toyota motorhomes and other vehicles.?(Technically, it is not a “recall.”)? The campaign is for replacement of the head gaskets because the material initially used in these model years has proven to be inferior, causing engine overheating.? The campaign has 2 parts; one for the years 1988 to early 1990? (which expired first), and one for the years 1990 -1993 of Toyota motorhome chassis, which has now also expired.? (There is an additional document in these Files which is a copy of the letter that was sent to Toyota Service Centers with detailed information.) ?

Not all Toyota motorhomes of these years were recalled, presumably due to variations between factories.? This special service campaign was still being honored by Toyota Service Centers (Dealers) through December 2018.? Toyota Service Centers were compensated for performing the required replacement work through that date, but the choice to accept the vehicle for service or not was up to the individual Service Center. ?Toyota Service Centers are still capable of performing this head gasket?replacement, but they are no longer compensated, so the expense falls on the vehicle owner now.

V-6 MANUFACTURERS OF TOYOTA MOTORHOMES (1989 - 1994)

Only a handful of the dozens of manufacturers "survived" the axle liability and market forces, to continue manufacturing Toyota motorhomes with the V-6 chassis in the 1990s.??

Following is a list of the top 9 motorhome manufacturers that continued to build on the Toyota V-6 chassis, in descending order of total number of vehicles manufactured?(based on the observed number of vehicles available for sale in the last 10 or so years):

Winnebago Industries (Forest City, IA)? 1986 - 1994 manufactured ''Toye'' (no-frills), ''Warrior'' (basic), and ''Itasca Spirit'' (higher-end) models, in both 21' and 19' lengths.

National RV, Inc. (Perris, CA) 1978 - 1994,?manufactured ''Dolphin'' (basic) and ''SeaBreeze'' (higher end) models in 18' initially, and then 21' and 19' lengths.

Leisure Odyssey (San Bernardino, CA) 1980 - 1991 manufactured multiple conventionally constructed ''Odyssey'' models (named for their floorplans), and an ''Americana'' model with a molded fiberglass overcab.? Odysseys have the tallest and widest interior of any brand of Toyota motorhome.? All models are 21', except a very few which are their tilt-top model and their four-wheel drive models which are shorter.??

Gardner-Pacific Corp. (Vallejo, CA) 1979 - 1991 manufactured the ''Sunrader'' & ''Sunrader Classic'' models in 18' and 21' lengths.? Sunraders are well-known (and noticeably sought-after) for their molded fiberglass construction with a clamshell design that has the upper and lower portion seamed around the middle.? This construction, without the usual seams between a side-panel and the roof, lessens the possibility of rain leaking into the structure.? The vast majority of Sunraders were manufactured with the 22r and 22re (four cylinder engines).? A very few of these (28) were also made with an 18' four-wheel drive chassis.? (No Sunrader "4x4s" were made with a V-6 engine.) ?Since then there are perhaps a dozen or more Sunraders that have been seen on the internet that have been converted to be 4x4s. ?The two-wheel drive V-6 Sunraders, especially the shorter 18’ model, are almost as rare, and ads are often seen from potential buyers seeking them.? Additionally, in the earliest years of the company, Gardner-Pacific also made a very few slide-in campers and fifth wheel models with the same molded fiberglass clam-shell design.?

Gulfstream Coach, Inc. (Elkhart, IN) 1989 - 1993 manufactured the ''Conquest'' model, and the higher-end “Ultra'' model, which has aluminum rather than wooden framing.

International Vehicles Corp. (Bristol, IN) manufactured the ''Horizon ST'' model with a molded fiberglass overcab.

Rockwood, Inc., (Goshen, IN) manufactured the ''Roamer'' model.

Bonanza Travelers (Elkhart, IN) made the pop-top ''Bandit'' model.

Slumber Queen (British Columbia) made a model for the Canadian market.?

GATHERINGS OF OWNERS

There are several gatherings per year in various places in the United States where owners of Toyota motorhomes get together for “Rallies” or “Toy-ins” as they are sometimes called.? Locations have recently been in Arizona, California, Washington, Idaho, Florida, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin, Vermont, and Massachusetts.? Rallies scheduled so far for 2022 are planned for Arizona, New England, and the Mid-West.? Details about upcoming rallies are posted in this group in the “Messages” section.

1990 Odyssey Toyota 6-cyl. - how price? - how sell?

[email protected]

#1169

We have a Toyota Odyssey RV which we wish to sell.  About 50,000 
miles, in good shape for age, except refrigerator not working.  How
do we establish a fair price and how do we offer it for sale?  We are 
in the Miami, FL area.

Thanks for advice!

1983 Dolphin - question

#1168

I've been looking for a Toyota motorhome for a while now and have 
heard several things that concern me, like the 4 cyl engine and the 
wheels in the back.

I've just found a 1983 Dolphin with 98,000 miles, 4 cyl, stick shift, 
he's asking $5,500.  I could sure use some advise.

Transmission

#1167

Hi folks.  I talked to the owner of the shop in Oregon City that did 
the transmission rebuild today and he gave me some information that 
might be of use to Toyota motorhome owners, as well as those 
interested in the details of the rebuild job.  Here goes:

When I shared with him the AAAMCO manager's opinion about how one 
should always pay top dollar for repair work, his response was, and I 
quote:

"That's the biggest crock of horse manure the world ever invented."

He likened this sort of thinking to a person who believes it's better 
to buy a $55 pair of jeans from Fred Meyer than a $12 pair from K 
Mart and thinks the jeans are better just because they cost more.  He 
said,  "The dollar amount has no specific factor on what the quality 
of a transmission rebuild is, what matters is who rebuilt it, and 
where the torque converter came from."

He said his shop does five times the volume of the chain transmission 
shop I talked to, that he has over $200,000 of inventory in his 
warehouse, and he gets his transmission parts cheap because of the 
volume he deals with, and then he passes this savings on to his 
customer.

He rattled off a list of the parts they install when doing a rebuild  
(my invoice just says: A43D Transmission custom remanufactured w/ 
rebuilt converter and 8 qts ATF fluid, plus a rear U-joint installed) 
and here are a few of the things I caught: friction seal clutches, 
bearings, seals, torque converter, and any hard parts that show 
wear.  He said they try to rebuild it so it's at least as good as the 
original, and seemed to take it personally that someone would suggest 
his shop's transmission rebuild might not be a better job than 
AAMCO.  I think this guy knows his business, and he was kind enough 
to share some suggestions for preserving the transmission in general, 
which I thought I'd pass on to you all:

I don't have all his exact words, and I might get some of this wrong--
he was talking fast because he had customers waiting. I tried to take 
notes on it all and I know I missed some of it  (anyone who notices 
errors, please correct me if I mistranslated his words, or add to 
this if you know more details), but here's what he said about 
transmission failures, roughly:

He said the primary cause of transmission failures happens when the 
rear seal external housing bushing fails and takes the support out of 
the back of the transmission.  The rear bushing is critical because 
it supports the drive shaft.  When this bushing goes, so does the 
transmission.

He explained that if the bushing goes, the drive shaft will start to 
move up and down and you don't want that, that it pulls the whole 
transmission apart and causes the fluids to leak out and blows the 
transmission eventually.

He advised me to have the bushing checked every time the oil is 
changed, that you need to keep an eye on it since it's key to the 
life of the transmission.

He then gave some general advice for how to preserve the transmission 
on these rigs:

1)  Don't run it in Overdrive all the time.  He said people want to 
get good gas mileage and not make the cars behind them angry, so they 
lug it along in OD and this burns out the transmission (drive 
shaft?).  

He advised me to do what I could to keep the RPMs at about 2500, that 
too many people will lug it along at 1200 RPM at 40 miles an hour, 
and this will destroy the transmission.  In order to avoid this 
problem, he said to downshift to whatever gear to keep the rig from 
lugging.

2)  Don't use the transmission as a brake.  When going down a 
mountain, put the load on the brakes  (as Click and Clack say, it's 
cheaper to replace brakes than it is to rebuild a transmission).  He 
said it's allright to downshift a little, but to put most of the 
braking load on the brakes.

3)  When going uphill, never put the gas pedal to the floor.  He 
advised a 7/8 throttle  (does this mean only put the pedal to the 
floor 7/8 of the way?), and to downshift to avoid lugging it.  

I asked why not put the pedal to the floor and he said when you do 
this the pressure regulator valve goes to maximum and this boosts the 
line pressure to the max, which cuts the lube oil and fluid when you 
need it most.  This causes overheating when going up a mountain, and 
eventual transmission failure.  

His advice was to let people behind you fume, and pull out when you 
need to, but don't floor it just to keep other people from getting 
impatient.  

I hope this information will be of help/interest to listmembers. 

best,

Rosannah

Wind

[email protected]

#1166

Zia,
You have discovered one of the biggest obstacles to driving a Toyota 
camper "THE WIND"! If you are driving directly into a strong wind, it 
kills your mileage. If you have fighting a strong crosswind, it keeps 
you busy. Some Toyota's handle the wind better than others. My dad has 
a 1978 Toyota 17ft, that is really high off the ground and he does not 
have power steering, so he fights it worse than my 1986 21ft becuase I 
have a lower profile. The only time I like wind if it as your back 
"great mileage"! I just put up the sail and coast to were I want to 
go!

Happy Trails,
Nate

rear axle

[email protected]

#1165

I have to agree with the danger issue. my thinking after I bought 
mine rig with the small read=r axle was,after reading all the bad 
stuff on here about the dangers of it was I was mad.  at myself and 
all the talk about how dangerous it was. Then I thought, if I were to 
go camping and went around a mountain road somewhere and it were to 
break, the camper may go over the side, if someone were with me and 
they got killed would I be able to live with myself knowing it would 
have only cost me a $1000.00 to save their life. I couldn't drive my 
rig until I got it fixed knowing that. I read a whole lot of bad 
stuff about it. When you have the small rear end with all the weight 
on the axle, when you go around a turn or a curve all the weight goes 
to the side of the axle.  The axle is what the wheel bolts too. The 
small read axles were I think 3/4 ton rear ends. there is much more 
weight than that on the side of the axle. On the 1 ton, the axle is 
floating (it has NO WEIGHT on it) .. all the weight sits on the hub 
and bearings..which are really big..like a 18 wheeler..so.. I spent 
the money and am changing it now. I couldn't live with myself after I 
am informed with the right information..anyhow..good luck..Thomas

Re: chialo

Tommy Howze

#1193

开云体育

Michael..? the way I got to National RV was I went to their web site and left an e mail asking for contact questions for TOyota for the recall.. someone in parts gave me a number..they ran me around with some more calls to ultimately find out that Toyota was going to do nothing to help me. The guy at National said they had a kit that they would sell me for 1000..? Let me get it installed totally and make sure it works good before I check for you..I will check.but don't want to push it incase it is any problems.. I think the differences between the rear ends is purely a gear ratio thing. Toyota had 5 speeds..4 and automatics..I am sure they all take a different one..anyhow.. The kit comes with all the mounting hardware..U bolts and the whole deal..it looks as though the lower plates for the shocks are the same as the ones I took off..so the mounting of the shocks looks the same.. I used to work in a shop through the 80;s and it is all pretty straight foreward..that is the only reason I tackled it in my driveway.. I just have my bad back to contend with now.. it is hard to accept at 37 that I have so many problems with it..it used to be so strong..anyhow..have a great day..Thomas

Show quoted text

----- Original Message -----

From: Michael Smith

To: toyota-campers@...

Sent: Thursday, April 19, 2001 10:48 PM

Subject: Re: [toyota-campers] re:chialo

Tonniez, I think you lucked out. In my search for an axle kit I called National and they said that they didn't have any. You must have an in there. Do be careful installing your new axle. I had a shop do mine but they screwed the shock mount up so bad that I had to totally redo it. I was under my rig at one point when I realized that both ubolts on each side must be in place for the unit to be secure. I only had one on each side on. It freaked me out to realize that I could have easily made a mistake that could have ended my toyota rving days in a hurry and for good. Do you know what the difference was in the three different axle kits? My guess is that it is either shock mounting or gear ratio. It would be great information to know which kit should go with which rig. Do you think it would be possible to find out from your contact that information? Sorry to hear about your back, mine does the exact same thing. I'm out for 3 days every time. Nothing seems to help but I wouldn't use a heating pad if I were you. Ice is usually the best for the first few days. Michael Smith tommiez@... wrote: > Jack, Chialo is down the 2 freeway about 25 miles past Mt. Wilson. > About 7 miles past Chialo is a camp ground called Buckhorn. I think > Buckhorn is the closest thing to the Sequioa's that I have neem > without going there. chialo is about 6 thousand feet and Buck horn > 7300.. they are so nice. Buck horn the nicest. Where is the place you > talked about? is it in the mountains?...TOmmy...PS... >??????????? I checked for a rear axle at 2 junk yards here in La and > they both got $1200.OO FOR A USED REAR AXLE.One of the places for > $1000.00 for one without the 3rd member. They said the used rims sell > for $100.00 each. So a thousand for the whole 9 yards? that have > never been used seemed worth it for sure. after my back is better and > I get it all in I will tell you how it works and how hard the whole > thing was.. Bye..Tommy > > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: > toyota-campers-unsubscribe@... > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: toyota-campers-unsubscribe@...

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the .

Wind and Trip to Tucson

#1164

I'm still wondering about the wind.  I took a small
trip to Tucson last week (I stayed in Catalina State
Park) and was bouncing on the road.  I was beginning
to think that I was going to sell my new motorhome but
then the wind stopped and the drive was much better.  

However, I find that driving at about 60 m.p.h. feels
the most comfortable - anything above that I don't
feel safe if there is a sudden wind gust.  I live in a
very windy area (last week schools were closed at 1:00
p.m. because of wind gusts up to 70 m.p.h.)  Anyway,
coming home from Tucson, I got hit with a gust that
literally moved me three feet into the oncoming lane
on a two lane road.  (No one was coming, it's lonely
country out here in some places!)  

When there is no other wind, I'm used to the semi's
overtaking me.  I guess it's something I'll just have
to get used to.  

On another note, it was a wonderful trip.  I drove
through the Coronado National Forest and spent the
first night at Wal-Mart in Sierra Vista, AZ.  I went
in to ask them of RV camping in the area, and they
told me to stay right there!  The only other RV was a
larger Sunrader pulling a motorcycle from CO. 

When I saw the larger Sunrader I was jealous (very
cute RV), but my RV is perfect (and comfortable) for
me!

Since the Sunrader doesn't drive like my Honda Accord,
a $10.00 back cushion from Pep Boys has made ALL the
difference!  ;-)

I'm getting ready to travel to New Orleans a week from
Saturday for a conference.  Any suggestions along I-10
from Las Cruces?

"Zia"


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices

child seats

#1163

Hi Tika--thanks for your advice re. the tv, we'll give it a try.  I 
just wanted to share a recent experience with car seats. You wrote:

Re: Baby seat.  I have already purchased some seat belts to bolt 
in, and we'll install them solidly.  Now all we need is a new 
motorhome to put them in (and then the kid/s we're hoping to 
adopt!).I don't know if you got shoulder or lap belt type restraints, but I 
just wanted to mention that not all car seat belts will work with all 
child safety seats.  

We had a extra-cab Mazda pickup and one of the reasons we sold it is 
because the child car seat situation wasn't working.  Our 4 year- 
old's booster seat wouldn't work in the back because it's not built 
to be used with a lap belt.  It's only safe for use with a shoulder 
belt, which meant she had to sit in back on the jump seats with no 
seat at all  (baby rode in front in an infant seat and I sat in back 
with our older child).  Since the truck's jump seat backs only went 
as high as the rear window glass, she would sometimes bump her head 
on the window glass when the truck accelerated or decelerated, which 
wasn't a good situation at all.  Most infant seats will work with lap 
belts, though I'm not sure all of them do.  Just something to 
consider when purchasing car seats, cars, and seat belts.  A shoulder 
belt system might be more versatile, depending on the age of your 
children.

I appreciate the suggestions re. installing a child seat behind the 
cab; we'll either do this retrofit or our youngest will ride up front 
with whoever's driving and my husband or I can sit in back with our 4 
year-old.  There's no emergency airbags in the cab, so this shouldn't 
be a problem.  

best,

Rosannah

Old Axles are Unsafe!!

#1162

I Agree 100% with Michael Smith. These things
were not recalled for fun.  This is a Safety
issue.

The older and more miles driven increase the
odds of an accident.

IMHO it is irresponsible for members of this
list to encourage others to drive these un-
safe rigs.

Newcomers expect, and should get informed advice
from this list. Let's all try to be careful what
we say, and if we error, let it be on the side
of safety.  

Jack A2

Group 4 Month Anniversary

[email protected]

#1161

Group,
I just wanted to thank everyone for their help in establishing this 
group! I think it is developing into a great source of information for 
current and future Toyota Camper owners! In the 4 months since I 
started this group, we have grown to 149 members and with almost 1,200 
posts! That is a pretty good growth rate! 

I want to encourage everyone to keep up the good posts. Feel free to 
share anything that you think the group might find relavent (ex. 
repairs, travels, past experiences). Happy Toyota-Traveling!

Thanks again,
Nate

chinook ac

[email protected]

#1160

----------Forwarded message ----------
Return-Path: <happycam@...>
Delivered-To: theeagle@...
Received: (qmail 12947 invoked from network); 20 Apr 2001 02:53:05 -0000
Received: from travelbyroad.net (128.121.221.49)
  by kenton.com with SMTP; 20 Apr 2001 02:53:05 -0000
Received: (happycam@localhost) by travelbyroad.net (8.8.8) id UAA77354;
Thu, 19 Apr 2001 20:53:04 -0600 (MDT)
Date: Thu, 19 Apr 2001 20:53:04 -0600 (MDT)
Message-Id: <200104200253.UAA77354@...>
To: theeagle@...
Subject: Forum Post
From: Travel By Road <bbs@...>

DO NOT reply to this email.  

Some time back, you posted a message to a Travel By Road Message Forum,
requesting that responses be emailed to you.

Willie Agans posted the following message:

=========================================

I have a 1978 Chinook Toyota based Plus 2 and want to   put in roof air.  I
have talked to the factory and they  do not have the position for the roof
air.  If any of   you have a Chinook with roof air let me know so I can  
locate the correct position for the 14 inch hole.  

Thanks,  Willie Agans


=========================================

The complete thread can be viewed at



Please do not reply to this message.  The reply will not reach a human.

Re: Odyssey comments/questions

#1159

Hi Rosannah.  Congratulations.  I've been following your story 
with interest because I soon hope to have a similar success 
story to tell about finding a new motohome for ourselves.  (See 
message #1123.)

Regarding the TV:  I would be a bit worried too.  May I suggest 
that you test it by running it for quite a while, but checking it
every 20 minutes or so.  If any part of the back gets too hot to 
touch, (assuming you can somehow get to it), then you probably 
need to modify the installation.

Lastly, I'm looking for a coach with a deep showerpan (mini tub).  
How deep is your Odyssey?  Tika



--- In toyota-campers@y..., r_hayden@e... wrote:
Thanks for the encouragement and advice, Jack Redman and jacka2, 
Tommiez, Rednipcan, and all--I really appreciate it.  

We're looking forward to taking a weekend trip as soon as possible, 
hopefully by May.  Before we set out, I want to get the repairs made 
to the Toyota, including the exhaust, steering, and air bags.  My 
husband did get the Chilton's manual, and it's been helpful already.  

One last question (for tonight!):  The folks we bought it from put a 
10" or so television into one of the upper cupboards, and put wood 
trim around it so it's sealed in. He used open-cell foam to cushion 
the tv and make it fit into the space, but this can't be okay, as 
electronic equipment must need more ventilation than this.  I wonder 
if it's safe for it to be in a cupboard space at all--does anyone 
else have any insight or experience with this sort of issue?  Is it 
okay for the tv to be inset like this into the cupboard space above 
the couch?  Will it overheat and create a fire danger?  Any thoughts 
or opinions welcome.

best,

Rosannah

Re: Tub & Baby Seat

#1158

Hi, Allen & Linda,  I've heard from another source that some '91 
Toyota Winnie Warriors have mini-tubs under the showers.  
Does yours? Or do you have any more info if this rumor is true? 

Re: Baby seat.  I have already purchased some seat belts to bolt 
in, and we'll install them solidly.  Now all we need is a new 
motorhome to put them in (and then the kid/s we're hoping to 
adopt!).

--- In toyota-campers@y..., amrock@p... wrote:
-Hi owen,that was my 91 warrior MH having the V6 head gasket
recall being done at bob sacks toyota.Small world,You work about
3 miles from our house!.I hope you have a great trip to the mountains
We will all look forward to hearing all about it when you get back.
Happy toyota MH camping and have a safe trip.Allen & Linda.PS,we have two kids but they are out of the car seats now.I would
agree with the newest posting about car seats,and make sure the 
seat
belts are bolted through the floor and have big washers under/over
the 
bolts.The car seat should face forward or backward as per the
carseat
instructions.Good luck with kids/seats.

Re: rear axle(again)

#1157

Hi. I have a 1978 Toyota Musketeer which I have owned since 
1986. It now has over 130,000 miles on a rear end with bolt-on 
wheels and a non-floating axle. Finally last fall I had to replace 
the rear wheel bearings and axle because the noise was getting 
increasingly worse. You don't say anywhere that I could read 
what the mileage is on the coach that you're considering. I would 
say if it has say 60,000 miles or so, that you might have at least 
that much left on the axle if it isn't overloaded. You'll hear a 
grinding noise to let you know when the bearings start to go bad. 
I wouldn't be afraid of buying it because of the axle style, but I 
would listen carefully and be prepared to do the replacement on 
short notice if you begin to hear anything unusual.  Tika

--- In toyota-campers@y..., chsar@h... wrote:
I really want a toyota rv, and I've read the messages for 3 months 
now, but.. I get really excited when one comes up for sale in my city 
and IF I buy one with the 1/2 ton axle, am I definitely asking for 
disaster? can I change the bearings and take light weekend trips
(300mi. roundtrip) until I find a 1ton replacement?? I couldnt take a 
long trip(days or weeks travel)anytime soon,so I wouldnt be putting 
myself in a position of trouble for a while, so what do you folks 
think? I will trust the experience and knowledge of the group, I just 
get worried that I wont see another sunraider model as cheap as this 
one. thanks chris

Re: Chilao CG

#1156

Just for the record it is spelled Chilao, and pronounced 
Chill-LAY-oh.  It is in the Angeles National Forest, about 1 hour 
north of Pasadena.  There are several large campground loops 
and a fancier-than-most Visitors' Center.  Buckhorn is indeed 
prettier -- it goes down fairly steeply alongside a stream with 
more tall trees.  But for our wedding we needed a flatter place for 
the tables and reception.  At that time I worked for the Forest 
Service Visitors' Center as a Naturalist, and the meadow 
seemed like the perfect spot for us.

Show quoted text

--- In toyota-campers@y..., jacka2@e... wrote:
Tommize.

I'm curious about Chilao CG. Where is it?

I know what you mean about the constant back-
ground noise. We lived in North Hollywood and
Santa Monica for 18 yrs. LA's hum was always
there. We tried to get away from it every chance
we could. We camped with the old VW Micros then.
Later we got a water-boxer Vanagon. The old Camp
ground we loved so much, Cottonwood, out by 
Newhall, is long since flooded and is now a water
source for LA.

The Toyota is far and away a better machine
then any of the VW campers. And yes I too enjoy
the mechanics of these things, (We did the old
airplanes too) so I'm hooked. By next year, this
list will be a super source of mechanical 
information on old Toyota campers. Sure glad
you joined us.

Keep us posted on that axle convert (what a 
good buy you got on that lucky find) BTW what
came with that kit?

PS. Really neat Tika getting married at
the Chilao camp ground.

Jack A2

Odyssey comments/questions

#1155

Thanks for the encouragement and advice, Jack Redman and jacka2, 
Tommiez, Rednipcan, and all--I really appreciate it.  

We're looking forward to taking a weekend trip as soon as possible, 
hopefully by May.  Before we set out, I want to get the repairs made 
to the Toyota, including the exhaust, steering, and air bags.  My 
husband did get the Chilton's manual, and it's been helpful already.  

I had a few thoughts and questions to share:  My friend said we 
should fix the idler arm in the steering system sooner rather than 
later because big vehicles in need of steering repair will shake 
other parts loose and cause extensive damage in a short amount of 
time.  This friend also suggested we go for headers and a two-pipe 
exhaust to improve horsepower and fuel economy.  He guessed headers 
and exhaust would cost around $400, not too much more than the $150 
for a regular muffler replacement.  Does anyone ever put headers on 
Toyota microminis?  I know my friend had dual exhaust, etc. on his VW 
camper, and it did improve performance significantly.  Would headers 
alter the vehicle's performance negatively in any way?  Would it 
affect ground clearance any?

I don't have the transmission paperwork at hand right now, but I'll 
post the details as soon as I can locate it.  I do know the parts 
breakdown isn't very detailed, but I'll report what I have.  

My husband asked the local Toyota dealer service manager what the 
compression should be  (thanks also for your input, jacka2), and he 
said around 170 is normal.  He said it's possible to have too-high 
compression, often due to carbon build-up, that anything over 220-230 
is too high, but that 190 is just fine.  

Re. Rednipcan's comments about compresssion numbers matching, I have 
heard it's important for the numbers to be in the same range--I once 
had a '69 Skylark Special Deluxe (with a 350 engine) with compression 
readings ranging between 90-130 and was told this unevenness 
indicated more of a problem than the actual compression levels 
themselves.

(I was wondering, do folks here use any engine or fuel additives to 
improve performance and/or engine life in their Toyota motorhomes?)

A more thorough inspection of the rig reveals only one new problem, 
though I'm hoping it's not too major.  There's a slight bulging in 
the paneling along the refrigerator  (we have the Santa Fe Odyssey 
model, if that means anything to anyone), which is located next to 
the bathroom in the rear.  There's a panel covering the side of the 
fridge and going along the back of the couch, and in the middle of 
this panel, it bows out slightly and there's a one-inch crack in the 
paneling.  There's no visible water damage, but I wonder if there's 
some sort of water leakage/moisture coming from inside the paneling, 
from the fridge, or what caused this. 

We didn't notice it when we bought it, and it doesn't look too bad, 
but I'm a little concerned.  Other than this, things look good.  

One last question (for tonight!):  The folks we bought it from put a 
10" or so television into one of the upper cupboards, and put wood 
trim around it so it's sealed in. He used open-cell foam to cushion 
the tv and make it fit into the space, but this can't be okay, as 
electronic equipment must need more ventilation than this.  I wonder 
if it's safe for it to be in a cupboard space at all--does anyone 
else have any insight or experience with this sort of issue?  Is it 
okay for the tv to be inset like this into the cupboard space above 
the couch?  Will it overheat and create a fire danger?  Any thoughts 
or opinions welcome.

best,

Rosannah

Re: rear axle(again)

Michael Smith

#1154

Chris,

In my opinion you would be making a mistake to purchase a rig that has had
an axle recall unless you had imediate plans to replace the axle and the
price of the unit was reflective of the need for a $2000 repair and still a
good deal at that. It's not that it will ruin your day if your axle breaks
off it's that it can kill you or some other folks on the road. The National
Highway Transortation Safety Administration does not issue recalls litely,
nor does Toyota participate in such a recall without good reason. Remember
what can and does happen. The axle breaks and the wheels leave the vechile
taking rear brakeing with them.

If it isn't a good deal after adding the price of the axle fix it isn't a
good deal.

Michaeal Smith




chsar@... wrote:

Show quoted text

I really want a toyota rv, and I've read the messages for 3 months
now, but.. I get really excited when one comes up for sale in my city
and IF I buy one with the 1/2 ton axle, am I definitely asking for
disaster? can I change the bearings and take light weekend trips
(300mi. roundtrip) until I find a 1ton replacement?? I couldnt take a
long trip(days or weeks travel)anytime soon,so I wouldnt be putting
myself in a position of trouble for a while, so what do you folks
think? I will trust the experience and knowledge of the group, I just
get worried that I wont see another sunraider model as cheap as this
one. thanks chris

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
toyota-campers-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 

MEDICINE CABINET

JERRY E. BROADWAY

#1153

Does anyone have a place to get the
small medicine cabinet that was in 
the 1985 Sunrader? Long story, but I
took mine out to clean it and the 
mirrow was broken. Just need to replace 
the whole thing, since I'm remodeling
the interior anyway.

Re: chialo

Michael Smith

#1152

Tonniez,

I think you lucked out. In my search for an axle kit I called National and
they said that they didn't have any. You must have an in there. Do be
careful installing your new axle. I had a shop do mine but they screwed the
shock mount up so bad that I had to totally redo it. I was under my rig at
one point when I realized that both ubolts on each side must be in place for
the unit to be secure. I only had one on each side on. It freaked me out to
realize that I could have easily made a mistake that could have ended my
toyota rving days in a hurry and for good.

Do you know what the difference was in the three different axle kits? My
guess is that it is either shock mounting or gear ratio. It would be great
information to know which kit should go with which rig. Do you think it
would be possible to find out from your contact that information? Sorry to
hear about your back, mine does the exact same thing. I'm out for 3 days
every time. Nothing seems to help but I wouldn't use a heating pad if I were
you. Ice is usually the best for the first few days.

Michael Smith


tommiez@... wrote:

Show quoted text

Jack, Chialo is down the 2 freeway about 25 miles past Mt. Wilson.
About 7 miles past Chialo is a camp ground called Buckhorn. I think
Buckhorn is the closest thing to the Sequioa's that I have neem
without going there. chialo is about 6 thousand feet and Buck horn
7300.. they are so nice. Buck horn the nicest. Where is the place you
talked about? is it in the mountains?...TOmmy...PS...
           I checked for a rear axle at 2 junk yards here in La and
they both got $1200.OO FOR A USED REAR AXLE.One of the places for
$1000.00 for one without the 3rd member. They said the used rims sell
for $100.00 each. So a thousand for the whole 9 yards  that have
never been used seemed worth it for sure. after my back is better and
I get it all in I will tell you how it works and how hard the whole
thing was.. Bye..Tommy

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
toyota-campers-unsubscribe@...



Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to 

Re: rear axle(again)

Jack Redman

#1151

Hi Chris,

Welcome to the group.

Some will say that the weak axle is a disaster waiting to happen,
so beware.

On the other hand, the camper you are considering has survived for
all these years, and with caution and preventive maintenance it
should continue to work well.  I believe the latter is true.  I
have personally talked to people with smaller units (18 feet or so) with the weak axle.  They are careful not to overload them, and
they are doing just fine.

So, if you like the Sunrader I say you should get it.  Your choices
are pretty limited when it comes to a small motorhome. These
Toyota units have a loyal following whose experience and advice is gladly shared.

Jack R


_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at 

206741 - 206760 of 207936