开云体育

Hello Benton, You asked me to reply to your E Mail via the club message board concerning the 4X4 conversion on my Chinook, beings Toyota didn't build a 4x4 until 79 I took the 76 Chinook stripped it to the bare frame, cut the frame in half and grafted on the front frame section of a early 80's toyota 4x4 pickup, built new cab mounts to fit the older cab, fabricated the floorboard tunnel to clear the trans and transfer case, bumper mounts had to be fabbed, inner fenderwells had to be reshaped to clear shocks and steering, steering column had to be adapted to hook up to the 4x4 steering box, brake lines had to be built and rerouted, rear differential had to be changed to match the front, rear suspension needed upgraded to the 4x4 type, plus other fitting and fabricating on shifters, drivelines, ect. The end results were fine, it drives and handles fine and typical toyota dependability for going on 13 years now. As far as feasible to convert your 79 Sunrader? Hard one to call, depends on wether you do the work yourself or have to farm it out. On the older model motorhomes sometimes they will call a 78 a 79 and so on, a true 78 still had the 4 headlights a 79 body had single lights, if yours is a 78 body the conversion would be basiclly the same, if its a 79 body the ideal swap would be find a 79-83 4x4 and set the camper body on that, it would be a lot less work and a fairly easy 4x4 conversion. Sunrader actually built some factory 4x4 motorhomes in 84-85 on the standard and Xcab chassis's. Hope this helps and gives you some ideas.

I went out to start my camper this evening and the battery was all but dead, might have left the key in the aux. position a few days ago. The coach lights were golden and she wouldn't turn over. It also doesn't help that is about 5 degrees here in Ohio. I guess I'll have to get the jumpers out tommorrow. How often do you guys start your campers up during the winter? Nate

tied Benton/Nate Others (me too) would be interested in the Info on the solar panels. If you would post the info here (less pics)it will go into the Archive. E-mails between list members are fine, but they do not add to the overall knowledge of this list's members. Let's all post to the list when ever we can. We will be glad we did in a year or two, when we, and newcomers to the list, begin to use the Archives. Jack A2.

Hello members, This disscusion group has had great response and participation, glad to be part of it. I just wanted to make a suggestion regarding the club I started under yahoo clubs, the address is listed under the links page for toyota motorhomes. I don't want to take anything from this group or run competition with it but would rather work with it and refer to each other back and forth beings were the same members on both sites and have the same interests. Newcomers to one could find the other and the yahoo site offers the members a place to post photos of there pride and joy. What do you think?

I agree with you. I am all for there being as many clubs or groups out there as possible. When I started this group I was unable to find any groups for toyotas at all. It seemed I could find groups or clubs for every other type of motorhome ever made except Toyota-based. I wanted to get as members as possible in this group in order to build a wide amount of information and experiences. I think the more information we get the more enjoyable this site will be to us and to future members. I have been shocked and excited with how fast our group has grown in just a week, I want to thank everyone who has helped spread the word on this site. I also encourage people to post links to any other sites pertaining to Toyota campers. Best Wishes, Nate

Nolan, Thanks for the come-back. I went out to the bone yard that had the flat bed, and they were all locked up and heaped high with snow. Looks like a Spring project, but I will go early in case they do "Spring cleaning" and send that machine to the crusher before I can score that rear end and spring assembly. I've bought parts from a couple of Bone yards in my area and I've found all the stuff to be real cheap, if you pull the part yourself. In this case I'm going to try to get the man to torch it off for me at the spring/body mounts. I already pulled some stuff off this flat bed this summer. (Jack, handle, and some dash parts). I hope it's still there. I think it was Benton who asked about costs. IMHO I don't believe a bone yard rear end and spring assembly would cost much over a $150 + - $50, as there is little demand for 80s Toyota truck parts. Most have long ago rusted away up here. And speaking of rusted away, JC Whitney has front fenders for our Toyotas - super cheap. $24 - $29 ea. I bought a pair this fall on sale at $24. I put the left one on, and stored the right one for future use. They seem to be the same gauge metal as stock. Jack A2 86 Sunrader 20' pop up.

Hi Mary, 93 was the last year for the toyota based motorhomes, there were many companies that built them over the years in many variations and sizes. Heres a site you might take a look at just to get an idea as to whats out there and the kind of prices they are trying to get. http://www.rvtraderonline.com/adsearchprocess.html when that site comes up type in toyota in the keyword box and hit search and you'll be knee deep in toyota motorhomes. Have fun :)

Mary I agree with jack, the best place to find the different verisions of the toyota motorhomes is the auto trader website they have over 100 toyotas. The last year was the 1993 model. Between 1989 and 1993 they were made with only the V6. I have heard nothing but great things from toyota camper owners. You can find very reasonably priced early 90's models. Also you will find that the cost to repair this campers is much cheaper than rialta's and lesharo's. Best of luck in your search. Feel free to ask the group any other questions about these great little campers. Nate

That would be a heck of a deal if you can pick the one ton rear up for a few hundred bucks Jacka2, when I went looking several years back I only found a couple used ones in the wrecking yards, and you would have thought they were gold plated for the prices they wanted. Your 86 Sunrader didn't have the axle upgrade in it already? Did it have the old style dual wheels on it?

Little frosty in your neck of the woods I bet. I'm in The Dalles Oregon right in the Columbia River gorge where they do all the wind surfing, but not this time of year, and no I don't try it I swim like a rock. I can't recall ever seeing a poptop Sunrader either, I would like to see a picture of yours someday. Does the top go completly up like the Chinook? I have seen a Toyota Sandtana tilt top that the top only went up on one end, looks similar to the Chinook body wise but the windows in front above the cab were just painted on to give the illusion of windows. The trader site has quite a few toys scattered all over the country in all price ranges, some seem high but I think most people start out there anyways to give them some room to dicker price wise. Every now and then one comes up that seems to be a steal but you never know until you see it in person. I just look and dream anyways my old toys still get the job done and when I open the hood I can find the motor:)

Nolan, I read were you live in The Dalles, Oregan area. I went through that area this summer (August). We were on I84 going eastbound. Very scenic intrerstate with the Columbia River to your left. We were on our way back to Ohio from Seattle and the coast area went through Portland seen Mt. Hood it was great. We got gas aroung The Dalles area a little higher priced and it was different having someone have to pump your gas for you. Really enjoyed the state and wish we could have spent more time there. Next summer we are planning to hit the Crater Lake area and Northern California. My 1986 escaper and my dad's 1978 toyota are ready to head west again. Freezing in Ohio, Nate

Hi Nate, Heck you went right by the house and didn't even wave, It's nice country around here, been here all my life so kinda used to it by now. Were the only state left I think that doesn't have self serve and true the gas prices are always about the highest around, gotta pay them gas pumper wages some how. The trip through Crater Lake area ought to be a nice one for you. Thats some pretty country around there. Maybe we'll pass on the road somewhere this summer.

I had no idea that there were Toyota based RVs. I heard about this site from the Rialta Egroup site, which I have been reading to gather info before an RV purchase. I currently have a 1999 VW Eurovan, and it is already in the shop getting a new transmission (at 16K miles). I have had much better luck w/ my two previous vehicles- a 1984 Corolla, and a 91 MR2 (which I still have) The idea of a Toyota motorhome is very intriging, since I've never had any major problems w/ either of these vehicles. But, I assume that there are no NEW Toyota based MH's, so what is the last year that they were produced? I would love to have a new/almost new one, figuring there would be fewer problems. What can I look for in terms of latest model years? I see from previous posts that there were Chinooks, and other models. If there might be a website where I could get this type of info, please point me in the direction. Thank you for any help you can give me. - Mar

Hi Nate, Myself I rarely start mine till spring gets here, the Odessey is all covered up for winter, and the Chinook is sitting in the garage with some blankets layed over it. I drained all the water lines and blew out the lines, removed the water filters, dumped some rv antifreeze down the sink drains, and removed the batteries, I keep them in the garage with a trickle charger rotated around from one to the other. Around here they gravel the roads when it gets snow or ice and come spring your lucky to have any paint or a windshield left in your rig.

Does anyone know why they quit making toyota based motorhomes in 1993? Was it something to do with the rear end recall? It would be great if they would have continued making these dream machines. I guess I'll have to keep my eye on the early 90's models, when someday way down the road I look to retire my 1986 Escaper. Then again that will problably be along time from now, toyotas seem to run forever. However, it would be nice to have the option of newer models. Nate

Nate, From what I have been able to gather it all stemmed from the early recall. In the early 70's when the gas crunch hit Chinook was about the only small RV on the market. The big RV builders were dieing because of slow sales while the little Chinooks were selling like crazy, so everyone wanted in on the action and started building toyota based RV's, a little bigger a bit heavier and so on till they started having the axle problems. Most of them would try to pass the buck and blame toyota because they built the chassis. Toyota tried to remedy the problem by building the 1 ton chassis even though it wasn't there problem. After the introduction of the 1 ton the DOT mandated the recall and a lot of the coach builders went out to avoid the cost of the recall. Now that the coach builders had a stouter platform to build on they started building them even bigger and heavier which started causing other problems, trans, engines, ect, and like before the coach builders would pass the buck because Toyota built the chassis. So by 93 to avoid the hassles and liabilities and warranties ect, Toyota said to heck with it, let someone else have the headaches.

Re: your post on Toyota bailing out in 93. That's exactly what I guessed happened. That 91 Winnaabgo I looked at was 23 ft long with a hitch and a huge air-con on top. At the time, I thought it looked like an overloaded disaster for that little Toy Chassis. I guess the older ones with those Micky Mouse add on duals were even worse. Now a question, Instead of putting those welded or bolt on duals on that one bearing axle, why not go single wheel and big set of 6 ply tires? The extension of the arm of the axle with add on wheels is putting tremendous extra stress on the 3/4 ton rear bearing. So why not go back to single wheels on the older rigs? Jack A2

Benton, I'm not sure who makes a 6 ply tire in the size range for a stock application on your Sunrader, would have to check with some of the tire stores. On my Chinook, beings it has the 4WD I'm running 31- 10.50x15 6ply tires mounted on 10" wide rims. I can't remember off hand the brand name but my folks 91 Winnabago toyota has 6 ply tires on it and they are the stock 14" size for the toyota application.

My dad had to replace his passenger side rear wheel bearing two years ago on vacation in the New England area. This was on his 1978 17 ft. with the 3/4 duallys and about 90,000 miles. He was able to replace the bearing, but he had to have the seal pressed on by machine. He was able to do the rest in a motel parking lot. Luckily dad is a mechanic and it only cost a day worth of vacation. We were lucky we knew it was going and we were able to get to a decent sized with part stores. Grandpa replace the both of his bearing last summer on his 1986 21ft. 100,000 miles. One side was going so he replaced both. He has the bolted on duallys on his camper. Fortunatly my 1986 had the rear end replaced with a new 1 ton before I purchased it. My camper has about 85,000 miles on it so I shouldn't have to worry about it for a while. Nate

I want to welcome all the new members to the group. I encourage you to make a post telling the group about yourself and your camper. Our group is up to 23 member in just one week. Thanks, Nate