1983 Toyota New Horizon preparations for nomadism

[josephusminimus]

Nothing worked precisely as a person in a hurry would have hoped, thus far.&nbsp; But the last few days of rain whisper that I've got most of the roof leaks fixed for the moment.<br /><br />Got the AC unit removed from the roof, which was a larger project than anticipated, but it's off and the vent installed, caulked, etc.&nbsp; I was relieved to learn last night the reason rain was splashing in around me was that I'd forgotten to close the vent.<br /><br />Helper coil springs on the rear are now in place, intact, and appear to be lifting the back, at least a couple of inches.&nbsp; The manufacturers evidently designed the spring mounts to be somewhat more universal than the truck was willing to agree to, so getting them in required some modifications.&nbsp; Done deal, finally.<br /><br />The front shocks evidently never had been replaced, must have been built into the job as the truck was assembled.&nbsp; They were designed with a piece that wouldn't fit through the hole.&nbsp; Had to hacksaw them in two to get them off.&nbsp; But the new shocks went in fine.<br /><br />The rear tire that blew and tore up things underneath revealed the inside dually was long on tread, but cracked and will need replacing, but it's no problem because the tire I picked up in town on the blown rim, I noticed, was for a trailer, only.&nbsp; The tire's store's going to make it right and sell me another one at a fair price.<br /><br />The carb problems appear to be fixed.&nbsp; Keeper had fallen off the auto choke mechanism inside the assembly.&nbsp; Just had to replace a tiny arm onto a tiny hole and improvise a new keeper.<br /><br />Next it's new brake pads, getting the trailer hitch fabricated, checking out the water and sewer tanks for leakage, sanitizing the water tanks, checking out the propane lines to the fridge, furnace and water heater, making sure they all work, and assembling the cargo trailer.&nbsp; Still need to check out the Onan generator to make sure it works, and put it back inside.<br /><br />Then building the box for the 4x8 cargo trailer.&nbsp; I'm thinking R-panels for the walls and roof, though the weight of steel R panels is a bullet to bite.&nbsp; But I think I'll be getting them free as leftovers from a job someone else over-bought.<br /><br />Progress, gradual but in the right direction.<br /><br />I've become a believer in the electric impact wrench.&nbsp; Getting those tires off and on a few times with a T-bar&nbsp;decided me I'm not as young as I used to be.&nbsp;

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Glad you are keeping us posted. It reminds me of how very hard these preparations can be. I too have constant setbacks, we just need to keep moving forward and enjoy the lessons learned.<br /><span style="color: #ff00ff;"><strong>Dragonfly</strong></span>

 

[josephusminimus]

A couple of matters of trivia and a couple of others worth knowing for anyone with an old RV.<br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/helper-springs-2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/exhaust-damage-blown-rear-tire2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/blown-tire-damage1.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />When that inside tire blew it tore out the layer of the floor below the insulation&nbsp;between the wheel well and the actual floor.&nbsp; If I'd just sent it to the shop for fixing without looking under there I'd never have known.&nbsp; <br /><br />In fact, the only reason I discovered it was the helper springs and shocks I was installing.<br /><br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/exhaust-damage-blown-rear-tire.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />The demolished tire also took out the tail pipe.&nbsp; By measuring the bend I needed in the pipe and taking it to a muffler shop just for that piece they cut a new piece of pipe, bent it and swelled the end to fit for $7.85 total cost.<br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/4-x-8-tractor-supply-utility-trailer2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files..../4-x-8-tractor-supply-utility-trailer-tag.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Here's going to be the pull-behind trailer.&nbsp; I swapped a guy something for it.&nbsp; It's never been on pavement.<br /><br />The top will be an R-Panel body about 3 feet high with a flat roof.&nbsp; There will be a lazy suzan swivel platform mounted on top to adjust the direction of the solar panels.&nbsp; I'll also carry a 10' ladder there for getting to the top of the RV for maintenance.<br /><br />There will be two pickup tool boxes mounted on a platform over the fenders for easy access&nbsp; to clothing storage and cat food, human food etc.&nbsp; <br /><br />Inside the box will be tools, handyman jack [and maybe a floor jack], an inverter, a&nbsp;small 110v fridge to run off the inverter while on the road, and either one, or two 12 v batteries.&nbsp; There'll be two empty 7 gallon water containers and an outdoor john of the usual configuration, a spare propane bottle and a tent, most likely.<br /><br />

 

[josephusminimus]

<br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/generator1.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/generator2.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br />Got the 3KW Onan generator on the bench running, tested, cleaned up.&nbsp; It's running 132 volts.&nbsp; I figure on running power tools occasionally, but can't imagine needing that much generator.&nbsp; If I think it over long enough and decide it's unneeded I'll put it up for sale in Phoenix or Tucson when I get there, I reckons.<br /><br />Takes two men and a billygoat to lift it.

 

[josephusminimus]

Changing to heavy duty 'universal' front brake pads for a 1983 Toyota pickup figure on 30 minutes getting the first one apart, seven hours figuring out how to get the thicker pads around the rotor after bleeding off the cylinder, another 20 minutes to get them back on, and 20 minutes for the second wheel.

 

[josephusminimus]

The sewer valve assembly was thinly disguised junk.&nbsp; Someone collided with it sometime in the past and everything was riddled with leaks.&nbsp; Pulled it off back to the holding tanks and went to HomeBase, Lowes, you name it looking for parts, discovered it's all non-standard.&nbsp; Can only be bought in an RV supply place.<br /><br />Sooooo, went to the sparkling shiny millionaire hangout where such things are available, got a lot of jumps backward when I attempted to hand him those fittings I wanted replacements for, sneers when I told him the RV it was from.<br /><br />They didn't have them.&nbsp; But there's another RV place in Kerrville, no glitter, just a couple of friendly, helpful old guys who muttered, studied the pieces, looked in catalogs inside a dusty old place looks like an 1960s auto parts house.<br /><br />They ordered the parts for me.&nbsp; Expensive, but that goes with being a rich RV owner, I reckons.&nbsp; I'll get out of this one for less than $100.&nbsp; The fittings and valves should be here today.<br /><br />Incidently, seems to me it's worth admonishing anyone who's putting front brake pads on an aging RV to check and re-pack the front wheel bearings while it's right there easy to do.<br /><br />

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Holy cow, that generator is huge. Looks like it should power a town <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[josephusminimus]

<p><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brake-rotor-1.jpg" alt="" /><br />The saga begins<br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brake-communist1.jpg" alt="" /><br />Simple and straight-forward<br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brake-communist-1.jpg" alt="" /><br />Karl Marx arrives<br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brake-communist-2.jpg" alt="" /><br />Even with the cylinder bled there's no room for the rotor.<br /><br /><img src="http://sofarfromheavendotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/brake-communist-3.jpg" alt="" /><br />Seven hours later the Berlin Wall goes down.</p>

 

[josephusminimus]

The damaged sewerage piping fittings and the two valves only cost around $70, compared to the anticipated $100.&nbsp; Only roughly double what they'd have cost if they'd been standard diameter fittings and could have been bought at Home Depot or a regular hardware store.<br /><br />I think if I were converting a bus or van, adding plumbing, I'd go start to finish with standard plumbing for houses and buildings without wheels.

 

[Coffee Tim]

I'm with you on using standard plumbing fittings whenever you can.&nbsp; Seems that anything that says "RV" is way over priced.<br />Those old Onan's are heavy but what a great generator!&nbsp; It seems that they were actually made to last.

 

[josephusminimus]

Spent most of the day yesterday blowing dust and spider webs out of the heater, cookstove, back of the refrigerator, sawing the tailpipe off so's it doesn't protrude, and chasing wires trying to figure out why my fuel guage suddenly died and went to heaven.&nbsp; That problem's one I can't ignore.<br /><br />Interestingly, I was checking propane lines with sudsing water and found a few loose connections.&nbsp; <br /><br />But it's all rock and roll.

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

<p>Not trying to give you advice-what the heck, I will anyway.&nbsp; When you get the oven ready to cook in, even&nbsp;if it doesn't have&nbsp;a working thermostat, you can still use it. Hang one of those 4 dollar thermostats in it to ck the temp and start baking. For some reason so many people are afraid of their old stoves. I guess to many people have grown up with electric and are scared of propane and flame. I suspect you grew up with gas stoves though like I did.<br />Because the stoves are so small, I have found that they will burn bottoms, I fixed that by putting a pizza stone under my pans. The cinnamon rolls and bread I bake comes out just perfect. For lasagna, use a clear glass square pan. I don't need the pizza stone for casserol or pastas. The dark glass pans burn the food too. I suppose every stove is different but this has worked for me.<br />Signed,<br />She who knows all about baking in a tiny oven<br /><strong><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Dragonfly</span></strong></p>

 

[josephusminimus]

<p>Not trying to give you advice-what the heck, I will anyway.&nbsp; When you get the oven ready to cook in, even&nbsp;if it doesn't have&nbsp;a working thermostat, you can still use it. Hang one of those 4 dollar thermostats in it to ck the temp and start baking. For some reason so many people are afraid of their old stoves. I guess to many people have grown up with electric and are scared of propane and flame. I suspect you grew up with gas stoves though like I did.<br />Because the stoves are so small, I have found that they will burn bottoms, I fixed that by putting a pizza stone under my pans. The cinnamon rolls and bread I bake comes out just perfect. For lasagna, use a clear glass square pan. I don't need the pizza stone for casserol or pastas. The dark glass pans burn the food too. I suppose every stove is different but this has worked for me.<br />Signed,<br />She who knows all about baking in a tiny oven<br /><strong><span style="color: #ff00ff;">Dragonfly</span></strong><br /><br /></p>

<br /><br /><br />Good suggestions.&nbsp; Thanks.&nbsp; Yep, I tend to take LP and natural gas for granted because I've been around it so long.<br /><br />I do love to oven cook, also.&nbsp; Never thought about the bottoms getting burned.&nbsp; Thanks

 

[josephusminimus]

Spent most of the day yesterday checking out the inside heater, discovering the pilot lights and stays on as long as the window on the side is off, goes out when it's sealed shut.&nbsp; Blew a lot of mud dobber nests out of the vent, fiddled with things etc, but didn't get it so the burners would come on, don't know whether the pilot still goes out.<br /><br />Might be I'll end up heating the place enough to knock the cold edge off the chill just by running the oven with the door open, turning it off when it's warmer inside.&nbsp; I dress heavy and live cold winters anyway.&nbsp; Haven't checked out the water heater yet.

 

[josephusminimus]

I used to be able to field-strip an M1 rifle blindfolded, never saw much point in it. But as of yesterday I can field-strip the expensive plumbing fixtures might as well be blindfolded, reaching back under their where I can't see, feeling for bolt heads and nuts. Problem is the gray water valve/tank discharge has a Communist hidden back there somewhere, leaking information to the media and whatnot. I've had it apart a dozen times now trying counter-insurgency tricks, and maybe the last time will be charmed ... I decided to wrap it with rags to keep the dirt out of the o-rings and let the glue cure for the night. <br /><br />First crack out of the box this morning it will be back assembling it the rest of the way, feeding it a clip of ammo from the water hose, driving it over to a dry spot and&nbsp; watching it not leak anything onto the ground.<br /><br />But if it should, I'm blessed with a surprising new respect along with a level of expertise taking it apart and putting it back together seldom encountered in civilized societies these days.

 

[josephusminimus]

Still pecking and poking around trying to get the propane RV heater to work, but thus far all that lights is the pilot. <br /><br />Been working on a diesel/kerosine DuoTherm&nbsp;heater from a 1940s vintage travel trailer I'd figured to carry along for soft-shelter heating outside the RV. Finally chucked the carberator in favor of an in-line needle valve to adjust the flow of fuel. Tore my heart out removing that old beauty of a carb, but the diesel burns clean out of the heater now.<br /><br />If I can't get the propane stove working I might pull it out entirely and put the DuoTherm granddaddy in there, run a smokestack out through the wall on the side.<br /><br /><br />Edit:&nbsp; That old DuoTherm heater had almost too much aesthetic appeal to allow me what needed doing.&nbsp; Removing the door holding the shorted out fan almost killed me.&nbsp; Then pulling the carb off permanently set me down beside it shedding tears, metaphorically, anyway.&nbsp; But seeing it burn clean, knowing the inside of the firebox appears to be beautifully preserved, like new, helped push me into biting the bullet.<br /><br />Might even paint it before I call the job finished.

 

[Ballenxj]

WOW Jack, Sounds like a total rebuild going on there. I know how frustrating that can be. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />RE; Heater, maybe look into replacing it with a catalytic wall unit? I had one in my old motorhome and loved it. It was like a mini fireplace right there in your RV, but more efficient. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />-Bruce

 

[josephusminimus]

WOW Jack, Sounds like a total rebuild going on there. I know how frustrating that can be. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" /> <br />RE; Heater, maybe look into replacing it with a catalytic wall unit? I had one in my old motorhome and loved it. It was like a mini fireplace right there in your RV, but more efficient. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" /> <br />-Bruce

<br /><br />How do Ballenxj? No total rebuild, but a lot of work I'd rather do here than on the road. I bought the Toyota without knowing what a person ought to know about RVs before buying. Comes from knowing everything too soon, which occasionally happens to me in life. So now I'm having to go back and know it differently, I reckons. It's coming along to my satisfaction and I've got no alligators biting me on the leg to cause me to need to run faster. If I'm a month later getting on the road than I figured on it's no big issue. I'm learning so much about that house working on it I'm grateful it wasn't pristine when I got it because I'd have been driving it down the road without knowing anything much about it. As it is my love for it grows every time I pull back something not intended to be pulled back and discover some new surprise I have to fix.<br /><br />Honestly I think I might have overstated my pessimism about the built-in heater.&nbsp; My current thinking is I might just have to bypass some wiring so's to allow me to run it manually rather than off the thermostat.&nbsp; But I'm obliged for the suggestion about the catalytic heater and if it comes to it I'll possibly go that way.<br /><br />Gracias,

 

[Ballenxj]

You're welcome Jack. Of course, please take my advice with a grain of salt. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />Those older Toyota Mini Motorhome's were once very much in demand. I've spoken to people that have owned them, and without exception they all said theirs was not for sale. I think that once you have gone through everything on yours, you will be quite happy with it. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /> <br />I have to ask, are you going to repair that inner wheel well? I would think that a fiberglass path kit might do the trick. If not, I would be concerned with Pack Rat's, etc. getting in there and making things worse. <br />About the Catalytic heater, they are very simple to work with, and have a very small footprint. Mine was just inside the door on my motorhome and didn't really get in the way of anything. I'm thinking of getting another one for my van. <br />Either way, I hope it all works out well for you. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" /><br />-Bruce

 

[josephusminimus]

You're welcome Jack. Of course, please take my advice with a grain of salt. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" /> <br />Those older Toyota Mini Motorhome's were once very much in demand. I've spoken to people that have owned them, and without exception they all said theirs was not for sale. I think that once you have gone through everything on yours, you will be quite happy with it. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" /> <br />I have to ask, are you going to repair that inner wheel well? I would think that a fiberglass path kit might do the trick. If not, I would be concerned with Pack Rat's, etc. getting in there and making things worse. <br />About the Catalytic heater, they are very simple to work with, and have a very small footprint. Mine was just inside the door on my motorhome and didn't really get in the way of anything. I'm thinking of getting another one for my van. <br />Either way, I hope it all works out well for you. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absMiddle" border="0" /><br />-Bruce

<br /><br />Thank you.&nbsp; I wouldn't dare not repair that inner wheel-well damage, though I hadn't figured out how I'll do it yet.&nbsp; The suggestion about fiberglass sounds good, though I'm concerned whether it will hold.&nbsp; I'd also considered pop rivetting sheet metal over the holes with a lot of caulking underneath.&nbsp; Haven't arrived at a any conclusion about it yet.