However the bad thing about this unit is the fake dually rear axle. The motorhome is built on the original 1/2 ton 4×4 chassis and the outer rear wheels are simply clamped onto the inner ones. Beyond the weak design of the wheels is the dangerous condition of alot of weight being supported by a 1/2 ton axle. The extra weight of the camper shell alone is pushing the capacity of the axle. With a full load of camping gear and people, and a good bashing on the trail, this axle is sure to fail. A crack in the housing causing the differential to lock at highway speeds is sure to cause a serious accident.

I do appreciate the seller’s honesty is this auction. From what I have read he has been upfront and honest about the vehicle. The buyer is sure to get a rare and interesting Toyota truck, but the first order of business has to be getting the rear axle, wheels, and tires upgraded to 1-ton status. Otherwise it’s just plain unsafe to drive it on or off the road.

← Good

← Better!

I rented a U-haul one day to take a closer look at the 1 ton front end. Originally it seemed like the front rotors had adapters for the large 6 bolt wheels, but closer inspection revealed the rotors are specially made.

Using AutoCAD I modeled a couple of possible designs for a front wheel adapter. With the hub taking up most of the space inside the lug nut area, it’s almost impossible to use a sleeve like the first design. The second plan was to use a larger hub with the 4×4 lugs inside the sleeve. Of course there are many other unanswered issues such as centering and balancing tolerances, additional weight and stress added to the outside of the axle hubs, and if steel is overkill or would aluminum be strong enough?

It would be nice to take a set of original 1 ton front rotors and have them machined out to fit the ½ ton 4×4 axle hubs, but that seems like a difficult task at best.

It’s still unclear how to best mount the 1 ton wheels to the 4×4 front axle. Surely this has been done somewhere before. If anyone has any ideas or seen this before please leave a comment for this article.

 This 1991 Toyota Dolphin is in good shape and ready to go. This is a solid, turn-key condition V6/Auto 1-ton   V-6 with electronic fuel injected gasoline engine. Dash air-conditioner. Casette player with AM/FM Stereo. Automatic transmission with cooler and overdrive.

DOLPHIN FEATURES

Model: 21′6″
Metal roof
Nice Blue/tan interior, medium oak woodgrain cabinets
Roof A/C
4-burner stove top
Oven
Microwave
Upper bunk with removable section
Water heater: 6 gallon
Propane tank: Horizontal, with gauge
Fresh water: 16 gallons
Dual holding tanks: 12 gallons each
16,000 BTU heater
Monitor panel with battery, water, and holding tanks levels
Full 70″ wide couch that folds down into bed
Booth dinette, folds down for sleeping position
Exhaust hood with light & fan
Lots of kitchen and upper cabinet storage
Privacy curtains and/or blinds on all windows
Bathroom with toilet, shower, sink, & storage cabinets
Clothes closet

Glossy paint on cab that looks to be original is truly nice. Stripes in good shape for age and show some minor age. Perfect windshield. Camper sides and back show very nice and straight. Rear storage compartment. Rear roof ladder, outside water outlet, direct pressure water hose inlet, cable TV/phone, 110AC to 12DC Converter/Battery Charger, new deep cycle house battery, heavy-duty 25’ cord, roof-mounted 11KBTU a/c unit, newer 3 roof AirMaxx protector for all three roof opening hatches roof checked and sealed with proper RV roof seal. Optional equipment on RV: 11KBTU roof air conditioner, cab air conditioning, AM/FM stereo CD with cab and coach speakers and propane tank, 5 gallon water heater, TV antenna, factory original seats are excellent with no issues!

Click on the Ebay link for more information and more pictures than you could ever want to see!

Here is a 1986 Toyota Dolphin currently for sale on Ebay.  It has 82,982 miles on it with a 22R-E (fuel injected) engine and automatic transmission with OD. New head gasket at 78,500 miles. Brakes, stove, waterheater, toilet, shower, fresh water pump, cold rear A/C and rear suspension airshocks are all in good shape. Holding tanks (water, grey and black) have no leaks.
Tires were new when the current owners bought the  RV (aprox 5,000 miles ago) Rear HD axle and 2 new spares.

Some of the good:
Complete new exhaust system May ‘09
New skylight above bed.
Refrigerator is electric only .
The two rear captain seats have seat belts.
Sleeps 4 people. Optional dining table .
New blinds in kitchen and bathroom.
Lots of storage space.
Magnifier in rear window.

Some of the bad:
Exterior decals have seen better days. .
A/C in cab does not run cold.
Radio/Casette works but with static.

Ok what we have here is a 1988 Toyota Sunrader RV motorhome up for sale on Ebay. I took the time to read the entire auction content, because, well that’s what it says first. I find it interesting, and it incites me to write because I just wonder what some people think. This is the second time around for the sale of this item, and there’s a feedback issue, and it boils down to the last set of statements:

The current title is signed over to me by the previous owner on the title, which is how title is transferred in California. But because we did not complete the process in California, the state did not issue me a new title in my name. Last year I sold a boat to a buyer in Nevada with a title that had been signed over to me, but never transferred into my name just like this title. The buyer never reported any problems to me. Also, be aware that some states require a notarized signature to transfer title (California does not). Please do your homework in your own state before bidding.

Is that a dare? Really? I mean do I understand this as I am doing something illegal and if I tell you up front that I am doing something illegal then you are now responsible for my wrong doings. The more I read the less sense it makes:

 This has been a great RV for my wife and I. We bought it in 2004. We had many great vacations in it to the coast, the local mountains, and to Yosemite

Ah, ok so doing my homework, this truck has been on many trips and still has less than 42K miles on it, yet it was never titled in the current owner’s name? How do you get away with this for 5 years. And by the way, selling a boat is way different than selling a motor vehicle, in case that’s not easily understood. Now, here’s the one that makes my blood boil:

We have gotten 22-24mpg on trips. The original owner reported getting 25+ mpg

I see this so often with Ebay listings. I’ve done my homework here: realistically Toyota motorhomes get about 16-17 mpg. That’s usually the 4cyl with manual trans. What we have here is a V6 automatic. Really? 25+ mpg? I would love to have anyone out there leave a comment if you are getting more than 25 mpg with your Toyota motorhome.

I’d like to side with the seller on this, because I generally believe that people have good intentions. But I can’t based on what I read by the seller’s own admissions. The feedback left by the previous bidder:

WORTHLESS TITLE !! – HAD CALIFORNIA DMV RUN VIN TWICE – ILLEGAL SALE – BEWARE !! 

Sadly the seller’s response was that the buyer fraudulently marked as paid (doesn’t the seller do that?) and now the next buyer will have to pay any additional fees owed to the state before transfer of ownership can be completed.

As always, click the link at the top of the page for more info, but bidding is not recommended on this as it does not appear to be one of the greatestdeals :(