...it's sort of like the legendary barn finds...

...you see a familiar profile through an 8-foot hedge...oxidized fiberglass and askew marker lights...too small to be anything full-size and too long to be ancient...glossy glare on corrugated sides makes it a later Sea Breeze or an Odyssey with all that gel coat. When I peek through the hedge at the rear I realize how friggin wide it is...has to be an Odyssey...factory chrome simulators and aluminum running boards make it official: a really straight little Odyssey waiting to be collected...the green shadow behind the side cabinet screen tells you it's an Onan generator hiding value in there.

You push your long hair back and pat your jeans back pocket to make sure you have your cash to take a run at this motorhome...knock knock knock..."excuse me, sir, do have any interest in selling that old motorhome that's leaning on the hedge out there? I have a friend who's homeless and we're trying to find some old thing for him to live in and get him off the street..."

...it's gasoline or it's diesel but it's all about...

...the money...and how you want to spend it. With diesel at $4 and gas close behind, you really have to take a new look at what's real and what's not when it comes to economizing. Even in a little motorhomes with 4 or 6-cylinders like ours the cost of crossing the country and back is more expensive today than the same trip in a full size motorhome 2 years ago...eeek...and the equity line that supported your travel habit is challenged by the erosion of the actual value of your home. We still want to live our lives to the fullest, but wow...is this a new puzzle for the economy class traveler? Airstream trailers have to be pulled by a V-8, so that's out...we could buy a Sprinter/Mercedes van and convert it but we'll be out 32K before we even install a toilet...or we could sell our V-6 Winnebago Toyota and look for a Toyota MH 4-cylinder stick and stay away from the mountains. All worthy plans but not really that comfortable for me or anyone else who covets various sights (i.e. traveling)...and eating on occasion as well. I think the new frontier will be an inventive guy who installs mini-camper interiors that fits into a Toyota Previa: when I was in Hawaii last winter I saw an classified ad for a Previa that described it as a "stealth Hawaii camper"...you see, the authorities aren't big on mainland surfers who live off the land and camp by night and surf by day (the missing shift is the non-existent work thing) ...so they discourage Californians from shipping motorhomes over and just hang out...I know...I tried it...and it's even harder to camp than in coastal California. Anyway, I like the stealth camper thing for the obvious reason: streamlined...no friends stay over(usually)...economy plus...hard to spot when camping on the street...wait, wait...you could make it like stealth submarines and aircraft where all camper systems are hidden and shockingly quiet...and deflect radar but catch a great internet air-card signal...hidden but conversational at the same time. Well...it is a new idea, right? I'll sleep on that one and re-weigh it for merit in the morning on a triple cappuccino...

When you're out searching for that Toyota motorhome...

...it's more important to be right about the motorhome than being right about the price. If you've been on the hunt you know that you run yourself (and your significant other) ragged finding the coach of your dream...especially if you're not in a highly populated area where you can look at 3 or 4 within an hour's driving time. If you've done some homework and gotten a feeling for the basic things you require in your future motorhome, and you actually find yourself standing in front of a really correct coach that gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling...don't get too wound up on "comps" or stories or prices you've seen online because you probably haven't seen those motorhomes or driven them or smelled them so comparing them doesn't really serve you here. I've bought near identical motorhomes at a $7000 price difference because they all had the same irreplaceable value that all nice Toyota coaches have...it was just the sellers discretion that dictated the price. Did 2 very similar Toyota MH's go through Ebay last month with one bringing $22000 and the other sold with a "Buy It Now" of $11000? Absolutely. Do we really care what someone else paid for their motorhome if we're only going to buy one Toyota motorhome...to love and cherish and fill all the cubby holes with our favorite stuff and great books and surf wax and compass and maps to places we've never even heard of...and take (with confidence) on great adventures while listening to Jackson Browne and be warm and cozy inside it when winds howl?...Do we really care what someone else paid? Absolutely not...not even a little.

...you can always skip a step or two...

...but when you're talking about installing those nice MaxAir vent covers it's not gonna work for you. Yesterday, I went to look at a nice little low-mile '90 Dolphin that had obviously spent considerable garage time because the suspect Dolphin graphics hadn't faded or alligatored and the aluminum bright-work was super clean...the interior and carpet was original and as new but the only flaw was some light ceiling moisture marks around a couple of the vents. It was a little surprising considering the obvious care so I hopped up on the roof and found the answer: Max-Air covers had been installed throughout but, rather than installing using the L-shaped brackets that mount on the side of vent base, they were caulked and screwed directly to the roof. I know it's a little more work to read the directions and mount the covers so they're elevated above the roof, but that's the only way they work properly...because they're not intended to be 100% water-proof...and the slight elevation of the cover is to allow water that sneaks into the cover-vents to escape and keep the area draining properly. I grabbed a screwdriver to remove the interior vent frames to make sure the wood framing was rotted...but it was perfectly dry in all three vent openings. I bought the Dolphin, took it home, and took the Max-Airs off to find the culprit: though slight, the water that entered the Max-Air was trapped and eventually found it's way into the holes made in the roof...not to mention the moss and lichen growing around the vent which indicates the presence of moisture. It was an easy fix with a clean-up of the basic vent area and re-sealing the holes and vent base (just in time before the rain started)...and tomorrow I'll visit the RVTS place and buy new Max-Airs so I can make a correct installation that works as it should and give the little Dolphin a bright new roof line...

...I'm getting ready for Toyota motorhome separation anxiety...

...I know that the Sunrader 4x4 has some issues, most of which I solved mentally in the first day I owned it, but I bonded to this thing like Super Glue...and I went shopping for the fun cosmetic stuff that take some little effort and expense but make such a huge difference. 16 new clearance and marker lights that are bright and fresh...replace a missing frig door...buff the Toyota part of the coach...remove clutter stuff and decals...and bought it a new Adco waterproof full cover. Cruising around Coronado...showing it off and recognizing some clear approval: it is so very unique. Compact but very stout like only a 4x4 dually can be... aggressive but economical. Then I start talking to a nice guy who's a surfer and an excellent sports photographer who fancies my Sunrader... and we start brainstorming about a photo deck on top for his adventure surf shots and, well, he looks like a good candidate for the 4x4. Is it a match? Probably. Will he keep it the rest of his life? I would think so. Will his Australian Shepherd love this wonderful thing. OMG he will. Will I miss it? Completely.

...the rare and exciting 4x4 Sunrader...

...once in a while you have to just take the leap...and I did...to buy the 1985 4x4 Sunrader that you see here on my website. I weighed the condition and known issues against the rarity and obvious eventual value...the unique and wonderful lines against cost of pending improvements and unknown stuff...the really nominal original investment against the obvious upside potential. It's beautiful high-gloss fiberglass body looks more like a new $125K Chinook than a 22 year old motorhome...and that's the caveat: even though it boasts fabulous looks and appearance, the same issues visit this motorhome that are present in all 22 year old motorhomes. Newer appliances update what is a really nice original interior but a soft floor in the aisle will eventually dictate new underlayment and a choice for Pergo wood or new carpet. Considerable expense already made this month to repair all plumbing and propane leaks. The usual 18' Sunrader rear roof droop will require a simple curb seal improvement but is an opportunity to introduce a roof-deck that's been in the back of my mind for years...a place for substantial storage for rough stuff, surfboards, kayaks, beach chairs, etc. If you you look at a side picture of the Sunrader you can see the rear elevation area...perfect base for an aluminum diamond plate deck with fittings for new vents and roof-air and off-road lights to light the scene, etc...you with me?...the Toyota 22RE/5-speed/4x4 drivetrain is functional now but will be visiting my Toyota guy to bring it to cross-country condition...window regulator for the drivers side on order...new clearance lights all the way around bought and ready to install. So much to do and so little time, but these Toyota motorhomes are all a labor of love. Feel free to step right in and take it from here...I've got horses that need riding and bunches of other projects on my plate...and in the mean time, it'll be my daily surfmobile...it makes hot coffee and hot showers and that's the important stuff...Kirk

...the endless search for outside storage...

It's always a battle in these little coaches to find suitable outside storage: full size basement-designed motorhomes have exterior doors that allow for wet, dirty, and awkward items which we all try to keep outside and away from our pristine (?) living spaces...but Toyota motorhomes generally have none or the only mentionable space is occupied by the generator. The Odyssey-built Toyotas actually have the largest exterior cabinets which are built to accommodate an Onan 4.0 (which is relatively rare and desirable) and if you have one without the gen you have a nice exterior space. Some Toyotas are seen with permanent or receiver-based cabinets or tool boxes that are mounted on the rear that unfortunately ruin the clean lines of the coach and turn a Toyota 22 foot rv into a mid-sized 25...and we lose some of our driveability, not to mention parking. Receiver-mounted storage allows you to run around without that thing on the back for a run to the beach or drive to work, and then slide it back on when you go cross country or on vacation where you'll be dragging alot more play-gear. This reminds me of a 1991 Winnebago 6-cylinder I bought maybe 6 years ago that came with the most spectacular rack known to man: a 3-receiver hitch-based custom rack that began at the receiver with a diamond plate platform for bikes or a motorcycle...then dual 2-inch tube ladders on each both side of the rear (not touching the coach) and curved to horizonal on the roof and headed forward all the way to the beginning of the cab-over. Cross-bars framed around the roof-air and rear vent for access and the whole beast mounted with L's that bolted at the outside edges of the roof...in otherwords, the rack never touched the rear or the roof except for the edges (the strongest area) . When I sold the Winnie on E-Bay I got hundreds of emails about that wonderful and unique rack and where to buy one...trust me, this thing was a piece of art and I've often thought about duplicating it...maybe in aluminum instead of steel for weight issues. Add all your brackets for bikes and surfboards and kayaks and you've created a real rig and given up only 18" overall length.