It-C Bit-C very Class-C Toyota Dolphin

51 review
CoachbuiltSaint Cloud, MN
5 guests
Sleeps 4
21 ft. long
Pet friendly

This Toyota Dolphin was a rescue back in 2020. It was abandoned by a tenant who moved away without notice. He was found living in Virginia and agreed to send the title to cover the unpaid rent. The RV was little more than a broken-down shell, but it was mechanically sound. So, I decided to take it on as a project.After two summers of work, the RV was ready for finishing touches in the spring of 2023. The first outing with the Dolphin was on May 31, 2023 and everything worked very well. It was easy to drive, easy to park, easy on gas, and very comfortable for myself and my two grandchildren.The restoration was done to ensure the RV was especially well suited for primitive or electric only camping, which is typical for the parks and recreation areas in Minnesota. To that end, high-efficiency 12-volt accessories were used everywhere possible. An 800-watt gas generator is provided to keep the RV battery charged when there is no shore power available.Inside, the dinette was sacrificed in favor of a counter-top/desk-top work area. On the counter there is a 12-volt power center with USB charging ports and a digital battery condition display. Overhead there is a 12-volt TV/DVD that can be lifted up to the ceiling to keep the work area free of obstructions. Two camp tables, stored beneath the counter-top, are available for indoor or outdoor dining.Other amenities include a full size bed, large refrigerator, microwave oven, high-output range, water heater, toilet, shower, powered roof vents, awning, furnace, LED lighting, cargo rack/bicycle carrier, and a class I trailer hitch.What has been truly amazing is that wherever we have gone with the Dolphin, someone will invariably approach to tell us how much they loved the Dolphin their family had and how much they enjoyed their travels in it. It is our hope that you and your family can experience the same in your travels. Here's to the road ahead!What's includedThe RV comes with most everything for your use except for bed linens, bathing wash cloths and towels, and campfire cooking utensils. A packing list is provided that clearly lists what is included with the RV and that which is not included.There is a cargo carrier at the rear of the RV for extra gear. The carrier is outfitted to carry up to three bicycles. It also has a class I trailer hitch for towing a small boat or cargo trailer.RecommendationsTo learn more about this RV, the Operator Manual is available online for your review at: http://www.ipgmr.com/Dolphin/@ToyotaOM.htm
Other things to noteTHIS RV DOES NOT HAVE A ROOF-TOP AIR CONDITIONER. The RV roof has a reflective coating, and the ceiling is well insulated with closed-cell foam. There are two 12-volt Maxx-Air exhaust vents that provide continuous circulation throughout the RV. Drawing in fresh air from the shade created by the awning will keep the RV comfortable in most cases. The cab air conditioning works well and keeps the RV comfortable when on the road.

Features

1989 Dolphin 21 Foot
  • Sleeps 4
  • 5 seatbelts
  • Fresh water: 19 gal
  • Fuel type: Gas
  • Fuel capacity: 17 gal
  • Automatic transmission

Amenities

  • Toilet
  • Inside Shower
  • Outside Shower
  • Generator
  • Water hookup
  • Electric hookup
  • Sewer hookup
  • TV/DVD

Rules and policies

  • Pet friendly
  • No music festivals
  • No tailgating
  • No smoking
  • Mileage: 200 free miles / day
  • Unlimited generator hours
24/7 roadside assistance
Learn more about Roadside Assistance

Roadside assistance on every rental, plus help planning your trip or operating the RV.

Learn more about Roadside Assistance

Add-ons

Enhance your trip with these add-ons. Available at checkout.

Cleaning Fee
No fee if returned in the same condition as received.
NZ$255.00
Kayaks
Perception Tribe 9.5 sit-on
NZ$42.50
/each

Availability and rates

MTWTFSS
MTWTFSS

There’s a 2 night minimum stay

Discounts
  • Weekly (7+ nights): 10% off nightly rate

Meet your host, Gary

Member since 2023

I have been a camper since my boy scout days in the early 1960's. My dad started selling travel trailers at that time too. The first line he sold was Mallard of West Bend, Wisconsin. We would get up at 5am on Saturday and drive 400 miles to the plant. There, they would have the trailer he ordered ready and parked just outside the plant office. We would sleep there at the plant that night, then drive home on Sunday. Every trip would include a stop at Wisconsin Dells where we would see one of the attractions and do some shopping downtown.
Each summer we would pick out one of the trailers that was in the sales lot to use for a family vacation. We did a number of trips both locally and across the country. In 1965 we did a trip to California where we camped just outside Disneyland. From the campground pool we had a great view of the nightly fireworks as they lit up the sky over the Matterhorn Mountain. It was magical! We also did many camping trips with the families of the local volunteer fire department. It was always a great time for us kids to fish and swim and play together.
In the early 1970's I was serving in the Navy and had the good fortune to be stationed at Jacksonville Beach, Florida. At that time, I had an AMC Hornet Hatchback with a custom-made tent cover for the hatch. Every weekend that I was off duty I would take off and go wherever the road took me. I camped on beaches, in parks, and sometimes just out in a field. It was a wonderful way to see the less visited back country of Florida.
By the time 1980 rolled around I had a family of my own and was living in Esko, Minnesota, near Duluth. It was then that I bought a new tent, and we began a tradition of camping at the COE Campground at Crosslake, Minnesota. That tradition continues down to this day, as I make at least one trip there each year. Now, however, in place of the tent it's a comfortable 5th wheel trailer and the family now includes 4 wonderful grandchildren who always look forward to those special days.
Camping has always been a joyful part of my life and I hope there will be many, many more wonderful memories yet to come!

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It-C Bit-C very Class-C Toyota Dolphin

Dates






Reviews

(5)
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Communication

5

Guest photos

Bradley S.

June 20245

Rented a 1980’s Toyota class C Dolphin RV which has been refurbished to go to Norther MN boundary water area, then along Lake Superior, up to Canada and back to St Cloud, MN. The RV ran great, everything worked even the AC which we only used for a couple of hours at the end of our trip.

1 Photo submitted by Bradley S.


Have a question?Get answers directly from the host

Q.Why is there no roof-top air conditioner?
A.
I have rarely use air conditioning when camping in Minnesota. I prefer the smells and sounds of the woods around me rather than the drone of a roof-top air conditioner. I did wire the camper for A/C but chose to install a 12-volt Maxx-Air vent in that roof space to provide additional ventilation when camping off the grid. That has worked very well so far as we typically spend the hottest hours of the day on or in the water.

Q.Are there any special tricks and tips that would help with operating the RV easily?
A.
The Operator Manual addresses all the tips, tricks and quirks of the RV. You can preview the manual at: www.ipgmr.com/Dolphin/@ToyotaOM.htm

Q.What kind of mileage does the Dolphin get?
A.
The Dolphin is built on a Toyota SR5 chassis and has a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder gas engine. On the highway, in overdrive, at 55 mph, mileage will top 14 mpg. However, overdrive is only useable on flat highways with a good tail wind. So actual mileage will normally be in the 10 to 12 mpg range. Please note that the RV was built before ethanol fuels were on the market, so it needs to be fueled with non-ethanol gas to avoid damaging the fuel system or the engine.

Location

Saint Cloud, Minnesota

Exact location provided after booking