1994 National Dolphin – Renovated Diesel Pusher (Cummins / Allison) – 100,00 miles
We purchased this 1994 Motorhome in 2021 and refurbished this 90’s glory inside and out. We lived in it for 3 years, traveled the entire county, and loved every mile of it. We are the third owners, having purchased it from a diesel mechanic. We have purchased a home and are saying goodbye and letting The Dolphin start it’s next chapter with new owners who will love treasure it like we have, be it full-time or vacationers.
TLDR – Quick Facts on this Motorhome
1993 Cummins 5.9l. 12 Valve. THE bullet Proof motor. Pre-DefAllison 6 Speed TransmissionOshkosh Chassis/Frame with Ford Dash componentsNew Brakes, New Tires9-11 MPG consistently. We kept diligent re-fuel and maintenance records30 amp power when on the grid.Off the gridPropane Generator for ACHouse Batteries for DCNo slides (something I sought out when purchasing after witnessing countless other owners have issues with their slides. Just one less thing to go wrong)Loads of storage underneathSpacious, comfy and modern. We spent every spare minute for 8 months updating this bus inside and out.Includes Tow DollyThey don’t make ‘em like they used to and this Dolphin is Exhibit A. Easy to access and understand analogue systems. An owner with some patience, know-how, and elbow grease will be greatly rewarded. Like all motorhomes, regular maintenance is required.
Would You Like To Know More? – In Depth Information
Tank CapacitiesFresh Water – 100 gallonsHot Water – 6 gallonsBlack Tank – 50 gallonsGray Tank – 50 gallonsPropane – 24 gallonsFuel – 90 gallonsPlumbing Facts!1 toilet in its own toilet room (no wet bath)Toilet sits directly over the black tank1 shower1 bathroom sink1 kitchen sink6 gallon propane hot water tank. Cut it on 20 minutes before you need hot water or leave it on all the time.Appliance Facts!Generac GeneratorMicrowave/Oven combo. Only the oven aspect is working currently however. Microwave feature is not working.Original kitchen sink, new faucet.Small TV in Bedroom, Large TV in Living Room.Dometic Fridge/FreezerOriginal. Works excellent when plugged into shore power.When dry camping it switches to propane. Propane mode works fine, but struggles to keep as cold in direct sunlight, and on multiple consecutive long travel days dry camping. The propane pilot light should just be adjusted for a stronger flame, I never did it. We mostly stayed plugged in.2 Air conditioning units.1 in Bedroom, 1 in living room. Only 1 can be run at a time. We never found that to be a problem. We typically alternated living room AC during the day, bedroom AC at night.Propane furnace for heat. Kept us nice and toasty in the winter.Fold-out jack-knife couch. Original.We took the entire couch out and had it reupholstered when we remodeled. Then put the reupholstered couch back in. If you would like to do the same, it is just screws and bolts holding it in.Tons of storage underneath the couch, seat belts for travel days, and it’s a guest bed for nightOther Updates we made:We replaced the backup camera and monitor. It stays on all the time when driving so you can keep an eye on your towWe removed the old dinette and added a counter top with loads of cabinet storage underneathWe pulled up the old carpet and put down hardwood floorsWe had the bottom portion of the Dolphin sprayed with LinexReplaced Mattress with new camper queen hybrid mattress from Brooklyn Bedding. So comfy.Painted walls. Painted Cabinetry. Added wallpaper in some accent areasNew ThermostatsReplaced Shades and curtains.Replaced all original light fixtures with modern warm LED fixtures. Sconces now have USB charging, very helpful for charging phones on travel days/dry camping.
Full Disclosure
Every Motorhome has the joys of repairing a MOTOR and a HOME. There is never a dull moment and there is always something you get to address.The block heater has a short somewhere in the power cord.It will need to be replaced. Alternatively, the area of the short be located on the wire, cut out, then securely spliced back together.We live in Georgia so we never had a situation where it was too cold to crankIt has a leaky rear main seal. What diesel from the 90s doesn’t? But as the old mechanic saying goes “you know what it means if it’s leaking oil? It means it’s still got oil”Hydraulic Leveling system needs to be repaired. We just drove up on leveling blocks whenever we parked.Some of the “basement storage” or jockey boxes need to have their knobs and hydraulics replaced.Windows and roof must be sealed regularly. Water is a constant battle in a motorhomeThere are areas in need of some love.The door step can become stubborn if it isn’t greased up, it may need a helping hand retracting or extending.The Dash AC and heat work fine BUTYou are unable to change where the air blows out from.The Dolphin has cruise control, but we cannot get it to work anymoreThe tube for windshield washer fluid needs to be replaced.
Please reach out with any questions. Serious Inquiries Only Please. The Dolphin is ready to take on your next adventure.
