Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

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Topic: How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

Posted By: Fencepost on 08/23/04 04:11pm

Thanks Susan. Love the Great State of Oregon. If you don't mind saying, what did you have to pay for that rebuild? We are always up towards you in the Lake Shasta area. Our Motorhome says "Sportsman" on the side too. Ours has the bunk beds in the back which we use only as storage space. No kids here. Regards, Fencepost & wife.

Be kind to your neighbor, he knows where you live.

Posted By: whiteknight001 on 08/24/04 07:43am

Hello Fencepost and Susan-y

Welcome to the Mopar corner of the RV world!
Stay up with us- and if you get the opportunity
to post pic's, do so! Burnt orange shag and all!

your fellow Mopar land yacht captain

Mark a.k.a. White Knight

1972 Mobile Traveler 20' Dodge B300 Class C
"The Kobayashi Maru" Trans- Prarie Land Craft
"Requiescat in pace et in amore..."

Posted By: susan-y on 08/24/04 03:55pm

Hey Fence.. 3000$ for the rebuild. Also new manifold, headers, balanced... whole bunch of other terms that I haven't the foggiest what they mean. It wasn't rebuilt inhouse, they sent it to Eugene. Who knows what the tally will be after they rebuild the A/C, heater core replaced, few other things.... I'll be the person begging beside the road, sign will read "My Clipper needs work, god bless you" [emoticon]

Life looks better through a windshield.

2008 Winnebago View

Posted By: Slim & Retta's Pace on 08/24/04 06:34pm

Thanks Sir White Knight. We used it this weekend, just for an overnight at the new site. Still serves the purpose and like you said, it's paid for! I do believe my hubby overpacked, cause he just got home today with the RV, I came back ahead, and he was unpacking most of the stuff that he packed, unused. We had everything with us except for a pair of tiny tweezers to get a splinter out of our grandson's hand. But we did have a good time! And yes, I already got the material for the curtains, now if I can find someone who can sew them. !!

Slim & Retta B">

Posted By: 79roadranger on 08/25/04 01:07pm

I have a 1979 Dodge Road Ranger.
It is old, but the criticals have been replaced (extra battery, newer fridge, awning, floor), etc.
Sure, I too would love to upgrade, but for the money it works for me!
I would love to find someone who has found a good deal on captains chairs for the passenger side -- would just give me an extra seat once we are settled.
Would also like a good deal on recliners, swivel chairs -- I have the party model -- no couch, just two swivel chair with a bar table between.
We have re-uphostered the cushioned, painted, etc; but the only engine item was an exhaust system and muffler. Way to go to Bucky's Transmission shop.

-- 1995 27' Tioga Montara Quad Bunk --

Posted By: mekola on 08/26/04 02:55pm

We have a '78 Dodge Sportsman Renaissance. I have sewed new covers for the cushions, made valances, put in shades, took out all orange shag carpet, put in black and white vinyl tiles, replaced the wallboard in the bathroom and kitchen area, new curtains in bunk area, replaced the dinette with custom built dog kennels that have seats on them (dogs won't be in them that much), took foam mattress out of bunk and bought an airmattress with sleeping bag that attaches to it for the bunk, rebuilt cabinets where refrigerator goes and have painted everything that needs painted. Now on to the other parts of this project...

1982 Starcraft Popup or a 1979 Dodge Renaissance Sportsman loaded with:
DH and I along with 2 kids and 3 mini schnauzers,
pulling a 16ft. trailer loaded with:
Honda 450S
Yamaha Grizzly 660
Polaris Scrambler 400 4x4
Honda 300 4x4
climbatv

Posted By: vacilando1105 on 08/26/04 10:33pm

Just came across the RV.Net site tonight.

I just bought a 1977 Dodge 360 Class C Minnie Winnie Lindy. The engine was recently rebuilt 12,000 miles ago. Chasis has 102,000 miles on it. It's a 19'. The Lindy has a lot of pep and goes really fast on the freeway.

I am looking for a manual on how all the appliances, etc. works since I am a newbie on owning an RV. I just picked up a book "RV for Dummies" and it probably will get me through the nuts and bolts of grey tanks and black tanks. I figure if the Lindy has made it since 1977 it can make it through a Newbie like me.

This Dodge 360 really cooks!

Posted By: knicka on 08/26/04 11:34pm

Just went out and checked, ours is a 18' Californian, built 9-1970. Tradesman 300. Lots of miles, several owners. Was given to me by a friend who said it needed a new engine. He had driven it home to strip for parts but thought there were a few more miles left on it. He had just driven it 30 miles to his home, with his head out the window because of the fumes, and he said the bottom of the 318 was coming apart, or so it sounded, and no oil pressure. I crawled underneath the front when he started it up for me. The fuel pump was squirting gas right on the exhaust manifold, and it sounded like the rods were about to come out the side of the block! After that, when I checked the oil level, the crankcase was full of gasoline. The fuel pump diaphram had ruptured and had filled the block with fuel. I put on a new (used) fuel pump and then we drained the pan, put in 4 quarts of oil, and started it back up. Oil pressure came up, engine quietened down, and I drove it home. Two weeks later we took it on a 200 mile round trip to Greyland, WA. (South of Aberdeen, on the coast) and had a great time... We are glad our friend is still with us, still wondering why that thing didn't blow and burn up. Oh, just before we got to Greyland, one of our daughters asked what a muffler looked like, just after the thump, and Blaaaaaap noise/roar rose up from under the floorboards. She saw it skid off into a field, as cars were backing off from our rear... What an adventure! Loved it

Posted By: whiteknight001 on 08/27/04 09:34am

Hello and welcome to you, 79RoadRanger, Mekola, Vacilando
and Knicka!!!

It's great to hear from you all!!! And Knicka, so far you take
the honor of having the oldest Dodge rig here so far- 09/70!!!
34 years young and still ripping up the road!!! Mine comes in
second- 08/72...

We are a unique group of RV owners- our vehicles are true "vintage"
rigs, built back in a time when metal was thicker, motors were stouter
and there was a true sense of pride and craftsmanship built in to every last rig.
This is why they are still going, and will be for a long time!

Because of what they are, and their age, we should band together and
support each other's efforts- like a special interest group. Not only
for advice but helping each other locate parts or services. I would
be honored to know that I helped someone keep their A-Dodge-io on the
highway by something I did or shared with them. If someone needs
a part, like 79RoadRanger was looking for captains chairs
(come to think of it I could stand a pair too), and Vacilando needed owners manuals for appliances, let's pool our efforts and try to help!
Maybe we can cook up a "wish list" of items we can help each other find at the best price. Or maybe we can lend a hand by helping someone fix a problem, like you name it- we've probably been there done that on some things, or we know of an honest, reputable someone who can.

We are becoming mighty upon the earth... hee hee... [emoticon]

I read somewhere
that a group of less than a hundred determined former citizens of Great Britain formed what is now the greatest nation in this world-
the United States of America. And we're driving our own little bit of Americana... think about it...

It's easier to hang together than it is to hang seperately.

Mark a.k.a. White Knight

Posted By: Grand Slam 79 on 08/27/04 06:13pm

Hi all! I have one of these things, also. Mine is a 1979 24 foot Champion class C, built on a 1978 MB400 Dodge chassis, with the 360 engine. I bought it to pull the wife's horse trailer, and sometimes my enclosed race car trailer. Couldn't see having a newer rig to go to the mud, dust and dirt of horse shows and sprint car races. I really wanted one with a 440 in it, but after 2 years of looking, I never came across a 440 powered class C that I felt the camper part was worth saving. The 360 powered Champion I ended up with has a one piece fiberglass roof and cabover section and seems to have avoided all the water leakage problems that are so common on these machines. I decided I could modify the engine for more power easier than rebuilding a water damaged coach.

I've owned the MH for three years now, and after some pretty extensive modification/repairs, I can report it does what I expected it to do quite well. Since I've owned it, I've pulled the heads and done a valve job, replaced the 2 barrel manifold with a 4 barrel manifold and Thermoquad carb, and replaced the distributor with a 4 barrel version. I've also serviced the transmission, replaced the U joints, and had the pinion bearings in the rear axle replaced. To get the chassis in shape for towing I've had a leaf added to each rear spring, replaced the shocks, added air bag helper springs, had a killer hitch-frame extension structure welded to it, and replaced all six tires. To make the inside nicer, I've replaced the sagging headliner with short pile carpeting and replaced the front seats with junkyard Aerostar mini van seats. Future mods include replacing the carpeted floor with vinyl, for easier clean up, and installing a new, big bore, (like 3") exhaust system. Maybe someday the lower end of the motor will get a rebuild, with new pistons and one of those Mopar stroker crankshafts, to make it a 400 cu. in. engine.

While it's no speed demon, it will tow the horse or race car trailer at 55 to 60 mph on level ground, and it's so nice to have the camper once you're there. I have driven it to the Florida Keys and back from Chicago twice pulling a Hobie 18 catamaran, and found it averages 8.5 mpg at 60 to 65 mph. That's not much worse than the new MH's get. I like Thermoquad carburetors, having had them on other Dodge vehicles, but I admit it's nearly impossible to find anyone who knows how to make them work correctly. You pretty much have to learn to tune them yourself. I've had exhaust headers on vans, and will never put them on the MH, I don't want to deal with the rust out, heat and noise tube headers create. All in all, I'm very satisfied with the machine, and one of the best parts is IT'S PAID FOR!!

Randy Reed
Spring Grove, IL

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