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: Leeann on 07/23/14 02:16pm

Welcome!

Sweet find…don't worry, everything on the new ones needs repair, too [emoticon]

'73 Concord 20' Class A w/Dodge 440 - see profile for photo

Posted By: toedtoes on 07/23/14 11:12pm

Here are some photos of my clipper.

The outside:
[image]

Looking forward from the kitchen:
[image]

Looking back from the cab:
[image]

Looking at the house door from the bathroom (kitchen is to the right, front of RV to the left):
[image]

Close up of door porthole window:
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1975 American Clipper RV with Dodge 360 (photo in profile)
1998 American Clipper Fold n Roll Folding Trailer
Both born in Morgan Hill, CA to Irv Perch (Daddy of the Aristocrat trailers)

Posted By: Phantom59 on 07/24/14 03:27pm

I love the port windows in the front wall.

Posted By: my440 on 07/24/14 03:45pm

I have never seen port holes in that location.
Is that factory or did you install them?

Posted By: Leeann on 07/24/14 03:54pm

It's factory. The American clippers were gorgeous, expensive RVs. One-piece fiberglass, so no leaks. Porthole windows, Dodge 440 under the hood, all kinds of upgrades over the usual.

Posted By: my440 on 07/24/14 04:02pm

Leeann wrote:

It's factory. The American clippers were gorgeous, expensive RVs. One-piece fiberglass, so no leaks. Porthole windows, Dodge 440 under the hood, all kinds of upgrades over the usual.

Well I have the 440 but need port hole windows now.
I hate when the windshield cover or cab divider blocks my view & lighting.

Posted By: Phantom59 on 07/24/14 04:06pm

If I could find a window that would fit in that area I would install it. I also hate that I can't see out the front with the windshield cover on

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 07/24/14 04:17pm

Phantom59 wrote:

If I could find a window that would fit in that area I would install it. I also hate that I can't see out the front with the windshield cover on

Round porthole windows, in various sizes, are available through Amazon, eBay, and various marine suppliers. Most are less than $100, tinted and clear, with a variety for frame materials, such as vinyl, aluminum, and brass. Some of the aluminum frames are powder coated or anodized.

Google "round porthole windows"

I'll be using a vertically oriented rectangular window, with a screen for ventilation.

1970 Explorer Class A on a 1969 Dodge M300 chassis with 318 cu. in. (split year)
1972 Executive Class A on a Dodge M375 chassis with 413 cu. in.
1973 Explorer Class A on a Dodge RM350 (R4) chassis with 318 engine & tranny from 1970 Explorer Class A

Posted By: toedtoes on 07/24/14 07:16pm

Yes, the portholes are factory. i love them, they look like eyes for the clipper. The clippers are actually 5 pieces of molded fiberglass (top with overhang, front, back, and 2 sides). From 1973 to 1977, they were all made on the Dodge B300 chassis. In 1978, they started making a few on Ford chassis. The Dodge engines used were the 318, 360 and 440. I have a 360. New, they ran about $14K.

The production was very quality oriented - thank you Irv Perch. I actually have opaque green window film installed in the front portholes - it lets the light in, but not passerby's prying eyes.

One of the neat things in the clipper is the ceiling. In the first inside photo, you can see my tassel fringe. That fringe is attached to the edge of a shelf just below the roof. It's about 6 inches tall and is perfect for bedding, etc.

Posted By: Phantom59 on 07/24/14 07:22pm

Found several boat portholes but they're kinda pricey and have acrylic lenses not tempered glass

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