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 08/16/14 10:04am

Thanks, Mark [emoticon]

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

Posted By: my440 on 08/16/14 11:10am

74dodgechinook wrote:

I tore the entire bathroom apart and had to re-pipe everything and add a new seal fo rthe toilet. This one actually folds up into the wall when you shower. It has a pedal to open the valve to the blackwater tank. I could not repair the original flushing mechanism so I relocated it and made it manual. You can see the valve I installed here. The shower and sink also work beautifully now and I have pex piping.

[image]

I really like this toilet.
Reminds me of the old Canadian Pacific Rail passenger car lavatorys, only they were stainless steel.

Who duct taped the lid down? Your wife? [emoticon]

Posted By: Cbunny33 on 08/16/14 10:10pm

Hi there! Not sure if I am on the right page or not. My husband and I are new to the RV world with just having purchased a 1973 Dodge Premier Model# RM350. The RV is in pristine condition for it's age (Even has all the original paperwork and manuals). We are just trying to find information as to if there are any others like this one still out there? As well as general maintenance info, tips, tricks, etc...general knowledge a newbie like ourselves should know. Maybe any vintage clubs we could join, or even any advice or guidance would be graciously appreciated!

Thanks!

Christie & Greg

Posted By: whiteknight001 on 08/17/14 02:43am

Cbunny33 wrote:

Hello Christie and Greg

You are where you need to be. And welcome! This thread, at nearly six hundred pages, is an ongoing resource for owners of Dodge based RVs whether class A, B or C, and even some newer ones based on the Dodge Sprinter commercial truck line. Congrats on finding an older RV, especially one in the condition you describe. With good care and maintenance, it will serve you well for many years to come. What's more, when someone starts talking up their nice new rig, and deriding yours, you will have the sterling opportunity to say: "Mine's paid for. Is yours?" Trust me, that can take the wind out of even the most diehard braggart's sails.

Please introduce yourself, and ask questions. If we can help, we will, and as always, if we can't, then dumb looks and headscratching are still free! Go through the posts as well. There is a wealth of information about the chassis of your motorhome, the engines that power them, and a host of information about different systems and their feeding and care. No question is too small. Believe me. Several years ago, I posted a question that started this thread, and it continues to be a help for many folk just starting out RVing on their own terms. If there is something you'd like to share, please do. Think about posting some pic's of your rig, we'd love to see them!

Again, welcome here. And make yourself at home. You are among friends.

Mark/whiteknight001

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

Posted By: Leeann on 08/17/14 09:17am

Definitely in the right place!

Welcome to the madness [emoticon]

Posted By: Cbunny33 on 08/18/14 05:41pm

Thank you for the welcome! We are extremely excited about becoming new owners to such a beautiful camper and while we may not know much we will certainly be reading through the pages here to learn as much as there is to know. I am hoping to post some pictures this week (if I can get them to upload) and hopefully someone here can tell me exactly what we have. We have all the documents for it, however the original manual says it is a "Lifetime" motorhome; the Vin stamp on the door says it is a "Dodge Fargo Desoto" model R40; the exterior has a "Dodge Premier" emblem; then the title says model R49. We have been google searching trying to find others like this one just for historical research and identification purposes but we haven't been able to find any like it, and we know there has to be others, so hopefully this is the place to find out!! We are so excited to have found this site, and thank you again so much for welcoming us to your awesome little community!! :-)

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 08/18/14 06:23pm

Cbunny33 wrote:

Here's a start for ya ... various parts, with CarQuest part numbers, based on the work I've been doing on my '73 RM350 chassis. (I used to work at CarQuest and dug up the parts there but most other parts stores can cross these numbers.) Most parts store won't list parts for your vehicle (or, they'll list the wrong parts) but I've developed methods for finding hard to find parts. (Some parts had to be ordered but, surprisingly, some were in stock, on the shelf.)

Brake booster filter: CFI 87720

Driveshaft carrier bearing: BGS HB-88107-A

Front wheel seals: SLS 3210 (1 each side)

Right brake caliper: 18-4271
Left brake caliper: 18-4272

Brake boosters: 51-8055 (2 each - one for front brakes and the other for rear brakes)

Front wheel spindle nuts: 800-515 (Correct thread but not quite the correct external dimensions ... I found the exact matches at McMaster-Carr's)

Front brake pads: RMD87 (1 set)

Rear brakes flexline: STL SP5747 (1 each)

Front brake flexlines: BRK SP1452 (2 each ... both identical, one per side)

Brake rotors have proven to be impossible (?) to find but I'm still trying to locate a source.

WARNING: ALL listings, at ALL parts stores, are incorrect for the RM350!! The RM350 uses a somewhat uncommon 'low-hat' rotor. The ones listed by every parts store I've checked were common 'high-hat' rotors, suitable for many other dual wheel vehicles but will NOT work on the RM350.

Beware: Most fix-it shops (Midas, etc.) will claim to know how to bleed your brakes ... BUT DON"T REALLY KNOW. They will probably leave air bubbles in your brake lines, resulting in mushy brakes.

You have separate frame-mounted brake boosters, with additional separate bleed screws. Most places don't know about having to bleed these, or the correct order for bleeding the brake systems. As a result, they just bleed the wheel cylinders and leave air bubbles in the lines because they didn't bleed the slave cylinders on the boosters.

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: Griff in Fairbanks on 08/18/14 06:39pm

Addendum: The RM350 is a medium duty truck chassis ... roughly a 1-1/2 ton chassis.

Most parts stores only list (and carry) parts for light duty trucks ... 1/2, 3/4, and 1 ton trucks. If they carry (or can order) medium duty truck parts, the listings will probably not be in their primary databases or catalogs. You'll need an experienced counter person who's able to look beyond their everyday experience.

The best (and least frustrating) way is to find a parts store that caters to heavier commercial trucks. Even then, you can expect perplexed looks and shoulder shrugs, especially if you happen to mention you have a motorhome chassis.

Interesting tidbit: Early (mid-60s) motorhomes were built on the Dodge P300 chassis. Dodge came up with the M300 designation, even though it was identical to the P300, because people had heartburn when they found out their 'fancy' motorhome was built on the same chassis as their local delivery vans.

Posted By: Cbunny33 on 08/18/14 08:43pm

Oh wow!! Thank you SOOO much for all this GREAT info Griff!! It is greatly appreciated and will save me so much time and trouble! You are AMAZING!!

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 08/18/14 08:51pm

Cbunny33 wrote:

Oh wow!! Thank you SOOO much for all this GREAT info Griff!! It is greatly appreciated and will save me so much time and trouble! You are AMAZING!!

That's what we're here for ... to help each other.

I'll have some other part numbers, mostly for the front end, when I get a chance to dig them out. I just happened to run across the list I gave above yesterday.

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