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: Griff in Fairbanks on 09/20/17 07:07pm

@Chris (aka Eric Hysteric) -

Welcome, I hope you stay around ... it's encouraging to know this thread has trans-world participation.

I'm not sure what the "Tec" means in your motorhome description. A quick Google search seems to indicate a replacement engine, with a Magnum or diesel engine. In 1979, the 5.9L (360 cu. in.) engine was part of the LA ("Light A block") family of engines.

Alternatively, it may be a somewhat unique Dodge configuration, specifically made for European markets ... I'm curious so am digging deeper.

Replacing OEM rims with 16" or 17" is a very common first "upgrade" for most older motorhomes, due to relative availability of tires. Unfortunately, there are pitfalls.

Older trucks almost always "lug-centric" versus the more recent "hub-centric" rims. The difference is using mounting bolts and nuts (i.e., "lug nuts") to align the rims to the axle hubs. Many later trucks, such my daughter's 2004 Chevy 2400HD Silverado, uses a raised ring on the hub and center hole in the rim for alignment.

Most older truck also have "coined" lug/bolt holes. Alternating rim mounting holes are indented or raised (conically stamped) to assist centering the rim on the hub. The following picture shows coined lug holes. The top red arrow points to a raised conical stamping and the bottom to a indented conical stamping.

[image]

The black arrow point to a hole for a dual wheel alignment pin found on some older (mostly 40s, 50s and 60s) trucks.

BTW - the coining (indented and raised) aligns on dual wheel rims.

Being hub-centric, most newer truck rims aren't coined. The result is it's easy to mount these rims off-center on older trucks, such as your motorhome. The following picture shows late-model 17" Chevy Silverado hub-centric dual wheel rims. Note the absence of coining on the lug holes.

[image]

IIRC, older Ford and Dodge dual wheel rims are identical ... and older Chevy trucks used a different bolt hole pattern. (I believe Ford and Dodge rims were manufactured by the same plant ... and the only difference was the pentastar or oval stamped inside the rim.)

Assuming the 16" rims will clear your front brake calipers and steering linkage, what you want are 16" coined dual wheel rims with a 8 x 6.5" bolt hole pattern.

Enough for now ... more info, experiences, and "horror stories" upon request.

* This post was edited 09/20/17 07:19pm by Griff in Fairbanks *

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: Eric Hysteric on 09/21/17 05:12am

Thank you very much Griff in Fairbanks!!! This are the best information i have ever found in internet!!!!! :-)
TEC is "Travel Equipment Corporation"
here are the pics of RV and the rims i want to buy. I hope, they will be ok for my Doge. Please take a look

[image]

'79 Dodge Sportsman 5.9 LA 360 TEC Campmate

Posted By: Eric Hysteric on 09/21/17 05:21am

Posted By: eyeteeth on 09/21/17 06:21am

Eric, I am jealous of your swivel seats. Nice RV.

* This post was edited 09/21/17 07:32am by eyeteeth *

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 09/21/17 07:27am

Eric Hysteric wrote:

Sorry, I assumed dual wheels ... you've got singles, and what looks like a lighter duty rear axle. (Lighter than the Dana 70s most of us run in our beasts.) Then again, your rig looks lighter than most ... and probably gets better fuel economy.

The rims in the picture shows 3045 pounds max ... per wheel. You'll need really good light truck tires to match. The max for your rear axle will be 6090 pounds based on those rims. When you select tires, multiple the max for the tire by two. Use whichever is less (tires or rims) for the max rear axle load.

You may have a 3/4 ton chassis rather than the 1 ton (or heavier duty) chassis most of us run. But, we'd need to know the chassis VIN to be sure. ('x' out the last five or six numeric digits ... those are the serial number and the preceding characters describes the chassis model, etc.)

Very nice looking rig and, being lighter, should be able to keep up with autobahn traffic.

Now I understand the TEC ... more info for your notebook. (You have started a notebook for all relevant info you discover, right?)

A piece of up front advice ... change the engine oil and filter, transmission fluid and filter, and rear differential fluid ... now, 'cause you don't how long it's been. (Differential fluid could very well be what the factory put in there.)

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 09/21/17 07:38am

eyeteeth wrote:

Chris, I am jealous of your swivel seats. Nice RV.

I have several spare swivel mounts laying around ... know where a pair are because I literally tripped over them a couple days ago. And, all four had the same seats on them that are in Chris' picture.

I don't like swivels on the driver's seat, so I'm going to a fixed mount there.

Posted By: Eric Hysteric on 09/21/17 07:56am

Thank you again Griff in Fairbanks!

My Dodge comes from Canada and 1988 she was imported to Germany. I think in Germany they installed the single rims because the weight in Europe is very important for Highways or the class of driving license you can drive the car. Now max. GVWR is 7715 instead 8510.

Here are the originallabels with my VIN

[image]

Posted By: eyeteeth on 09/21/17 02:53pm

So... Uh... Griff... Whattathey look like?

Posted By: Griff in Fairbanks on 09/21/17 09:00pm

eyeteeth wrote:

So... Uh... Griff... Whattathey look like?

The seat plate/clamp bracket lifts off the pedestal/floor plate. First image is complete assembly as it is mounted. Second image is separated assembly.

Both are rusted, dirty, and greasy. Knob is broken on one and intact on the other.

Seat adjustment rails typically go between the seat plate and seat base/underside.

Oops, goofed ... give me a chance to fix it ... there, that's better.

Posted By: Ballenxj on 09/21/17 09:09pm

Eric Hysteric wrote:

That is one sweet little class C Dodge!
And yeah, Griff is a bit of alright, isn't he?

Downsizing ">

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