Hey guys! long time lurker, first time poster. I am about to take ownership of my first rig!It is a 1980 Brougham RV that is built on a 1978 dodge 1 ton chassis with a big block 440. PO has out a lot into the drivetrain and mechanics of the car and left the cosmetics untouched. He has replaced: Radiator and hoses, batteries, tires, exhaust, distributor, alternator, a few suspension components, custom welded bumpers. There is more that I can not remember right now possibly due to excitement... The PO was converting it to a mobile office for his company (oil field I think) and only wanted what he had put into it so I got a deal! I have searched the depths of the internet and have not found any other Brougham models or even dodge chassis rv models that are 4x4 from the factory so that makes this rig pretty unique but hard to source insights/tips/tricks. Im assuming that since its built on a dodge that parts wont be too difficult.

Any chance you can re-post the pic?It's probably not a factory build. There are a couple kits around that folks buy and install. That or have a shop do the conversion. There are a couple in the US. Do a Google search for that.Gary Haupt

If that 1980 Brougham is around 23 feet or less in length ... then it appears to be an outstanding height, width, style, and overall design for great off-highway boondock camping anywhere a TC can go ... but with way more room and comfort when you get there!It's too bad that mortals cannot afford rigs new like that anymore in the U.S. built on, say, a 4X4 Ford E450 or Chevy 4500 chassis - instead of the watered down pretty-boy low-slung and/or too-tall and/or too-narrow-tracked and/or nearly overloaded-chassis wannabe RV's we have to put up with!A 4X4 (if available) E450-based Coach House 221XL or 232XL Class B rig would be about the only modern U.S. models that may still come close to your 1980 Brougham ideal ... but Coach House motorhomes are not affordable. :(

That will not be a factory built 4x4 truck chassis. It was sent to some 4x4 specialty shop for the 4x4 conversion. There were several companies back in those days that did 4x4 conversions on various van chassis. The two most common conversions are on Dodge and Chevy van chassis. It is very rare to find a Ford converted like this. Dodge did build a factory 4x4 W300, one ton truck back then. However, those have a completely different chassis/frame under them. That is one neat RV. I would love to have one and you are very lucky to have latched onto it. Congratulations on a great find.

Quad Van, Quigley and Marmon-Herrington are 3 companies I can think of that have been doing 4x4 conversions on vans and commercial trucks for many years. Marmon-Herrrington has been doing them since the 1950's, or earlier.

Dodge 4x4 RV | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

brougham78
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
I am picking it up next weekend and it was too dark in the barn to get any other good pictures, but once shes home I will take plenty!

And once its home I can delve deeper into finding out what kind of conversion it was. That is good to know that b300 will work for some of its parts.

I think most of the body is fiberglass mounted onto a steel frame. 30+ year old fiberglass is going to need some work on it as I noticed a few cracks and crazing. I have built fiberglass speaker boxes in the past so I am not too intimidated by this task but any insight or recommendations would helpful. I am thinking of ordering the supplies now so I can get this sealed up and waterproofed ASAP as I dont have the luxury of keeping it in a barn!
chinook440
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
I don,t know what parts were used on the 4 x 4 conversion but All the factory dodge chassis and drivetrain parts are readily availible.

Most parts places will have a listing for either a cb300 or mb300 chassis but some may only have a listing for a b300.

You might have a mb400 chassis but most parts places don,t have a listing for that model , but MOST parts are the same as the 300 series.

Those style of Broughams are COOL. PLEASE post more pictures. Do you know what kind of front axle is in it?
SoCalDesertRid1
Explorer II
Aug 25, 2016
Quad Van, Quigley and Marmon-Herrington are 3 companies I can think of that have been doing 4x4 conversions on vans and commercial trucks for many years. Marmon-Herrrington has been doing them since the 1950's, or earlier.
mowingman
Explorer
Aug 25, 2016
That will not be a factory built 4x4 truck chassis. It was sent to some 4x4 specialty shop for the 4x4 conversion. There were several companies back in those days that did 4x4 conversions on various van chassis. The two most common conversions are on Dodge and Chevy van chassis. It is very rare to find a Ford converted like this.
Dodge did build a factory 4x4 W300, one ton truck back then. However, those have a completely different chassis/frame under them.
That is one neat RV. I would love to have one and you are very lucky to have latched onto it. Congratulations on a great find.
pnichols
Explorer II
Aug 24, 2016
If that 1980 Brougham is around 23 feet or less in length ... then it appears to be an outstanding height, width, style, and overall design for great off-highway boondock camping anywhere a TC can go ... but with way more room and comfort when you get there!

It's too bad that mortals cannot afford rigs new like that anymore in the U.S. built on, say, a 4X4 Ford E450 or Chevy 4500 chassis - instead of the watered down pretty-boy low-slung and/or too-tall and/or too-narrow-tracked and/or nearly overloaded-chassis wannabe RV's we have to put up with!

A 4X4 (if available) E450-based Coach House 221XL or 232XL Class B rig would be about the only modern U.S. models that may still come close to your 1980 Brougham ideal ... but Coach House motorhomes are not affordable. :(
RoyB
Explorer II
Aug 24, 2016
Dodge RV 4X4 RV
garyhaupt
Explorer
Aug 24, 2016
Any chance you can re-post the pic?

It's probably not a factory build. There are a couple kits around that folks buy and install. That or have a shop do the conversion. There are a couple in the US. Do a Google search for that.

Gary Haupt

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