What Constitutes Vintage Class A
DW and I are dissatisfied with the build quality, and lifestyle of our new 2013 travel trailer. We're having trouble selling outright, due to a seeming glut on the market. We are considering trading i...
Forum Discussion
Missing from the discussion is a Revcon, particularly if you have been disappointed with the build quality of other units. Its really in a different class construction wise. My '83 cost around $120,000 back in '83 when it was new. The interior is Formica laminate over solid wood frame. The cabinet doors are hollow with honeycomb support. Super light weight, but lasts forever. Most interiors cabinets look like the day they came out of the showroom. The shell in stretchform aircraft aluminum over aluminum frame. Interior walls are also aluminum and coated with a decorative plastic. Makes for a very cleanable surface that won't rot and lasts forever.
If you like working on stuff, I would suggest this is the motorhome for you. That may sound bad, but seriously, it has been a dream to work on. The guy who designed it was a former engineer who made his name in CAN-AM racing. (wrote the book on aerodynamic downforce with the T22) The drivetrain is custom, but well laid out and easy to get to. So many things are just logical and do not need to be re-engineered to make them right. About the only weakness is the front differential. The Dana 70 flexes under load because it is running in reverse. This creates extra wear on the carrier, which eventually gives out. There is a solution by Carl Jantz (the guy on Alaskan Offroad Warriors - History Channel) I had him rebuild mine, and so far, I've not been able to break it. Stock engine is a 454 mated to a TH400 trans. There are many of us that have dropped 502s in them, not because the 454 was weak, but because we like to drive fast. The Revcon has a very low center of gravity and is by far the best handling motorhome ever built. I typically cruise at 5 mph over, which out west means 80 mph. The is one finger driving, towing my Grand Cherokee. I do not like to slow down on grades.
the original Revcon was built on the Toronado front end (that is where GM got the idea. ) It was lighter than the GMC, so it did not put the wear on the drivetrain. Starting in ~1980 they used a custom drivetrain based on the 454 and used a modified transfercase to run the driveshaft forward. In 1985, they widened the chassis, which also added some weight, but they added width does give a nicer feel. Storage space and ameneties are very good for the time period. I always remember someone her stated they traded their 33 foot Revcon on a 37 foot basement "buss chassis" Allegro. They stated they has a very hard time fitting everything into the Allegro.
If you like working on stuff, I would suggest this is the motorhome for you. That may sound bad, but seriously, it has been a dream to work on. The guy who designed it was a former engineer who made his name in CAN-AM racing. (wrote the book on aerodynamic downforce with the T22) The drivetrain is custom, but well laid out and easy to get to. So many things are just logical and do not need to be re-engineered to make them right. About the only weakness is the front differential. The Dana 70 flexes under load because it is running in reverse. This creates extra wear on the carrier, which eventually gives out. There is a solution by Carl Jantz (the guy on Alaskan Offroad Warriors - History Channel) I had him rebuild mine, and so far, I've not been able to break it. Stock engine is a 454 mated to a TH400 trans. There are many of us that have dropped 502s in them, not because the 454 was weak, but because we like to drive fast. The Revcon has a very low center of gravity and is by far the best handling motorhome ever built. I typically cruise at 5 mph over, which out west means 80 mph. The is one finger driving, towing my Grand Cherokee. I do not like to slow down on grades.
the original Revcon was built on the Toronado front end (that is where GM got the idea. ) It was lighter than the GMC, so it did not put the wear on the drivetrain. Starting in ~1980 they used a custom drivetrain based on the 454 and used a modified transfercase to run the driveshaft forward. In 1985, they widened the chassis, which also added some weight, but they added width does give a nicer feel. Storage space and ameneties are very good for the time period. I always remember someone her stated they traded their 33 foot Revcon on a 37 foot basement "buss chassis" Allegro. They stated they has a very hard time fitting everything into the Allegro.
