1977 dodge sportman

Most GPS units will give you an instantaneous speed reading while in motion. Trying to read it while driving could be hazardous to your health (and that of everybody else on the road).

Also, it will not update your Odometer.

olbaby30 wrote:
My speedometer cable broke, how can I fix it, also where can I find the right one? Can do anybody no out there? Or can I use a GPS?

As to the speedometer, replace the cable. As to the GPS, I don't know anything about your abilities.

I think someone's having a fun time...

Are ya P.O.'d, O.P.?

Sounds like you might have missed this other thread where a sort of apology for dissin' your style was posted...

My speedometer cable broke, how can I fix it, also where can I find the right one? Can do anybody no out there? Or can I use a GPS?

Do anyone know what a 3000 watt inverter will run in my camper?

I have a 77 sportsman camper, do anybody no what size sewer hose hook up I need, what size is it?

olbaby30 wrote:
so what can a 3000 watt inverter can run in this camper?

Unfortunately I have to answer your question with more questions.

How many batteries does your RV have?
Where are the batteries located?
Are they 6 volt or 12 volt. If not sure you can tell by looking at the water fill holes. 3 holes = 6 volt, 6 holes = 12 volts.

A 300 watt inverter will run a fan. Note that's 300 not 3,000. :)

olbaby30 wrote:
Can I run a fan with a 3000 watt inverter in my camper?

Yes you can run a fan. You would be better off using a 12volt fan though. Why invert 12volts to 110 volts to run a 110volt fan when you can have a 12volt fan and skip the middle stuff.

I'm having trouble understanding what you are trying to accomplish or what your ultimate goal is. Are you simply trying to boondock for a few days or are you aiming at a full "off-grid" system on a more permanent basis?

If you are considering a full on, self sustaining system, a simple power inverter isn't the answer. For prolonged living off-grid you should consider several solar arrays and a large battery bank. Optimize your entire RV by converting as much as possible to draw as little as possible. Instead of 20 or 30# propane tanks, get a couple of 100# tanks. Get rid of your RV toilet and get a composting toilet.

If you just want to boondock for a few days to a week, forget about using AC or microwaves. A simple marine battery will run your 12volt system and a small solar panel will maintain it's charge.

Eliminate 110volt things like the boom-box and coffee maker. Car/RV stereos are 12v. Make coffee on the stove top.

There is a wealth of knowledge, experience, and videos on youtube surrounding both short term boondocking and all out "off-grid" living. In the end, inverters are not the best answer no matter if it's a small 200watt or a 3000watt. How many watts you can invert for your appliances means nothing unless you have a battery bank to back it up...and solar, wind, or turbine power to continually charge the batteries.

olbaby30 wrote:

tatest wrote:
Sportsman was what Dodge called the passenger vans in that era. Cargo vans were Tradesman.

1977 was towards the end of the first generation of the "B" van introduced in 1971 and produced through 2003. First generation powertrains used the 225 slant six, 318 and 360 versions of the small block (LA series) V-8 or 400 and 440 versions of the big block (B series engine). Automatic and manual transmissions were offered, depending on the engine.

The slant six with manual transmission was used only in the short wheelbase 150, usually the Tradesman, so if what you are looking at is a Sportsman it is likely at least the 318 V-8.

Could be built to carry 8 to 15 passengers, using two different wheelbases, a rear extension, and different gross weight ratings (roughly equivalent to 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton in the Dodge pickup trucks, using corresponding borrowed parts).
The longer vans were 250 and 350 models, but the rating of the 350 was more like a heavy 3/4 ton rather than a one-ton or Class 3 rating by DOT standards.

Whatever V8, gas consumption will be determined mostly by how fast you try to push the big box through the air. My E-350 wagon (more modern V8) gets me about 14 mpg running 65-75 on the Interstate, 16 mpg cruising the trunk roads at 55 to 60, with some help or hurt from tailwinds and headwinds. That's running light, carrying driver and a 20 pound suitcase.

Victorville to Baltimore is about 2600 miles via I-40/I-44/I-70, probably the most direct Interstate route.

If you can drive slow enough to get 14 mpg (if a van that old can even do that well) it will cost about $750 for gas at $4 a gallon, one way. I was paying a little more, about $4.50 to $4.80 last month driving my van to Michigan last month, but prices here are down from the holiday weekend. Then again, once you get past Missouri going east, gas taxes jump quite a bit, raising prices 20-30 higher than in Oklahoma and Missouri, and the stations at the Interstate exits and "travel centers" are a few cents higher than going through small towns.

But it is going to cost more than gas, because a vehicle that old starting on a cross country highway trip needs new tires, needs brakes and suspension checked, fluids checked and changed. The tires are going to be something on the order of $600 to $1000 for four light truck-grade tires in those sizes.

What a van that old is worth, any mileage, depends on what the buyer and seller work out. That's the kind of vehicle, if you were to try to trade it to a dealer, you might get $500 just to make a deal on what you were buying, and it would either go to scrap, to auction at about that price, retailed somewhere around $1000-2000 if it could be sold without having to pass any inspections.

If it is a RV, that maybe adds some value, depending on the condition of all the RV stuff.

OK, now, if you are not talking about a van, but some kind of motorhome built on a Dodge van (would still say Sportsman on the door) it is worth whatever the RV part of it is worth, depending on condition. Old usable motorhomes in good condition often sell for $2500 to $5000, but if the house is junk or it is a rebuilding project, getting it free is a paying too much. It takes a lot of money to repair a rotted out RV.

it's a rv, thanks for the in put on this matter.

we joined the good same club to save on gas and got help a long the way on our trip.