Hello good people: I'll try and keep this short but I have a ton of questions and I know I came to the right place. To start, I'm about to retire and considering an RV. First mainly travel thru Texas and then moving out to the other States. We have a 78 model Executive (440 Dodge)Class A that's been sitting for 2 years and looks pretty rough. Rain has gotten into this RV and any damage is uncertain. Because of "issues" beyond my control, I have not been able to start the vehicle. I know nothing concerning this RV. I don't even know were to check the oil/tranny levels. I'm not certain if it would even be worth working on as apposed to buying a gently used(2 year old) model. I would be very grateful for any help or directions on where to go.Thanks so muchG.T.Great State of TEXAS

Welcome! You have to decide if you want to travel and see the country, or work on that bad ole RV? If it was me, I would get a newer one. Good luck, and hope to see you on the road!

If you plan to rv much at all I would look for a different unit. Gas in that beast would be a killer. Sounds like you have a lot of research to do to decide what kind of rv would be best for you and what you can afford. Jmho

Welcome to the forum. Your 78 Executive may or may not be worth restoring. You should have a mechanic and RV tech do an inspection.Here's an interesting thread on the Restoration of a 76 Executive.. Maybe it will give you some ideas. I like to see vintage RV's maintained and restored.Let us know what you decide.

Go Dogs wrote:Welcome! You have to decide if you want to travel and see the country, or work on that bad ole RV? If it was me, I would get a newer one. Good luck, and hope to see you on the road!It does not sound as if you have very much mechanical experience. If so, I think you would have better piece of mind with something newer that may not require as much attention.

It is so good to see the many replies to my topic. I will elaborate further. Being involved with industrial mechanical maintanence for the past 21 years, yes I have turned a wrench or two in my day. But of RV's I know nothing. Would the parts/my labor be greater than the alternative, a new 2 year old RV? Are RV parts expensive and are they readily available? To proceed properly and not smoke anything, I guess I would need some sort of start up check list for this vehicle. No matter what I worked on in my life, I have come to value the word of the person that traveled the road before me. Thanks folks for continued help on this topic.

Entering the next stage in my life | Good Sam Community

20 Replies

Monaco_Montclai
Explorer
Jul 21, 2013
I would highly recommend a 29ft, three slide, montclair, by Monaco.we got one, it has all what a class a has. Wow nice unit too.finaly got 16k on the clock.and u can visit ww.and. Now it's all -happy-camping
BarneyS
Nomad
Jul 21, 2013
I think you are making a wise decision. Wish you the best of luck on plan B.:)
Barney
One_of_interest
Explorer
Jul 20, 2013
Guys:
Being given the OK to inspect the RV in question. I have come to an agreement (with others helping) that this 78 RV will not be restored. The one main reason is the roof. At every roof vent (3) the roof wood is rotten and falling apart. There are birds nesting in it. We decided to stop the inspection after seeing the condition of the roof. I think my inspection friends and I are making a wise decision. Replacement of the roof is out for me! I guess we need to part it out?
Oh well guys?
Many thanks for your help. Time for plan B.
Jim-Linda
Explorer II
Jul 20, 2013
You say that the unit has had water intrusion, if so, I would be verrrryy leery of attempting to bring it back to life. I would suspect there is mold in the coach, UNGOOD. Later model with professional inspection is my suggestion.

Jim
tandkj
Explorer
Jul 20, 2013
I have to agree with a newer coach and go enjoy life. If you have a home keep the old unit for when you like to tinker.
One_of_interest
Explorer
Jul 19, 2013
It is so good to see the many replies to my topic.
I will elaborate further. Being involved with industrial mechanical maintanence for the past 21 years, yes I have turned a wrench or two in my day. But of RV's I know nothing. Would the parts/my labor be greater than the alternative, a new 2 year old RV? Are RV parts expensive and are they readily available?
To proceed properly and not smoke anything, I guess I would need some sort of start up check list for this vehicle.
No matter what I worked on in my life, I have come to value the word of the person that traveled the road before me.
Thanks folks for continued help on this topic.
Dtaylor
Explorer
Jul 19, 2013
Go Dogs wrote:
Welcome! You have to decide if you want to travel and see the country, or work on that bad ole RV? If it was me, I would get a newer one. Good luck, and hope to see you on the road!

It does not sound as if you have very much mechanical experience. If so, I think you would have better piece of mind with something newer that may not require as much attention.
gbopp
Explorer
Jul 19, 2013
Welcome to the forum. Your 78 Executive may or may not be worth restoring. You should have a mechanic and RV tech do an inspection.

Here's an interesting thread on the Restoration of a 76 Executive..
Maybe it will give you some ideas. I like to see vintage RV's maintained and restored.
Let us know what you decide.
dave17352
Explorer II
Jul 19, 2013
If you plan to rv much at all I would look for a different unit. Gas in that beast would be a killer. Sounds like you have a lot of research to do to decide what kind of rv would be best for you and what you can afford. Jmho
Go_Dogs
Explorer
Jul 19, 2013
Welcome! You have to decide if you want to travel and see the country, or work on that bad ole RV? If it was me, I would get a newer one. Good luck, and hope to see you on the road!

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Entering the next stage in my life

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