How many of us are there? Owners of Dodge based RV's?

[whiteknight001]

I'm new here, and curious.

How many of us in Class C own Dodge B300 incomplete
cab/chassis based RV's? I know two others- Steve aka
Ripsaw, with a 1977 Brougham, and Leroy aka 1978_Dodge
_Delta who owns a 440V8 powered sharp looking 1978
Delta RV. I would like to ask, and offer, help, idea
swapping and comparing notes on our particular RV's
which are based on the Dodge B300 van chassis.

Yeah, I know. These are low tech, podgy old RV's that
would be considered "entry level" for folks like me,
but I have a deep and abiding respect for the quality
of these old "monsters of the open road". And anyone
wanting to pick brains, joke about, share notes or just
brag about our old A- Dodge-io's are certainly welcome
to PM or email me. Between all of us we can form a real
good support group, and help each other with problems
we know we'll encounter with an older vehicle.

Sure. I'd love a new RV. But I'd rather have an older
one already paid for, and a lotta great memories. Call
me frugal, an old hippie, or whatever you will. I'm proud
of my old land yacht.

Mopar Madness Manifest in the flesh,

Mark aka White Knight

P.S. Mine's a '72. Is there an older one out there someone's
motorvating in? Maybe even a Travco? W/K

[Ballenxj]

Thanks Griff, yeah, I learned all of the above early on from my old Hot Rod days. 😉

[Griff_in_Fairba]

Ballenxj wrote:

Griff in Fairbanks wrote:

The Dana 70 was standard equipment and is, in my opinion, an ideal rear axle, even considering drum vs disc rear brakes. Keep it topped of with gear lube and replace bearings and seals every few hundred thousand miles and it will last millions of miles and a century or more.

My 1983 Sportscoach on a P30 chassis had disc brakes on the differential. For the life of me I don't know what differential it was, all I know is it was big.

The differential is the "pumpkin" near the middle of the rear axle, and/or front axle on four-, front-. and all-wheel drive vehicles.

It's primary purpose is to allow the wheels to turn at different (i.e., differential) speeds while cornering. Without it, one of the tires on a drive axle would have to "scuff" while going around a corner.

Many older vehicles had a drum or disc brake on the driveshaft, either on the transmission or differential end, to serve as a "parking" brake. These are often referred to as driveline brakes. Most (all?) Mopar transmissions up until the early '70s had a small drum brake on the back end of the transmission.

Extremely important safety warning: Driveline brakes, as well as the internal parking pawl on most modern transmissions, ONLY "lock" the wheels on the drive axle when all tires on BOTH sides have a firm grip on the ground. Due to the function of the differential, the wheel(s) on one side can, and WILL, turn when the wheel(s) on the other side are jacked off the ground or on a slippery surface.

This is the primary reason safety experts tell you to chock the tires when changing a tire or working on the vehicle.

[Ballenxj]

Griff in Fairbanks wrote:

The Dana 70 was standard equipment and is, in my opinion, an ideal rear axle, even considering drum vs disc rear brakes. Keep it topped of with gear lube and replace bearings and seals every few hundred thousand miles and it will last millions of miles and a century or more.

My 1983 Sportscoach on a P30 chassis had disc brakes on the differential. For the life of me I don't know what differential it was, all I know is it was big.

[Griff_in_Fairba]

Leeann wrote:
Never seen a 70s or 80s Dodge based RV with rear disc. It's drums.

I got lucky; mine had vinyl flooring, not shag. Easier to cover with laminate 🙂

There was an article in an off-roader magazine (and echoed on the 'web) about converting a Dana 70 to rear disc brakes. Likewise, a previous owner could have swapped in a different rear axle, such as a Dana/Spicer 80 or a Silverado 2500HD rear axle.

However, I'd be willing to bet Leeann is correct. (I sometime make bets but I don't gamble.) The Dana 70 was standard equipment and is, in my opinion, an ideal rear axle, even considering drum vs disc rear brakes. Keep it topped of with gear lube and replace bearings and seals every few hundred thousand miles and it will last millions of miles and a century or more.

I've come to hate carpet. It collects dirt and grime like no other floor covering and is difficult to clean. I've seen a few motorhomes where the carpeting trapped and held moisture against the plywood subfloor, causing the subfloor to soften and -- in one case -- rot.

I put premium residential shag carpet in my '77 B200 when I turned it into a Class B and wound up regretting it.

I consider Leeann's laminate flooring just about ideal and will likely follow her example in MLP.

[Maya_215]

Yeah that shag was a mess great info to start with on the back brakes I'm actually on my way outside to play with it now lol me and my daughter about to mess with the brakes

[Leeann]

Never seen a 70s or 80s Dodge based RV with rear disc. It's drums.

I got lucky; mine had vinyl flooring, not shag. Easier to cover with laminate 🙂

[Maya_215]

Yeah I totally agree on the shag installer @my440 lol had to have them staple guns working lmbo really the carpet had a ton off staples in it, I was laughing so hard when I read that, I have a pet peeve about leaky things on my vehicles although Im pretty sure we going to do a couple trips before I do the gasket, and the breaks yeah I was thinking maybe that's how they were back then, The brakes will be my project for today I was thinking of just installing new brakes rotors and calipers all the way around since they were so cheap and I'm not sure yet if the backs were drums or discs if so new drums and pads back there, I have a few vehicles and I like all my stuff nice and tight no leaks noises or any of that so every chance I get I've been digging into this rv, And let me tell you something me and my family have been having a blast redoing it, some good family time.

[my440]

Maya.215 wrote:
Hey what's going on I am new to the rv world and new to this form I just purchased a 1979 dodge cruisemaster with 33,000 miles, I've come to find that is the b300 chases small block 360, it has been a blast bringing her up to date a bit on the inside along with refreshing her up motor and Body wise on the outside, my family has done a lot of tent camping all mainly close to home and now that we have gotten this new toy everybody is so excited for the next road trip, so far things I have done to it. I've completely gutted the inside took the L shape countertop away and built a nice new one with a nice tiled top, instead of the bed in the rear we have turned it into a table/bed/sitting aria, we have ripped that 1970s shag Rugs up and put some nice clean new carpet down. Painted everything inside lol ,I've done a full tune up plugs/wires/distributor and cap,battery,filters, oil change, new altinator, and power steering pump. I still have to do the oil pan gasket,change trans fluid and rear fluid. The brakes seem to be sticking or dragging and it's hard to push on the brake pedal (seems real stiff), I was told I had to lift the engine to change the pan gasket witch so far seems like it's going to be the hardest task being I know the oil pumps in there and probably is going to be a pain to get at. There's a few other minor stuff to do but I'm really glad to see my family ain't the only ones riding around in a classic rv, and it seems as though there's quite a few experienced people here with similar Rvs that will be able to help me with problems I run into with this new family toy witch I'm positive I will need I will post pics when I get a chance.

Oh the shag carpet. When I bought my 78 B300 I tore it out. The installer of that shag carpet must have been listening to John Travolta disco with a staple gun in each hand.
Have your brakes checked, could be your not used to the old school feel. Have them looked at for sure.
Pan gasket could be a fall or winter project? In the meantime just add oil.
Good luck!

[Maya_215]

Thank you very much

[Leeann]

Welcome!

[Maya_215]

Hey what's going on I am new to the rv world and new to this form I just purchased a 1979 dodge cruisemaster with 33,000 miles, I've come to find that is the b300 chases small block 360, it has been a blast bringing her up to date a bit on the inside along with refreshing her up motor and Body wise on the outside, my family has done a lot of tent camping all mainly close to home and now that we have gotten this new toy everybody is so excited for the next road trip, so far things I have done to it. I've completely gutted the inside took the L shape countertop away and built a nice new one with a nice tiled top, instead of the bed in the rear we have turned it into a table/bed/sitting aria, we have ripped that 1970s shag Rugs up and put some nice clean new carpet down. Painted everything inside lol ,I've done a full tune up plugs/wires/distributor and cap,battery,filters, oil change, new altinator, and power steering pump. I still have to do the oil pan gasket,change trans fluid and rear fluid. The brakes seem to be sticking or dragging and it's hard to push on the brake pedal (seems real stiff), I was told I had to lift the engine to change the pan gasket witch so far seems like it's going to be the hardest task being I know the oil pumps in there and probably is going to be a pain to get at. There's a few other minor stuff to do but I'm really glad to see my family ain't the only ones riding around in a classic rv, and it seems as though there's quite a few experienced people here with similar Rvs that will be able to help me with problems I run into with this new family toy witch I'm positive I will need I will post pics when I get a chance.

[Leeann]

He's the one that found them 🙂

And got them completely off - the doc told me to compliment him (apparently most people don't).

[Griff_in_Fairba]

P.S. Maybe you can get your husband to do regular tick-checks on you ... I'll bet he won't complain.

[Griff_in_Fairba]

Leeann wrote:
I'm stuck inside for two weeks. Three deer ticks on me from one day, two of them gave me a bullseye. So I'm on doxycycline and banned from sun exposure (I'm already pale).

No fun. Growing up at the end of the road in northern Minnesota, I still remember our nightly tick-checks. (Strip down completely while Mom checks every square inch of our bodies.)

I've never had a reaction to a tick bite so I don't know what that's like.

In terms of the antibiotic, it's better to be safe than sorry. From literature, I know Lyme disease is unpleasant and dangerous.

On the other hand, being pale is a sign of beauty and wealth in some cultures ... 😜

[Griff_in_Fairba]

Wolf_n_Kat wrote:
Hey guys, haven't had a chance to check in, been a little 'busy', if you know what I mean. A couple of years ago Kat had an episode with Valley Fever that left a quarter-sized hole in the upper lobe of her left lung. The Dr's said it would be nothing to worry about, would probably collapse in on itself.

Well, Tuesday it did, in a big way. When I woke up, she said to call 911, she thought she was having a heart attack.

Long story short (I know, too late, right??), that quarter-sized hole ended up being the size of a small grapefruit. This morning the Dr's did a lobotomy... No, lobectomy! Geez, I hope they didn't get it confused too! Anyway, they did a lobectomy and a thora-somethingorother. She pulled through okay, but I've been chalking up lots of miles on the Explorer (and my butt!) running between Doyle and Reno.

Thanks for the advice, guys. I'll trace the other side of the relay when I get a chance but right now, the Dodge is a low-priority item.

My wife and I are praying for successful, speedy recovery for Kat. We also can empathize with what you're going through and how much this probably worries you.

Thoracic refers to the upper abdomen and chest so your "thora-somethingorother" probably is a specific type of thoracic surgery or treatment.

The fact you're using your Explorer to commute indicate it doesn't have any (or too serious) issues. In view of your situation, it's good to think "As long as it keeps working, I'm not going to worry about it."

When things calm down and get reasonably close to normal, check to see if that wire is hot, both when the ignition switch is off and when the engine is running. It'll be a bit more difficult but also check when the switch is in the START position.

Easiest and least expensive is to use an incandescent (ordinary) lightbulb and socket. Connect one socket wire to the questionable wire and the other to a known-good ground or the battery's negative post. (Battery's negative post is best because it represents a known-good ground.)

If you position the lightbulb so you can see it from the driver's seat, you can test the START position by yourself. (Otherwise, you'll need one person to watch the bulb while someone else cranks the engine.)

Let us know if the bulb lights up during any of these tests. Also, let us know if anything happens that's different from normal, including when you initially connect the lightbulb.

(No need to check the ACC position as anything receiving power at that setting also gets power when the switch is in the RUN position.)

Do not try applying power to that wire. (i.e., connect it to the battery's positive terminal or any other positive power sources.) Without knowing a lot more about that particular solenoid and how it works, we cannot predict what might happen, including the possibility of an unpleasant or damaging event.