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

[DRTDEVL]

Griff in Fairbanks wrote:

DRTDEVL wrote:
I found my dash panel lights were no longer working. I rotated the knob back and forth, and the knob feels right and activates the interior light at the right spot, but nothing from the dash. Is there a common failure point I need to look at? I'm hoping rodents didn't munch on the wiring.

There's light is actually two units combined into one physical unit. A variable resistor (also sometimes called a rheostat) for the dash lights and an off/off switch for the interior light. The variable resistor part could be corroded or simply Tango Uniform. Check with an ohm meter or just get a new unit. (Shouldn't be more than $20)

I'm assuming the gauges in the instrument cluster work. If not, then it may be dash wires or connectors.

The funny thing about that is every rheostat I have dealt with felt different after failure, as in you could feel that it was broken or corroded. This one feels smooth as it did last year (and probably as smooth as it did in 1979).

I have to buy a new multimeter, as the cables on mine finally broke internally and is unreliable at best these days.

Always something to do with these old units, but there's nothing better than running down the road in a 40+ year old RV, seeing a 90's model blow my doors off on the flats, only to roar past him on the next hill (since the Ford 460 and gm 454 units can't pull like the old 440 can).

[DRTDEVL]

Capt Steve wrote:
How did you do on your cruise control project? I'd like to get mine working on my '78 but I have no knowledge about how a CC works.

See the post above. I got absolutely nowhere and am now considering installing an aftermarket unit, if possible.

[Griff_in_Fairba]

DRTDEVL wrote:
I found my dash panel lights were no longer working. I rotated the knob back and forth, and the knob feels right and activates the interior light at the right spot, but nothing from the dash. Is there a common failure point I need to look at? I'm hoping rodents didn't munch on the wiring.

There's light is actually two units combined into one physical unit. A variable resistor (also sometimes called a rheostat) for the dash lights and an off/off switch for the interior light. The variable resistor part could be corroded or simply Tango Uniform. Check with an ohm meter or just get a new unit. (Shouldn't be more than $20)

I'm assuming the gauges in the instrument cluster work. If not, then it may be dash wires or connectors.

[DRTDEVL]

Been a while, but I am back trying to figure out the last two things on my RV.

First up, I figured out that I was a bit off base. This 1980 Winnebago Minnie Winnie is truly an odd duck. It is not the CB300 chassis I originally thought, this tiny 20 footer is on an MB400 chassis. It is also not a small block, the little thing is powered by a 1978 440-1. Truly a rig built from leftover parts hanging around.

Anyway, I pulled it out of storage to begin prepping for Sturgis next month. I found my dash panel lights were no longer working. I rotated the knob back and forth, and the knob feels right and activates the interior light at the right spot, but nothing from the dash. Is there a common failure point I need to look at? I'm hoping rodents didn't munch on the wiring.

Finally, has anyone figured out how to diagnose and repair the cruise control on these? Mine has never worked since I owned it. The little vacuum diaphragm seems to hold vacuum and the supply is there. Nothing happens when I activate the cruise... no clicks, ticks, hums, or anything else mechanical, and the speed obviously falls to idle when activated going down the road. -or- would I be better off trying to retrofit aftermarket cruise control?

Anyway, since I started here, I have made a custom rear bumper with class 3 hitch, beefed up the extensions, wired in a brake controller, added LED lights all around, to include 4" round stop/tail/turn LEDs with integral white LED reverse in the centers, put in LED headlights (HD Daymaker style, only rectangular), added a dorm fridge, fixed the furnace, replaced the water heater, added a rooftop A/C, installed satellite radio and a CB with WX, changed to modern wheels off a late 80's ram D350 with 215/85R16 tires, built mirror arm extensions to get the mirrors outside the body and actually see down the sides and see the trailer... and finally, I bought the fabric this week to begin reupholstering the entire interior, since the original fabric is falling apart.

In the next year, I hope to source a built 47RH transmission with adjustable pressure and vacuum switches to automatically control OD and TCC Lock. Hopefully this will bring me up from the dismal 5.5 mpg I get towing the pictured trailer with one Harley inside at 60 and allow me to cruise at 65-70 without the engine screaming for mercy at those RPMs.

[Leeann]

Oldfrank wrote:
Hello, Leeann thanks.

I am well aquatinted with the chassis, I need the midas stuff (built by ken craft)
Its got a 360 which has been running pretty well thus far.

Glad you're well-acquainted with the Dodge stuff. I don't have any Midas/Ken Craft stuff, so I hope someone will be along shortly that does. I know several people in this thread have owned Midas motorhomes.

[Oldfrank]

Leeann wrote:
Welcome!

You’d need 2 owners manuals - one for the ‘house’ - or the Midas stuff - and one for the ‘coach’ - or the Dodge stuff.

What engine do you have?

Hello, Leeann thanks.

I am well aquatinted with the chassis, I need the midas stuff (built by ken craft)
Its got a 360 which has been running pretty well thus far.

[Leeann]

Welcome!

You’d need 2 owners manuals - one for the ‘house’ - or the Midas stuff - and one for the ‘coach’ - or the Dodge stuff.

What engine do you have?

[Oldfrank]

Hello folks!

Just bought a 1973 Midas Mini with 47k miles. Excited about the adventure ahead. Anyone have an old owners manual for one of these they could share?

Cheers

[Ashton1012]

Whats up everyone. I have a 1977 Dodge Sportsman RV with the 360. Bought her for 750$ and drove her to a friends house where it sat for a year. In august I finally had the money to fix her up for the roughly 500 mile drive home. So far shes had...
New tires (8.5 x 16.5) all around plus matching spare
Spark plugs, wires, distributor cap and rotor
Thermostat
Oil and filter
Radiator flushed and filled
Exhaust manifold gaskets
PCV valve
Air filter

Im sure im missing some stuff, i spent about two days working on her before I was confident to drive home.

Somethings Im currently working on;

Just replaced the fuel pump
Gas tank is currently out and has been cleaned. Ordering a new fuel sending unit and need to find a new tank bolt/plug then Ill reinstall the tank.

This Spring before I take her on some adventures;

Valve cover gaskets
Maybe the intake manifold gaskets, Still undetermined at this point. Once I get the valve covers and carburetor off Ill take a look to see if there are any leaks.
Carburetor rebuild
Transmission flush and filter replaced
The radiator has a small pinhole leak on the very top, easily accessible should be a quick fix.
Gauges do not work. I replaced the relay which cost me about 50$ (non returnable because it was an electronic part) and did not fix the problem. This stresses me out obviously as I don't know my operating temp or my oil pressure.
Exhaust needs to be replaced. There is a leak where the manifold attaches to the pipe, and the muffler has a bunch of holes drilled in it from the previous owner. I plan on replacing with dual exhaust, hopefully opening up a little bit of power.

Somethings I need help with!!

I cant find a matching fuel sending unit. Anyone know where to get one?

I have an issue with my drivers side duelly. The tires do not bolt on straight, and look extremely wobbly driving down the road. I took it back to the shop where they said they fixed the problem, about 45 minutes later another driver began flashing their brights until I pulled over, and they told me it is very apparent. By this time I was almost an hour away from the first shop, and had another 45 minute drive to the next. So I went to les schwab in the next city. Guy came out and tried to line them up, but said it would be impossible because my rims are supposed to have spacers and without them there is no way to line up the duelly. I do not believe that is the problem, because I had no issues before the new tires (same rims) were installed. I also dont have this issue on the passenger side, that does not have the spacers he was talking about either. I ended up driving the RV home and did not have issues, but Id rather not ruin my new tires this season so I need to address the issue. Anyone have advice?

Eventually Id like to rebuild the suspension, but I'm not sure where to look for parts. Do I just search for suspension parts for a B300?

Thank You!!

[my440]

PolCat-76-Avion wrote:

my440 wrote:

PolCat-76-Avion wrote:
We are putting up for sale our 1976 Avion RV for sale. 22 foot. It is on page 826 of this post. What might these be worth?
Link

Absolutely a beautiful rig!
Not sure what it would be worth.
Considering the prices for the modern junk $10.000 and up would be a deal to the one that loves it the most.

We couldn't find one of those die hard Avion lovers here in northeast Wisconsin. Had to settle for about what we had in it.

Sorry to hear but you got out what you put in plus had nice rig to work on. Now that it's gone expect many Avion lovers to come forward. 😉

[PolCat-76-Avion]

my440 wrote:

PolCat-76-Avion wrote:
We are putting up for sale our 1976 Avion RV for sale. 22 foot. It is on page 826 of this post. What might these be worth?
Link

Absolutely a beautiful rig!
Not sure what it would be worth.
Considering the prices for the modern junk $10.000 and up would be a deal to the one that loves it the most.

We couldn't find one of those die hard Avion lovers here in northeast Wisconsin. Had to settle for about what we had in it.

[eyeteeth]

Very Sharp!

PolCat-76-Avion wrote:
We are putting up for sale our 1976 Avion RV for sale. 22 foot. It is on page 826 of this post. What might these be worth?
Link

[my440]

PolCat-76-Avion wrote:
We are putting up for sale our 1976 Avion RV for sale. 22 foot. It is on page 826 of this post. What might these be worth?
Link

Absolutely a beautiful rig!
Not sure what it would be worth.
Considering the prices for the modern junk $10.000 and up would be a deal to the one that loves it the most.

[my440]

Hi hope everyone on here is doing ok.
8.75 x 16.5's are here!

[PolCat-76-Avion]

We are putting up for sale our 1976 Avion RV for sale. 22 foot. It is on page 826 of this post. What might these be worth?
Link