Total Rebuild of a 1979 Dodge Class C

[oldtrucker63]

I would say some of you have seen the start of this build that my brother bgriffey had posted, Well I have now bought the RV from him and plan to post the pixs of the build I have found a lot of rot in this RV I have torn out everything on the inside and have the rear opened up and the skin off the lower driver side, I will be buying a camera for my wife for christmas and im sure she will take the pixs if I can learn HOW to post them on here, Please remember its winter here in Kentucky so it will be slow but we will keep the pixs coming, Like I said this will be a total build from floor to walls and roof and custom inside build so I would appreciate all the help I can get this will be my first build and I will be learning as I go so any info will help. THANKS......Tony Griffey.

A new RV can be very expensive and if you already own an outdated RV then you should just consider a complete RV remodel which can be a significant amount of money cheaper than the cost of a brand new model. If you are retired and use your RV to travel then why not save the money for your travels rather than on spending a large chunk of money on a brand new travelling vacation home. When you decide to have an RV remodel done you can have your old model completely gutted and rebuilt to look just like a newer RV and when the work is done you will not even recognize your old mobile home. Going about having a new RV to travel in this way can save you thousands of dollars and you will not have to worry about the payments on a brand new RV home. Many retired people are travelling this way nowadays so they can travel the country and be comfortable while doing it, and there are many others that own these vehicles that they will take on summer family camping trips. The RV’s that are made today are unbelievable and have all of the luxuries of home at a fraction of the size, these make it great fir families and retired folks to travel comfortably, and having an RV remodel done you can make your old RV look just like a brand new one.

Statistics show that the amount of registered RV homes on the road is growing steadily every year, and much of this is due to the baby boomer generation retiring and wanting to travel the country in comfort and style. Having an RV remodel can make your RV brand new. Some things you may want to consider is having all new beds and appliances put in. Since RV appliances are smaller than your normal home kitchen appliances they are much cheaper, and a complete RV remodel will probably cost you anywhere from $5,000 to $12,000, depending on how many changes are being done. The latter price could even be a little more if you are having your RV completely gutted and redesigned. It will still save you a lot of money over purchasing a new RV home. Another thing to consider during your RV remodel is if you plan on just remodeling the inside or if you want to have the exterior redone as well, and if this is the case the project will cost more money but will still be cheaper than buying a new RV. Most of these vacationing and traveling vehicles have a type of siding on them, and the more modern ones are sometimes made of more durable fibreglasses and plastics, these materials are very nice since you do not ever have to worry about rusting.

If you plan on getting a loan out for this remodeling job then you will first want to get various estimates, much like a home remodeling project. Once you get all the estimates you want you can then apply for the amount of money through your financial institution or credit union. The amount of money you need should not be hard for you to get approved for, especially if you have good credit. If you are a retired individual you most likely can take the money out of your pension or 401 funds, and this would be your best bet due to interest rates. Usually the place where you originally bought the RV can do the remodel for you as well, and if they cannot they can usually refer you to someone who can do the job for you. With the popularity of these vehicles constantly growing there are also many new dealerships and shops that specialize in these vacation vehicles. Having a comfortable vehicle to travel year round in or to just vacation in yearly is a great asset and can also be a great stress reliever. It is also a very popular vehicle for families to use on family camping trips, and the nice thing is that if the kids want to rough it while camping they can just sent their tents up right outside the RV.

[oldtrucker63]

rondeb wrote:

oldtrucker63 wrote:
Trying to Quit smoking today, Cold Turkey, Started just a few Minuets ago I hope this go's good.:R Most of all I hope Charlene gives it her best, She is on the train with me, Together we can do this.:p

I would like to suggest that you see a doctor and get a prescription for Chantex. You start taking it, and you will notice that you start smoking less and less and then after 30 days, you don't smoke again. It is absolutely the only thing that truly works on your brain to help you quit. I took it for 3 months and haven't smoked since and that was 3 years ago.

Trust me this is the way to go.

Yeah I tried that a few months ago and after about 6 days I started getting and I mean really sick, Something in that med was making me sick, I have heard of other people that it worked great for.

[oldtrucker63]

14yuTrk wrote:

oldtrucker63 wrote:
Trying to Quit smoking today, Cold Turkey, Started just a few Minuets ago I hope this go's good.:R Most of all I hope Charlene gives it her best, She is on the train with me, Together we can do this.:p

Best choice you ever made. You can do it. luck has nothing to do with it will power and determination will do it.
I gave it up thirty five years ago after I determined I could do it.
Money I saved would buy me a decent RV.
Mickey

I wish I had quit 35 years ago, Hell even 10 years ago. Money Money Money, OH Yeah.:o

[oldtrucker63]

4Eddielee wrote:
If you run the cable for a video camera from front to back while the rig (walls/roof) is open, makes it a lot easier later IF you decide to put in a system - you don't have to install either a camera or screen if you don't want to. But if you later change your mind.....well, thinking ahead now can pay dividends....
Weighing the rig - you should try for 60% of the total loaded weight ahead of the centerline of the rear axle. However, the lighter the rear end is, the more it will bounce - think unloaded pickup truck. A friend of mine had so much bounch he moved the rear axle rearward 12 inches. Just make sure that the water, black and gray tanks are over or slightly ahead of the rear axle. As they fill up they can pick up the front axle enough to destablize the steering. Remember, water weights right around 8 lbs gallon. Black and grey water is a slight bit more. The further aft they are, the more it will cause steering problems but will reduce the bounce. The longer your rigs rear overhang (axle to rear bumper), the greater the weight distribution becomes critical!

I may run this cable just in case, Good tip.

[oldtrucker63]

chinook440 wrote:
Good luck to the both of you.
i plan on riding the bandwagon AGAIN myself after the holidays.
It aint easy , it,s the worst addiction there is .

Thanks man, I good luck to you also, Take a look at all the things that is in cigarettes, Ammonia
Ammonia compounds are commonly used in cleaning products and fertilizers. Ammonia is also used to boost the impact of nicotine in manufactured cigarettes.

Carbon Monoxide
Carbon monoxide is present in car exhaust and is lethal in very large amounts. Cigarette smoke can contain high levels of carbon monoxide.

Hydrogen Cyanide
Hydrogen cyanide was used to kill people in the gas chambers in Nazi Germany during World War II. It can be found in cigarette smoke.

Nicotine
Nicotine is a poison used in pesticides and is the addictive element in cigarettes. and also,..Radioactive Cigarette Smoke
Lead-210 (Pb-210) and polonium-210 (Po-210) are poisonous, radioactive heavy metals that research has shown to be present in cigarette smoke. And the new thing that makes them go out, You will not believe this phone call, And it is REAL.

Why your Cigarettes go out.

[oldtrucker63]

4Eddielee wrote:
If you run the cable for a video camera from front to back while the rig (walls/roof) is open, makes it a lot easier later IF you decide to put in a system - you don't have to install either a camera or screen if you don't want to. But if you later change your mind.....well, thinking ahead now can pay dividends....
Weighing the rig - you should try for 60% of the total loaded weight ahead of the centerline of the rear axle. However, the lighter the rear end is, the more it will bounce - think unloaded pickup truck. A friend of mine had so much bounch he moved the rear axle rearward 12 inches. Just make sure that the water, black and gray tanks are over or slightly ahead of the rear axle. As they fill up they can pick up the front axle enough to destablize the steering. Remember, water weights right around 8 lbs gallon. Black and grey water is a slight bit more. The further aft they are, the more it will cause steering problems but will reduce the bounce. The longer your rigs rear overhang (axle to rear bumper), the greater the weight distribution becomes critical!

Then I will have to keep an eye on the rear axle weight because the gray and black tanks will be 3 feet behind the rear axle, Although they are not all that big it might be ok, I will watch this.

[Gene_in_NE]

oldtrucker63 wrote:
Trying to Quit smoking today, Cold Turkey, Started just a few Minuets ago I hope this go's good.:R Most of all I hope Charlene gives it her best, She is on the train with me, Together we can do this.:p

Best birthday present I gave myself in Jan 1996. Gave myself about 3 more years of life. :B

[sundancer268]

If you run some conduit, install a Pull String at the same time, makes future pulls so much easier. Good Luck on the smoking, My Father and Father-in-law both quit cold turkey in their early fifty's and they both said it was not easy. What helped was a loving family helping during the rough periods.

[rondeb]

oldtrucker63 wrote:
Trying to Quit smoking today, Cold Turkey, Started just a few Minuets ago I hope this go's good.:R Most of all I hope Charlene gives it her best, She is on the train with me, Together we can do this.:p

I would like to suggest that you see a doctor and get a prescription for Chantex. You start taking it, and you will notice that you start smoking less and less and then after 30 days, you don't smoke again. It is absolutely the only thing that truly works on your brain to help you quit. I took it for 3 months and haven't smoked since and that was 3 years ago.

Trust me this is the way to go.

[RV_and_trail__b]

Since you do not have a camera and what cable to lay in would be a guess, how about running some of that blue plastic conduit up to the area. Measure and mark the location of the end and later if you decide to run a camera you can snake the cable in without any problems.

Lee

[14yuTrk]

oldtrucker63 wrote:
Trying to Quit smoking today, Cold Turkey, Started just a few Minuets ago I hope this go's good.:R Most of all I hope Charlene gives it her best, She is on the train with me, Together we can do this.:p

Best choice you ever made. You can do it. luck has nothing to do with it will power and determination will do it.
I gave it up thirty five years ago after I determined I could do it.
Money I saved would buy me a decent RV.
Mickey

[4Eddielee]

If you run the cable for a video camera from front to back while the rig (walls/roof) is open, makes it a lot easier later IF you decide to put in a system - you don't have to install either a camera or screen if you don't want to. But if you later change your mind.....well, thinking ahead now can pay dividends....
Weighing the rig - you should try for 60% of the total loaded weight ahead of the centerline of the rear axle. However, the lighter the rear end is, the more it will bounce - think unloaded pickup truck. A friend of mine had so much bounch he moved the rear axle rearward 12 inches. Just make sure that the water, black and gray tanks are over or slightly ahead of the rear axle. As they fill up they can pick up the front axle enough to destablize the steering. Remember, water weights right around 8 lbs gallon. Black and grey water is a slight bit more. The further aft they are, the more it will cause steering problems but will reduce the bounce. The longer your rigs rear overhang (axle to rear bumper), the greater the weight distribution becomes critical!

[chinook440]

Good luck to the both of you.
i plan on riding the bandwagon AGAIN myself after the holidays.
It aint easy , it,s the worst addiction there is .

[oldtrucker63]

Trying to Quit smoking today, Cold Turkey, Started just a few Minuets ago I hope this go's good.:R Most of all I hope Charlene gives it her best, She is on the train with me, Together we can do this.:p

[oldtrucker63]

tboss wrote:
hey driver a rear backup camera is a handy yhing to have for backin and towing,,I have one and it is really nice to see what is directly behind you..esp. in a campground where kids are all over the place..and I can keep an eye on da toad too..

I have give this thought, But I believe I will pass on this, I have two cams now that would work but needs a screen for up front, But I'm going to skip this one.

[oldtrucker63]

tonyandkaren wrote:
oldtrucker - our 25' has both the shower and the kitchen sink along the back wall. It's fine so I think your plan will be okay too.

You're right about the vapor barrier. What are you using for the final wall finish? It's good to have that vapor tight as well.The vinyl covered luan that most manufactures use seems to do the job but I'm sure that there are other kinds of paneling that will work too.

At this time we are still looking.:h