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Total Rebuild of a 1979 Dodge Class C

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
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A new RV can be very expensive and if you already own an outdated RV then you should just consider a complete RV remodel which can be a significant amount of money cheaper than the cost of a brand new model.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 RVโ€™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.
Without Trucks,....America Stop's
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rehoppe
Explorer
Explorer
Sorry to hear of your loss.
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10 E450
Doghouse 36' or so Trophy Classic TT

03Ultra
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Explorer
Sorry to read about your dad.
2003 Harley Ultra Classic
2004 Itasca 36M Workhorse
2018 Toyota Tundra
2021 Toyota Highlander

rehoppe
Explorer
Explorer
Pretty standard truck set up. Pass anything but a gas station. Auto parts store will have the specs as needed.

As to the house stuff, just google by brand and model for the appliance you are researching. Don't worry about a "manual'. Stuff that works or don't; Refrigerator, Furnace, Hot water heater, stove maybe with oven, microwave, converter/inverter, batteries.

That's about all you've got to deal with that has maintenance/ repair required. The rest is all simple and visual. Just act like a farmer, it aint' rocket science.
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10 E450
Doghouse 36' or so Trophy Classic TT

rehoppe
Explorer
Explorer
How about cork with carpet runners? Insulating, quiet, and not too expensive. With a bit of give to the footfall.
Hoppe
2011 Dodge 1500 C'boy Caddy
2000 Jayco C 28' Ford chassis w V-10 E450
Doghouse 36' or so Trophy Classic TT

john_b1
Explorer
Explorer
trucker:
Very sorry to hear about our loss of dad.My wife lost a bro a couple of weeks ago & found out today another one may soon follow.Not a good thing to happen to loved ones as you know.2011 is being cruel for sure!!!IMHO jb
2001 F 350 CC PSD 373 rear,auto
RBW X16 slider,Bedsaver,Prodigy,Fold A Cover,Pressure Pro!
2011 Crossroads Cruiser cf32mk Patriot edit. 5th wheel Fibreglass and all the goodies necessary,Dish,comfy loungers,and a nickel to spend,
Mr & Mrs and the PUP.

lzasitko
Explorer
Explorer
Sorry to hear about the lose of your Dad, always hard when one's parent goes. My Dad passed away in '87, but the worst year was 2002, lost my mom in March, my younger brother in Oct and my father in law in Dec.

wareagle11949
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Explorer
I'm sorry about your father. Always a tough loss.

tonyandkaren
Explorer
Explorer
Sorry to hear about your Dad.

About the heat ducts - If you use the flexible stuff that ALnCORY mentions you can run it above the floor and hidden in the cabinets. All of the class Cs that we've had used this method and it works very well. With a small motorhome you really don't need to have many heating vents. We've always had just two-one in the living area and one in the bathroom plus a small amount run into the walls where the plumbing is located to keep the pipes from freezing in cold weather.
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4x4 Custom Class C on F450 chassis

Gambit80
Explorer
Explorer
Old Trucker, I am so sorry to hear about your Dad. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Me(40), DW(40), DS(21), DS(21)
2015 Forest River Salem 26TBUD
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC, 5.9 CTD

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
It is going to be a little before I get started back on the O'l Girl...
I'm going to try and get started back on it by the 1st of the month.

My Dad died this Monday and we have so much going on right now, I look forward to getting started back and posting more Photos real soon.
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

oldtrucker63
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks all I have waited to long to run the heat in the floor, Although it could be run under the floor with the PVC pipe, But I really like the ideal of going up top with it.:h
Without Trucks,....America Stop's

ALnCORY
Explorer
Explorer
A hundred years ago when I was building travel trailors for Kit... we used something similar to dryer vent ducts to run heat throughout the units. I would think though that if you could run duct work in your floor similar to what would be in a home that would be the best, but the round flex venting is the norm....

Nothing like a bunch of armchair quarterbacks telling you what to do eh? it really is looking great trucker.
I don't think anyones dying statement ever contained the words "I wish I had spent more time in the office", so lets go somewhere!

DonPd
Explorer
Explorer
I think it would be best to run the heat under the floor. I assume that you will close in the underside. If that is the case while you heat the inside you also heat the closed in underside. This would keep the water pipes and freshwater, grey and black tanks from freezing. It would also help with keeping the floor from being stone cold.
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 Diesel, Automatic, Quad Cab, Shortbed.
2006 34' Mountaineer 328RLS, 5th Wheel Trailer.

tempforce
Explorer
Explorer
i'll vote for large insulated floor ducting for heat.
roof ducts for the a/c.
full sheet of linoleum under everything, to seal the deck. get the most durable/heavy duty flooring you can. i would even roll the edges over the deck, b4 installing the walls. i know your past that step....
cc

somewhere in the texas 'lost pines'


currently without rv.
'13' Ford Fusion
'83' Ford Ranger with a 2.2 Diesel.
'56' Ford F100, 4.6 32 valve v8, crown vic front suspension.
downsizing from a 1 ton diesel and a 32' trailer, to a 19-21' trailer for the '56'.

mobilefleet
Explorer
Explorer
Dakzuki wrote:
oldtrucker63 wrote:
I have a new brain storm here, I was sitting out in the RV today and got to thinking although I was thinking with this worn out brain of mine, Anyway, I'm thinking of running the heat from the furness up the corner of the wall with a 2 1/2 inch PVC pipe and then running the heat out from the ceiling area with 4 outlets One in the bath area and one in the rear bunk area and one about middle ways and one in the overhead bunk, The place that the PVC pipe will run from the furness up to the ceiling will be boxed in so the PVC can not be seen, The way I see it This should work great, We will see.:h


Heat rises. You will have a warm area above and cold feet. IMO you need the heat to originate from below to get good circulation.


x2- plus you're better off with insulated 4" or 6" duct like you can get at Home depot with floor vents. We have a vent right at the foot of our bed in the camper and it sure is nice to toast your feet on when it's cold outside.