Questions on a 1973 Winnebago Brave D-20

Great! sounds good. love the saying on the side! please post more pics. and get rid of the wire holding the water heater door closed. what other type of work does it need, just curious.

Good luck!

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A lot of folks are suggesting fuel sending units, but if you have two senders in two tanks and the gauge doesn't respond to either one, I'd check the gauge first. Definitely check for a loose or missing ground near the unit that switches between tanks.

Just my 2¢

That last brings up an obvious point.

Can a coach this old EVER be reliable enough for a long trip???

Well, we took our 1973 (140+Kmi) coach to Texas from Michigan this spring. A total of 3007mi.
Repairs required enroute:
A cabinet latch came loose. I repaired it underway. (DW was driving.)

After we got home, I rinsed the black tank, changed the oil and greased it again. Ready now for another 400mi weekend excursion to a TCT rally. We will be running more than 12K mile this year (God Willing and creek don't rise).

It needs new tires on the front. I am going to the "A pair a year" mode so I don't ever have to buy a full set again.

Matt

I bought a 1975 RV with a Dodge 360 engine. 2 fuel tanks with the toggle switch.

The gauge didn't work when I bought it. The gauge was an easy fix for the mechanic while he replaced all the fuel lines (didn't have an inch of line that did NOT leak) and checked the tanks for leaks. Found a leak in the sending unit. They don't make them anymore. I have to send it cross-country to have it rebuilt - at least $150. Meanwhile, I'm on one tank while I make other needed repairs.

Had it towed in to the mechanic from a weekend trip and my mechanic said "I bet you'd like just one trip without any incident". That will become your life's goal if you buy an older RV - one single trip without any problems. :)

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They make adjustable fuel senders so you can make it work relatively inexpesive. Ground the wire at the tank. If the gauge pegs full, the gauge is good.

Xerofall wrote:

Andymon wrote:
The sending unit in the fuel tank could be bad. Maybe a loose wire under the dash.

That's what I'm hoping it is... just curious if it was a deal breaker, he's asking more than I'm comfortable paying... but he'll either sit on it with no interested parties and go down, or someone else will buy it instead of me... and I just move on and keep looking.

While it's kinda cool for an old RV, I think I'd pass. At that age you'll probably have more issues down the road. Just my way of thinking.

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Without looking at the owner's manual (which he has) does anyone know how much this could tow?