Questions on a 1973 Winnebago Brave D-20

[Xerofall]

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[dodge_guy]

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!

[Xerofall]

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[Stefonius]

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¢

[Matt_Colie]

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

[toedtoes]

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. 🙂

[Xerofall]

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[dodge_guy]

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.

[Andymon]

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.

[Xerofall]

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[Xerofall]

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

[Andymon]

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

[Matt_Colie]

Xerofall,

Our coach is that age and unless you are a competent mechanic and technician, I can promise you that it will eat you alive. If it has no water damage, it can be a good deal.

You said that tires are new, but remember that they only live 5~7 years regardless of what they look like. Plan to replace all the rubber. That means fuel, coolant and brake lines. While you are doing the brake lines, count on flushing the brake system as well.

You have to start be thinking of it as a house on a truck. That is what you will be dealing with for as long as you own it.

I wish you luck and safe travel.

Matt

[Xerofall]

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[wirenutz]

the motor is it a 413 or a 440 both being dodge motors, really looks and sounds great, like I said i miss mine, but wifh and myself live full time in our fifth wheel and well need a bit more room than 20 feet, the fuel sender is going to located on top of the tanks, easy to drop and remove, if you get them out and take an ohm meter reading on them while moving the float, if the meter moves it might be the gauge, you can always just replace the senders and the gauge with after market stuff, the 10 year thing is not always enforced but it is still on the books, they mostly go by the way it looks when you pull into the campground