DH and I are looking at a 1973 Holiday Rambler. DH looked at the outside today and it's in really good shape. We plan to look at the inside on Saturday. "Everything works as it should". (I will check this out very carefully). The price is right.I'm having trouble finding information about Holiday Ramblers of this era. Is there anything in particular I need to be aware of? Can anyone tell me where online to look for details? thanksMartha

Do you know the series and length of the unit you're looking at? I still have some information form my past with Holiday Rambler and might be able to help you

Current owner says it's 31ft. I don't know if that's living space or includes the hitch.That's all I know until we look at it a little more closely. Where on the trailer do I look for the "series" name?thanks for your help, Martha

weedlady wrote:Current owner says it's 31ft. I don't know if that's living space or includes the hitch.That's all I know until we look at it a little more closely. Where on the trailer do I look for the "series" name?thanks for your help, MarthaMarthaHoliday Rambler produced 5 series of travels in 1973. These where the Holiday Vacationer, Holiday Traveler, Holiday Rambler, Royal Holiday and the Holiday Rambler Park Model. All models where very well built with the Holiday Rambler, Royal and Park Model having Aluminum frame construction and the Traveler had Aluminum frame construction as an option other wise it was a wood frame trailer. The vacationer series was a wood frame but it had the distinction with in the industry of not using what is called stick and tin construction. What I can tell you about their products is they where very strong and well built. All frames at that time use heavy wall 6" box steel from the hitch to the rear bumper with heavy cross member from front to rear. Solid floor construction with insulated underbelly except on the Vacationer. The side wall use Holidays rambler Alumaframe Construction, which is made up of an aluminum frame that increased strength, eliminated the problem of wood rot and improved drastically the ability to heat and cool the unit. To the aluminum frame was laminated a 1/2" fome-cor insulation, vapor and frost barrier to the inside of the coach and a thermolite barrier to the outside with the aluminum skin mechanically fasten to the frame. In the cavity between the studs would be filled with fiberglass insulation that specially made to not sage over time. It made for a quiet and warm or cool unit to be in. In 1973 all exterior surfaces on all Holiday products had side walls, roof front and rear caps and underbelly of aluminum. The Vacationer had the same but was a wood framed side wall and did not have an underbelly but an exposed frame. Since this is an older unit it likely their have been modification made to it over the years but it should have all the livability features of todays RV. My spec book for 1973 shows that the 31' holiday Rambler had a weight of 5145lbs from the factory and a hitch weight of 680 lbs. The fresh water system at this time used a pressure tank instead of a demand pump like units being built today. Typical these water tanks where 30 gallons but there was an option for a larger tank of 45 gallons. The black and gray tanks where 30 galloons and the water heater was 8 gallons.Some of the Rambler and Royal had Mor Ryde Suspension which was a very good system even by todays standards. All Ramblers and Royals series unit had active sway control referred to by Holiday Rambler as ASCS. You might be able to use that method of sway control if you can find the parts of the system that need to inside the tow vehicle. Holiday Rambler stop producing that system in the mid 1980 since the move was at that time way from travel trailer and 5th wheels to motorhomes. If you purchase this unit see if the present owner has the control head and processor for the tow vehicle. If he does and they still work you got the very best active sway control ever produced. I would think this trailer has had modification made to over the years and I would expect the appliances to ether have been changed or show a pretty good amount of use by now. The advantage you have is the structure of this coach will be strong even after nearly 40 years of use and should give you many year of service into the future with some care. Frankly if the price is right and it looks good I wouldn't hesitate to make the purchase.I have the complete product information books on Holiday Rambler product of this year and all the technical drawing and many of the build orders at my finger tips if you find you need more information. Doug

Thanks Doug, Your info is extremely helpful.We got a chance to look at the interior today. It is the Holiday Rambler, has twin beds and rear bath, sofa across the front.It is actually all still original, curtains, carpet and all original appliances.I liked the interior layout and the roominess and obvious quality. The color scheme is just a little too harvest gold for my likeing, but I could work with that.The owner's parents bought it new. Current owner inherited it and it has been sitting in his driveway for 15 years. He plugs it in and supposedly uses the systems every summer, but I am leery. I don't think he really knows anything about the trailer. He insisted it didn't have a gray water tank. There is no antifreeze sitting in the toilet-so I'd be concerned that the seal is dried out. I would guess the dump valves haven't been used in the last 15 years either. The owner was not aware that the fridge was two-way-has never run it on propane, but says it makes ice in about 2 hours on electric.The trailer is not hooked up now, so we did not run any systems today.His lack of knowledge makes me concerned that he has not maintained things properly. Any input?Martha

weedlady wrote:Thanks Doug, Your info is extremely helpful.We got a chance to look at the interior today. It is the Holiday Rambler, has twin beds and rear bath, sofa across the front.It is actually all still original, curtains, carpet and all original appliances.I liked the interior layout and the roominess and obvious quality. The color scheme is just a little too harvest gold for my likeing, but I could work with that.The owner's parents bought it new. Current owner inherited it and it has been sitting in his driveway for 15 years. He plugs it in and supposedly uses the systems every summer, but I am leery. I don't think he really knows anything about the trailer. He insisted it didn't have a gray water tank. There is no antifreeze sitting in the toilet-so I'd be concerned that the seal is dried out. I would guess the dump valves haven't been used in the last 15 years either. The owner was not aware that the fridge was two-way-has never run it on propane, but says it makes ice in about 2 hours on electric.The trailer is not hooked up now, so we did not run any systems today.His lack of knowledge makes me concerned that he has not maintained things properly. Any input?Martha15 years is a long time for an RV to sit in one spot. My guess would be that the tires are 15 years old then and I wouldn't move it off the drive way until they where changed. Even if they look good and are holding air they can rot from the inside out and it just not worth taking a chance going down the road. I would also have a complete brake and wheel barring service done, even if the brake work have them serviced. They have been siting for 15 years and who know what condition they where in before it was parked. You should be able to get a cost for this at any tire and RV service center and would make that cost part of my offer to the owner when I started talking money. One other thing I would do is get all the rubber hoses for the LP system changed. This isn't a big project since Holiday only had used rubber hoses from the LP tanks to the LP regulator and then in some cases down to the main supply line under the coach. The main LP line under the coach should be a heavy wall black iron pipe and the feed lines to the appliances should be copper. I would also have the LP tanks inspected before I filled them, you can have this done at most LP service centers but I wouldn't do it at an RV park or RV dealer. Find someone that business is selling LP and knows what to look for. Holiday used both steel and aluminum tanks in 73 and think you will need to have the valves up dated to the modern version if they have not been already. Again not a hard thing to have done but I'm not sure if they can just change the valve or if you have to replace the tanksI would also fill the fresh water tank to the limit turn on the compressor and run water through all the sinks and shower. Look for leaks and that there isn't rust in the water if the original galvanized water tank is still installed. If there is rust in the water the tank is bad even if it doesn't leak. Holiday used a galvanized water tank that was porcelain lined. If there is rust the porcelain is cracked and the tank will fall at some point down the road. Figure the cost to replace it and change over to a demand pump set up if this is the case. If the pressure system is still installed check that the air compressor will pump up to 40 lbs and the water system will hold the pressure. The change over to a demand pump isn't something that is hard to do but I would look at the cost to have this done before I purchased. I would also want to see all the system running before I made any offer. Run the water system off the city water and the pressure tank separately and check for leaks every where. Have every thing up and working or if it isn't working find out why. Luckily you shouldn't have to many problems find parts or replacements for the appliances if need be. They gary tank in 73 was an option so he is correct in his thinking that there wasn't one. The only problem with the all in one tank is there can be a smell if the p-traps don't have water in them and you need to keep the tank empty and all the drain plugs in the drains of the sinks and shower when traveling. The water in the P-traps can moved around as the you go up and down hills hit bumps and then the odor from tank can get into the trailer. II do know what you mean about the gold interiors, just be happy it isn't avocado that was popular back then. All I can say about that interior color is YIKES!!!Let me know if you make the purchase and I hope this or some other RV is in your future.Doug

'73 Holiday Rambler | Good Sam Community

Fatmanz
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
davidcascio24 wrote:
Hopefully the image shows up.

That is so coool!!!!!!!! Would love to see some interior shot too.....
turbo-power
Explorer
Aug 27, 2013
Its a good thing you are not closer to me because i would probably try to buy it if you wanted to sell. I to grew camping in older Holiday a 1971 24ft vacationer and would like to get another one one day but they are not any around in south ga. Its a nice looking Rambler . Hope to see some interior pictures.
weedlady
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
just to be sure you noticed....more pictures please!
Interior pictures, please!
Martha
weedlady
Explorer
Aug 26, 2013
oh my goodness, she's beautiful.. I think she's even cleaner than mine! what does your interior look like?
Don't sell it just yet, keep her, get to know her, then decide.
More pictures, please!
Martha
davidcascio24
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Now my next question... I have had a guy knock on my door and offer to buy it but I'm not even sure where to value it if I wanted too. Apparently his parents had one just like it when he was growing up. It has a couple minor things needed done to like a reseal on the roof and the LP lines updated for the propane tanks. What would be a fair starting price??? By the way I only had about 1.5 miles to tow it so I just pulled off each tire and ran it to the gas station and filled it with air. It pulled like a dream. I even have the original hub caps!!!
davidcascio24
Explorer
Aug 22, 2013
Hopefully the image shows up.
weedlady
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
I didn't try to view it. I'm just glad that everyone can now access it if they want to. I'm truly surprised at how many people have emailed me asking for a copy
Martha
wallyrp
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Good Evening,

Yes, everyone can access it there. Did you have any issues viewing the document?

Sincerely,

Walter "Wally" Padgett
weedlady
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
oh thank you! This means everyone can access it there right? What a good idea
Martha
wallyrp
Explorer
Aug 17, 2013
Good Evening,

I have compiled and uploaded the manual that weedlady so graciously emailed to me. You should be able to view it at http://www.scribd.com/doc/160833789/The-Holiday-Manual

Let me know if you have any issues.

Sincerely,

Walter "Wally" Padgett

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