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$500 Dodge Motorhome

38K views 42 replies 30 participants last post by  willy J 
#1 ·
I found a new project for the winter... right place, right time scenario. Guy needed money, I needed to upgrade from tenting (or my wife wasn't camping anymore!)

It hadn't been started for the last two years, so we checked the fluids, popped in a battery and fired it up. Drove it right home that night! Needs a lot of cosmetic work, a little plumbing and some cushions recovered. But its basically ready to go.

318 Auto - paperwork in the glovebox says it had a complete valve job 13,000 miles ago. Gonna do the usual freshing up on the engine - plugs, wires, belts, battery cables, etc.

Can't wait for spring - but it does have a furnace... hmmmm...



 
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#2 ·
I used to have an 85 dodge 250 cargo van and wish I could get another one. I would make it into a camping/ towing rig. Tow my RC to a trail, and have a place besides on the ground to sleep. Awesome find and a not bad price. Good luck with it and keep us posted.
 
#3 ·
My eyes!!! *ahhh*, not the 70's again! 

Good price for it, but please no more interior shots until the decor is modernized by a decade or two. ;)
 
#4 ·
LOL... ToxicDoc!

My wife want's to revamp the interior with a wildlife theme - and my Mother's first comment was "That carpet's gotta go!" ... and I agree!
 
#6 ·
Unclebull said:
That is ugly! ;D

Can I have it? :eek:
Ugly - yes... but I prefer the beauty within - as in "It will be beautiful 'within' the camper when its raining outside" ;)
 
#14 ·
#15 ·
comrade cheddar said:
here is one I was thinking about. I can grab and hold it for you. You can never have too many.
http://rmn.craigslist.org/rvs/1025981631.html
No reverse, huh... full speed ahead!

Have to pass...yard's full... let some other "lucky" guy pick that one up. {cool}

I've got long list of things I want to do to the '74.

Quick Question: The guy that sold it to me said I have to add lead additive to the gas... and another guy said no, just run unleaded as usual. Any idea what he's talking about?
 
#16 ·
If you're just using it for trips and not a lot of miles you'll be fine with unleaded and no substitute. The lead is for lubing the valve seat on the older softer valve seats.  I haven't used any subst. on any of my older toys and everything seems to be fine, just not going to get 100k out of your heads is all.

Only thing I can think of.  Sound fair?
 
#17 ·
truckphone said:
If you're just using it for trips and not a lot of miles you'll be fine with unleaded and no substitute. The lead is for lubing the valve seat on the older softer valve seats. I haven't used any subst. on any of my older toys and everything seems to be fine, just not going to get 100k out of your heads is all.

Only thing I can think of. Sound fair?
Yeah, I thought I had read something about valve seat lubrication somewhere... it is only going to be used for shorter weekend trips. The heads were rebuilt 13,000 miles ago according to paperwork I found in the glovebox... thanks for the reply.
 
#18 ·
Cool looking find! I will always remember the Mini Winnebago my parents had when I was a kid. It was just like yours, Dodge and all, but it was shorter. Still had the oldschool interior though. I would own one if I came across one like yours, especially for that price!

Enjoy it! Sure beats a tent. ;)
 
#21 ·
Maiden Voyage!

Got brave enough to take it out on an overnight test run. Went up the lake about 14 miles to Hartford Beach State Park here in South Dakota.

So far I've put 2 new tires on the front, put in 2 new batteries and new cables, a new master cylinder for the brakes, new upper, lower and bypass hoses, new radiator cap, thermostat, temp sending unit, and exhaust gasket. Repaired all the rusted sockets for the brake lights and turning signals, wire wheeled the propane and battery side covers and painted them and scrubbed the whole thing down with soap and water.

Fridge and AC unit worked perfectly. Still have the plumbing/propane issues to deal with and some interior lights are still not working, but it is on the road!

Since we have always been tent campers until now my kids had a hard time adjusting. They kept joking that this isn't real camping - and i said - better get used to it... or bring your tent...


 
#23 ·
Took a real trip (300 miles) to the WE Fest Music Festival in Detroit Lakes, MN on August 6,7,8. It ran like a real trooper - 8 mpg - no problems... 2 campers down from us was another 74 Dodge van chassis with a different camper style on it... small world...
 
#24 ·
devil dawg said:
cool..now install a transfer, front 60, a lil lift and some 33s
A buddy of mine bought a motorhome with a 360/np435/205 combo. Factory rear axle and a 60 front. Pretty badd ass. Its just him and his wife so he uses the bed above the drivers area and turned the rest into a toy hauler.
 
#25 ·
I'd love to find one like this and tear the camper stuff off and make a custom steel flatbed and call it "What the Vruck"? ;D
 
#26 ·
I'd like to find one with a pickup front end and then convert it to a Cummins so I could tow my RC and camp out of it.

Man, that's a great looking RV! Especially for what you paid. Looks like a lot of fun.  ;)
 
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