Carbureted 1974 Dodge Tioga RV dies when put into drive or reverse, dying/idling problems

user 423 · May 20, 2013

A quick look on eBay came up with one for $35 but here's a better deal at only $15 shipped: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1974-Plymou...iterature&hash=item2323686546&vxp=mtr It's for a Plymouth van but they are just a re-badged Dodge (pretty rare these days,too). You could towbar a Corolla on flat terrain OK but if you plan to do mountains or very hilly country, not so much. Get a scooter. If you do any kind of towing, make sure you add a heavy-duty transmission cooler first. Towing will fry the trans quickly (I know this from experience, towing a Civic). Lots of people overload these old MH's anyway and towing makes it even worse.

Terry · May 20, 2013

beware of your brakes. If they were working well at one time and all of a sudden ran out of fluid, you have a serious leak. Stop often and check fluid level when moving to new location. If you can determine where the leak is, depending on where it is, there are some emergency repairs that can be made to "limp" along to where your going. If the leak is at a wheel cylinder, you can put a small nail with the flat head in the line where it goes into the wheel cylinder to block off that particular wheels brakes to allow the rest of the system to continue to operate. That only works if there are enough wheels that aren't leaking to stop the vehicle. Another WARNING is that your vehicle will pull in the direction that has the most brakes working. If the leak is at one of the front wheels, the steering wheel can pull violently to one side when hitting the brakes once one side is not working/ blocked off.

Guest · May 20, 2013

Thank you Terry. Those are good things to keep in mind. I'll be extra cautious. I'm going to properly check my brakes before I take off on the trip. Don't want to lose them going down the highway. Terrifying. Can never be too safe.

James AKA Lynx · May 20, 2013

On Brakes, please remeber if your brakes go out you can use your emergency brake. It may only work on one wheel. James AKA Lynx

highdesertranger · May 21, 2013

you know I totally missed the brake thing.  for heavens sake the master was empty so you filled it and bled it and you think your good to go.  I pray you don't kill yourself or someone else with that logic.  brakes are the most important system on your vehicle.  stopping is more important than going.  you don't even need a engine to go just go to the top of a hill and give her a push you will go,  but if you can't stop god help anybody around you.  highdesertranger

Guest · May 21, 2013

You're absolutely right. Brakes and SRS and other safety features are the most important parts of a car. You know when we got this RV a hundred miles from here, we test drove it, and the car broke beautifully. Really strong, firm brake pedal. Stopped on an absolutely dime. If anything, we might have brake-checked a few people behind us. Drove it home a hundred miles without a problem with the brakes. I think maybe the vacuum/timing/carburetor might have had something to do with the brake pedal changing it's firmness, because after I 'fixed' the carburetor and ignition timing, all of the sudden the brake pedal changed and became super soft. The master cylinder wasn't empty, but it was really low, and the smaller reservoir was full. From really low vacuum, I changed the carburetor and timing to get a beautiful 19 in. Hg of manifold vacuum. So then the brake booster was getting a tremendous amount of vacuum. I don't know for sure. Now the brake fluid level is full  and I've been checking it and it hasn't been dropping at all. Good thing I only have to move it a hundred miles to a permanent location instead of traveling. I've checked for brake leaks and so far so good but I'll double and triple check. You can never be too sure. 

Zil · May 21, 2013

Power brakes. The pedal feels hard to push when no vacuum. With vacuum the pedal goes easy to apply the brakes. sounds like you fixed a vacuum leak as well as tuned the carburetor. Have you tried stopping with your brakes? The Dodge b300, 360 ci is one of their best. My rear spring shackles pushed through the floor as they mount past the frame to sheet metal.

Guest · May 21, 2013

Yeah absolutely tested out the brakes. Around the neighborhood first and then a short distance to the locksmith. To be safe I kept an extra long distance between me and the car in front of me, in case I had to veer to the outside or something. But the fluid level is full and the brakes feel super hearty and strong and stops on a dime. No sponginess at all. I drive with a vacuum gauge attached at all times out of curiosity. Some do that to help their driving technique for fuel economy as well. 