Hello!

[Cubey]

Hey all.<br><br>I am working toward full timing out of my 1978 Dodge Xplorer Class B motorhome van. I paid $1300 for it with a new transmission put in last year for about that cost. The guy who had it done suddenly sold it for $500 to the guy I bought it from for some unknown (to me) reason.<br><br>The engine burns oil a little but it runs good and strong. A heavier weight oil should help with that.<br><br>I will probably have about $4000 in it by the time I am done putting new parts on it, having some work done on it plus a new set of tires.<br><br>I took it in for rear brakes (I hate working on drums!) and it turns out it needed a rear end rebuild so that's being done. All new differential gears, seals and bearings. Plus synthetic gear oil is going to be put in. It is costing me over $1000 (including the brake job which included wheel cyls and drums on both sides) but it's worth it.<br><br>I already put new brake pads and calipers on the front, a new starter, new air filter, etc. The alternator looks pretty new as well. I am also replacing all the front end parts once I get it back from the mechanic doing the rear end. Suspension will be next... but I also need to fix the leaking fuel sender on the tank. It should just need a new cork gasket which I will likely have to custom-make for it since they are impossible to fine for these plastic 36 gallon tanks.<br><br>Tires are going to be a big cost. I have sourced a set of five 16" Ford rims (which fit Dodge) to replace the nearly worthless 16.5" rims that are on it now with 20 year old tires.&nbsp; It's too bad tires get rotten, they have deep tread left. I may do tires before suspension.. not sure yet.<br><br>I am currently working on selling almost all my stuff and have my house on the market but it's not looking good. I am probably going to just let it go to foreclosure and go file chapter 7 ($2,000) and be done with it. I don't own enough big stuff to even be hurt by Chapter 7. I have already sold most of my garage sale and thrift store bought furniture.. and the lawyer said the few vehicles I have aren't worth enough to be taken. So basically I will walk away with only a loss of the $2000 for bankruptcy. Not my ideal way of doing it, but you do what you gotta do.<br>

 

[Guest]

Good to have you with us Cubey....welcome from New Mexico.<br>Bri<br>

 

[judycmomx6]

Welcome Cubey, glad to have ya!

 

[stude53]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome, Cubey! <img border="0" align="absmiddle" src="/images/boards/smilies/wave.gif"></p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Yeah, sometimes you got to do what you have to ... to get to the place you want to be. Keep us informed&nbsp; as to your progress, and good luck.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Bob&nbsp;</p>

 

[Cubey]

About 10pm last night I saw I had a text from my realtor so I gave him a call. He said there is a very good prospect for buying my house who wants to come tour it today. They have a preapproval for enough for the asking price and want to live down here in this small town (about 800) as they like it and I think he said they have family down here. So it looks very hopefull!<br><br>I'm not the best housekeeper but a couple weeks ago he thought he had someone who canceled on him at the time they were supposed to show up ... so I had already cleaned the house thoroughly then. But naturally it's gotten dirty again since but at least it's not as bad as it was. I worked last night cleaning some and will finish today before they show up around 4. <br><br>Wish me luck!<br>

 

[Gravediggerjason]

Welcome, good luck with the house viewing <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[user 423]

<b></b>

<b>Cubey:</b> <span id="post_message_1273715384">Tires are going to be a big cost. I have sourced a set of five 16" Ford rims (which fit Dodge) to replace the nearly worthless 16.5" rims that are on it now with 20 year old tires.</span>

<span id="post_message_1273715384"><br><br>Ford 16" rims do "fit" but the bores are larger than those on the Dodges. That means all the weight is supported by the lugnuts only and that can be dangerous. You'd be better off finding some Dodge wheels.<br></span>

 

[Cubey]

Argh.... well... I already wasted the money on the Ford rims and I can't return them. I thought I had a couple of Dodge ones but it turns out they are all Ford. I may just have to make do with them until I can find Dodge ones. I can check a couple other salvage yards but it's probably going to be hard to find them.<br><br>I will measure one of the 16.5" rim bores (the spare) and compare it to these Ford rims and see if that's true/<br>

 

[VanTrekker]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Hi Cubey,</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome and it's nice to meet you here.&nbsp; It sounds like you have a nice motorhome and it will be in excellent mechanical shape when you get it all fixed up.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">I hope that you can sell your house.&nbsp; Should you have to file Chapter 7, there is life afterwards.&nbsp; I had&nbsp;to file&nbsp;in 2005 when it was clear that my head was on the chopping block from a high paying job.&nbsp; It was preemptive but a good call.&nbsp; If you have to file, do it and don't look back.&nbsp; There is light at the end of the tunnel.&nbsp; </p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Living in a van is a great way to escape the binding chains of rent and utilities.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Best of luck </p>

 

[yesican]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome Cubey and good luck.&nbsp; Hope your house sells and save you the hassel of the chapter 7.&nbsp; You got a plan...that's the first and biggest step.</p><p style="margin: 0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin: 0px;">Rae</p>

 

[caseyc]

Welcome Cubey,

Welcome aboard! I too had to file chapter 7 around 15 years ago after first wife #1 drove my finances straight down the gutter. Amazing what a bad spouse can do to you! Best part of that bad experience is that I learned my lesson and I now have excellent credit again and owe zero debts, absolutely zero debts! I now feel sorry for anyone filing chapter 7 in the later part of their life, especially when they have family and obligations. The point is this: there is light at the end of the tunnel after the initial pain! Good luck to you! Casey

 

[gypsydreamer]

Cubey!! Good to see you again! Hope all works out well for you.

Ann

 

[Cubey]

<p style="margin: 0px;">Welcome Cubey and good luck.&nbsp; Hope your house sells and save you the hassel of the chapter 7.&nbsp; You got a plan...that's the first and biggest step.</p>

<br><br>It's actually looking pretty hopeful. The people who toured it want it but we have to go through some hoops to try to make it work. I may have to end up paying $2000 out of pocket to help sell it anyway... (I won't pay naymore than that) but due to laws about how much precentage can come from the seller, and the asking price (after relator fees, closing costs, etc) is VERY close to how much I need to sell it for to clear my note on it. But one way or another, it can (legally) be done I'm sure.<br><br>

You are welcomed here Cubey, There are some good and down to earth people on this website.<br>

<br><br><br>Check it out.. someone over on RV.net didn't even TRY to hide their snobbishness. This was posted in my "City Hopping" thread in the Full Timing board:<br><br>

<strong>sharker6 wrote:</strong><br><img src="http://www.rv.net/SharedContent/cfb/images/x.gif" alt="" height="8" width="1"><br>Eating in soup kitchens and living in a cardboard box are always options.

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