In The Fixin' Up Stage

[bobblefrog]

Hi all - 

Last October I found my new-to-me-old RV, and then in January the BF got her across country (right through winter storm Helena - coldest week of the year) so I could start working on her.  Been too cold and wet to do more than tarp her but spring is springing.  She's a 1984 21 ft Mallard Class C on a Dodge D250 Truck Chassis.  Very good year–when I graduated high school where our class prom song was Let The Good Times Roll–and she's in nice shape, just converting her from what I suspect was a male sensibility (nothing wrong with that, just very utilitarian and brown) to a style I'll be comfortable in and making sure she's solid from the ground up.

Biggest problem so far has been finding mechanics to do carb work and then finding someone to teach me how to do basic adjustments. 

Beautiful layout imho-nice loft that is almost as tall as the Toys, and a real bathroom, with a real door, with a separate shower.  They even fit in a 4 burner stove and a 40 gal fresh water tank.   Okay, don't laugh but if the BF was going to travel with me, that was a requirement. The cab is spacious and almost another living room.  She guzzles gas like a girl guzzling Southern Comfort at her first prom, but I knew that going in and knew early on that was going to have to be one of my compromises to get the other things I wanted.  I'll just take more time to get where I'm going

I feel like I have all the advantages of an RV but then some of the benefits of a small footprint.  Very pleased with my find.  

Now that I can get serious about my dream of getting on the road (again in my case) and joined the forum.  Hoping to offer both support and also snag some sage and sound advice!  

Look forward to meeting some new friends!

 

[Wabbit]

Hiya Bobblefrog! Neat username. Sounds like you have an excellent grasp on things, I should prob ask you what your secret is...heh. Best of luck to you and yours, hope its all a blast.

 

[bobblefrog]

Thanks for the welcome Wabbit  Your username is memorable - jumped out at me right away while skimming the forums.

My secret?  Hmmm.  Not my first rodeo (so I figure I'm now stepped down to Defcon 2 in terms of Mistakes To Be Made).  And hey, this time around there is YouTube!!  How can anything possibly go wrong??!

 

[jonsun]

might be better off buying a remaned carbed that's setup and flowed then shipped to you

 

[cyndi]

Welcome to the CRVL forums, bobblefrog! We've got some great mechanics on the forum and they're usually great with advice.

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Welcome, bobblefrog! I sure hope you'll share your upgrades in the conversions folder! We Love Pictures!!!

 

[user 37446]

Welcome for sure. There's lots of Dodge fanatics here as well on Dodge specific forums.  Keeping carbs "in tune" and the timing.dwell/plug gaps right can be a challenge but its doable, was for many decades.

I had a 1985 23. Footer with a small block Chev 400 that had a great floor plan and got 10 mpg all day long, no matter the speeds (up to 65 anyway).

Put out a call to the "more experienced in life" members about the motor/tranny issues. There's lots of help here.

Have fun with her!  Pics are really nice too!  :shy:

 

[user 37446]

Oh, I just searched for "Dodge class c" and got this from an experienced member/moderator:

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]"if anyone is looking to buy an older [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]dodge[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] rv read this. ran into this problem again the other day, just wanted to give everyone a heads up. some of the older [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]dodge[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]r [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]class[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] c motor homes 70's 80's do not have a frame beyond the rear springs. there is no way to mount a trailer hitch. I have seen this three times with people that wanted a hitch. beyond the rear springs it's all wood. so without extending the frame(very expensive) there is no way to mount a hitch. also the ones that looks like the whole rear of the rv is breaking down it's because it is. so if anyone is looking at an older [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]dodge[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]and want to put a hitch on, crawl under the rear and check it out before buying. highdsertranger"[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]It's his post with no replies.[/font]

 

[VanKitten]

Please post pictures! I love seeing what others are doing in the renovations.

21ft is a great size. I'd sure like to see your layout!

Oh, and welcome aboard.

 

[bobblefrog]

might be better off buying a remaned carbed that's setup and flowed then shipped to you

Yeah that's come up and a consideration.  I also had someone point me to some sort of recalibration kit.  The carb is an aftermarket Edelbrock (can't say for sure how old it is but was the PO's PO's mod - and that should only take it back about a year from when we bought it according to carfax) .  It was working well when it left Denver - we found a classic car shop and the guys there did a great job on it as we were having a lot of pops. Electric choke and other adjustments - made sure everything was good.  But whether it was the change in the altitude or what the guys in Hays KS thought - an accelerator pump gone bad (or both), or something else entirely, I'm hoping it just needs a little massaging.  I've known my mechanic for 20 years - if there is anyone in our area who knows how to make it sing again, he will find them for me  I heard these things can be tricky moving between elevations so I really need to find someone that will let me look over their shoulder.  Man I wish I'd paid attention to my boyfriends back in the day...!!!

 

[bobblefrog]

Welcome for sure. There's lots of Dodge fanatics here as well on Dodge specific forums.  Keeping carbs "in tune" and the timing.dwell/plug gaps right can be a challenge but its doable, was for many decades.

I had a 1985 23. Footer with a small block Chev 400 that had a great floor plan and got 10 mpg all day long, no matter the speeds (up to 65 anyway).

Put out a call to the "more experienced in life" members about the motor/tranny issues. There's lots of help here.

Have fun with her!  Pics are really nice too!  :shy:

Thank you - I will definitely.  I did see I have a mistake in my original post - it's actually a D350.  How funny that the gas mileage didn't change no matter your speed!  Going to be interesting to see what I get but I'm expecting about that.  The worst was the belts went twice on the trip over (it was a bad pulley that the first "fix" didn't catch) and both times it took them 4 hours to run down the right ones.  First thing I'm doing is getting extras ordered and keeping them on board!

 

[bobblefrog]

Oh, I just searched for "Dodge class c" and got this from an experienced member/moderator:

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]"if anyone is looking to buy an older [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]dodge[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] rv read this. ran into this problem again the other day, just wanted to give everyone a heads up. some of the older [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]dodge[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]r [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]class[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif] c motor homes 70's 80's do not have a frame beyond the rear springs. there is no way to mount a trailer hitch. I have seen this three times with people that wanted a hitch. beyond the rear springs it's all wood. so without extending the frame(very expensive) there is no way to mount a hitch. also the ones that looks like the whole rear of the rv is breaking down it's because it is. so if anyone is looking at an older [/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]dodge[/font][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]and want to put a hitch on, crawl under the rear and check it out before buying. highdsertranger"[/font]

[font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif]It's his post with no replies.[/font]

Now that's interesting - mine did come with a hitch/wiring.  The PO hauled a small trailer.  Has a cargo box (more like toolbox) on the back.  And crawling around under it's all metal - but then again, it's a truck chassis - so maybe that makes a difference?  It's not a box added to a van chassis. I don't think my camper is any farther back than a bed would have gone.  I'll have to get some pics up asap.

 

[bobblefrog]

Pics attached.  Yeah, I should have posted originally.  I know what it's like to want to look!  Took me two years to find her.  This is actually her Craigslist photo, but nothing has changed (only I tarped her the minute she got here until I can ensure she's well-sealed).  And below that a couple of interior shots also from the ad.  The yellow door is to the bath.  There are cabinets all above the kitchen and dinette but otherwise storage is pretty nil.  Minimalism is the word of the day, but I think I have it mostly all figured out.  So glad the weather has turned and I can roll up my sleeves and get to work making her our own!

Thanks all for the warm welcome

 

[AbuelaLoca]

Very cool looking RV! That Ram truck is a new one for me... I've seen all kinds of "van" looking RVs, but not one with such a long nose!

 

[user 37446]

Wow, I totally missed you saying it was on a truck body, for sure it is.  That's rare with a capital R...  I think the advantages for engine work are numerous, there's actually room to do things and its a lot quieter and cooler in the actual cab compared to the van doghouse.  Neat rig!

Glad that you have a good mechanic who hopefully knows old tech, carbs and setting the timing...  Allpar.com and RockAuto.com will be your friends...

It was common for carbed vehicles to suffer performance losses from sea level to high altitude, you had to either rejet for the altitude or live with it. However you said that was already looked into.
Just live with the gas mileage and enjoy all the stares as other drivers wonder just what it is you have there!  

I googled "D350 class C" and saw one in Albuquerque that was an 1985, Mallard 20 footer that was for sale for $7,500 and listed as sold, Vin was ending in 215511...  

There also was a 1985 in Illinois that was Ebayed for $2699 with 53000 miles, 

• #VIN: 1B6MD34W0FS545302

 

[highdesertranger]

yep that was me that posted about the older Dodge class C's not having a steel frame all the way back. if you read what I wrote I said "SOME" and I said to "get under the rear and look." I have seen and verified this 3 times. my guess is the ones that the back looks like it's sagging are also like this. boy that was a blast from the past. highdesertranger

 

[highdesertranger]

oh bobblefrog that's one cool looking rig. it's in really nice shape too. highdesertranger

 

[bobblefrog]

Very cool looking RV! That Ram truck is a new one for me... I've seen all kinds of "van" looking RVs, but not one with such a long nose!

Interestingly I have the original owners manual - but it show's the van!!!  If I can scrape the money together for a repaint of the cab I'd like to do it in that retro mint green/blue?  I know, wrong era but that body style was around awhile for that truck so I think I could get away with it.  Until then I'm just going to polish her, re-stripe with that indian red, gold and one teal stripe color theme.  Kind of an western indian palette that was popular I think in the 60s?

 

[bobblefrog]

yep that was me that posted about the older Dodge class C's not having a steel frame all the way back.  if you read what I wrote I said "SOME" and I said to "get under the rear and look."  I have seen and verified this 3 times.  my guess is the ones that the back looks like it's sagging are also like this.  boy that was a blast from the past.  highdesertranger

Sorry, I was fast on the response - think I was trying to reassure myself  Actually I'm not happy with the cargo box on the back.  I'll post more pics at some point.  It's a heavy beast with very little actual storage room (more like a toolbox) and I'm afraid the ladder was taken off to accommodate it - and I want to put a ladder back.  After the mechanic gets ahold of it I'll get it to a suspension/brake guy to give me some expert advice/opinions.  For now it has the spare tire hitch on it and may both afford protection from slight accidently bumps - and at the same time makes backing into things easier - lol.  

And we do have those 4-way scales coming to an RV show in Tennessee in May - aiming to make that her first road trip with hopefully the new fridge in. See what I've got.  The range on the Vin and back panel is 10,001-14,000 - so don't know what I've got or what I can safely tow.  I do like that she rides high though....

Thank YOU for the advice and input.  I should have said that first.  I don't know much about her so any advice, and pics of others like her - or links to others for sale and sold I'd appreciate!  

I paid $3K for her and another $1500 to get her across country (the BF came across during storm Helena, temps in the single digits and ended up in hotel nights every night, and then several nights just waiting the storm out, and two extra because of the fixes with the pulley going - not at ALL the plan - LOL).  I think we fix her up to take those temps, but the BF just wasn't prepared.  He took time off his season to do it for me so it was the least I could do  Still here on the east coast I'd been looking for two years and couldn't find anything less than $7500 that wasn't water logged and a mess, that size, so I still am okay with the outlay.

 

[bobblefrog]

Okay, I should clarify that I think i could insulate her for cold weather.  The water tank is under the dinette bench and can fit a light bulb down there as well to keep that from freezing.  Our Bounder's was under the bed.  However, the Bounder pipes and gray and black tops were situated in bays where we could add ceramic heaters and a remote temp sensor.  These just bolt under the carriage.  I haven't looked into seeing if we can add RV antifreeze (or similar) 'in use' or if that is just for protecting seals and joints when storing.  If we were in one place I could make a skirt, insulation, heat with a utility light etc.  But I don't see us using water, and doing the bucket method if we ever had to travel in that kind of weather again (and who HAS to right?!!!) LOL  Just an exercise in thinking it through out loud!