We bought a 75 Ford E350 with 70,000 plus miles. Did the brakes, shocks, tires, replaced the toilet and wife made new upholstery for the seats. Also had a leak in the roof air conditioner repaired and new gas put in. Works very well. Mattress got wet when the vent, which was plastic, in the overcab area leaked. We placed the ventj, then went to an upholstery shop and purchased a new piece of foam for a mattress. Wife made a new cover for it and we're happy. I also installed a new hatch for the outdoor electrical plug and added a cable tv hook up as well. Two weeks ago I painted all the trim using spray paint from Wal-Mart. We use it for long week-ends away from home, and being retired that means often, though we haven't driven more than a couple hundred miles from home. We did drive it from Wyoming to NM when we purchased it and didn't have any problems, so I don't figure we'd have any driving it long distances. It's just that with mileage about 7-9 mpg, my Goldwing is cheaper. Course with the Wing the motel costs more, but there are always trade-offs.
Just a note, I tried the GOJO today with pretty good results. It DEFINATLEY gets rid of the mold and muck and dirt and grime and it actually left a little shine when I got done. Great Tip! Thanks!
Dave
Jarlaxle wrote: Look at the hitch...I'd bet it's rated for 5000lbs or less.
I'll be right near that amount with my wrangler.
Quote: As for mileage...with a carb'd 350 (EFI wasn't around until 1987) and a TH400, a lot depends on the axle ratio. Figuring it's a 4.10 ratio (common on GM class C's), I'd figure 8-10MPG. This rig will be VERY sensitive to highway speeds--running 60 versus 70 could easily mean a 15-20% change. Unless this has Cali emissions (possible in Arizona), this should have essentially no smog stuff on it with the exception of the charcoal canister and possibly EGR or an AIR pump. IIRC, 1986 still had an old-school non-feedback Q-jet & no catalysts.
I had hope that I might be able to get the hot rod guys near me to tweak this thing a little bit so that we could get a few more miles per gallon than 8-10, but I gotta remember the cost savings on lodging and the feedom that we get with this.
Quote:
(If it has the large gas filler opening and does NOT have the "UNLEADED FUEL ONLY" stickers, I'm remembering correctly.) I suggest adding a "GASOLINE ONLY" sticker near the filler to prevent you from getting a tank of diesel fuel.
great tip
Quote:
Also, where can you get 16.5" caps?
Mt. Morris Tire (Retreadders) Mt. Morris PA I dont have the number in front of me rightnow. google it.
Quote: My friend's Dodge runs 8.75R16.5E's and Treadwright seems to have dropped that size. Also, I have to recommend an all-steel tire (basically, a scaled-down semi tire) in front, which, IIRC, the Commercial T/A's (while good tires) are not. I'm a big fan of the venerable Goodyear Workhorse Rib, which has been around forever for the simple reason they work. (It's what the Dodge runs in front.) This is a BIG help for stability, especially in a crosswind. If you have the 8.00-16.5's, the 8.75's will PROBABLY fit with no modifications and give you some breathing room, weight-wise.
I'm interested in purchase of 2 good tires for the front, but they must be traditional radials of the exact size as the rear, as my spare will be a retread and must be able to be run on the front or I face the same issues that others do over avaliability of this tire size.
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For shocks, I have to recommend the Rancho RS9000X 9-way adjustables. They're very durable, and you can adjust them (IIRC, his are set full-stiff in back & one setting short of that in front) to suit your particular vehicle & load.
I had these on my old F250 work truck. It was a good shock, but IMHO it was way over priced. I'm going to stick with non adjustables, a very stiff one in the rear, and a medium stiffness one in the front
southernkilowatt wrote: Just a note, I tried the GOJO today with pretty good results. It DEFINATLEY gets rid of the mold and muck and dirt and grime and it actually left a little shine when I got done. Great Tip! Thanks!
Dave
Your welcome.
Grandpap was out drilling holes in his fence yesterday to put up a bird house for grandma and got his pacemaker to close to the unshielded electric drill and messed it up. So he is in the Hospital right now... He is the one that taught me about the GOJO.
LouInNM wrote: We bought a 75 Ford E350 with 70,000 plus miles. Did the brakes, shocks, tires, replaced the toilet and wife made new upholstery for the seats. Also had a leak in the roof air conditioner repaired and new gas put in. Works very well. Mattress got wet when the vent, which was plastic, in the overcab area leaked. We placed the ventj, then went to an upholstery shop and purchased a new piece of foam for a mattress. Wife made a new cover for it and we're happy. I also installed a new hatch for the outdoor electrical plug and added a cable tv hook up as well. Two weeks ago I painted all the trim using spray paint from Wal-Mart. We use it for long week-ends away from home, and being retired that means often, though we haven't driven more than a couple hundred miles from home. We did drive it from Wyoming to NM when we purchased it and didn't have any problems, so I don't figure we'd have any driving it long distances. It's just that with mileage about 7-9 mpg, my Goldwing is cheaper. Course with the Wing the motel costs more, but there are always trade-offs.
Quote: I'm interested in purchase of 2 good tires for the front, but they must be traditional radials of the exact size as the rear, as my spare will be a retread and must be able to be run on the front or I face the same issues that others do over avaliability of this tire size.
That is EXACTLY what is on the Dodge...8.75R16.5 Goodyear Workhorse in front, Hi-Tech Retreading (now Treadwright) traction in back in the same size (and I think on Workhorse casings). The spare is the best of the old drives from the last time they were replaced. He used the spare last year...it was noisier with the traction tread in front, but otherwise worked just fine.
Got the number...thanks.
John
1984 Ford B-700 school bus conversion, Thomas body
A bunch of other vehicles
3 nutty cats (Maya, Vierna, Briza)
One lazy dog (Marmaduke)
One wife (Liz)
"A wasted youth is better by far than a wise and productive old age"
-Jim Steinman
Grandpap was out drilling holes in his fence yesterday to put up a bird house for grandma and got his pacemaker to close to the unshielded electric drill and messed it up. So he is in the Hospital right now... He is the one that taught me about the GOJO.
Sure hope your GrandPap is doing better.....Our thoughts are with him!
It would be great if you could post a few pictures of the RV when you get it. Somewhere in the RV, there should be a sticker with the various weights and restrictions. Often, it's in a cabinet, on the door or inside wall. you may find it in the manual (if that is still available).....You can also go and have it weighed. Wait until it's basically empty. Then, you should be able to calculate what the chassis was built to hold, and figure out what you have available for a payload.
The toad will need a brake system. You might want to invest in Ready Brake. It's not too expensive, and you can use this one with your current tow bar.
It sounds as if you've got a pretty nice project....and unlike our Hero Spectramac (sorry Malcolm), you have a good chance of going camping in 2009!
Again, post some pictures....it's easy, and we love them!!
* This post was
edited 03/28/09 07:43pm by PapPappy *
Bill & Claudia / DD Jenn / DS Chris Dogs: Sophie, Abby, Brandy, Kahlie, Annie, Maggie & Beau RIP: Cookie (Sheltie) & Gidget (Lab-mix) over the Rainbow Bridge.
2000 Winnebago "Minnie" 31C, Ford V-10
Purchased April 2008 FMCA# F407293 The Pets
Hey comanche wht kind of service do you get from the rethreads...I am thinking abt running them on my unit..I understane they have come a long way with the rethreading proceedure and the are much safer now.... tks terry btw Im not trying to steal A thredd I just wanted know abt the rethreads....
Sounds like the exact same thing I'm doing with an old dodge. For we'll put in them, it still wouldn't cover a single years depreciation of a new unit.
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Also, I have to recommend an all-steel tire (basically, a scaled-down semi tire) in front, which, IIRC, the Commercial T/A's (while good tires) are not. I'm a big fan of the venerable Goodyear Workhorse Rib, which has been around forever for the simple reason they work. (It's what the Dodge runs in front.) This is a BIG help for stability, especially in a crosswind. If you have the 8.00-16.5's, the 8.75's will PROBABLY fit with no modifications and give you some breathing room, weight-wise. 
