How many of you have a vintage RV? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

AnnDon · RV-Dreams Family Member

How many of you have a vintage RV?

TrishsTravco · RV-Dreams Family Member

1969 Travco 210. 318 /727 /Dana 60.
Bought from original owner's daughter.

A labor of love.
Take that back, it's mostly labor... ;0)

Considering that it's 40 years old and has 116,000 miles, it has very few issues.
Typical Dodge brake booster /slave cylinder issue.
Weird dash wiring.
Ungrounded wires with a fiberglass body can be a hoot.

But it's all paid for and runs great. It's so low-tech and simple, I love it. Most I've spent --other than wheels & tires-- was 750 on the left windshield. Everything else has been bit-by-bit as needed parts come along.

Honestly, I would not buy a new coach; too many things to break in 4 months, let alone 40 years. I bought this Travco because I searched 6 months for our 1960 Avion trailer and could not find it to buy back.
And yeah, I'd drive it anywhere.

AnnDon · RV-Dreams Family Member

I couldn't agree with you more. My husband and I worked in the automotive and heavy construction industry a long time. After what I have seen, some of the older ones are built a lot stronger and last a lot longer than the newer vehicles. I have seen Dodge 440's and 318's with well over 300K miles on them and still going strong. Maintance is the biggest issue, just keep changing the fluids every 3K miles and they will practically run forever. I have even seen Dodge V-8 engines, that will continue to run on 4 cylinders to get you to where you need to go. I have even seen them, where people accidently put diesel fuel in the tank, they smoke like the devil, but they will still run. And after being in the business for so long, we know what NOT to buy.

Yes with our older coach, it needed some TLC, and some work to get her going, but I would bet she will out last even some of the newer coaches on the road today (and take a hit and survive, God forbidding). And they are much more simpler to work on. The only problem is finding parts, but if you ask the right questions to the right people, most are willing to help you find what you need.

Our throttle cable broke, heck it was only 30 years old, and we couldn't find one. So we asked a friend who works on heavy equipment, and he told us about a company called Heavy Duty Truck Parts. We dropped off the cable on a Tuesday and by Friday they had made us a new one. This one should last atleast another 30 years. smile

People may laugh or sneer at our antique, but I say let them. We love her and she has everything we wanted (plus more) and I feel very safe in it going down the road.

Most of our repairs also are small cost items, and somethings we are able to fabricate ourselves. We still have some plumbing issue to attend to. And we have to figure out the wiring night mare for the house batteries that someone rigged and caused some problems, but we are getting there too.

We hope to be in Florida before the snow flies this year. smile

One of our favorite quotes is "Old age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill" LOL! My husband has been telling our son this for years, especially during our sons teenage years.

TrishsTravco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Okaaay... What IS it with me and pictures.
I gave up trying to post a (good) picture of the Merc, see the neat-O '41 Cpe avatar.

I agree, most of the older stuff, you get hit in it, you'll live.

Family friends own a junkyard /scrapyard full of 1990-newer totals. Scary what these vehicles look like.
The bumpers are honeycombed styrofoam covered with 1/8" fiberglass. No, thank you.

Give me something with a frame, some kind of protection.
I like my pickup(s) and my Travco. And I love the Merc...

-- Edited by TrishsTravco on Sunday 9th of August 2009 06:45:26 PM

AnnDon · RV-Dreams Family Member

Yes, older ones are/were built more solid. But unfortunately, we don't live in an "ideal" world. So in order to keep the big wheel turning, they must build items that need to be replaced more often. And there are only a handful of us people out there who still subscribe to the idea of build it once and forget it. We are out numbered. LOL! Everyone is entitled to believe what they wish to and subscribe to any thoughts they may have.

Living most of my life in the Northeastern US, seen a lot of accidents too, and I agree that the older and the bigger the higher rate of survival. When I was growing up, my mother (who should have been a demolition driver) was always having accidents, and unfortunately I was with her about 90% of the time. I've been in vehicles that broke through the ice on ponds, rolled over, drove into the side of a semi, etc. etc. etc. Since I have been driving (a long, long, long time) I have been fortunate (knock on wood) that I haven't been in anything involving another person, just mother nature. Ann

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

When we first got married we bought a 20year old IH 21/2 ton truck with a chassis mounted 10ft Camper on it. It was a one of a kind rig, custom built for the original owner to travel around Alaska and hunt.

It was very well built but lacked amenities. Especially the truck, no power anything, no AC and manual shift to boot. We had a blast in it. No hot water heater, an ice box, no heater and only the truck battery for power. It was perfect for a young couple to weekend camp in.

It took a lot of upkeep, mostly mechanical. The roof would leak and I'd seal it and then it would leak again just a few months later. Cabinet doors would fall off. Too much vibration due to the stiff suspension on the truck.

One day, while heading into town to get groceries, the muffler fell off and then the brakes gave out. We decided it was time to upgrade.

We bought a new 23ft TT and a Dodge Ramcharger to pull it with....what luxury, now we had power everything, AC and hot running water.

I still miss the old International and often search the web looking for any signs of it. I'd love to buy it and restore it. Lots of good memories in it....

Here's the problem with vintage...it takes a lot of upkeep unless it's completely restored to showroom condition (very costly). Even now our 15 year old 5th wheel requires at least one repair each time we go out in it. This past month I had to fix a leak under the bathroom sink and the toilet broke, a full day of missed fun. I would much rather spend my time enjoying the trip then to spend it repairing something.

AnnDon · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are in the repair stage now. But I feel we were pretty lucky. The coach is 30 years old but wasn't used much. The Gen has less than 50 hours on it and the drive train less than 40K. The carpet doesn't have any wear-n-tear.

We did have to repair a small roof leak. The coach set under a hemlock tree for almost 5 years, then before that it was kept in a barn and only taken out occasionally.

All the appliances work, the electric works, the generator fires right up. We still have some check valves stuck in the plumbing but we are working on it. We need to replace two tires due to age, but the other 4 are less than 2 years old.

It will be a work in process, but she really did clean up nice, after about 2 gallons of Wesley's Bleach White and 2 gruelling days of scrubbing.

I am glad we were able to rescue her and are bringing her back to life. No regrets. Heck, we are old too. biggrin

TrishsTravco · RV-Dreams Family Member

Woah, International... what memories!
My dad bought a brand-new '66 Travelall in fall '65 to tow the Avion and give the Merc a well-deserved rest.

Gawd-awful kelly green, grey interior, NO power, 345 4-spd, whined like a bad dog at 40mph and you couldn't get simple parts at any IH dealer. Scouts and medium duty trucks, yeah, 1/2 ton IHs were left out of the parts loop.

But we had it until '76. You could build a muscle parking that thing.

TrishsTravco · RV-Dreams Family Member

thebearII wrote:
Here's the problem with vintage...it takes a lot of upkeep unless it's completely restored to showroom condition (very costly). Even now our 15 year old 5th wheel requires at least one repair each time we go out in it. This past month I had to fix a leak under the bathroom sink and the toilet broke.

In spades does vintage want attention...

Thing is, I can afford to fix it.
I could not afford a payment [and full coverage and a computer /sensor / other whatzit.

You're right, these things break. Maintenance on an old rig is well... more rigorous.
Simple things like 16x roof vents simply aren't anymore. Bought 3 and stashed 2.
318-A parts are easily available, just better have the Dodge number and wait a day.

My bike's an '85. Same thing, stock up on hard-to-replacables and keep a spare chain and master link in the tool pouch.

Merc's a 1941. I have 3 transmissions, 2 rr ends, 2 rr fenders, another complete frt end, 3 transverse springs, 10 (?) new wheel cyls all w/ new shoes, and lord knows what else. All stashed. Someday I'll need them.

The old stuff is easy to fix which makes it much cheaper to own in the long run. But that's me.
Then, there's the cool factor.
I can appreciate a new Mercedes and would love to drive one for an hour.
But I want to drive the Merc until I die.

KarenInTheWoods · RV-Dreams Family Member

Are we *vintage* yet? We are at 14 years old....

Always doing something to it.

Last weekend we had a leak in the plastic pressure tank above the radiator, this week we are putting a coat of elastomeric coating on the fiberglass roof. Next week we are putting a laminte floor (looks like ceramic tiles!) in the bathroom.

Labor of Love, we say.....

thebearII · RV-Dreams Family Member

Not vintage but a nice looking rig. Sounds like great upgrades too !!!

I really like the paint scheme and colors.

KarenInTheWoods · RV-Dreams Family Member

Aw thanks.... It only had 22K miles on it when we got it, so it's practically *new* to us.