I'm wondering if anyone has used a C-class RV as a starting point for an EXPO vehicle? Seems like kind of a no brainer if you could get an older one in decent shape on the cheap. My main reason for asking is there is an OLD one, a mid 70's Dodge Van based, can't recall the make of the conversion, not overly big, but seems in decent shape. 318/auto, runs ok according to owner, and he thinks it has 4.10's in the rear. I wonder how this thing would do towing my Wrangler around the Eastern US on some camping/wheeling adventures? Any suggestions?
Any RV's in here?
- Thread starter SGNellett
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njtaco
Explorer
As long as you are on "improved roads" you could be ok with that idea. The usual tow capacity and cooling issues apply, of course.
Regarding the Dodge, remember that they stepped out of the RV/heavy truck chassis business over 30 years ago. GM/Workhorse and Ford MAY be a better starting point. Non-routine parts availability on the Chrysler heavy truck chassis may be limited to DGU or aftermarket.
This is assuming a class A or C chassis camper, by the way. Conversion vans are a different story altogether.
Regarding the Dodge, remember that they stepped out of the RV/heavy truck chassis business over 30 years ago. GM/Workhorse and Ford MAY be a better starting point. Non-routine parts availability on the Chrysler heavy truck chassis may be limited to DGU or aftermarket.
This is assuming a class A or C chassis camper, by the way. Conversion vans are a different story altogether.
Scott Brady
Founder
Even 20 miles of corrugations will tear most RVs apart. I came across one just 10 miles into the Gonzaga Bay road that had lost a whole wall of cabinets.
Any additional twisting through washouts, etc. would compromise the wall structures, most of which are made from wood.
Any additional twisting through washouts, etc. would compromise the wall structures, most of which are made from wood.
77blazerchalet
Former Chalet owner
Hmm. Chalets are sorta in the gray area of class B & class C?. Too small to be a class C, but not exactly a class B 'van' RV either. Remember, these aren't slide-ins, they are permenently bolted down and have the wide open pass-through from the cab.
One of our Yahoo forum members actively uses his to tow around a race car (pic below), and another member had a reassuring story of how his Chalet survived a nasty dry 'major cobblestone' riverbottom drive with no ill effects, but he encountered a 4x4 slide-in truck camper that had shoot itself to pieces.
One of our Yahoo forum members actively uses his to tow around a race car (pic below), and another member had a reassuring story of how his Chalet survived a nasty dry 'major cobblestone' riverbottom drive with no ill effects, but he encountered a 4x4 slide-in truck camper that had shoot itself to pieces.
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njtaco
Explorer
Whether wood or aluminum framed, the weakly laminated nature of the typical RV is easily compromised by twisting, flexing, shaking, water damage, looking at it wrong, looking at it right, and myriad other less invasive techniques...:sombrero:
Yea, by "improved roads" in this context, I probably should have said paved.
njtaco
Explorer
And right there is one of the exceptions to prove the rule...
Yeah, it would seem that one of the better built ones could be improved by someone with the skills I see on here.
BTW, Spencyg, I see a few vans on here like yours, there is an old gas 2 wheel drive down the street from me, every time I see it I chuckle at the thought of the crazy old man who owns it trying to follow a few of the guys on here!
Rhode Trip
Adventurer
Apparently, these folks never got the memo that all RV's are unfit for expedition travel, or they never would have gotten through Tibet.
Food for thought: http://www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Context!
I have always considered Stephen Stewart to be one of the best gurus on the builing of overland campers. Read what he says here: www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/equipment/choosevan.htm
As you read down, scroll through the images and compare against the roads you expect to encounter. You can get a stretch limo to Timbuctu. The question is whether you would want to and how much would be there when you arrive.
For the record, his latest is a M.A.N. based Bimobil.
I have always considered Stephen Stewart to be one of the best gurus on the builing of overland campers. Read what he says here: www.xor.org.uk/silkroute/equipment/choosevan.htm
As you read down, scroll through the images and compare against the roads you expect to encounter. You can get a stretch limo to Timbuctu. The question is whether you would want to and how much would be there when you arrive.
For the record, his latest is a M.A.N. based Bimobil.
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jkam
nomadic man
I live full time in a Lazy Daze class C. It does not see expedition duty, it is my base camp and I use a small dualsport to do my exploring with. Before this I had a 4x4 Chevy van but it wasn't comfortable enough to live in full time. At first I started looking for 4x4 class C's and found a few Bigfoots that were converted but after looking at them decided it was best to reconsider my plans.
I chose the Lazy Daze brand for a few reasons, they have been rated the number one class C for a long time, are made and sold factory direct, the outer skin is aluminum and the roof is one piece aluminum as well.
It is a solid unit and I've had it down in Baja a few times with no issues.
I chose the Lazy Daze brand for a few reasons, they have been rated the number one class C for a long time, are made and sold factory direct, the outer skin is aluminum and the roof is one piece aluminum as well.
It is a solid unit and I've had it down in Baja a few times with no issues.
I live full time in a Lazy Daze class C. It does not see expedition duty, it is my base camp and I use a small dualsport to do my exploring with. Before this I had a 4x4 Chevy van but it wasn't comfortable enough to live in full time. At first I started looking for 4x4 class C's and found a few Bigfoots that were converted but after looking at them decided it was best to reconsider my plans.
I chose the Lazy Daze brand for a few reasons, they have been rated the number one class C for a long time, are made and sold factory direct, the outer skin is aluminum and the roof is one piece aluminum as well.
It is a solid unit and I've had it down in Baja a few times with no issues.
That is a nice looking rig you have there, Jkam! I checked out the company website and they do make some nice looking rigs! Not to go too far off on a tangent, (I suppose I can hijack my own thread, right?) I find it strange that I've not seen a single C-class w/ a diesel! Even if the money were the same, and in some cases, it's getting close, a Class A really wouldn't be an option for me, with 2 little kids, I've never seen a decent priced Class A diesel that sleeps 4 with any privacy! Sure, the rear bedroom might have a door, but what about the others?
BigJimCruising
Adventurer
I chose to go with a truck chasis with a very big camper on it for now. I work full time so the extra room is nice. After I retire in a couple years I'll probably put something like an Alaskan on it for trips outside the U.S. So far the camper has held up great to light off roading and occasional hard off roading so it's turned out to be tougher then I had thought but I don't think it would hold up to well for South America, Australia and Africa. I had looked at many class c's and others but needed 4x4 which left just about all of them out. Plus it would be very hard on them being used in 3rd world countries. As posted above check out all of Stewarts pages and you'll find a number of entries about having to stop travel to work on the RV based vehicles on the trip. Batteries falling out, cabnets coming loose and other failures pointed out that while you can do a lot of travel in an RV when you hit the heavy stuff you should be prepared for repairs and delays. If I recall on one of the trips one of the RV's had to be put in the back of a large truck and hauled quite a distance for repairs. I'd say stick with heavy duty rigs that you can customize for your needs. Then again with enough money in your pockets you might not need to worry to much about what rig you drive!
jkam
nomadic man
Thanks.
The problem with a diesel in a class C is the weight at least on the Ford E series. A lot of motor homes are nearly at capacity when full of water, fuel and propane leaving not much left other than for a bag of chips and a beer. Adding the diesel engine makes this worse so most don't offer it. Lazy Daze did for a few years but has since stopped. Now that the Kodiak chassis is being used, I think you'll see more diesels being offered in the large class C category.
08whitex
Adventurer
Jayco has diesel class C's. They are about 150 grand.
http://www.jayco.com/php/products/motorhomes/trailer.php?id=182
http://www.jayco.com/php/products/motorhomes/trailer.php?id=182