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Topic: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info! (Read 474 times) previous topic - next topic
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Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Recently bought a 1975 model. The stamped tag says it was built 02/1975 Model Number: LD19RD.

Interior is in rough shape, a family of 4 was living in it for a while and there is water damage everywhere (mostly from the after market AC that leaked everywhere), haha. But it's doable. I was hoping someone might have some info on the stove, a Trav'ler Gourmet II, that is missing hinges on the oven door, and, longshot here, maybe an owner's manual from that era?
1975 19' RD
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #1 –
There's a person who stores his mid-70s Dodge Sportsman in the same lot as me (Costa Mesa). It sat rotting quietly for a few years, then last year the coach was was completely removed and the chassis stripped down to the truck frame. Within a few months, the person had completely built a brand new coach; I'm not sure he even followed the original plans.

IMO, this is the logical thing to do if (a) you have the skills; (b) you have the time; and (c) the RV was essentially free. Assuming you took it down to the frame, it would depend a lot on whether the engine/tranny/running gear, brakes, etc were worth fixing.

Figure $2.5-5k to bring all those components up to snuff. Now, for around $1k in materials (wood 2x3), you could quickly cut and build a new frame by essentially following the patterns of the old pieces. Of course, this would only be necessary if you wanted to retain the exterior panels and overall LD shape. If you felt like simply building a new "tiny house" on top of the chassis, then you could build it any way you wanted. (Either way, I'd keep the windows since they can be expensive.)

For anyone who has ever built a home, addition or peripheral structure, it will all seem very familiar. Bring in a professional, licensed plumber to run water/gas, and electrician for 12v/120v, and you'd be all set. Not sure how much RV components cost, but items like toilet, reefer, etc LD uses are standard across the industry.

At the end of the day, for maybe $10k, you'd have yourself a brand new RV. And no, this isn't some crazy idea. Actually, there's a whole movement underway doing just this to either standard vans, or even better, trailers. Check out these guys who have built custom trailers/frame-outs in which to build their "tiny house":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQFk2eVgi4A&t=5s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjwpRXlbMVY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anxgS132OP4
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #2 –
I get what you're saying. At this point I'm only about 1700$ into it, but the engine seems fine by all accounts. It starts right up, drove the 120 miles from where it was to here, but a little roughly.

At this point it's just something to fiddle around with, so I'm not sure how deep I want to go. Might end up just remodeling as I go.
1975 19' RD
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #3 –
Quote from: technicolorwildlife  - 
Recently bought a 1975 model. The stamped tag says it was built 02/1975 Model Number: LD19RD.

Interior is in rough shape, a family of 4 was living in it for a while and there is water damage everywhere (mostly from the after market AC that leaked everywhere), haha. But it's doable. I was hoping someone might have some info on the stove, a Trav'ler Gourmet II, that is missing hinges on the oven door, and, longshot here, maybe an owner's manual from that era?

 I found this ad on craigslist of a 1977 on a Dodge chassis. Looking at the photos, it appears to have the same stove/oven combo that you do. Perhaps if you contacted them, they might be able to provide some useful information:

1977 Dodge B300 - rvs - by owner - vehicle automotive sale
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #4 –
Quote from: technicolorwildlife  - 
Recently bought a 1975 model. The stamped tag says it was built 02/1975 Model Number: LD19RD.

We sure want to welcome you to the LDO forum and to congratulate you on your LD.  We’d be very interested in following your progress so we hope you share pics and updates. Best of luck to you.
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #5 –
Keep in mind that the tiny house fabrication techniques are mostly those of standard home builders, whose likely over-the-road travel will be 10 trips max... with the last one being to the dump.  So using tiny house videos as a guide for construction will probably be disappointing.  Using them for design/inspiration is fine, though.

If I were starting from scratch with a bare chassis, I'd start with learning how to TIG weld aluminum, and go from there.
When repairing an existing LD, close inspection of how they do right-angle joints, and how elements are attached to the chassis will reveal construction methods to be replicated.
2000 Front Lounge
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #6 –
What Chip said, and don't think I'd want to use a 1975 chassis if doing a complete house rebuild.
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #7 –
Quote from: HiLola  - 
I found this ad on craigslist of a 1977 on a Dodge chassis. Looking at the photos, it appears to have the same stove/oven combo that you do. Perhaps if you contacted them, they might be able to provide some useful information:

1977 Dodge B300 - rvs - by owner - vehicle automotive sale

woah, yeah, that looks like my exact model, only much better condition, haha! I'll definitely give them a shout.

Quote from: Ed & Margee  - 
We sure want to welcome you to the LDO forum and to congratulate you on your LD.  We’d be very interested in following your progress so we hope you share pics and updates. Best of luck to you.

Hey thanks! I'll post photos as I go.

Quote from: Chip Chester  - 
Keep in mind that the tiny house fabrication techniques are mostly those of standard home builders, whose likely over-the-road travel will be 10 trips max... with the last one being to the dump.  So using tiny house videos as a guide for construction will probably be disappointing.  Using them for design/inspiration is fine, though.

If I were starting from scratch with a bare chassis, I'd start with learning how to TIG weld aluminum, and go from there.
When repairing an existing LD, close inspection of how they do right-angle joints, and how elements are attached to the chassis will reveal construction methods to be replicated.

I don't think I'm up for stripping it completely down at this point, definitely looking to make it livable at minimum, and replacing much of the worn out water damaged stuff.

I'll keep y'all posted!
1975 19' RD
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #8 –
Just curious, does the 19' RD have a bathroom?
Greg & Victoria
2017 Mid-Bath  “Nocona” towing a manual 2015 Forester
Previously a 1985 TK
SKP #61264
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #9 –
Quote from: technicolorwildlife  - 
I don't think I'm up for stripping it completely down at this point, definitely looking to make it livable at minimum, and replacing much of the worn out water damaged stuff.

The major problem with any significantly water/flood damaged wooden structures is mold/rot.

We went through NO a few years after Katrina (along the 1-10) and large swaths of neighborhoods were simply abandoned. The buildings cannot be repaired, so they need to be cleared down to the foundation and re-built from scratch. We were just in the Keys during March, and same is true there: hurricane damage causes many rebuilding projects to start over from the foundation up.

With an older, water damaged LD, you're never going to get it back to any condition where a dedicated hobbyist/perfectionist is going to be satisfied. Not trying to be negative, just offering an opinion based on experience. And in my case, I had perhaps the least intrusion of all, and the repair has been rock-solid for 5 years. And yet ... I can see where Andy is coming from. At a certain point, you just get deflated and realize it isn't ever going to be perfect.

So for those interested in tinkering, building and/or repairing, there are certain alternatives that can satisfy an itch with a healthy payoff of knowing you have a job well done. That's why I post up links to those building out vans & trailers. The real key - and why I believe the class B market is so strong - is having a steel/aluminum uni-body to start with. I see many, many #vanlife folks (we live by the beach) with homemade build-outs using Transits, Sprinters & ProMasters. The other trick is to get a cargo trailer like an Interstate to begin building out an interior that will be rock solid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFKG5r3qNIM
Re: Bought an old 1975 model looking for info!
Reply #10 –
Quote from: HiLola  - 
Just curious, does the 19' RD have a bathroom?

Technically, yes, but I haven't been brave enough to use it yet. Haha. Incidentally, if anyone has a recommendation on making sure the whole septic system is good I'm all ears!

Quote from: snerf  - 
The major problem with any significantly water/flood damaged wooden structures is mold/rot.

This is a huge concern for me as well, my wife has asthma. The floor is sound (aesthetically the linoleum is trash), and I haven't found any soft, or sagging areas. Mainly, it's a few areas of leaks (mostly around the windows) and underneath the AC that the previous owner had installed. I've torn out the rotten areas, and I am building it back up again. This is California, so it doesn't really get wet here, and in 43 years, I don't think it saw much flooding.
1975 19' RD