Should I get this?

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Tad

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Was at a friends house and he said his neighbor is trying to give this away. Looks straight and in good condition from the outside. My friend says it turns over but won’t run and the inside has Definitely been used. We’ve been wanting a camper just don’t want to get into another money pit. I don’t mind a little freshening up of some mechanical stuff.
 
Tad said:
View attachment 1715564673 View attachment 1715564672 View attachment 1715564670 Was at a friends house and he said his neighbor is trying to give this away. Looks straight and in good condition from the outside. My friend says it turns over but won’t run and the inside has Definitely been used. We’ve been wanting a camper just don’t want to get into another money pit. I don’t mind a little freshening up of some mechanical stuff.
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Looks ok from the pics but if its "Definitely been used" it's probably a money pit. How much are you willing to sink into to it to get it where you want it?
 
I think the picture of it finished is what’s pulling me in. I don’t really want to spend a whole Lotta money on it right now. I’m sure I’ll pass on it
 
Tad said:
View attachment 1715564673 View attachment 1715564672 View attachment 1715564670 Was at a friends house and he said his neighbor is trying to give this away. Looks straight and in good condition from the outside. My friend says it turns over but won’t run and the inside has Definitely been used. We’ve been wanting a camper just don’t want to get into another money pit. I don’t mind a little freshening up of some mechanical stuff.
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Does it have a 400 or a 440? Even a 413 would be good.

Go for it!
 
It's worth quite a bit for parts in the truck market right now. They make a good flat bed car hauler, too.
 
Motor homes are difficult to part out. There is a hell of a lot of waste and depending on "where you are" taking the unsalvagable to the dump can cost MONEY and TIME and EFFORT

You don't want a money pit? I'd RUN!!!
 
What engine does it have !? .. to me , .. that would be my decision maker !? .. 318- 400 BB maybe not !? ... 440 definitely "YES" ..
 
Even a 400 is still a B. Plan on a complete strip out of everything cloth in there, especially the carpet, yuck! If your handy with a sewing machine (not that uncommon around here) you could fab up some new drapes, cushion covers and mattress slip covers and have a fresh start. Every carpet i've ever seen in a motor home is disgusting. Many around here have been lived in so wear is heavy. Most old relics need nothing more than a fuel pump and maybe a carb kit. I was offered a class B that needed a fuel pump to make it run. Jusy no room for it it was a 72 and looked old so i can imagine what the inside looked like.
 
Make a deal that if you get it running you'll take it
might cost you a few $$ to do so maybe not much if it something simple but better to find that out ahead of time
If he doesn't agree walk......
 
Even if it's a 318, it might be a 318-3. But -3s can be iffy as well. The newest -3 block I have seen was a re-man out of parts truck with a 1982 casting date. It did indeed have visually thicker cylinder walls but they were thicker on the minor thrust surfaces instead of the major thrust surfaces. My suspicion is that it was originally a marine block. It still looks like it has enough material to safely bore to a 4.04 inch bore, but I would still sonic test beforehand.
 
I've spent alot of good money after bad trying to fix things up! My advice would be to save your money and buy something decent the first time. In the end you'll be way ahead of the game. 65'
 
As an owner of a "vintage" camper, would just give you a heads up. Refrigerators and stoves go out but can be replaced. How are the curtains? They are usually custom made to replace. How is the mattress, the flooring? Cabinet hardware is hard to find.
 
pishta said:
Even a 400 is still a B. Plan on a complete strip out of everything cloth in there, especially the carpet, yuck! If your handy with a sewing machine (not that uncommon around here) you could fab up some new drapes, cushion covers and mattress slip covers and have a fresh start. Every carpet i've ever seen in a motor home is disgusting. Many around here have been lived in so wear is heavy. Most old relics need nothing more than a fuel pump and maybe a carb kit. I was offered a class B that needed a fuel pump to make it run. Jusy no room for it it was a 72 and looked old so i can imagine what the inside looked like.
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Reupholstery would be no problem. My dad worked in upholstery most of his life and he’s made all of my seat covers. Definitely would strip it out. The guy already told someone else that he did not want them working on it in his front yard and that it had to be towed away before any work was done. That’s got to say something
 
Murray said:
As an owner of a "vintage" camper, would just give you a heads up. Refrigerators and stoves go out but can be replaced. How are the curtains? They are usually custom made to replace. How is the mattress, the flooring? Cabinet hardware is hard to find.
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I haven’t looked inside. One thing I did notice from the outside is the aluminum siding is very slightly bubbled out right above and behind the cab. I’m wondering if that means the inner structure is crushed or something like that.
 
If the siding is bubbled out, likely water has gotten in from above. Happened to my old trailer. Check the inside ceiling for discoloration and put a ladder up and check the roof seams. They use seam sealer up there and it dries out.
Tad said:
I haven’t looked inside. One thing I did notice from the outside is the aluminum siding is very slightly bubbled out right above and behind the cab. I’m wondering if that means the inner structure is crushed or something like that.
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I had one just like that years ago. I'll bet that upper front window leaks like hell. Mine did and could never get it to seal. That roof should be sealed ever few years, I'm sure it hasn't been touched. The brakes are most likely frozen. Plus all those damn batteries and screwed up wiring. Those were not built by pros. I'd run and never look back. That may even be a 360 2 Barrel, mine was and it was a turd.
 
I purchased a similar one and lived in it for awhile when away at school in San Diego circa 2000. The workmanship and quality is substandard most of the time. Water penetrates at the seams and windows after so many years. They have their good and bad points. Ending up selling mine after I found a cheap apartment. New owner's name was Curly Hummingbird (lady might have been a Native American).
Too late to ask how she made out in it:
Curly Hummingbird Obituary - San Diego, CA | ObitTree™
 
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Do you need another hole in your head? How many projects do you want on the go? Consider getting your daily driver vehicle sorted out first.
 
As mentioned, a major concern when you get inside is the evidence of water leaks, usually the roof and vents. If there have been serious leaks, although they can be repaired, the structural damage they have caused over time is not. Then it's time to walk away. You can pick up little used ones five to ten years old for a good price.
 
Tad said:
I haven’t looked inside. One thing I did notice from the outside is the aluminum siding is very slightly bubbled out right above and behind the cab. I’m wondering if that means the inner structure is crushed or something like that.
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If you are serious about it, make sure the roof hasn't leaked. Water damage hides really well in RVs until it's too late. The bubble over the cab could be water damage.
 
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