How far would you drive in a vintage MoHo?

[cdufault]

My 1977 28 foot Argosy motorhome starts, runs and stops well. It keeps its cool on the hills, the tires are new and all of the coach camping features work fine. The chassis has less than 50,000 miles on the clock, all fluids looked good but were recently changed; still I'm *too chicken* to drive it over the passes or further than 100 miles from my home in Southern California.

What is your experience with reliability and driving long-distance in a vintage rig?

[bwoodtx]

I once drove an '81 280 from Kenosha, WI to San Antonio, TX-1694 miles

I bought it off of Craigslist, had seen the coach in person, and had the two front tires changed. Was supposed to be road worthy. For the most part it was.

Would I do it again-probably not.

As a friend of mine told me-by the time you get to Texas you will know 3 things-What works, what doesn't work and what I have to fix-he was right.

Sounds like your coach is in better shape than mine was. I would sign up with GoodSam roadside assistance and start exploring. Maybe have a friend standing by in case of trouble. You won't gain any confidence unless you get out there.

Think about this- a late model tow vehicle with a tow behind can also have an issue. Make sure all rubber components are new or in very good shape(hoses, belts, tires)fill it full of gas and oil and take off!!

Safe travels my friend!

[martin300662]

JM2 bought his 20ft in California and set off for New Jersey to drive it home.....just don't expect the trip to be uneventful.

Our MH Bella is totally rebuilt but I tend not to drive more than 500miles a day, and check fluids before starting off each day.

[Smartstream]

The longest trip in my '82 280 was 16,000 miles in 4 months. It was around about from West coast to East coast and back. A couple of years later we did 9,000 miles in 3 months to Alaska. Nothing to be afraid of. Be reasonably diligent with maintenance and necessary repairs and go have fun.

[LY007]

I had an 87 Bluebird Wanderlodge. My first trip in it was from New York to Virginia after I flew in to pick it up. In December, with snow flurries near Syracuse, and I couldn't figure out how to operate the many heat systems on the bus while driving.

I had never driven anything bigger than a van before, and now I was at the wheel of a 32,000 lb bus. 35 mph up the mountains. It went ok in that I made it home without incident. Luck of the naive.

My second trip involved the whole family and a ten hour trip to Tennessee. A long long long ten hours while I drove with a falsely confident face for the family.

While a lot went wrong, the bus never broke down, though on long hills I had to keep an eye on the temp gauges. The Cat 3280T never missed a beat.

So what I am suggesting is: get in it and drive it. Its a great adventure and a relief to arrive.

[GWallace]

I have a 77 Argosy 20 that I purchase used from the first owner in 1978. It presently has about 80,000 miles on it and I know it's history since the beginning. Needles to say it did sit for 20 years and I have been going through it to go again. I have taken it on short day trips around the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Also I took it down to Austin, TX in late May -- about a 400 mile round trip. With these runs I locate issues and work them out back at home. My goal is to be able to go to the mountains in New Mexico and Colorado. And also ultimately some trips to my daughter's place in the CA Bay Area.

Start with some shorter trips and then sprout your legs and go!

In past years we have traveled all over the western U.S. in our Argosy 20.

Gregg

[AstroBruce]

The chances of a properly maintained older rig breaking down are no greater than a new rig breaking down. Probably less. Not as many things to go wrong.

Bruce

[bkahler]

I'd be happy to just be able to drive mine around the block

[Isuzusweet]

At our last get together in Limestone PA, we had a family in a 1983 300 drive up the east coast from Louisiana. They ended up at Niagara falls NY, then drove home. I don't know what their total mileage was. Yes, they had a few issues, but nothing that couldn't be solved by the local NAPA store.

I am starting to feel more and more confident in my 1983 310 turbo diesel, so next year planning a trip out to the East coast of Canada, which should be easily a couple thousand miles.

Cheers
Tony

[mayco]

Ive driven my '82 310 TD 2000 miles round trip twice so far and other trips that were 1000 miles. Only one major breakdown involving ball joints. I might be crazy or stupid but Im pretty confident in the old bird. I also carry a pretty good stock of critical parts and tools just in case.

Mike

[mandolindave]

Everyone of my trucks started to get expensive problems after ten years.

But you have tested it on short runs. I would sign up with Triple A or similar.

Maybe have an emergency fund for towing, mechanic, and motel.

My brother and I were car camping, I think it was near Canyonlands. We were warned that we were off the beaten track, and that towing fees to a repair shop was about $1000…..for a car !!! You have to pay for a truck to get to you, then get you out. ( round trip, truck , driver, and gas $$$ )

We were on rugged dirt roads though. Motor Homes usually are near a paved road.

My point is that besides how far you go, where you go comes into play.

[bpg_austin]

I love this question! I think most of the above is great info and rings true. I bought our '78 last year and have put on about 8k miles so far. 2 trips across the country to Minnesota and back from TX. I did my due-diligence on maintnance as many have stated about. Took me about 2 months of work to go through most of the mechanicals and mentally note what to keep track of, what was in good shape, and what needed to be done immediately. And, after that... off to the races. No fear. I pack some extra parts that commonly go out. (fuel pump. , thanks Peter for your help.) But, if you're not planning on having some kind of breakdown on the road you shouldn't be driving a vintage motorhome. Something WILL go wrong. Prepare for what you are able to fix, and be gracious and patient whem something breaks that you can't fix. It'll happen.
I'm a huge fan of the GO part of owning a motorhome. I love turning the wrenches, but not as much as I love exploring new places with my family.

[LY007]

Somewhat OT but I have been following the adventures of this 77 year old person who is on a round the world tour in a 1930 Hudson.

http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2...a-1930-hudson/


Also, I heard a Bentley restorer in England talk about his childhood tour of America in the sixties. His father loaded a 1930s Bentley with the wife and three kids and did a 28,000 mile tour of North America.

[PKI]

If you can DIY the small stuff, afford to have it shipped home to fix the big stuff, and don't have to be at work on Monday, then go for it. If not, save more money and upgrade the rig until you can.

As a kid, I took a Boy Scout Trip in an old School bus from Kansas to the East Coast. We got as far as St Louis before the clutch blew, Waddy Kentucky before a bearing started knocking, and Anstead West Virginia before we gave up with the fixes and put in a rebuilt short block. The repairs were all performed shade tree style by a mechanic and a couple of adult helpers. We finished the trip without any other breakdown. It can be done, but not on a schedule and not without money and skills. Sounds like your rig is in much better shape than that old bus, but any vehicle can break. A retired coworker had the turbo blow on a 1 year old MoHo.

The standard approach is to drive 50 miles and fix any problems. Then expand to 100 miles and fix any problems. Then expand to 200 miles and continue that approach until the rig is bullet proof. It would always be a good approach to stay within 200 miles of civilization.

I always think that for about $5K you can buy an old Corvette to get home and for a few hundred more the rig can be stored until you save enough money and time to come back and fix it. So, no problem ..... or you could just stay home and polish it. Back yard camping works too. Pat

[WayneG]

I have had two 77 Argosy MH's My first was a 20 footer and the second a 24 footer, and now I have a 84 Excella 270 MH
I seldom drive more than 150 miles from home, but that is all the range I need so far, that may change when I retire next month.

So far, I have never needed a tow, but I have broke down a few times.
The Qjet float on the 20 footer sprung a leak and flooded the engine but I limped to my destination. I keep all sorts of tools and spare parts when I travel, and on this trip I had a soldering iron with electronics solder, so I pulled the lid off of the carb, pulled the float, put it in a cup of hot water to force the gas out and find the pin holes, then I soldered it up, and it worked fine. When I got home i bought a plastic float.

The 24 footer was a junker and the worst road problem I had was the starter solenoid not engaging when it was hot, usually at a gas stop. For that I kept a long screwdriver and I would climb in the right front wheel well and make contact between the bat wire on the starter and the solenoid start lug. Works all the time.

On the Airstream I had two breakdowns, first was a aftermarket inline plastic heater valve that self destructed on the NY Thruway, I lost half of my coolant, so I had a hose splice and clamps in my parts, cut out the bad valve, spliced the hose, filed the radiator with water from the fresh water tank and back on the highway.
I though the second breakdown was a bad fuel pump but it turns out it was a bad fuel gauge reading more than was in the tank. The engine was cutting out on curves, I filled the gas tank and back on the road. I replaced the fuel sender when I got home.

Again, Keep tools, spare parts and fluids handy. Make sure you have good tires and good pressure in them, and your are doing the best you can.
No matter what you prep for, there is always that worry for the unknown failure around the next curve.

[tevake]

These beasties seem vintage by today's standards. But by the late seventies vehicles were pretty relieable if not particularly fuel efficient.

If yours is as sorted as you say, you should pack up some tools, spares, a good tow plan. And hit the road.

The classic motorhomes are great touring machines. Good to drive (once the brakes, steering, and cooling etc are sorted ��). Great viewing from the cab, and comfortable once you get there.

I totally understand you concerns. I full time in my coach and dread the thought of having to leave my rig/ home on the side of the road while sorting repairs.
But so far the coach has shown that my worries are not justified.

Get out and enjoy the gem that is in your hands, that's it whole reason for being.

Cheers Richard

[arden_dean]

I'v had my 1986 about 5 years and each year I've taken long trips 3000 plus miles. With a properly maintain Airstream you can go any where your heart leads you.

[Royce]

For almost 25 years my daily driver was a 1955 First series Chevy pickup. It made several 1,100-mile trips while I owned it. When I sold it in 2004 the new owner asked if I would drive it to Chicago from Colorado Springs. I told him even though it has never left me stranded, I don't drive it further than I intend to walk back from. :-)

[CLKIESER]

Two years ago, I flew into Dallas, TX and bought a '94 Classic 360 pusher. I had to drive it to Oklahoma City for new tires, then on the road to Illinois and home. Keep in mind, it was two middle aged women in this rig, hubby couldn't make the trip. I had driven a 28' Class A for a few year, but no experience like this. The trip was white knuckled at time, I openly admit that. But is was also filled with laughter and amazement of this beautiful machine that I hope to call home for a few years when we retire. Last year, we went to the Spartan factory in Michigan, and got a thorough check up. We were relieved to hear the mechanic tell us she's in amazing shape. We take her on shorter trips now as time allows. Next year, we plan on beefing up the brake system and seeing how she does across the Mid-West into Colorado (we were in the Smokies last year, again, white knuckles). Yes, we have great towing and roadside assist service, a tool box, and a toad we can unhook if we ever need to drive somewhere for help, if we are out of cell phone range. We know it won't always be smooth sailing, but we love her, and I wouldn't trade for one of the new monster rigs! I hope you enjoy yours now and for a long time to come.

[Termite748]

Just got back from south dakota to central Illinois with my 1981 Excella motorhome. I had no problems,just kept it below 60 mph on the interstates. Drove a lot of state roads to avoid traffic.