Have Avco will Travel

Travco Vans, Superior Motorhomes...basically anything Dodge based.
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Travco Model: Avco actually
Location: Knoxville TN

Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Dr. Righteous » Sun Jun 09, 2013 6:39 pm

I'm trying to figure out exactly which Dodge chassis this thing is built on. I have the Avco operators manual but it does not cover any mechanical that is part of the chassis. It says "refer to the chassis manual"\nSo I really need a Dodge chassis manual for 1978 or 1979. \nAnd also, the VIN number is assigned to the chassis, not the coach; need to know how to decode it.
1978 Avco Grand Touring 32'\nImage

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Travco Model: 1975 270,1974 220
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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Acesneights » Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:43 pm

It's hard to tell and sometimes the year can be off. I have heard stories that Travco and other manufacturers would have the chassis laying around and then build a unit and sell it as the next production year.\nIe:\nA titled 1975 may actually be a 1974 or even 73 chassis.\nTry to post up some pics of the underneath and the wheel bolt pattern\nMost were M500 but when ordering parts it's really anyone's guess. Just have to look at the pics in the parts books and see if they look right. That is one of the reason I started this site so we could get an up to date parts list for the Dodge M chassis.\nAlot of times for engine stuff I just use M300.
1977 Travco 270 Elite\n1974 Travco 220 Parts unit

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Travco Model: 1975 270,1974 220
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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Acesneights » Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:50 pm

. \n M300 is listed under Dodge Truck. All other versions are listed under Med Heavy/ Duty Dodge. The NAPA P/N's listed on the Bendix site use an old NAPA format and are likely to be incorrect. Cross reference the Bendix number at the NAPA site. \n1969-73 M375 - Info can be combined with M300 or listed seperate as M400. \n1973-74 - General rule of thumb, RM350 is listed as M400; RM375 is listed as M500; RM400 is listed as M600. \nBecause of the coding used in the Dodge MH Parts maual, it can be confusing at times to determine which part number you need. You not only need the year model, you need the chassis key code from the first page of the parts manual. The following table is a condensed version of the key code information. \n\nModel 1969-73 1973-74 1975-Up \nM300 M3 ------- ---------M3 \nM375 M4 ------- ------- \nRM300 ------- R3 (M300) ------- \nRM350 ------- R4 (M400) ------- \nRM400 ------- R5 (M500) ------- \nM400 ------- ------- -----------M4 \nM500 ------- ------- -----------M5 \nM600 ------- ------- -----------M6
1977 Travco 270 Elite\n1974 Travco 220 Parts unit

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Travco Model: 1975 270,1974 220
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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Acesneights » Sun Jun 09, 2013 9:58 pm

It just occurred to me looking at you avatar that yours is tandem. Are both axles live or is one just a tag axle ?
1977 Travco 270 Elite\n1974 Travco 220 Parts unit

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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Dr. Righteous » Sun Jun 09, 2013 10:56 pm

Acesneights wrote:It just occurred to me looking at you avatar that yours is tandem. Are both axles live or is one just a tag axle ?
\nThe rear most is a "tag axle" operated via air bags.\nThis is one of the reasons I'm hunting the correct chassis manual; I have no clue about most of the heavy duty truck stuff.
1978 Avco Grand Touring 32'\nImage

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Travco Model: 1975 270,1974 220
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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Acesneights » Mon Jun 10, 2013 10:02 am

I "think" the tag axle is probably an add on from Avco so probably won't be in the chassis manuals.
1977 Travco 270 Elite\n1974 Travco 220 Parts unit

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Travco Model: Avco actually
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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Dr. Righteous » Mon Jun 10, 2013 2:04 pm

Acesneights wrote:I "think" the tag axle is probably an add on from Avco so probably won't be in the chassis manuals.
\nThe Avco operators manual doesn't cover any chassis information at all. It says "refer to the chassis manual".
1978 Avco Grand Touring 32'\nImage

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Travco Model: 1975 270,1974 220
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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Acesneights » Mon Jun 10, 2013 3:52 pm

Yeah the Tag axle is probably not covered in that either. It is probably an M500 or 600 chassis with that added on by Avco.\nDid you look at the bolt pattern on the wheels ? Try to post up some pics of the steering box, the rear axle including backing plates and the front axle. That should be some indication. Also see if there is a Vin plate form Chrysler Corp . It could be anywhere.
1977 Travco 270 Elite\n1974 Travco 220 Parts unit

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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by 77Travco » Tue Jun 11, 2013 11:06 am

Since it is a 1978 model and has that tag axle, I would be willing to bet that it's an M600... but it could be an M500. I have a Dodge M500 manual for 1977 and it doesn't have any tag axle info anywhere in it.

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Travco Model: Avco actually
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Re: Have Avco will Travel

Unread post by Dr. Righteous » Wed Jun 12, 2013 8:58 pm

Been hunting parts this week and and other things.\nThe shifter cable is NLA now from Navistar. Had to order it from a company that custom builds them. $90. Hope to see it next week.\nStarted on the rebuild on the ThermoQuad and found the kit was minus the correct accelerator pump. Had to order that. Finished that rebuild up today and installed the carb. It runs sweet from a fuel can; I still have a problem with the tanks. They just suck air when you try to pump fuel out of them and they both have at least 1/4 a tank. I'm guessing the connecting fuel hoses are cracked and sucking air keeping the pump from priming. \nWent to the Onan dealer and found the choke housing is NLA. I'm stuck with a warped housing but I figured out a way to modify it to make it work. \nPicked up the bi-metal spring for $7 so that is ready to go. Yesterday since I was waiting on parts I took the opportunity and took a razor scraper and removed the stupid vinyl letting the previous owner had applied. There is a slight difference in the gelcoat that was under the letting so I will have to buff it out; but man, it looks a heck of a lot better now.
1978 Avco Grand Touring 32'\nImage

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