I bought a 1973 D18 Brave at the end of last summer, sort of on a whim, for a great deal at $2k. Â The interior had been repainted white and the most of the old rug/floor in the coach had been replaced or covered with linoleum. Â The roof had been painted with some kind of sealant and the RV seem like it was structurally in good shape, had no “funky old RV smell” to it and the engine worked. Â The brakes were massively ‘iffy’ and the steering seemed loose, but those were thing I could get fixed. Â Before putting it up for the winter I did get $2,500 in work done (in two places, but that’s a rant for another day!) on the brakes and other things that make it safe to drive. Â I’d have to pull the receipt out to itemize it all, but suffice it to say, by the time I parked it for the winter the RV “started and and stopped” without me fearing about playing bumper cars on the highway.
The previous owner was using it as a “driveable tent” but has said that all the things worked (propane, stove, fridge, water, etc) except the shower when he bought it, but they never used those amenities and I neglected to ask about how to use them so now I’m fumbling trying to figure out how to get my RV ready for summer use.
I’ve got into an an awesome Classic Winnebago and Vintage Rvs forum and I’ve got a lot of help on the things I’m trying to get working. Â So far in just a week I’ve figured out how to:
1) turn on the propane
2) light the stove burners and the oven pilot
3) light the fridge pilot
4) light the furnace pilot and make the furnace work when there is shore* power to the coach
5) make the interior light work (understanding how to switch from AUX/Generator/shore power)
* shore power refers to plugging the RV into city electricity. Â I still need to figure out AUX battery power for boon-docking as well as generator power for limited use during boon-docking.
I’m in the process of replacing the propane regulator and hoses as well as fixing the battery bay since there is some funky stuff going on there.
Here are a few photos of the RV as it stands now. Â Also, I’ve got a paint scheme cooked up once I fix the window screens (and then come up with the extra funds for something as frivolous as paint themes) to make the RV looks like a R2-D2, hence the Winn-E-D2 (or R2-bago?)
1973 Winnebago Brave D18
1973 Winnebago Brave D18
1973 Winnebago Brave D18
Interior, while working on power and furnace stuff.
Dining area, while working on power and furnace stuff. One of the things I’m planning to do is cut the backrest on the seat close to the steps and install a piano hinge so that this “bed” will accommodate a full-grown person since right now it only fits someone who is about five feet tall.
Previous owner recovered all coach upholstery and re-did the floors (just dirty due to leaves!)
No shower-floor liner, but that’s okay since I’ll likely just use this space for storage anyway!
Bathroom in pretty good condition. No idea if water runs or toilet works yet though….
Need to fix that screen or the mosquitoes will EAT US ALIVE in Denali this summer!
This area has the most original stuff in it. The dash has some broken elements I need to track down, including dash heat. Driving this thing back and forth from Fairbanks to North Pole to store at my friend house then bring it home, without heat was brutal. It took over an hour for my toes to get feeling again!