HI, I'm a newbe. I want to buy this 69 travco 210, But I know nothing about the way they are built. The body is straight and I cant find any soft spots or cracks. This 210 has been leaking bad for years and the inside has fallin in on itself. I dont have a problem with gutting the whole MH. MY Question to you guys is ,If the FLOOR is bad, is it steel or rotted wood? Does the body have to be separated from the frame to install new wood or steel? Hopefully one of you guys have been here. Thanks, Ramillac

Hi, ur not crazy!!!

The 21 is desireable because its so compact! The body has steel ribs and the floor is also steel "joists" made of thich sheetmetal on edge. The floor is (was) good quality plywood covered in fiberglass. if its all rotted, MAJOR MAJOR JOB!!!!!!! NOT for the faint of heart,..will need the ability to lift the body, obtain another chassis or find a modern sized equivalent..sounds cool though, what part of the country are you in? By theway, I just got my first Travco 2 mos ago, a 1968 27 foot, just got it running yesterday for the first time...need to figure out which fule line is coming from the main tank....

Hi, Thanks, MY wife thinks I 'm crazy. She sees the money not the fun when completed. Hey I build hot rods too. Anyway, about this travco. I was hoping not to have to jack up the body, but thanks for the info. I figure i'll fabricate jacks, kind of like when a house gets jacked up. Than pull the chassis out form under the body. If that isnt enought work, the next step is more fun. I plan to repower and go with a 6.2 diesel with a 5 speed stick trans for economy. I already have that. Or if I change my mind because of input from the forums ill go with a Dodge Cummins $ five spd stick. The auto transmissions just dont last. At the same time a dana 60 from axle will be installed and a 300 dana divorced transfer case for four wheel drive. Dont know what the weight of this will be, Maybe less than 10,000 lbs? but super single type tires may replace the dual wheels. Plus if its too heavy the Cummins may have to be figiured in or it will be guttless. I'm sure it will not be done before next year. Than we plan to see the places less traveled by. Across the U.S.A. Just a thought, has any of you guys changed the windshields to flat glass? By way of adding a pillar to both sides. kind of like a champion or winnie? The travco glass is just to expensive and the used stuff is cloudy and does not last. Plus where will you get a replacement if you knock a hole in it, and your in a remote area? If anyone has any type input it will be appreciated. Ill get back asap. Thanks Gary

I have a 1964 travco, 27 feet. I fell in love with her last year and purchased her with out knowing much about how to repair her. The front half had quite a bit of rotten wood. We cut out about 75% of her floor and replaced it with new plywood. It was a lot of work but doable. Travco's have a steel rib cage (reminds me of a whale) but wood around the windows, doors etc.

Check out my blog (especially earlier posts) for information on how we replaced the wood. This is a direct link to a posting on the floor install: http://myrtleandme.blogspot.com/200...-wood.html

I also have copies of Travco brochures posted on my blog that gives you an idea of the inside rib cage. A direct link to a photo of the 'rib cage": http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_np-yImlIYxw/SaJNFCYCEiI/AAAAAAAAAJg/ZL9HjZVOP_c/s1600-h/Spec+8.jpg

Ebay is a good place to look for manuals, brochures etc

We ordered new curved windshields that we will be getting installed this summer.

I have also collected a listing of other travco websites and blogs on my blog.

My blog: http://myrtleandme.blogspot.com/

Ramillac2, not sure what crazy is but I prefer to call it an adventure to save looking to deeply into my own soul. I've converted two buses and rebuilt 3 old/interesting travel trailers. One from the frame up.
Would I do it again? NO. I would buy the best I could get and put the time and effort into making it better.
Travcos aren't the hardest to find and I would say the fiberglass shell gives you a head start. Body parts are available and that is a major concern
If you have bought it already, get a superior ,full face,air supplied mask to gut the thing. My brother has 2 friends who came within a hairs breath of dieing from mold poisoning after they spent a day gutting an old trailer. Took them over a year to fully recover.
Having said that I've spent 20 years looking for a rare motor home and finally found one that was in near perfect condition just to have the owner change thier mind after agreeing to sell it to me. I think there is a Travco comming up for me as well now. Just won't be a rot box.

Steve

I talked myself out of the deal for now, and kind of glad too, because its been on the market since the second post with no lookers. I missed this season and I still have the same plans. But looking around and listening to you guys has given me a whole new outlook on the project. I have had six motorhomes given to me and about the same amount of trailers. The scrap people will not take them and most people cant get rid of them! out of the six are 3 -70s winnies under 28ft a berth and a 27 travco all with serious critters and mold. so i'll take your wisdom and save my bucks for a nicer project to start with. As arnold said. I'll be back. p.s. maybe I was almost crazy.

I saw this rig on eBay, I am not affiliated with it. Says it is 1961 but I think it's 63-65, (dodge frank/travco motorhome)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1961...285wt_1387

Thanks 007 . I'm new to the motorhome history but a ray frank sure looks like a prototype Travco. I like it , but its to nice for me to chop up and make an expedition type out of. I just found a 210 in driveable condition, needs a little work. But its 7 hours away, For me its hard to hop into a unproven 40 year old unit, and head on down the road. I'll have to check it out this week.

The Frank/Dodge were the fore runner of the Travco. When Frank went under the remains of the company were bought up and became Travco.
If you have time look up the Travco web sight. The whole story is there.
Steve.