thebonds Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Hey all. First post on here. Last summer I picked up a 1979 tandem axle Travette. I didn't take the time to get any pics of the original interior but it was the worn out blue shag carpet and wood grain. Paneling throughout. Here is what the outside paint looked like. . Here are pics of after my new paint job. Both inside and out, as well as new floor and cushion covers. http://i1247.photo bucket.com/albums/gg621/jstnbnds/IMG_20130715_174713_850_zpsacb34d96.jpg My future plans include swapping the 4 speed transmission out for a 5 speed as well as installing lower gear ratio ring and pinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob C Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Welcome to the group. That is a very sweet looking and rare unit. It looks really great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Nice looking makeover. As far as I remember, you're the first Member with a tag axle. What are your thoughts on the tag axle design? Do you notice any tire scrub in tight turns? Is there any adjustability in the 3rd axle springs? I don't see any sign of shocks. I like your Rabbit and Lab, too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 I love the tag for the most part. It handles great in the turns for an rv with minimal body roll and havent noticed any sort of tire scrub. I definitely figured it was a rare bird when I seen it, kinda why I decided to purchase it. Here are some pics from underneath of the tag. It uses a sort of torsion suspension from what I can tell. Any idea if there would be concern for axle failure on this since it is the old 5 lug rear? Or is that not an issue since it is not a dually? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 I'd have to say 'no problem' since you don't have foolies. No strange bearing loads applied. I see you also indulge in some 'light' off-roading. Can you offer a Readers Digest version of what's available in upgraded rear bearings and axles? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 That's certainly an unusual 3rd axle. It looks as though it's been rather crudely cut and sleeved to widen it. I wonder if it's a standard trailer item that's been modified. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted February 1, 2014 Author Share Posted February 1, 2014 Ya the fabrication on the rear tag isn't all that impressive, well other than the fact it hasn't fallen apart yet after 30 plus years. As far as bearings in rear axles, 4x4 rear housings and factory bearings are about as strong as you can get without up grading to full size. I would swap in a 4x4 rear but I would prefer to keep the factory 5 lug rims. I need to examine my rear drive axle a little closer to verify it is an 8". That would make it a piece of. Make to swap in a lower geared 3rd member. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontanaChinook Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Yeah that looks like a nice 79-83 4x4 in the background. With a later model dash! I sold my 83 a few months ago. I will regret it...but it was the right decision. Nice motorhome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WME Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 Look up the max gvw for that year truck. Weigh yours with the rear axle on and off the scale. The weight difference should tell you how much the rear tag axle is carrying and if your "real" axle is within weight limits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted February 1, 2014 Share Posted February 1, 2014 So the 4x4 rear axle isn't the same as 2wd? Didn't know that. It would appear that in '79 the GVWR was only 4650lb. I guess that's why a few manufacturers played with tag axles between '79 & '81. 1979 Dolphin 300 Micro Mini.pdf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted February 2, 2014 Author Share Posted February 2, 2014 Well I honestly am not sure if 2wd axles are as strong as 4x4 or not. Up until now I have only dealt with 4x4 rears. 1979-1995 4x4 4 cyl. rears are all 6 lug 8". I just remember somewhere reading that some of the rear 2wd axles were 7.5" and not 8". The 8" 2wd will accept a 4x4 differential though and those are a lot more common with the gears I'm looking for. Another thing is the cab, engine, and chassis are all 1978 model, while the title says 1979. That was probably when the actual Rv portion was built. That 1st gen 4x4 in the background is a 1983. It has a 2nd gen(1984) dash swap, and a Chevy 305 engine. Its a rock crawler project I have been building for my wife. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 I think the vast majority are 8" diffs. Maybe some from the 70s are 7.5". It's not uncommon for a MH to be Titled in the year the 'house' was built. Where I am, the DMV could care less. They go by the Toyota VIN only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linda s Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 "Its a rock crawler project I have been building for my wife" Ahh man, I want someone to build me a rock crawler. I'm gonna kill myself running these back roads in a motorhome. Linda S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MontanaChinook Posted February 2, 2014 Share Posted February 2, 2014 Nice. I loved my 83. Yeah your truck is definitely a 78, same as mine. And yes, motorhome was built in 79 so that's what they called it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 Well as its finally spring here in my parts I got the bug again to start back in on my travette project. Hopefully I won't spend too much time tinkering on it as compared to actually using it. Seems to have survived the pretty nasty winter we had with no new water leaks. So that's a relief (first winter I've had it.) As far as any updates, i ordered a new exhaust header for it which should be here Monday. Hopefully it may help give me a little more snuce going up those hills. Will post pics once receive it and install. Other than that I'm working on obtaing some 4.38 gears to replace the 4.11's in it out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted April 11, 2014 Share Posted April 11, 2014 There is something wrong with that axle set up. There is no pivot point for the axle it is fixed to the added plate. It looks to be a De Dion suspension they were made of two tubes that allowed movement between them one tube fit inside of the other so that the right and left could move independently against the springs. It looks as if the bearing assembly has been bolted to the added plate and the tubes welded together. Something is real fishy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted April 11, 2014 Author Share Posted April 11, 2014 That's been my thoughts as well on the thing. It doesn't look like it would have any travel at all. Just fixed solid to the frame. I don't get it. It doesn't feel like it rides exceptionally rough though like you might think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 The 'axle' doesn't point to the center of the wheel. It looks like there might be a leading arm arangement sprung by the visible coil spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob C Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 Derek, you are correct that it is a torsion axle that has a leading swing arm. I have a Love Bug (similar to Scamp) that has a forward swing arm, up angle. If they have the properly rated springs, they ride very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted April 12, 2014 Author Share Posted April 12, 2014 When I tear into swapping differentials I'll get more pics of the setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 Guess I would have to see it with the wheel off it does look off set. That would mean there is a bearing of some sort in the block bolted to the added frame work, overly complex guess that's why they only made them for a couple of years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob C Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 Many new travel trailers use torsion axles. They are very reliable and pretty maintenance free. If they have rubber inserts such as Dexter axles, the life of the rubber is about 15 years tops. They are very easy to replace. The advantage of torsion axles is that they give you a totally independent suspension. http://www.dexteraxle.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maineah Posted April 12, 2014 Share Posted April 12, 2014 I agree with that I have one under a home made flat bed trailer but it's a whole lot different design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted April 15, 2014 Author Share Posted April 15, 2014 Received my header. Stripped the junk black paint off and removed the emission stuff since I have none on my engine and then re-coated with high temp aluminum colored header paint Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted April 19, 2014 Author Share Posted April 19, 2014 So this is how it works. I'm sure those of you who have seen this axle set up already knew it. I didn't know the end of the axle shaft was offset from the center, allowing the wheel and tire to rotate up and down with the torsion spring system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek up North Posted April 20, 2014 Share Posted April 20, 2014 Pretty basic. The only thing missing is any sign of a shock absorber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted April 20, 2014 Author Share Posted April 20, 2014 (edited) Shocks are on the drive axle. Do good enough job with only them. Drives nice and smooth and stable. Well other than that giant woooden box built on the back that rattles and shakes all the time. Edited April 20, 2014 by thebonds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebonds Posted April 20, 2014 Author Share Posted April 20, 2014 Got header put on and 4.38 gears stuffed in. Makes driving this thing so much easier and enjoyable. The engine breaths so much better and noo more feeling of slipping the clutch when taking off. These are definatly not wheel fall off axles. 8" just like the 79-85 2x4 and 4x4 rear axles, other than only 5 lug. Axle pulled out to remove diff. Drive line unbolted and diff removed. Old exhaust off. Only broke one stud. Nothing some penetrating fluid and a pair of vise grips coudnt take care of. (Luckily) And finally some 20r boner material. Only a propane conversion/ turbo would make this thing any cooler now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwh4784 Posted August 18, 2017 Share Posted August 18, 2017 Whatever happened with this motorhome? I am pretty sure I owned it for a short time. I got it from a guy that had let it sit for decades. I cleaned out a dumpster worth of trash, put a new Weber carburetor on it(it would barely run, smoked and idled at about 4000rpm and backfired like Uncle Buck's motorhome when you shut it off when I first got it), and then traded it for a VW Bus pop top. I think that guy sold it shortly after, probably to you thebonds. I really liked the look of that tandem axle motorhome. Unfortunately the lack of a second actual bed killed my plans for it. It seems that you were heading in the right direction with it though. I hope it lives on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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