Winnebago
Winnebago Trailer & Motor Home owners.
Including Lifetime & Bendix Motor Homes.
1967 F-17
I wasn't in the market for one but when I saw an old tiny Winnebago motor home for sale I swooped it up. For $1,000 I was expecting pretty rough shape. Here in Alaska, if the snow doesn't crush these, the constant rain rots them. Somehow this thing was protected and sat unused. It has 56,000miles on its 300 i6. Some paperwork indicates only 3,000 miles in the last 20 years!
Anyway I've done all the obvious stuff: fuilds, brake fluid, plugs/wires/cap, sealed the roof, cleaned off the mold, fixed the lights. Even before all this she ran great. Took it camping this weekend. 150 mile trip, four mountain passes, top speed of 62mph. It's perfect for my family of four. I'm in love.
ANYWAY,
1. RVs must end up sitting like this a lot. What happens to an engine that just sits?
2. What should I do if I plan on keeping this for the long haul. Keep it in good shape and see how old this thing can get. What am I forgetting? Undercoat treatment? Or grease zert spots?
3. What are the blue and white cables in my closet? Do these have deep cycle batteries?
4. Where can I find more info on the f-17's? Mine is #968, I wonder how many there are.
Thanks for any help!
Karl m
Jul 20, 2016
Rich Thomas
Sounds like you have a handle on the PM's (Preventative Maintenance) and really that is the key. A few things though I would mention #1.Check the date codes on the tires; if more than 5-6 years old get rid of them. A blow out on the highway can shred your camper before you can get pulled over and a front tire can cause loss of control. Please research this topic here, I can't stress it enough. #2. Use the heck out of it, sitting around is the worst thing for it. # 3 Fix it don't let little things linger they are soon forgotten and seam to rear there ugly heads just when you don't need them too. Other than that, keep it clean show it off and enjoy it.
Jul 20, 2016
Jimco_W001
Hi Karl, I own a 1967 Ford Winnebago F-19 #700. It still has the factory floor carpeting. I think that Winnebago made about 500 units during their first year producing motorhomes in 1966. Some of these #'s in the early years of production may have been used with a chassis from GM or Dodge. They would use a C or a D in front of their length for a ID.
I have also owned a 1970 Ford F-17 for 20 years now and it has always worked very well for me.
Jul 20, 2016