1976 Dodge Sportsman RV Roof Replacement

[Hall541]

Hello there,

First time forum user and poster here.
Last April i bought a 1976 Dodge Sportsman RV it sat for 3 years fully exposed to all the elements before i bought it it had some pretty bad water damage to the rear roof joist's. We patched the roof up but yesterday i opened the roof up again and noticed the rear joist's are like marshmallows. So my question would be how can i replace the joist's inside without removing the newly done roof on the outside? Any tips on restructuring would also be helpful.  Thanks in advance   

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

You probably cannot, but would have to learn more about the specific rig to be sure. "Dodge Sportsman" refers to the van chassis that is the base for the rig and does not identify the construction of the motorhome body, roof, etc. In fact, a Dodge Sportsman may not be a motorhome at all - Sportman is what Dodge named their passenger vans back in the day.

Photos of your particular motorhome would help us give an answer, but I'm not optimistic there is a way to do it.

All the vehicles below share the label "Dodge Sportsman", so you can see the vast differences.
http://dodge-parts.uneedapart.com/dodge-sportsman-parts.php
https://www.ibuywesell.com/en_US/item/1976+Dodge+Sportsman+RV+21ft/56387
https://www.bigiron.com/Lots/1976DodgeSportsmanMotorHome

 

[Hall541]

Hello,
I appreciate the responce Ive attached a picture of the sticker in the motor home. I totally understand that saying dodge sportsman is very vague. Also attached some photos of the front of the rig. Appreciate all the help i can get!

 

[Frutch]

Hi- this is my first post as well. I was gifted a 76 sportsman last winter. Like you, it had been exposed to the elements for several years - which in ND means temps from 30 below zero to 95 degrees. I also have some bad rear end rot, which after pulling some paneling off looks like it had been repaired previously (and also looks incorrect) my plan is to determine what framing needs to be re-done and I would also like to remove the existing roof and replace with one of the rubber options. I have attached one photo of ?Ginger? lol
This will probably be a years-long project but I have to have this old lady beautiful again someday.

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

Hi Frutch and welcome. Looks like you have a big project to keep you out of mischief for a while. Feel free to ask questions as your project progresses - and post some photos along the way.

 

[Lou Schneider]

Hello,
I appreciate the responce Ive attached a picture of the sticker in the motor home. I totally understand that saying dodge sportsman is very vague. Also attached some photos of the front of the rig. Appreciate all the help i can get!

Welcome to The RV Fourm!

Dodge Sportsman only refers to the cab and chassis.  The Empress motorhome was built by HaiCo Manufacturing in Lethbridge, later bought by Triple E in the 1980s:

http://www.rvwest.com/article/vintage_rv/i_spyd_a_vintage_motorhome_the_mystery_of_the_empress_motorhome