1973 Balboa Motorhome Info Needed

[BrianGlenn]

My sister has picked up a 1973 Balboa motorhome on a 1973 Dodge B300 chassis and I am starting to collect information so she can maintain it herself.

I already searched the "Links to Older Manuals and Informational Links".

I was not familiar with the Balboa motorhome before but when I saw the pictures I knew it was something unique. It is a full fibreglass shell camper built by Jensen Marine in Costa Mesa California from 1968 to 1973. From the little information on the internet there may have only been 1150 or so units built.

I am looking for more information that members of this forum may be able to provide; I have googled most that I can find on the current internet. There is a domain called Balboamotorhome(dot)com, which has some limited information. And there are some original advertisements on the web.

I don't have my sisters pictures yet but there is a nice Balboa for sale in CA at the moment. These are pictures from that add here (Clicky for more info). This one for sale is on the Ford Econoline chassis, they came on Ford, Chev, or Dodge chassis as I currently have discovered.

I believe the Chinook line of motorhomes also had the same style (full fibreglass shell) and were competitors while the two were produced in that era? I have seen a few Rialtos and LeSharos before and they may be fibreglass shell as well? The Balboa did not survive the gas guzzler/insurance tax and the move to smaller, more full efficient vehicles?

I believe these units are classified as B class or B+ class.

Looking forward to other's comments....

Brian

[CharlesinGA]

This Thread over on a competing forum, is all about Dodge Chassis Class C's, and you will find a wealth of info on the B300 chassis on it. The thread has been going since 2004 and has about 675 pages, so plan your reading time accordingly.

I hesitate to mention competing forums, but given the oddity of this MH, you will need all the info you can get.

Charles

[BrianGlenn]

Originally Posted by CharlesinGA

This Thread over on a competing forum, is all about Dodge Chassis Class C's, and you will find a wealth of info on the B300 chassis on it. The thread has been going since 2004 and has about 675 pages, so plan your reading time accordingly.

I hesitate to mention competing forums, but given the oddity of this MH, you will need all the info you can get.

Charles

Thank you for the link. I will start my reading.

Brian

[Willowcol]

Did you ever find any information on the Balboa? I was thinking of buying one I found, but am scared with so little information about these, it might not be worth getting and trying to fix.

[BrianGlenn]

The Balboa seems to be a well built camper. I have started repairing some minor issues in my sisters RV but in general I like what I see, so far.

The components are similar to other mainstream units, and the fibreglass shell is well built.

The Dodge chassis that this one is built on is good quality.

I believe she will have many more years of trouble free RV living.

My thoughts.
Brian

[biker art]

Very interesting since I have a class b 77 Dodge motorhome I'm rebuilding inside.

[soundwve]

Originally Posted by BrianGlenn

My sister has picked up a 1973 Balboa motorhome on a 1973 Dodge B300 chassis and I am starting to collect information so she can maintain it herself.

I already searched the "Links to Older Manuals and Informational Links".

I was not familiar with the Balboa motorhome before but when I saw the pictures I knew it was something unique. It is a full fibreglass shell camper built by Jensen Marine in Costa Mesa California from 1968 to 1973. From the little information on the internet there may have only been 1150 or so units built.

I am looking for more information that members of this forum may be able to provide; I have googled most that I can find on the current internet. There is a domain called Balboamotorhome(dot)com, which has some limited information. And there are some original advertisements on the web.

I don't have my sisters pictures yet but there is a nice Balboa for sale in CA at the moment. These are pictures from that add here (Clicky for more info). This one for sale is on the Ford Econoline chassis, they came on Ford, Chev, or Dodge chassis as I currently have discovered.

I believe the Chinook line of motorhomes also had the same style (full fibreglass shell) and were competitors while the two were produced in that era? I have seen a few Rialtos and LeSharos before and they may be fibreglass shell as well? The Balboa did not survive the gas guzzler/insurance tax and the move to smaller, more full efficient vehicles?

I believe these units are classified as B class or B+ class.

Looking forward to other's comments....

Brian

Yes, the Chinook motorhomes were very similar. I had a '72 Chinook on a Dodge B300 chassis. The Balboa looks almost identical on the outside, but different floor plan.

Loved that little MH, but the family got too big. Moved to a class A.

[offthegrid16]

I own a 1973 in Manitoba, Canada

[BrianGlenn]

Originally Posted by offthegrid16

I own a 1973 in Manitoba, Canada

We are in Alberta; my sisters Balboa spent most of its life in southern Alberta.

Brian

[FlippinGypsy]

I’m having the same issue finding info, but mine came with the original booklet & advertisment. Although the people who had it last tinkered with it over the years so most of the instructions don’t match up. It has the original stove which is petty cool!

Damn, my pics are sideways :/

[70Starcraft]

There is a dude on Instagram who is all about these Balboa rev's.

He restores them and has owned multiple units

check him out @freedomvessel

[Tilley]

Originally Posted by offthegrid16

I own a 1973 in Manitoba, Canada

I just got a 73 Dodge Balboa from Lac du Bonnet.
Perhaps the same one?