Community Forums

Possum · 07-10-2012, 09:23 AM

Denise and I are scheduled to go see (200 miles away) a Revcon unit. I had never heard of them prior to seeing the add in the paper. Anyone know the pros and cons of these units?

njs42 · 07-10-2012, 09:39 AM

Revconeers

Lots of stuff on the internet about them, clubs and places specializing in their repair.

Only seen and been in one back in 1975 on the shores of Lake Meade. Owned by a fairly well to do person so maybe they were top drawer then.

Good luck on your look.

njs42 · 07-10-2012, 09:46 AM

What's a Revcon? - Revcon For Sale

Here is another webite. They were a front drive, light, high end unit according to the write up. Oldsmobile Power from the Toronado.

Looks like one of those smaller GMC front drive models on steroids. I have camped next to a bunch of the smaller GMC models, a club from the mid-west found it's wat to Tucson the past two winters. They must be able to get parts on the way one blew and engine and they replaced the entire thing in a matter of days.

I think you will be able to find out quite a bit about them.

njs42 · 07-10-2012, 09:55 AM

Revcon Support Page for 1987/1988/1989/1990/1991 series RV's

More Revcon info---I've learned a lot about them in a short time. There are some die hard fans out there, a good group to know if you wind up owning one. They claim the engine and drive train take some special knowledge to repair and since it is front drive and older maybe some specialized equipmet as well.

Just thinking out loud.

SpringerPop · 07-10-2012, 10:17 AM

The company I worked for at the time bought a thirty-four footer to use as a mobile demonstration unit for its products. We custom ordered it (no interior) from the factory. I was the initial driver for the shake-down after installation of the equipment.

It was a cross-country from Los Angeles to Reading, PA. I kept a log book, and I keep it to this day as a reminder of what I had to go through to get it there.

Because it was longer than most Revcons (their largest model, I believe), instead of the Olds front-end, it had an AMC General 401 engine and chassis, a Chrysler TorqueFlite trans, and a (manufacturer not recalled) U-drive (transfer-case) unit similar to those found in some power boats, with a big Dana front-wheel-drive axle.

They WERE considered top-quality at the time, and is the reason we bought it in the first place. The build quality was absolutely horrendous, however. Little things, like:

The air bag suspension tubing loose. Found that as I initially pulled out of the company parking lot.

Fuel tank with of some kind of silicone rubber hose "shavings" that clogged the fuel filter. Found that before I got to Barstow.

Like a power-steering (and hydro-boost) pressure hose laying across a "fan" belt. Discovered that at 65mph on I-40 near Flagstaff. With no "power" to both steering and brakes, it was fun at the bottom of the nearest off-ramp (in the mountains, no less). Had to pop off a belt and limp it like that to a truck service center in Albuquerque, where they made a new hose for me.

Discovered in a rain storm in Texas that they had not wired up the windshield wiper motor. There wasn't even a wire for it.

Water pump came apart (not Revcon's fault) in Indiana somewhere, eating the radiator. The tow truck came to pick it up and the front bumper simply broke off completely. Inadequate welding job.

I could go on, but suffice it to say that each regional sales person within the company that was to subsequently "inherit" the unit as a display tool, dreaded the prospect.

It became a company joke, and a complete embarrassment for the marketing director, who had selected Revcon in the first place.

Maybe there are good ones out there, but I wouldn't consider one.

They are out of business.

I don't wonder why.

Pop

whem2fish · 07-10-2012, 10:37 AM

There is a person I have talked to on Rv.net David something I will remember soon he loves his it has a 502 crate motor yes they used a Dana axel I will get back with his user name maybe you could PM him

MattC · 07-10-2012, 05:35 PM

There were several different versions of Revcons built. Many were very well done and very nice units. Some could be impossible to support. Those with the Toro driveline (like my GMC) would not be very difficult, but some of those had a single rear tire that was 10.00x16.5 and those are very difficult to come by these days. I don't know if a work around has been located. Some of those that used a more or less standard 4X4 driveline with no rear driveshaft had some issues, but I do not recall what it was or how serious.

Be sure you want to tie into a forty year old motorhome before you consider much else.

Matt

Manuel B · 07-12-2012, 07:11 PM

The early models had the 455" Olds and GM 475 trans, when Olds went to the wimpy 403" for emissions reasons Revcon went with the GM 454" and a new design transfer case system, they handle like a car on the road, good active forum on Yahoo, Revcon_Curious : Revcon Curious
and the club, Revconeers I looked at a lot of them but didn't like the bathroom for fulltiming, and not much exterior storage, but I thnk they are great coaches, you can get into age restricted RV parks by telling them it's 15 years newer and they can't tell because of the design.