Family Reacts To The 440 Dodge Cobra Camper Project // Part 1

Low mileage 1978 Dodge Cobra Camper looking for a new lease on life. She’s in luck.

[@emmas1082]

The engine sounds amazing.

[@kevinswinyer3176]

With the wonderful condition it's really in for it's age, DO NOT TEAR IT DOWN !!!!! Spend some $$, and elbow grease, and clean it up, and fix it up good enough to use. You don't have to do an outrageously expensive complete remodel of it, just fix up the areas that need a bit of TLC, because these Vintage Class C Coaches are getting harder and harder to come by these days, and if you do find one in decent shape that runs, you're gonna need to shell out some serious cash just to make the purchase. Turning it into a Flatbed would cost you more $$ than it would to fix it up and leave it as is. You can find Flatbed Trucks a dime a dozen in that era, but you cannot find Class C Motorhomes as easily that are in the remarkable condition that yours is in. I myself stumbled upon a 1987 Ford E350 30 Foot Fleetwood Jamboree Class C Motorhome that will run if need be, but I chose to turn mine into a permanently parked Tiny Home. And I only paid $750 for it, and drove it from where I purchased it to where it currently sits.

[@BCVS777]

440 Cobra! That combination of numbers and letters has a ring to it! The wife will never understand! 😆

[@MrJustinWheeler]

I agree! It sounds awesome! 😎

[@CoffeeNo0b0514]

What an absolute beast. Nice motor home too

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Lolol. I got your bed made. You ready to go camping?

[@CoffeeNo0b0514]

@@MrJustinWheeler I’m not scared of a little rust, dirt, or holes in walls.

[@MrJustinWheeler]

@@CoffeeNo0b0514 who said anything about rust?!

[@gearhead9943]

Loved the long cold start, please, please please make more of those

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Thanks! More vids on this unit are in the works.

[@FrankJohnson-hu9bh]

always store your ammo above stove. if you have 16 1/2" tires switch to 16" tires and rims. dump valves on my 1976 sat unused for so long....they were stuck so bad I had to replace them. good luck from Elkhart In.

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Thanks Frank. I got lucky and this already has 16” wheels. I’ve bought two more since this one and they both have 16.5” wheels.

[@TruckCentral]

“I just don’t have enough projects” 👀

[@burkestrand5070]

The 440 is actually built on the MB400 chassis, ball joints as big as your fist!

[@MrJustinWheeler]

It’s beefy for sure!

[@burkestrand5070]

@@MrJustinWheeler did you make a part 2? I need to inspire my wife for ours, shes not much of a fan, me the kids go do stuff with it and she doesn't come.

[@MrJustinWheeler]

@@burkestrand5070 my plans changed a bit. I’ve actually purchased 3 other vintage motorhomes after being inspired by this one. Because I’ve been working on 4 at a time, I’ve made very little progress on any of them. lol. But my goal this summer is to focus on one and get one finished.

[@Merel-te4kb]

I’d keep the camper fix it up. Enjoy it. I find a new family though. Yeah you’d be better off at the camper.

[@tanaweld]

I love it so much! And reallllllly hope you keep it as a camper! 🙏 Also please please please don't use that grill scraper, you need one without the metal bristles 😁

[@MrJustinWheeler]

I can't make any promises just yet. Lol. I'd like to keep it original, but the cost of fixing it would cost more than a new camper. But we still aren't 100% on which route we are going.

[@tanaweld]

@@MrJustinWheeler yes is definitely an easy choice for me to say when it isn't my time or money being thrown into it 😘

[@vinniecorleone62]

That is a bad ass rig bud! I've had a bunch of 440 Magnum muscle cars, I actually prefer the 440 of the 426 Hemi, great motors but you have to be careful with the stock oiling systems as that's their weak link.

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Thanks Vinnie! Anything specific I need to look out for on these oiling systems? They are new to me.

[@6lackswan354]

Mine does the same thing the key is very intricate and the carb I gotta replace I got 440 63k miles

[@steelcityrooferjm]

Cant wait to see the bass boat update

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Boat update coming tonight!

[@wademinton8952]

I got the huntsman 20’ I can you take off the hole camper and use the cab and frame for truck just fix the back so it’s closed

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Yessir, that’s the plan. I’ve bought 2 more of them since I posted this video.

[@wademinton8952]

@@MrJustinWheeler I’m going to take the camper off mine set it up on blocks i all ready live in it and have changed everything to leds i have only had a problem with the sleeper over the cab leaking and i am going to have a 20 by 30’ building built around it so i can keep the camper dry and have a dry place to fix up the building with dry and stuff use the camper as a bathroom and kitchen when i get done with putting a living room and bed room the building anyway everything will stay cool and dry and i will have a big flat bed truck an

[@MrJustinWheeler]

@@wademinton8952 that’s a cool idea!

[@davekimbler2308]

Soooo what have you decided ? I personally would turn it into a 3 door flat bed ! You could always find a slide in camper and put it on the flat bed and with kids a 3 door would be nice ! Just find a parts van ( same body ) cut the back 4 ft. Off and weld it behind the cab then sell the appliances and bathroom stuff also the tanks and windows and AC electrical converter and the air-conditioner along with the aluminum and recoup your money !

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Hey Dave! I’m leaning towards flat bed. If I can find a good donor body that would help seal the deal. But you’re right, there is definitely some salvage value in what’s left of her.

[@steelcityrooferjm]

Are you sure its not a 2 stroke lol. Put the drive line in a pick up. It would be the most fun option

[@MrJustinWheeler]

It smokes like a 2 stroke! Lol. It also has a broken exhaust manifold bolt on the passenger side which is why it sounds like hell.

[@firstnamedlastnameb8197]

Well...at the risk of sounding like a "Debbie Downer" id say that yes it can be fun to explore old campers or junk yard vehicles but there is also a certain amount of safety precautions to take as well when doing so. I would have the adults do the first walk thru and at least remove the ammo in case the kids decide to sneak a few pieces out and have dangerous experience with it later. But teach the kids that its good to be cautious. Wear proper shoes and pants that can't be easily punctured by broken glass, sharp metal or drug needles. Obviously this camper was exposed to the elements for years so the ceilings and walls are probably full of mold spores that get scattered by moving things and the visible mouse droppings aren't the healthiest things to be around without a mask or gloves. All in all....I would rather see the adults drag out the amo first and hen the mattress and bedding. So sure... it was a learning experience for the kids that ended well. These old campers burn like a match and there is a great risk to trying to start it especially if there are holes in the gas lines or tank.

[@emmas1082]

2-3 hundred dollars for rv cover: why doesn’t anyone ever use one? They just let them rot. So sad.

[@joshuawallingford3210]

Where are your safety Crocs good sir?

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Valid question! Lol. The crocs wore out. I need to put the steel toes in my new pair.

[@joshuawallingford3210]

@@MrJustinWheeler I suppose I can wait a bit longer for the 2.0 upgrade video.

[@ChrisChris-rc6gx]

How much is it worth in that condition

[@MrJustinWheeler]

I paid $800 for it with a title. Some people might think that’s a lot, but a 440 and trans alone is worth a decent amount.

[@bmckenzie8708]

REHAB

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Come bring those new shiny red tools over and break them in.

[@Johnny2Bags47]

Did you say 53000? That is freakin sweet

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Yep. It’s great!

[@Johnny2Bags47]

Nice

[@XG916]

Drop it in a donor roadrunner!

[@MrJustinWheeler]

Man I’d love to have a roadrunner w a 440 some day. I’ve got my eye out.

[@XG916]

@@MrJustinWheeler you got a mean drag racing motor. I been looking at motorhomes like yours. Look forward to watching more man.🤙

[@MrJustinWheeler]

@@XG916 I hope you find a good one. I’ve bought two more like this once since I posted this video. There seem to be a lot of them in my area.