Difference between M300 & R50 chassis?

[class87]

From: bagodriver26
(Original Message)
Sent: 6/10/2004 9:18 AM

I have found that the m300 chassis seems to be more common than my r50 chassis?
what are the differences?
 


From: Sea Hag
Sent: 6/10/2004 10:32 AM

From 69 - 73  Dodge used two modle chassis M300 104"-125"-137"-159" wheel bases and the M375(400) 137"-159"- 178"  whel bases . Dodge changed the model codes for 73 and 74  using the R and added a third chassis R4 RM350  availible in 137"and 139" whell bases  same as the M400 in 75 - acoording to the dodge MH parts manual - R5 = RM400  (400)  it's still a bit confusing . The R5 came in 137" -159"-178" wheel bases Same as the M5=M500 in 75 -   The M300 in 75 and the R3 =RM300 in 73-74  came in 104" and 125" wheel bases . in 76 they added a forth chassis the M600 ith a 208" wheel base . - The chassis lenght and weight rating progess with the modlel numbers as do the engine size and brake package . Sea Hag 



From: Matt_Elyash
Sent: 7/18/2004 11:50 PM

Got that Bagorider? Sea Hag I tried unsucessfully to read that post 4 times, on the 4th time my duct tape holding my head together failed, and my head exploded. I really can't figure out what his R-50 is... Is it an R5? an R350 with the 3 missing or what. 

Matt



From: Sea Hag
Sent: 7/19/2004 11:12 AM

Matt - sorry if this confused you but for some reason for 1973 and 1974 Dodge changed the codes from M to R  . they switched back in 1975 to M .   for 74-75 the (R* eg R5 ) is what you chassis vin starts with and the model for (R5 on Vin  = RM400. )   Then in 75-77 at least , they went back to ( M*  eg. M5 on vin =M500 model ). 
    The RM300 (R3 on chassis vin ) became the M300 (M3 on chassis vin )  - - The RM350 (R4)  Became the M400 ( M4) -- the RM400 ( R5) became the M500 (M5) .   
   The first two digits of the Dodge chassis VIN # are the chassis model code  the third digit is the Body code 0 = motor home also 9= motor home .  So if your vin is  R50........ it is a R5=RM400 model chassis -  and thethird digit 0 =motor home body. Same as the M500 chassis in 75
Hope this cleared it up . Sea Hag 



From: DanD2soon
Sent: 7/19/2004 2:12 PM

Hi Gang!

I gotta be loosin' it 'cause all that stuff made perfect sense to me without straining my "tape" at all!

So, Sea Hag, is my (H31) 1972 MH on a 159" Wheelbase chassis with the VIN # H31BN1S305064 actually an 1971 M-300 and not an 1971 M-375 like I thought up to now? That could explain a lot of things...

Picture of the whole VIN plate is at:
http://groups.msn.com/ClassicWinnebagoMotorhomes/7224explorer2soon.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=3641

Please, tell me all you can about it!

Thanks in advance,
DanD



From: DaveVa78Chieftain
Sent: 7/19/2004 5:53 PM

H31BN1S305064

H3 = M300,  H4 = M400 (375)
1 = Conventional cab
B = 6,001 - 10,000lbs GVW
N = 413-1 engine type
1 = 1971 G series chassis
S = Assembled at Warren Truck #2 (Heavy Duty) plant
305064 = sequential serial number (was mfg between aug 70 and jul 71)

Dave



From: DanD2soon
Sent: 7/19/2004 9:09 PM

THANKS!!! IT IS AN M-300!

Don't know why, but, I've thought it was an M-400 (375) all this time... and that just didn't match some of the stuff I found aboard like dual brake boosters, etc.

I'll be darned!

Thanks again,
DanD