I wonder if there is function to list members by the year of there LD? Curious who has and still use an older one. I know there are some on here with models older than my 1999, I have seen 1992 listed in some sigs.
I wonder if there is function to list members by the year of there LD? Curious who has and still use an older one. I know there are some on here with models older than my 1999, I have seen 1992 listed in some sigs.
I don't think there is. Perhaps members with "oldies" will post if they see your interest. I have seen a few members with 70s LDs join.
Chris
While not members of the LDOF, the LD Caravan Club has a couple of members with early 1980s rigs.
Most rigs in this age range, and older, have gone to the campground in the sky or a wrecking yard.
It's too much work and/or money for most to maintain very old rigs unless they have been garaged, the roof and window seals fail and the framing rots. Many older rigs front noses and overheads have rotted away.
Larry
Available now: https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/1983-Lazy-Daze-LAZY-DAZE-21-5010711836
Our Daisy, is quite the antique but it serves us well for our short weekend trips. We spent $15k but the way I see it, it is still far cheaper than most mediocre cars with so much more to offer.
Our Daisy, is quite the antique but it serves us well for our short weekend trips. We spent $15k but the way I see it, it is still far cheaper than most mediocre cars with so much more to offer.
Daisy is a beautiful LD, Jon, and it was nice seeing your rig at Morro Bay last March (2019)
Hope you guys can join us again next year!
Daryl
Jon is a very handy guy with the skills to repair/replace parts and systems, and maintain an older rig. (Ramon, who just donated his 1985 and posted his experience under the topic: '1982- Issues to Look For' in LD General discussions, also did much of his own repair and maintenance work.) There are other owners of 'vintage' LDs who have the mechanical, construction, electrical, plumbing, and plenty of other types of skills, knowledge, and tools to repair and replace parts and systems and keep an old rig going.
(IMO) However, for every 'old rig' buyer with the savvy to understand from the get-go what one is taking on and the skills, time, and cash to do a lot of the inevitable rehab him/herself, there seem to be many more who have no clue; based on observations and tales of woe posted on this board over several years, what many novices see is an initial price they can afford, and are either unaware of - or dismissive of - the reality that the purchase price is just the first outlay in a long list of future expenditures. They may be so eager to participate in the 'lifestyle' that they take little or no time on the (extensive) research/learning curve of how to assess the quality, condition, and 'warts' of all the mechanical parts, chassis, systems, appliances, and everything else of a complex machine. And, they may ignore or minimize the advice and suggestions of experienced owners, thinking that, somehow, their experience will be different.
This board has a large number of experienced, knowledgeable, and incredibly skilled RVers whose intent is to educate by sharing what they've learned, often through hard and/or expensive lessons, over years of RV and LD ownership and participation in the lifestyle. Their suggestions, guidance, and advice are well worth strong consideration.
As ever, YMMV.
There are many obsolete parts with older rigs so you have to learn to adapt. As Vince at the factory once told me, “ Are you handy?? Because if your not, you better get handy”🤗
To follow up on Larry, I know a guy in the Caravan club who might win for oldest. At last count I think he has eight Lazy Dazes, many older. The only class 'A' that LD built included. The 'A' was, and still may, be a 'basket' case. I believe he has a large barn to keep the weather off of some of them. Hopefully without rats and mice. I'm looking forward to when we can get together again, seeing the 'A' at a club meeting. He also has Miss Daisy, a trailer built by LD. RonB
To follow up on Larry, I know a guy in the Caravan club who might win for the oldest. At last count I think he has eight Lazy Dazes, many older. The only class 'A' that LD built included. The 'A' was, and still may be a 'basket' case. I believe he has a large barn to keep the weather off of some of them. Hopefully without rats and mice. I'm looking forward to when we can get together again, seeing the 'A' at a club meeting. He also has Miss Daisy, a trailer built by LD. RonB
Ron
I wouldn't expect to see the Class A LD at a Caravan anytime soon, Dave his having a hard time finding someone capable of restoring it. LD's Steve said no way would they get involved, even deciding them that the Mothership will not work on rigs older than 1995. It's going to be an expensive restoration, if it happens.
On the other hand, Dave has his fleet of various LD floorplans, including one or more 80's rig. With the exception of the Class A, all his LDs run and are used at Caravans.
Here's one for an example. Not sure what year or even what model this is. It isn't a Front Lounge or a Multi-plan. It has a lot of windows and a possibly bunk beds. It appears to have been repainted.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1631/24599991145_2df4e538f6_w.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/1538/23973200943_82ea0c228f_w.jpg)[/url]
Class A
(https://live.staticflickr.com/2708/4345141731_03c5bb28c8_w.jpg)
Maybe there will be a Caravan sometime in the future, assuming there is a Club left after the pandemic.
Larry
How many of the class A were made.
Jody
How many of the class A were made.
The prototype was the only one built, shown in the picture, it's the rarest of LDs.
Larry
Hi Larry, I was hoping that Dave was doing his own rennovation work. I can see why Lazy Daze put a limit on how old of a model they would work on. Especially after some recent accident repairs to other coachs I'm aware of. I think that is a rolling age limit that might catch up to my coach soon. Hoping for no 'other' driver errors, or any of my own either that might require repairs. I'm at the point where even minor damage would 'total' the coach. RonB
Here is an oldie for sale on the forum:
Must sell (https://www.lazydazeowners.com/index.php?topic=34208.0)
Here is an oldie for sale on the forum:
Must sell (https://www.lazydazeowners.com/index.php?topic=34208.0)
Sweet, I hope they sell it. As much as older ones can be more work, it is very possible to keep them going for ever just like cars. In most cases it will cost less than new, and soon the new ones also need work. Also, vehicles, especially new ones go down in value, however, there is a point where they go up again. My 66 beetle would sell for more than it did new, and more than I paid for it 17 years ago and I paid more for it then than it sold for new.
I have a 1991 LD, 23.5', kitchen up front, bed and bath in the back. On a Chevy C-30 chassis with a 454 V-8... throttle-body injection, and a sweet 4-speed automatic transmission. Mechanically, it is very simple... a truck with a box on it. A very well-made box. 30 years old now, no rattles or squeaks. Lazy Daze quality is excellent. Extensive wood and wood veneers still look new. Water, a/c, stove, bathroom all work perfectly. Exterior paint, off-white and sky blue, is still in great shape with an occasional waxing. I love the power -- it goes right up to 9000' in nearby Chiracahua National Park without hesitation. And fits easily into the older 25'-limit campsites, like at beautiful Cave Creek Canyon near Portal, AZ.
Can't complain. An earlier post noted that the price paid for an older Lazy Daze was far less than that of a new car -- for an LD with far, far better quality and design. So true. And no troublesome slideouts!
There's an '86 for sale right now, it seems:
https://www.rvtrader.com/listing/1986-Lazy-Daze-22-MHC-5012112856
15K, 4 burner stove!
I have a 1982 Rear Lounge M-20, use it couple times a month and love it. 51k miles and full interior remodel.
I have a 1991 LD, 23.5', kitchen up front, bed and bath in the back. On a Chevy C-30 chassis with a 454 V-8... throttle-body injection, and a sweet 4-speed automatic transmission.
This sounds like a MultiPlan, and on the Chevy chassis, 22'. The MP with the bed option has the kitchen next to the coach door on the streetside, and usually a dinette opposite. The bath sink is outside the WC.
Steve
My 1991 LD, Daizy, just passed inspection again with nothing other than the oil change, lube, etc., that I always ask for. My trusted mechanic said to bring it out there before a trip and they have a special setup to check all the tire pressures. When I picked it up he told me 4 people saw it sitting outside the shop and asked him if it was for sale! I’ve taken out the valences and most of the curtains, things that I feel hold old odors. I love that it looks so much more open. My back lounge area has a sofa and two chairs, one of which I removed to make room for a dog bed. I’ve saved everything in case someone or a possible next owner would want it original. ❤️
My 1991 LD, Daizy, just passed inspection again with nothing other than the oil change, lube, etc., that I always ask for. My trusted mechanic said to bring it out there before a trip and they have a special setup to check all the tire pressures. When I picked it up he told me 4 people saw it sitting outside the shop and asked him if it was for sale! I’ve taken out the valences and most of the curtains, things that I feel hold old odors. I love that it looks so much more open. My back lounge area has a sofa and two chairs, one of which I removed to make room for a dog bed. I’ve saved everything in case someone or a possible next owner would want it original. ❤️
Nice, thanks for sharing.
"...they have a special setup to check all the tire pressures."
---
I'm really curious as to the "special setup to check all the tire pressures" might be? ;)
We just bought our 1988: "The Cubhouse" and yes, we're having to get handy FAST! But we also found that in a pandemic, with 2 kids and a 1 bathroom, 1000 sq ft house, our $5k purchase was much cheaper than a home addition and adding a bathroom! The kids LOVE to go hang out in the Cubhouse, and when it got super smokey last week, we packed up and headed to cleaner air. She's old, she's a little funky, but she is definitely a welcome new family member!
We just bought our 1988: "The Cubhouse" and yes, we're having to get handy FAST! But we also found that in a pandemic, with 2 kids and a 1 bathroom, 1000 sq ft house, our $5k purchase was much cheaper than a home addition and adding a bathroom! The kids LOVE to go hang out in the Cubhouse, and when it got super smokey last week, we packed up and headed to cleaner air. She's old, she's a little funky, but she is definitely a welcome new family member!
What model/floor plan do you have? Welcome to LDOG!
Chris
I wonder if there is function to list members by the year of there LD? Curious who has and still use an older one. I know there are some on here with models older than my 1999, I have seen 1992 listed in some sigs.
Similarly, I was curious as to whether there is a numbering system that tells which, in chronological order, a coach was built. Class A Newell’s have that information listed on their coaches. They make in the neighborhood of 30 or so coaches a year, somewhat similar to LazyDaze. I thought it would be interesting to know that information about my coach.
Dale from Downey.
Similarly, I was curious as to whether there is a numbering system that tells which, in chronological order, a coach was built.
Dale from Downey.
I thought there was a number on the nameplate outside, but there isn't. There is a penciled in number in the book.
The book?
I thought there was a number on the nameplate outside, but there isn't. There is a penciled in number in the book.
Our 2003 once had a decal on the driverside exterior of the coach, in back of driver's door, that had the number.
It has long since faded away.
Larry
The book?
Probably the LD Owner's Manual.
Larry
I live in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, and have a 1991 24' LD... bath in the back. Fuel-injected Chevy 454 V8 motor, 4-speed automatic. I love it. About 65,000 miles, best guess as the odometer broke awhile ago, but the gas gauge hasn't, so life is good.
LD build quality is shockingly good over time. Over a long time! It's basically a big box on a C-30 Chevy truck chassis -- but we LD owners enjoy the factory's experience of making the same thing over and over, with running improvements as needed, and thank God no slideouts!
What would I change? Nothing much. Might paint all that beautiful dark wood white, if I can overcome guilt about doing that. Not much else. There's a great joy, if you appreciate excellent industrial design, to owning a vehicle made right as built, not needing structural modifications or redesign.
Oldest LD out there? I saw a 20' 1978 advertised a few years ago... easier to park than mine! Any others?
I live in Tombstone, Arizona Territory, and have a 1991 24' LD... bath in the back. Fuel-injected Chevy 454 V8 motor, 4-speed automatic. I love it. About 65,000 miles, best guess as the odometer broke awhile ago, but the gas gauge hasn't, so life is good.
What would I change? Nothing much. Might paint all that beautiful dark wood white, if I can overcome guilt about doing that.
As much as I like white in a house I wouldn't change my LD. The wood makes feel like I am part of the outdoors.
A little musing here, I like the natural white 4000K look of my M4 LED retrofit lighting in the LD, along with much of my house. I sat through the consultation for my wifes cataract surgery, and the surgeons comment about the common discoloration being a bronze tint. He stated that us 'more mature' adults prefer whiter and brighter surroundings and that after the new plastic lenses are inserted, that his patients complain about their surroundings as being too bright and white. It also changes the perception of colors. He considers that surgery as a 'success'!
I have cataracts and eventually will need the same surgery. It dawned on me (subtle pun) that it might have something to do with my preference for brighter lighting. So I resist the temptation for white washing my surroundings. Also I'd have to clean the walls and anything else that gets touched often, more carefully. I remember camping at the twice a year campground at Live Oak with the Caravan club, windows open because of the heat, and having to clean handfulls of dust and dirt out after returning home. So the wood grain patterned walls have a way of blending in more with nature, as Steve (jill) said. RonB
Re: vision in "mature" adults:
Light Requirements – AAA Senior Driving (https://seniordriving.aaa.com/understanding-mind-body-changes/vision/light-requirements/)
Wondering what some of the oldest LD's are on this site, would love to connect with some of the owners of the early 70s LD's. What do you think the ratio of Dodge vs. Ford LD's is, for the early ones? This is my 1970 18' LD
You might try checking through media pics to find connections:
https://www.lazydazeowners.com/index.php?action=media;sa=vua
Very nice rig!
Steve
Maybe this link will help.
Who has the oldest LD? (https://www.lazydazeowners.com/index.php?topic=34778.0)
I "think" that my 1990 MP, Blue, was the last of the "old" rigs that Lazy Daze did a complete front cap replacement. The resealing of the roof (there was previous cab over leaks, probably even before I bought in 2000) let go at the Morro Bay outing. Poor Jen and the kids got soaked, and it was an interesting drive home!
We had a family pow-wow and decided that even though it was going to be expensive to have the factory re-build the cab over, it was cheaper than buying another rig, and mechanically and from the cab back the coach was in great shape. I think it took about 9 months, and it wasn't as badly damaged as we thought.
Everyone was pleased with the outcome, although Lazy Daze took off ALL the vent over covers, and the add-on awning over the dinette window. Their reasoning, "if we didn't install it, it's not going back on". Larry was great on putting things back together. They we heard Lazy Daze was DONE with the old rigs, and Vince left. Hope Blue didn't contribute to that.
Heres a few pictures of our first Lazy Daze a 1977 Dodge before and after.
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