1978 Dodge in Storage

In 1983 we found a 43,000 mile, 1978 Dodge Transvan (we paid $6,000) owned by a US Army Major at Nellingen Barracks south of Stuttgart. After buying a water pump in Merzig, Germany, and a 220V refrigerator in Luxembourg, we drove 8,000 miles through nine countries and camped 50 nights (total of 87 nights in Europe). We garaged the RV in Mettlach, near Cousin Hugo’s (in the photo) home, expecting to return in six months. Storage cost 40 D-Marks per month, about 50¢ per day.

Our plans changed and we decided not to return to Europe until 1985, after 20 months had passed. While Cousin Klaus installed the charged battery, I changed the spark plugs (very easy on the Dodge van) and put on a new oil filter. We sprayed some stuff in the carburetor, and the Dodge started immediately! Tires did not need air, radiator did not need water! The only problem was that mice had feasted on paper bags of cocoa, chewing gum, and other such goodies.

Off we went for another 16,400 miles in 17 countries, 102 nights in campsites (156 nights in Europe), a set of tires in Losheim, Germany and a new starter in Wettenberg, Germany. With the RV in the hold of the ship, we boarded the Polish liner T.S.S. Stefan Batory in Rotterdam, spent a day in London, ten days on the Atlantic Ocean to Montreal, then drove to California. (No Jet-lag this time!)