I found my Hall by "accident" on Craigslist in Bakersfield in May, 2010, while searching for a Clark Cortez. I had been looking for a Clark for months -- then Chinooks and Balboas, with a smattering of Avions thrown in for good measure. By the time I found Roger Hall (my granddaughter's name for it) I was well aware of what I didn't want, which was something that would rust out from under me, or have the roof collapse, or have a bathroom so small you couldn't turn around in it with the door closed. I did know that I wanted something on a Dodge chassis and that it had to have a fiberglass body.

I come from a background of boat-building, selling yachts and dealing with well-made things in general, which had been a handicap when looking for an RV I could live with without feeling irritated every time I stepped in the door. In the Class B and C machines that definitely narrowed the field to a very short list. I liked the looks of the Balboa really well, but the quality of construction seemed pretty iffy and I knew I couldn't hack having the dinette as the main place to sleep. The Chinooks I looked at were mainly in the same class as the Balboa, only not as good looking, and seemed even less well put together. Not for me. (Having been in a few that had had some people living in them that weren't all that concerned about being in total wreckage probably didn't help much) So when I stumbled upon the Hall, it was quite a revelation, even though I thought it had the feeling of a locomotive with tires.

It was rough when I got it and I knew it was going to be a long up-hill process to get it road worthy again. The tires were all bad, the steering was only approximate, the house batteries had been stolen, the starting battery was a goner, there was at least one electrical drain when the engine was off, the ancient Quickee step mechanism died a spasmodic death the day I picked it up, the engine seemed basically gutless and most of the running lights were out -- including the front parking lights. There was a big stain on the left side where it had been egged (!), the rest of the paint/gelcoat had a layer of grey Bakersfield environment clinging to it like glue -- I could go on.

As of November 2010, I have replaced the rear single wheels and tires with 16.5" duals, replaced the front tires and spare, replaced all the steering linkage (not the steering box), replaced the Quickee with a new version -- which required considerable rewiring and the addition of a nickel alloy aluminum diamond plate with stainless carriage bolts in the entryway to support the new step assembly, replaced the original 2 barrel Holley with a 4 barrel Carter and aluminum Edelbrock intake, re-made the throttle linkage, replaced the super-loud Shurflo water pump with an original, not quite as loud PAR pump, replaced most of the running lights, the tail light lenses, the front parking light lenses, cleaned and fixed numerous bad ground connections, replaced the brake master cylinder, stopped a small radiator leak, replaced all the belts and some hoses, replaced the house batteries with a pair of 200 amp hour deep-cycle AGMs, replaced the starting battery, made new curtain runners out of Apitong (tropical hardwood), my wife made new curtains and replaced all fasteners I have had to take out with stainless steel versions. And most recently I replaced the original CB with an even better vintage LaFeyette -- and am now awaiting a new fan assemble to replace the one in the range hood.

I will supply updated pictures as I get things done!

Matt Tritt