about to get one, after talking about for like 30 years...

[TC429]

many long stories, but lifes curveballs kept the 'pipedream' just that... feb, wife lost her 26 year cancer battle, and it just sucks... parents way out west cant travel well, was hoping to get them back east to visit... been on gmc lists for years half heartedly watching for a nice one, had hoped if wifes health ever stabilized again, maybe doing some travelling...we always loved road trips.
Anyways one popped up again recently- I'd seen the listing a year or so ago, looked great, but other things to worry about- didnt even notice it was nearby. Same one popped up again, didnt want to miss a bucket list thing... kids are older, but we still vacation together when we can- think this might be a way to extend that a bit longer, and if they like it, can keep going long after i'm gone- till then a 'parent toter' that guzzles gas might make bringing them back east actually maybe fun- with the comfort of being able to move around, rather than sitting in a car or airplane seat hours at a time...heck we used to drive straight thru, those days are gone...
will put some pics up, lots of questions, once we get it home this week... while the biggest part of the bucket list is gone, think she'd have thought it cool for the boys and I to keep doing what we never could for so long... if carrying only memories, making more along the way... I dunno, will see

 

[Richard RV]

many long stories, but lifes curveballs kept the 'pipedream' just that... feb, wife lost her 26 year cancer battle, and it just sucks... parents way out west cant travel well, was hoping to get them back east to visit... been on gmc lists for years half heartedly watching for a nice one, had hoped if wifes health ever stabilized again, maybe doing some travelling...we always loved road trips.
Anyways one popped up again recently- I'd seen the listing a year or so ago, looked great, but other things to worry about- didnt even notice it was nearby. Same one popped up again, didnt want to miss a bucket list thing... kids are older, but we still vacation together when we can- think this might be a way to extend that a bit longer, and if they like it, can keep going long after i'm gone- till then a 'parent toter' that guzzles gas might make bringing them back east actually maybe fun- with the comfort of being able to move around, rather than sitting in a car or airplane seat hours at a time...heck we used to drive straight thru, those days are gone...
will put some pics up, lots of questions, once we get it home this week... while the biggest part of the bucket list is gone, think she'd have thought it cool for the boys and I to keep doing what we never could for so long... if carrying only memories, making more along the way... I dunno, will see

I'm sorry for your loss, TC. That's rough - you've got a good way of thinking about it - carrying the memories and keeping the family together. You don't know it yet, but you've found a new family here.

Please introduce yourself and let us know where you're from and what GMC you acquired.

And safe travels!

 

[pvfjr]

I'm so sorry to hear about your wife's long struggle, but I'm glad to hear you're finding ways to spice life up again! I look forward to seeing your coach, and we'll all be here to help whenever you need it. There's a lot to learn when you get started, but it's fun and rewarding.

 

[tmsnyder]

Very sorry for your loss.

Hopefully you were able to find one that's been well maintained and used regularly.

 

[LarryW]

Hey TC29, Nice to have you aboard. If the engine has not been run for a period of time, read this article before you drive it home. JWID

https://www.gmcmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/weidner-starting-engine.pdf

 

[TC429]

picked it up today, might look familiar to some of you guys, John Shotwell was on the old forums a lot, its his old coach. so far only drove it home, know i got some alignment stuff to look at- feels toed out to me, was windy today and it felt all over...everything seems tight, just when wind hits, its pulling all over... will measure toe tomorrow, get it jacked up and check everything closer...
runs strong, surprising at the heaviness- the old bigblock will spin the tires too easily if trying to take off at a moderately normal automotive pace...
getting used to the width is definitely a thing, kept running on the white line first few miles- really impressed with the turning circle, swear its better than my f150 LOL.

 

[Richard RV]

picked it up today, might look familiar to some of you guys, John Shotwell was on the old forums a lot, its his old coach. so far only drove it home, know i got some alignment stuff to look at- feels toed out to me, was windy today and it felt all over...everything seems tight, just when wind hits, its pulling all over... will measure toe tomorrow, get it jacked up and check everything closer...
runs strong, surprising at the heaviness- the old bigblock will spin the tires too easily if trying to take off at a moderately normal automotive pace...
getting used to the width is definitely a thing, kept running on the white line first few miles- really impressed with the turning circle, swear its better than my f150 LOL.

Excellent! Besides being a great guy John Shotwell loved his GMC. You got a good one!

Start here when checking out the steering:

Resource icon

Alex Ferrara's Steering Box Centering instructions

Oct 7, 2020

How to center your steering box so your coach will drive striaght down the road

• RF_Burns
• Steering

Then if you need to dive deeper:

Resource icon

GMC Steering Inspection Guide

Jun 7, 2025

By Rob Mueller

• Richard RV
• Steering

Tom Phipps posted something a long time ago that really helped me getting used to maintaining the correct lane position in a GMC. When your left foot is on the sloped firewall (the floor) to the left of the footwell, your foot should seem to be on the painted lane marking line on the left when your lane position is correct. The angles just work for most people. Try it, verify with both side mirrors, and drive easy.

Throw this dog a bone and post some more photos of your new GMC!

 

[tmsnyder]

know i got some alignment stuff to look at- feels toed out to me, was windy today and it felt all over...everything seems tight, just when wind hits, its pulling all over... will measure toe tomorrow, get it jacked up and check everything closer...

That sounds like the ride height isn't set correctly. There's a diagram in the maintenance manual showing the front and rear ride heights off the ground to the top of the oval cutouts in the frame. The rear should be lower than the front after you drive it a few minutes in Auto mode (depends on your year) on the level switches.

Yes they are toed out slightly or zero toe. When the forces on the fwd are added, it ends up zero or slight toe in.

The veteran race car guy in our community, Barry Owens, sets his up with toe-out.

 

[GMC Cruse]

I agree with Richard RV, you got a good one. john and Patty use to attend the SEMNO Lunches.

 

[TC429]

thanks for the input, got a huge bag of files they kept over the years, looked thru a bit last night...did find a little bit looking stuff over, right now it is sitting at 1/4" toed out, thinking thats excessive... only 'loose' thing up front, drivers upper a-arm rear bushing, but its barely moving kinda doubt its causing much.

front torsion bars are definitely cranked up, supposedly these are like 8'1" height without a/c, but sitting in front of garage, I can see its several inches above 8' door height to just the front roofline... will look at adjusting that first, as that will affect everything else a bit...he had tons of files on everything, several printouts on just adjusting ride height. also the guy I just got it from had replaced the steering u-joints on the column- noticed last night looking stuff over, the tops of the 'ears' on the upper joint has rub marks as if slightly over 'angulated' for lack of better words, that will need checked out, any slight bind could cause problems too...dont feel it sitting parked, but can see its been hitting on itself.

lots of little things to look over for sure, for now our little dog just wants to go for a ride, she jumped right up in the passenger seat and was checking out the world from the massive windows might be a few days, we'll see

 

[tmsnyder]

thanks for the input, got a huge bag of files they kept over the years, looked thru a bit last night...did find a little bit looking stuff over, right now it is sitting at 1/4" toed out, thinking thats excessive... only 'loose' thing up front, drivers upper a-arm rear bushing, but its barely moving kinda doubt its causing much.

front torsion bars are definitely cranked up, supposedly these are like 8'1" height without a/c, but sitting in front of garage, I can see its several inches above 8' door height to just the front roofline... will look at adjusting that first, as that will affect everything else a bit...he had tons of files on everything, several printouts on just adjusting ride height. also the guy I just got it from had replaced the steering u-joints on the column- noticed last night looking stuff over, the tops of the 'ears' on the upper joint has rub marks as if slightly over 'angulated' for lack of better words, that will need checked out, any slight bind could cause problems too...dont feel it sitting parked, but can see its been hitting on itself.

lots of little things to look over for sure, for now our little dog just wants to go for a ride, she jumped right up in the passenger seat and was checking out the world from the massive windows might be a few days, we'll see

To adjust the front ride height, use a torsion spring unloader tool. Don't just try to turn the bolt on the adjuster b/c it will tear out the threads.

People claim this style works best



but I have and use this C-clamp style from autozone free tool lend program. After 90 days it was no longer a loan however so now I own it lol:

 

[TC429]

got the torsion bar unloading tool (I had ordered one like the first one pictured above) and it finally quit raining, so got out there today- the front was >1" high and it was toed out 1/4"... backed off the torsion bars 6 turns each (after leveling rear with front floating- putting weight back on wheels stayed level so assume bars equally loaded) got it to advertised ride height at about 40/43 psi, reset toe, took it down the highway- totally different machine...60-70mph relaxed one handed driving, even hands off, tracks fine...didnt like 75 as much but wasnt bad... before at 60 it was squirrelly at 70 darn near scary- now its just a big smooth cruiser..
think it looks better sitting at right height too. one little step at a time, but getting there. got a possible master cyl leak and a small oilleak at front of engine, think it will be all set...but gotta learn how to fill/drain tanks and all that crap- its still winterized...

 

[tmsnyder]

got the torsion bar unloading tool (I had ordered one like the first one pictured above) and it finally quit raining, so got out there today- the front was >1" high and it was toed out 1/4"... backed off the torsion bars 6 turns each (after leveling rear with front floating- putting weight back on wheels stayed level so assume bars equally loaded) got it to advertised ride height at about 40/43 psi, reset toe, took it down the highway- totally different machine...60-70mph relaxed one handed driving, even hands off, tracks fine...didnt like 75 as much but wasnt bad... before at 60 it was squirrelly at 70 darn near scary- now its just a big smooth cruiser..
think it looks better sitting at right height too. one little step at a time, but getting there. got a possible master cyl leak and a small oilleak at front of engine, think it will be all set...but gotta learn how to fill/drain tanks and all that crap- its still winterized...

Hey slow down! It took me years to get mine to drive 'decent'

 

[Tybalt39]

got the torsion bar unloading tool (I had ordered one like the first one pictured above) and it finally quit raining, so got out there today- the front was >1" high and it was toed out 1/4"... backed off the torsion bars 6 turns each (after leveling rear with front floating- putting weight back on wheels stayed level so assume bars equally loaded) got it to advertised ride height at about 40/43 psi, reset toe, took it down the highway- totally different machine...60-70mph relaxed one handed driving, even hands off, tracks fine...didn't like 75 as much but wasn't bad... before at 60 it was squirrelly at 70 darn near scary- now its just a big smooth cruiser..
think it looks better sitting at right height too. one little step at a time, but getting there. got a possible master cyl leak and a small oilleak at front of engine, think it will be all set...but gotta learn how to fill/drain tanks and all that crap- its still winterized...

Congratulations! Been there, almost gave up on the coach before getting it dialed-in. It's currently getting tires re-balanced and shaved to eliminate a minor rumble/vibration at speed (60+ MPH).

A suggestion; if it feels like driving a lumber-truck around town (the rear hits hard over railroad-tracks or rough roads) try lifting the rear a bit. That seems to smooth the ride for me. Of course, drop it back to travel height once you get on the highway or up to speed. Jim Bounds (GMC personality/guru) has expressed the opinion that at low speed around town, a higher rear-end gives better response for turns, parking lots, etc. It definitely helps prevent dragging the exhaust pipe on steep entries/exits.