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>>How many on the net have ever broken down to the point where they could
not
>>drive the coach home. What was the breakdown? Just how reliable is the
GMC
>>on the road.
I would consider the GMC to be very reliable... or at least as reliable as
anything else on four ( oops...six ) wheels. It does need a little tlc
though to compensate some for it's advanced age.
I'm not very good doing paperwork so this is by memory... which is actually
good as if it didn't stick it probably wasn't bad.
I have some 230k+ on my '76 Transmode now and have owned it for over 13
years. ( Going to have to check one of these days just how long it's been
with me ).
Novice period:
Blew a heater hose in the middle lane of the FW approaching Chatanooga. As
it was just a single POP and no other symptoms right away we kept going.
mistake #1.
By the time we finally pulled over, things were HOT. Added water from the
coach, it started and we proceeded out of traffic to try and figure it out.
Eventually we did and repaired the heaterhose. All seemed well but after
another 30 miles white smoke was pouring out behind us.
Stopped in next town, had a GMC dealership. Stayed in their parking lot just
to be told they don't work on 'motorhomes'. Long story short we had to fill
up with water a few more times until we finally found an Esso Station that
would tackle the job of removing heads. We backed it up into a corner of his
lot and settled in. Middle of summer, hot is putting it mildly but GenSet
kept it tolerable. 3 days later we were back on the road. I can't recall
what the cost was but I do remember I considered it fair. No rip-off.
Serious disruption but made it to place of repair under it's own power. Have
learned a lot since. I still don't know how I missed the temp going up
before when I did, but I did.
Another time about 30 miles west of San Antonio the tranny went. I can't
quite recall the symptoms. It was still novice period. We limped around a
few places and eventually ended up back in San Antonio at a GM dealership.
They didn't turn us away but instead got a tranny organized for monday (this
was friday or sat). We went to an RV park and back to the dealership bright
and early for 8AM monday. We were out of there that night with a rebuilt
tranny. Again, no towtruck in the picture. This was at about the 75k mark.
At about the 125k mark engine lost power on the way up I5. I was able to
limp several hundred miles to Sequim WA and Eric's RV. The consensus was
that the timing chain jumped and with milage etc it was decided to do the
engine.
The first time ( and hopefully last time ) a tow was required was for the
most part due to the nut behind the wheel. Perhaps a bit of get-home-itis
set in, perhaps just plain stupidity.
Was on a solo non-stop from Dallas to Home a few years ago near Easter Time.
( Non-stop = fueling stop means to fuel, de-fuel and stock up on junkfood
and drinks to make it to the next fuelstop without having to stop just to
head back to the fridge or head. Rest areas are used to snooze and eat stuff
one level above junk food, i.e. real food takes too long to prepare or wait
for
As I was nearing Denver it was getting colder and colder and pretty soon
snowing and pretty soon I70 was closed. Reports were that I80 was in good
shape so el-Stupido decided to head accross country northbound to meet up
with I80. Through snow, sleet, ice and wind the trusty steed did what was
asked of it. A couple of scary interludes: strong crosswind and icy patches
that moved the rig sideways while on the ice. Eventually I would go as far
upwind as road would allow when starting on the next icy patch and hope that
it would not be longer than the space I had to drift sideways.
Made it to I80 covered in ice and just as I turned onto the freeway the
engine died. As I was on somewhat of an incline and low on fuel I thought
first that I managed to uncover the fuel inlet. Got on the cellphone for
GoodSam to get gas brought out. They called back shortly afterwards that
they couln't send anyone as I80 had been closed by now further east and the
State Troopers wouldn't allow anyone on the road. ( I might note here that
there was nothing telling we that I80 was closed when I entered the
freeway ). Back to the cell and information for the closest town. Finally
found someone to bring gas. No luck. As it was getting chilly and fuel was
below GenSet inlet it was either abandon or tow and I wasn't about to
abandon. No proper tow equipment so we got a "pull" for 6 miles or so. The
interesting part was how to get it into the shop, but we managed.
Anyways after much trying of everything reasonable the HEI coil was finally
replaced and the GMC came to life with a bang loud enough to be heard all
over town... at least that's what it seemed like to me.
I now carry a spare coil along with spare belts, fanclutch, alternator,
starter, 1 each front and rear shock, pices of heaterhose, fuelline, vacuum
line.
It's true that parts can be had overnight but only if you break before noon,
monday to friday
I've used all my spares at one time or other and they've helped to turn a
breakdown into a minor inconvenience.
My most recent limp home was when the engine swallowed an exhaust valve.
Limped home 40 miles or so -- we're now a little past novice period. It's
still disheartening when things hiccup though.
Oh yeah, second tranny... limped to a tranny shop and hoist under it's own
power.
Second engine rebuild: hopefully I'll get to do that at home.
I'd like to point out that all that was BGMCN ( before GMCNet ). There is
some good and some bad associated with the knowledge obtained via the net,
i.e. the proverbial belief that what you don't know can't hurt you... or at
least won't bother you until it does [g].
I don't know how some other rig would have fared. My guess is no better.
Many of my miles are "non-stops" to get from a to b. In the early days it
was even 2 drivers with one sleeping and 1 driving but my wife wised up and
prefers staying home to just moving from one parking lot to another and from
one seedy part of town to another... as that seems to be where my customers
locate their parts stores
I've had shocks break, master cylinder fail, numerous alternator failures, 1
blowout, several GenSet repairs water pump failure in the middle of CA west
of Bakersfield, i.e. in the middle of nowhere. Have done Front Bearings 3
times, the last being at a truck shop in Quebec City while on a cross Canada
jaunt. Next one will be done 'in house'.
Am I selling...? No way. Would I take it anywher...? You bet. I do avoid
snow and cold these days, though. That's a personal choice, not the GMC's.
Happy GMCing
Heinz
www.bytedesigns.com/gmc
P.S. The biggest problem with any breakdown away from home is finding a
competent person to do the repair and/or a facility to "do yourself". I'm no
mechanic by any stretch of the imagination but I can change parts as well as
most folks. Knowledge gained over the years and knowledge available via this
list makes it easier now than ever. "The Black List" should help even the
uninitiated to make every trip in your GMC enjoyable, even if some
sidetracks and interruptions happen.
>>How many on the net have ever broken down to the point where they could
not
>>drive the coach home. What was the breakdown? Just how reliable is the
GMC
>>on the road.
I would consider the GMC to be very reliable... or at least as reliable as
anything else on four ( oops...six ) wheels. It does need a little tlc
though to compensate some for it's advanced age.
I'm not very good doing paperwork so this is by memory... which is actually
good as if it didn't stick it probably wasn't bad.
I have some 230k+ on my '76 Transmode now and have owned it for over 13
years. ( Going to have to check one of these days just how long it's been
with me ).
Novice period:
Blew a heater hose in the middle lane of the FW approaching Chatanooga. As
it was just a single POP and no other symptoms right away we kept going.
mistake #1.
By the time we finally pulled over, things were HOT. Added water from the
coach, it started and we proceeded out of traffic to try and figure it out.
Eventually we did and repaired the heaterhose. All seemed well but after
another 30 miles white smoke was pouring out behind us.
Stopped in next town, had a GMC dealership. Stayed in their parking lot just
to be told they don't work on 'motorhomes'. Long story short we had to fill
up with water a few more times until we finally found an Esso Station that
would tackle the job of removing heads. We backed it up into a corner of his
lot and settled in. Middle of summer, hot is putting it mildly but GenSet
kept it tolerable. 3 days later we were back on the road. I can't recall
what the cost was but I do remember I considered it fair. No rip-off.
Serious disruption but made it to place of repair under it's own power. Have
learned a lot since. I still don't know how I missed the temp going up
before when I did, but I did.
Another time about 30 miles west of San Antonio the tranny went. I can't
quite recall the symptoms. It was still novice period. We limped around a
few places and eventually ended up back in San Antonio at a GM dealership.
They didn't turn us away but instead got a tranny organized for monday (this
was friday or sat). We went to an RV park and back to the dealership bright
and early for 8AM monday. We were out of there that night with a rebuilt
tranny. Again, no towtruck in the picture. This was at about the 75k mark.
At about the 125k mark engine lost power on the way up I5. I was able to
limp several hundred miles to Sequim WA and Eric's RV. The consensus was
that the timing chain jumped and with milage etc it was decided to do the
engine.
The first time ( and hopefully last time ) a tow was required was for the
most part due to the nut behind the wheel. Perhaps a bit of get-home-itis
set in, perhaps just plain stupidity.
Was on a solo non-stop from Dallas to Home a few years ago near Easter Time.
( Non-stop = fueling stop means to fuel, de-fuel and stock up on junkfood
and drinks to make it to the next fuelstop without having to stop just to
head back to the fridge or head. Rest areas are used to snooze and eat stuff
one level above junk food, i.e. real food takes too long to prepare or wait
for
As I was nearing Denver it was getting colder and colder and pretty soon
snowing and pretty soon I70 was closed. Reports were that I80 was in good
shape so el-Stupido decided to head accross country northbound to meet up
with I80. Through snow, sleet, ice and wind the trusty steed did what was
asked of it. A couple of scary interludes: strong crosswind and icy patches
that moved the rig sideways while on the ice. Eventually I would go as far
upwind as road would allow when starting on the next icy patch and hope that
it would not be longer than the space I had to drift sideways.
Made it to I80 covered in ice and just as I turned onto the freeway the
engine died. As I was on somewhat of an incline and low on fuel I thought
first that I managed to uncover the fuel inlet. Got on the cellphone for
GoodSam to get gas brought out. They called back shortly afterwards that
they couln't send anyone as I80 had been closed by now further east and the
State Troopers wouldn't allow anyone on the road. ( I might note here that
there was nothing telling we that I80 was closed when I entered the
freeway ). Back to the cell and information for the closest town. Finally
found someone to bring gas. No luck. As it was getting chilly and fuel was
below GenSet inlet it was either abandon or tow and I wasn't about to
abandon. No proper tow equipment so we got a "pull" for 6 miles or so. The
interesting part was how to get it into the shop, but we managed.
Anyways after much trying of everything reasonable the HEI coil was finally
replaced and the GMC came to life with a bang loud enough to be heard all
over town... at least that's what it seemed like to me.
I now carry a spare coil along with spare belts, fanclutch, alternator,
starter, 1 each front and rear shock, pices of heaterhose, fuelline, vacuum
line.
It's true that parts can be had overnight but only if you break before noon,
monday to friday
I've used all my spares at one time or other and they've helped to turn a
breakdown into a minor inconvenience.
My most recent limp home was when the engine swallowed an exhaust valve.
Limped home 40 miles or so -- we're now a little past novice period. It's
still disheartening when things hiccup though.
Oh yeah, second tranny... limped to a tranny shop and hoist under it's own
power.
Second engine rebuild: hopefully I'll get to do that at home.
I'd like to point out that all that was BGMCN ( before GMCNet ). There is
some good and some bad associated with the knowledge obtained via the net,
i.e. the proverbial belief that what you don't know can't hurt you... or at
least won't bother you until it does [g].
I don't know how some other rig would have fared. My guess is no better.
Many of my miles are "non-stops" to get from a to b. In the early days it
was even 2 drivers with one sleeping and 1 driving but my wife wised up and
prefers staying home to just moving from one parking lot to another and from
one seedy part of town to another... as that seems to be where my customers
locate their parts stores
I've had shocks break, master cylinder fail, numerous alternator failures, 1
blowout, several GenSet repairs water pump failure in the middle of CA west
of Bakersfield, i.e. in the middle of nowhere. Have done Front Bearings 3
times, the last being at a truck shop in Quebec City while on a cross Canada
jaunt. Next one will be done 'in house'.
Am I selling...? No way. Would I take it anywher...? You bet. I do avoid
snow and cold these days, though. That's a personal choice, not the GMC's.
Happy GMCing
Heinz
www.bytedesigns.com/gmc
P.S. The biggest problem with any breakdown away from home is finding a
competent person to do the repair and/or a facility to "do yourself". I'm no
mechanic by any stretch of the imagination but I can change parts as well as
most folks. Knowledge gained over the years and knowledge available via this
list makes it easier now than ever. "The Black List" should help even the
uninitiated to make every trip in your GMC enjoyable, even if some
sidetracks and interruptions happen.
