Buy a GMC to your skill level

B

Bob Dunahugh

New member
Sep 17, 2012
2,784
4
3
I know 3 couples that wanted to get GMC's. That contacted me last year. But=
just didn't want to have to work on it much. My very first comment to the=
m was. Buy to your skill level. Not a budget price. One couple bought a 76 =
Royale for $15,000. Body was nice. But needed some buffing. And the strip n=
eeded replacing. Interior needed cleaning. Drivetrain was good. Compression=
test was very good. But I suggested getting the trans replaced soon. They=
're coming up on a year with about 6000 miles on it. Had no problems. Trans=
is going in this week. I gave him a list of things that he was capable of =
doing with his skill level. Next two couples had good skill levers. But re=
ally just wanted to travel with no real serious issues. Both did a lot of l=
ooking. Asked a LOT of questions. And verified the work that had been done.=
One was bought for $30,000. The other for $38,000. Both 77 Royales. Both h=
ave been now driven in the 6,000 mile range. One had a minor issue on the =
Tucson trip. All three of these GMC's were well bought by their new owners.=
As for me. I'm at the other end of the spectrum. We had an excellent 78 Ro=
yale for 12 years. Purely loved it. And knew that there was no way we coul=
d possible fine another GMC that would meet the dreams that we wanted in th=
e first one. So hence. We built our dream. And it has been. Except for the=
failure of electrical replacement parts from China. Then the China engine=
water pump. So we put about $42,000 in parts. Then put in $58,000 for my 6=
months of my labor in building this one from scratch. Basically. And YES. =
I had a lot of fun building it. So now we have out magic carpet. That's wor=
th ever dime invested. It's perfect for Linda in the wheelchair, Lila the d=
og, and me. Buy your dream. Or build it. But it MUST be to your skill leve=
l for it to be YOUR dream. Bob Dunahugh
 
Well said - Bob D. I agree in total. Mike/The Corvair a holic Sen=
t from my iPhone > On May 8, 2018, at 7:55 PM, Bob Dunahugh wrote: > > I know 3 couples that wanted to get GMC's. Tha=
t contacted me last year. But just didn't want to have to work on it much. =
My very first comment to them was. Buy to your skill level. Not a budget p=
rice. One couple bought a 76 Royale for $15,000. Body was nice. But needed =
some buffing. And the strip needed replacing. Interior needed cleaning. Dri=
vetrain was good. Compression test was very good. But I suggested getting t=
he trans replaced soon. They're coming up on a year with about 6000 miles =
on it. Had no problems. Trans is going in this week. I gave him a list of t=
hings that he was capable of doing with his skill level. Next two couples =
had good skill levers. But really just wanted to travel with no real seriou=
s issues. Both did a lot of looking. Asked a LOT of questions. And verified=
the work that had been done. One was bought for $30,000. The other for $38=
,000. Both 77 Royales. Both have been now driven in the 6,000 mile range. =
One had a minor issue on the Tucson trip. All three of these GMC's were wel=
l bought by their new owners. As for me. I'm at the other end of the spectr=
um. We had an excellent 78 Royale for 12 years. Purely loved it. And knew =
that there was no way we could possible fine another GMC that would meet th=
e dreams that we wanted in the first one. So hence. We built our dream. An=
d it has been. Except for the failure of electrical replacement parts from=
China. Then the China engine water pump. So we put about $42,000 in parts.=
Then put in $58,000 for my 6 months of my labor in building this one from =
scratch. Basically. And YES. I had a lot of fun building it. So now we have=
out magic carpet. That's worth ever dime invested. It's perfect for Linda =
in the wheelchair, Lila the dog, and me. Buy your dream. Or build it. But =
it MUST be to your skill level for it to be YOUR dream. Bob Dunahugh > _=
______________________________________________ > GMCnet mailing list > =
Unsubscribe or Change List Options: > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/list=
info/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Bob,

Now this post I agree with 100%! TBH, When I started I probably bought above my skill level. But my skill level has gone up some (maybe not enough,
but some). In hindsight, I should have bought a better coach to begin with. Live and learn.
--
Paul Zerkel
'78 Eleganza II
Salisbury IL (near Springfield)
 
Agreed.
As with all vehicles, it's always cheaper to buy what someone else has already paid to have done.

A coach in great shape that's got all the usual upgrades and has been well taken care of is ultimately much cheaper than one that you have to upgrade
yourself ESPECIALLY if you have to pay for labor.
Even if not paying for labor parts are not cheap, and if you buy one that already has those parts you're paying pennies on the dollar.

--
Justin Brady
http://www.thegmcrv.com/
1976 Palm Beach 455
 
Bob,
What modes did you do for Linda?

> Agreed.
> As with all vehicles, it's always cheaper to buy what someone else has
> already paid to have done.
>
> A coach in great shape that's got all the usual upgrades and has been well
> taken care of is ultimately much cheaper than one that you have to upgrade
> yourself ESPECIALLY if you have to pay for labor.
> Even if not paying for labor parts are not cheap, and if you buy one that
> already has those parts you're paying pennies on the dollar.
>
>
> --
> Justin Brady
> http://www.thegmcrv.com/
> 1976 Palm Beach 455
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--

*John Phillips*
 
WOW John P. That's a list. Big items. Entry door is now 36 inches wide.Thus=
plus 7 ". 36" X 8 ft slide out ramp with hand rails under coach. It's a 7=
8 Royale rear bath. This modal of GMC's is the only one that lends itself t=
o this type of wide isle modification. Left side interior is mostly stock.=
Bath is now a complete wheelchair drive in bath. With added very large cl=
oths hamper with sorting bins. Large linen closet above the hamper. Right =
rear bed folds into a couch. So this makes a 42" isle to the rear bath. She=
can drive her wheelchair from the very back to the very front. And turn ar=
ound at any point. 16 overhead flush LED lights are controlled by 9 wall s=
witches. With some that are 2 way. In this way the lights can be turned on/=
off from bedside controls. Along with ceiling remote controlled vent fan, a=
nd TV. In cabinet LED lighting that's controlled by touch switches. 9 - 11=
0 volt circuits, 2 - 110 invertor circuits that provide 110 V to 22 GFI pr=
otected wall plugs. 27 - 12 V circuits. Under mount kitchen sink in Cor=
ian with side controls. Right front dinette, and front passenger removed. =
Then a kitchen horizontal cabinet built under large side window. Then an=
L shaped Corian counter top installed on right side. EZ lock installed i=
n floor to lock her electric power wheelchair in place while coach is in mo=
tion. This is hitting only the high points.
 
Wow Bob! That is a lot.
Thanks for the information.
Almost like you stripped the coach and started over.
That is a lot of electrical work. I was thinking of voice-activated
switches but mine do not work without an internet connection. Road noise
would be a problem as well. We use them to control lights and front door
lock at home.

I have a 7-foot ramp and was thinking about sliding it under the coach
below the door. I am concerned with the ramp hitting a speed bump or some
other obstacle pushing it into the rear wheels.

We can still get her hand wheelchair in the door and she can do a few
steps to get to a recliner that I have placed where the table was. I have
not removed the dinette seats yet. I am hoping for a way to get her to the
right front seat.

> WOW John P. That's a list. Big items. Entry door is now 36 inches
> wide.Thus plus 7 ". 36" X 8 ft slide out ramp with hand rails under coach.
> It's a 78 Royale rear bath. This modal of GMC's is the only one that lends
> itself to this type of wide isle modification. Left side interior is
> mostly stock. Bath is now a complete wheelchair drive in bath. With added
> very large cloths hamper with sorting bins. Large linen closet above the
> hamper. Right rear bed folds into a couch. So this makes a 42" isle to the
> rear bath. She can drive her wheelchair from the very back to the very
> front. And turn around at any point. 16 overhead flush LED lights are
> controlled by 9 wall switches. With some that are 2 way. In this way the
> lights can be turned on/off from bedside controls. Along with ceiling
> remote controlled vent fan, and TV. In cabinet LED lighting that's
> controlled by touch switches. 9 - 110 volt circuits, 2 - 110 invertor
> circuits that provide 110 V to 22 GFI protected wall plugs. 27 - 12 V
> circuits. Under mount kitchen sink in Corian with side controls. Right
> front dinette, and front passenger removed. Then a kitchen horizontal
> cabinet built under large side window. Then an L shaped Corian counter top
> installed on right side. EZ lock installed in floor to lock her electric
> power wheelchair in place while coach is in motion. This is hitting only
> the high points.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--

*John Phillips*
 
I did strip the inside out to the outside skin. Same treatment to the und=
ercarriage. Then everything on the bottom was serviced, and painted. Took =
it apart in Nov of 2015. Was completed by April of 2016. Then went to the =
GMCMI Summer rally in Branson Mo with only a few details not done. Did all=
the work by myself. As to the ramp under the coach. Made the ramp =
carrier for under our first Royale in 2010. Then transferred it to this GMC=
in 2016. Haven't had any real problems. As long as you pay attention to th=
e road surface. If you need photos. Let me know. Bob Dunahugh ___=
_____________________________ From: Bob Dunahugh =
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 1:13 AM To: gmclist Sub=
ject: RE: Buy a GMC to your skill level WOW John P. That's a list. =
Big items. Entry door is now 36 inches wide.Thus plus 7 ". 36" X 8 ft slid=
e out ramp with hand rails under coach. It's a 78 Royale rear bath. This mo=
dal of GMC's is the only one that lends itself to this type of wide isle m=
odification. Left side interior is mostly stock. Bath is now a complete whe=
elchair drive in bath. With added very large cloths hamper with sorting bi=
ns. Large linen closet above the hamper. Right rear bed folds into a couch=
. So this makes a 42" isle to the rear bath. She can drive her wheelchair f=
rom the very back to the very front. And turn around at any point. 16 over=
head flush LED lights are controlled by 9 wall switches. With some that are=
2 way. In this way the lights can be turned on/off from bedside controls. =
Along with ceiling remote controlled vent fan, and TV. In cabinet LED light=
ing that's controlled by touch switches. 9 - 110 volt circuits, 2 - 110 i=
nvertor circuits that provide 110 V to 22 GFI protected wall plugs. 27 -=
12 V circuits. Under mount kitchen sink in Corian with side controls. Rig=
ht front dinette, and front passenger removed. Then a kitchen horizontal=
cabinet built under large side window. Then an L shaped Corian counter to=
p installed on right side. EZ lock installed in floor to lock her electri=
c power wheelchair in place while coach is in motion. This is hitting only=
the high points.
 
How many times have you changed where you drive because the ramp is there?
Widening the door seems like the hardest part. You did stop short of
splitting it down the middle and adding 6 inches to make the MH 8.5 feet
wide or adding a slideout.

I would like some photos of the ramp and the way you mount it.

My ramp is a 2-inch channel, I planned on sliding it into a 3-inch
channel. For now, I bolt it to a rack that fits in the trailer hitch. I did
not figure a way to keep it from rattling. I have not given up on some kind
of lift to get her into the front seat.

> I did strip the inside out to the outside skin. Same treatment to the
> undercarriage. Then everything on the bottom was serviced, and painted.
> Took it apart in Nov of 2015. Was completed by April of 2016. Then went to
> the GMCMI Summer rally in Branson Mo with only a few details not done. Did
> all the work by myself.
>
> As to the ramp under the coach. Made the ramp carrier for under our
> first Royale in 2010. Then transferred it to this GMC in 2016. Haven't had
> any real problems. As long as you pay attention to the road surface. If you
> need photos. Let me know. Bob Dunahugh
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Bob Dunahugh
> Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2018 1:13 AM
> To: gmclist
> Subject: RE: Buy a GMC to your skill level
>
>
> WOW John P. That's a list. Big items. Entry door is now 36 inches
> wide.Thus plus 7 ". 36" X 8 ft slide out ramp with hand rails under coach.
> It's a 78 Royale rear bath. This modal of GMC's is the only one that lends
> itself to this type of wide isle modification. Left side interior is
> mostly stock. Bath is now a complete wheelchair drive in bath. With added
> very large cloths hamper with sorting bins. Large linen closet above the
> hamper. Right rear bed folds into a couch. So this makes a 42" isle to the
> rear bath. She can drive her wheelchair from the very back to the very
> front. And turn around at any point. 16 overhead flush LED lights are
> controlled by 9 wall switches. With some that are 2 way. In this way the
> lights can be turned on/off from bedside controls. Along with ceiling
> remote controlled vent fan, and TV. In cabinet LED lighting that's
> controlled by touch switches. 9 - 110 volt circuits, 2 - 110 invertor
> circuits that provide 110 V to 22 GFI protected wall plugs. 27 - 12 V
> circuits. Under mount kitchen sink in Corian with side controls. Right
> front dinette, and front passenger removed. Then a kitchen horizontal
> cabinet built under large side window. Then an L shaped Corian counter top
> installed on right side. EZ lock installed in floor to lock her electric
> power wheelchair in place while coach is in motion. This is hitting only
> the high points.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--

*John Phillips*
 
The ramp carrier hangs down about 5 inches below the frame. Aluminum ramp is about 3.5" tale X 36" wide X 8' long. Have had no problems with dragging. Just pay attention to the road. And at entry to parking lots. Did hit a 250 lbs pig at 65 MPH on Interstate 74 once. The ramp cost about $1000. Didn't loss it. Haven't seen a purpose for slide outs. Or any of those changes. The Royale rear bath is the perfect GMC if you want to expand inside storage space. And be able to drive a powered wheelchair in from front to back. I can haul a washer, drier, and a 30" range. All at the same time. Bob Dunahugh
 
Thanks Bob,
My ramp is 1/2 inch plywood screwed to the 2-inch channel iron ( [________]
) so it would fit in a 3-inch channel and only hang 3 inches below the
frame.
I know I do not have the skill-set to do what you have done.
I could not even begin to think of what I would use all that electrical for.

> The ramp carrier hangs down about 5 inches below the frame. Aluminum
> ramp is about 3.5" tale X 36" wide X 8' long. Have had no problems with
> dragging. Just pay attention to the road. And at entry to parking lots.
> Did hit a 250 lbs pig at 65 MPH on Interstate 74 once. The ramp cost about
> $1000. Didn't loss it. Haven't seen a purpose for slide outs. Or any of
> those changes. The Royale rear bath is the perfect GMC if you want to
> expand inside storage space. And be able to drive a powered wheelchair in
> from front to back. I can haul a washer, drier, and a 30" range. All at the
> same time. Bob Dunahugh
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--

*John Phillips*
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Applied GMC
GMCMI Fall 2026 Rally

Share this page

Share this page
Top Bottom
Back