Buying advice

[brewer bob]

Greetings all,

I'm at the point where I'm starting to look at GMCs for purchase.

Looked at one over the weekend: a '78 26' Royale with 70k miles.
Exterior was a beige color, with brown accent decals. Body was good,
paint original, rear bumper showed some rust. New tires. Has the
ladder for roof access, dual a/c, and a storage pod.

Inside, much needs replacement: carpet, all upholstery, microwave,
headliner. There were some good points, though. The interior wood was
generally in good shape, except under the sink counter, but refinishing
would take care of that. It appeared to be either cherry or perhaps
walnut. Very cool. Some minor dash cracking (are these pieces
available?.)

The floorplan was one I hadn't seen on any of the web sites. I suspect
it may be the Royal Center Kitchen. In the back, there's a wrap around
sofa, that converts. Going forward from there, on the driver's side is
the bath, then the stove, sink and a counter . On the passenger side,
(from the rear) there are the closet, then storage cabinets/drawers,
door, and then finally the dinette. Over the dinette are some nice wood
cabinets, albeit small. I suspect these would have to go to add a bunk.

It ran well on the road, and didn't exhibit any problems other than
those described. New air bags recently. Asking price is $13,500, which
I think is pretty high, considering. for a few thousand more, well,
maybe 5-7k, I've seen ads for units with new engines/trans and interiors
etc.

I'd appreciate any comments.

Thanks,

Bob

 

[thomas g. warner]

Bob: After my experience I would check the floor under and around the bath
area, under the kitchen sink, and under and around the fresh water system
for leaks that have caused wood rot. Any leaks over a period of time and
you have floor rot.

>Greetings all,
>
>I'm at the point where I'm starting to look at GMCs for purchase.
>
>Looked at one over the weekend: a '78 26' Royale with 70k miles.
>Exterior was a beige color, with brown accent decals. Body was good,
>paint original, rear bumper showed some rust. New tires. Has the
>ladder for roof access, dual a/c, and a storage pod.
>
>Inside, much needs replacement: carpet, all upholstery, microwave,
>headliner. There were some good points, though. The interior wood was
>generally in good shape, except under the sink counter, but refinishing
>would take care of that. It appeared to be either cherry or perhaps
>walnut. Very cool. Some minor dash cracking (are these pieces
>available?.)
>
>The floorplan was one I hadn't seen on any of the web sites. I suspect
>it may be the Royal Center Kitchen. In the back, there's a wrap around
>sofa, that converts. Going forward from there, on the driver's side is
>the bath, then the stove, sink and a counter . On the passenger side,
>(from the rear) there are the closet, then storage cabinets/drawers,
>door, and then finally the dinette. Over the dinette are some nice wood
>cabinets, albeit small. I suspect these would have to go to add a bunk.
>
>It ran well on the road, and didn't exhibit any problems other than
>those described. New air bags recently. Asking price is $13,500, which
>I think is pretty high, considering. for a few thousand more, well,
>maybe 5-7k, I've seen ads for units with new engines/trans and interiors
>etc.
>
>I'd appreciate any comments.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Bob
>
>

 

[bartz paul]

Bob:

The center kitchen Royale has a rear bath, with the kitchen on the
driver's side, to the left of the entrance door. What you saw should
have a socket in the floor at the rear to hold a tube that supports a
table, octagon shaped, I believe. It is known as the rear dinette.

All Royale's came with walnut faced cabinetry. The wood can be
refinished.

Paul Bartz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brewer, Bob [SMTP:rebrewer]
> Sent: Monday, May 11, 1998 1:06 PM
> To: 'gmcmotorhome'
> Subject: GMC: Buying advice
>
> Greetings all,
>
> I'm at the point where I'm starting to look at GMCs for purchase.
>
> Looked at one over the weekend: a '78 26' Royale with 70k miles.
> Exterior was a beige color, with brown accent decals. Body was good,
> paint original, rear bumper showed some rust. New tires. Has the
> ladder for roof access, dual a/c, and a storage pod.
>
> Inside, much needs replacement: carpet, all upholstery, microwave,
> headliner. There were some good points, though. The interior wood
> was
> generally in good shape, except under the sink counter, but
> refinishing
> would take care of that. It appeared to be either cherry or perhaps
> walnut. Very cool. Some minor dash cracking (are these pieces
> available?.)
>
> The floorplan was one I hadn't seen on any of the web sites. I
> suspect
> it may be the Royal Center Kitchen. In the back, there's a wrap
> around
> sofa, that converts. Going forward from there, on the driver's side
> is
> the bath, then the stove, sink and a counter . On the passenger side,
> (from the rear) there are the closet, then storage cabinets/drawers,
> door, and then finally the dinette. Over the dinette are some nice
> wood
> cabinets, albeit small. I suspect these would have to go to add a
> bunk.
>
> It ran well on the road, and didn't exhibit any problems other than
> those described. New air bags recently. Asking price is $13,500,
> which
> I think is pretty high, considering. for a few thousand more, well,
> maybe 5-7k, I've seen ads for units with new engines/trans and
> interiors
> etc.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob

 

[brewer bob]

Tom,

Thanks for the good advice. I'll let you know if I find anything.

Regards,

Bob

- -----Original Message-----
From: Thomas G. Warner [mailto:warner]
Sent: Monday, May 11, 1998 10:47 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Buying advice

Bob: After my experience I would check the floor under and around the
bath
area, under the kitchen sink, and under and around the fresh water
system
for leaks that have caused wood rot. Any leaks over a period of time
and
you have floor rot.

>Greetings all,
>
>I'm at the point where I'm starting to look at GMCs for purchase.
>
>Looked at one over the weekend: a '78 26' Royale with 70k miles.
>Exterior was a beige color, with brown accent decals. Body was good,
>paint original, rear bumper showed some rust. New tires. Has the
>ladder for roof access, dual a/c, and a storage pod.
>
>Inside, much needs replacement: carpet, all upholstery, microwave,
>headliner. There were some good points, though. The interior wood was
>generally in good shape, except under the sink counter, but refinishing
>would take care of that. It appeared to be either cherry or perhaps
>walnut. Very cool. Some minor dash cracking (are these pieces
>available?.)
>
>The floorplan was one I hadn't seen on any of the web sites. I suspect
>it may be the Royal Center Kitchen. In the back, there's a wrap around
>sofa, that converts. Going forward from there, on the driver's side is
>the bath, then the stove, sink and a counter . On the passenger side,
>(from the rear) there are the closet, then storage cabinets/drawers,
>door, and then finally the dinette. Over the dinette are some nice
wood
>cabinets, albeit small. I suspect these would have to go to add a
bunk.
>
>It ran well on the road, and didn't exhibit any problems other than
>those described. New air bags recently. Asking price is $13,500,
which
>I think is pretty high, considering. for a few thousand more, well,
>maybe 5-7k, I've seen ads for units with new engines/trans and
interiors
>etc.
>
>I'd appreciate any comments.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Bob
>
>

 

[brewer bob]

Thanks for the good info, Paul. I'll look for the table support.

Regards,

Bob

- -----Original Message-----
From: Bartz, Paul [mailto:s9d3452]
Sent: Monday, May 11, 1998 10:48 AM
To: 'gmcmotorhome'
Subject: RE: GMC: Buying advice

Bob:

The center kitchen Royale has a rear bath, with the kitchen on the
driver's side, to the left of the entrance door. What you saw should
have a socket in the floor at the rear to hold a tube that supports a
table, octagon shaped, I believe. It is known as the rear dinette.

All Royale's came with walnut faced cabinetry. The wood can be
refinished.

Paul Bartz

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Brewer, Bob [SMTP:rebrewer]
> Sent: Monday, May 11, 1998 1:06 PM
> To: 'gmcmotorhome'
> Subject: GMC: Buying advice
>
> Greetings all,
>
> I'm at the point where I'm starting to look at GMCs for purchase.
>
> Looked at one over the weekend: a '78 26' Royale with 70k miles.
> Exterior was a beige color, with brown accent decals. Body was good,
> paint original, rear bumper showed some rust. New tires. Has the
> ladder for roof access, dual a/c, and a storage pod.
>
> Inside, much needs replacement: carpet, all upholstery, microwave,
> headliner. There were some good points, though. The interior wood
> was
> generally in good shape, except under the sink counter, but
> refinishing
> would take care of that. It appeared to be either cherry or perhaps
> walnut. Very cool. Some minor dash cracking (are these pieces
> available?.)
>
> The floorplan was one I hadn't seen on any of the web sites. I
> suspect
> it may be the Royal Center Kitchen. In the back, there's a wrap
> around
> sofa, that converts. Going forward from there, on the driver's side
> is
> the bath, then the stove, sink and a counter . On the passenger side,
> (from the rear) there are the closet, then storage cabinets/drawers,
> door, and then finally the dinette. Over the dinette are some nice
> wood
> cabinets, albeit small. I suspect these would have to go to add a
> bunk.
>
> It ran well on the road, and didn't exhibit any problems other than
> those described. New air bags recently. Asking price is $13,500,
> which
> I think is pretty high, considering. for a few thousand more, well,
> maybe 5-7k, I've seen ads for units with new engines/trans and
> interiors
> etc.
>
> I'd appreciate any comments.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob