Greetings GMCnetters,
I just finished my first full calendar year of owning a GMC.
Currently she has 133,999 on the original engine. So far
I've driven her 14,422 miles with 10,453 during the last
year. For someone not retired I think that's a lot of RV miles.
I'm a little disappointed in my gas mileage. I keep hearing claims of
10-12 MPG from some GMCnetters, but all I can manage is 8.47 MPG.
I had the carburetor recalibrated in the Spring by Cinnabar after having
exhaust manifold work done by them. Since then, I've kept track of
my mileage.
Miles MPG Gallons Fuel Cost Avg/Fuel Cost Fuel Cost/Mile
8,044 8.47 949.89 $1,174.88 $1.237 $0.146
Gas mileage started to improve in the Fall, but I think that's a result
of not running the Onan continuously as I did in the Summer. The
improvement has been slight, now I get about 8.9 MPG. It would
appear that the Onan costs me about .5 MPG.
Since it is end of year tax time and I have to submit my business
expenses to my accountant, I ran a report on what I've spent on the
GMC since I bought it in July of 1998.
Motorhome 7/98 to 12/99
improvements 3,027.64
storage 440.00
Supplies 473.28
Maintenance 3,021.44
Purchase of Motorhome 13,980.00
Gasoline & Oil 1,741.01
Miscellaneous 3,153.75
Insurance 539.23
License Plates 183.00
Total Motorhome $ 26,559.35
But to put it into proper perspective, about 30% of the mileage
has been related to my business. As a result the GMC is a
company vehicle and therefore there are some tax
advantages.
So I'm not complaining. It's a really a pretty inexpensive way
to have a RV, a new hobby and fun at the same time.
My brother has a 35' Winnebago and has close to $100,000
invested in it. He only sleeps in it 4 months a year. He does
not enjoy it at all the way I enjoy the GMC. His motorhome
is just a portable apartment for when he's in Florida.
I've done most of the improvements myself, that include a
new headliner and the repair and refinishing of all the plastic
parts except the dash. I installed a new panel from Custom
Instrument Panels, day/night shades, toilet, CB Radio, AM/FM
radio and CD player, VCR and DVD Player, premium speakers in the
headliner, Power TV antenna and I sure other things that I
can't remember off hand.
I'm going to put it into storage this weekend, but I'm going to
continue working on her. I plan on refinishing all of the locker
and kitchen drawer fronts. I'd like to install a new fridge and
possibly refinish the dash over the next 4 months as well.
I thought I was a child of the 60's, but I seem to have a lot of
stuff from the 70's!
Richard Waters, Troy, MI
1976 GMC Palm Beach
1979 Cessna Skylane Turbo RG
1976 Hydro Stream Boat
1978 Case Tractor
1975 Married
1978 bought house in Troy, MI
1978 Kid
I just finished my first full calendar year of owning a GMC.
Currently she has 133,999 on the original engine. So far
I've driven her 14,422 miles with 10,453 during the last
year. For someone not retired I think that's a lot of RV miles.
I'm a little disappointed in my gas mileage. I keep hearing claims of
10-12 MPG from some GMCnetters, but all I can manage is 8.47 MPG.
I had the carburetor recalibrated in the Spring by Cinnabar after having
exhaust manifold work done by them. Since then, I've kept track of
my mileage.
Miles MPG Gallons Fuel Cost Avg/Fuel Cost Fuel Cost/Mile
8,044 8.47 949.89 $1,174.88 $1.237 $0.146
Gas mileage started to improve in the Fall, but I think that's a result
of not running the Onan continuously as I did in the Summer. The
improvement has been slight, now I get about 8.9 MPG. It would
appear that the Onan costs me about .5 MPG.
Since it is end of year tax time and I have to submit my business
expenses to my accountant, I ran a report on what I've spent on the
GMC since I bought it in July of 1998.
Motorhome 7/98 to 12/99
improvements 3,027.64
storage 440.00
Supplies 473.28
Maintenance 3,021.44
Purchase of Motorhome 13,980.00
Gasoline & Oil 1,741.01
Miscellaneous 3,153.75
Insurance 539.23
License Plates 183.00
Total Motorhome $ 26,559.35
But to put it into proper perspective, about 30% of the mileage
has been related to my business. As a result the GMC is a
company vehicle and therefore there are some tax
advantages.
So I'm not complaining. It's a really a pretty inexpensive way
to have a RV, a new hobby and fun at the same time.
My brother has a 35' Winnebago and has close to $100,000
invested in it. He only sleeps in it 4 months a year. He does
not enjoy it at all the way I enjoy the GMC. His motorhome
is just a portable apartment for when he's in Florida.
I've done most of the improvements myself, that include a
new headliner and the repair and refinishing of all the plastic
parts except the dash. I installed a new panel from Custom
Instrument Panels, day/night shades, toilet, CB Radio, AM/FM
radio and CD player, VCR and DVD Player, premium speakers in the
headliner, Power TV antenna and I sure other things that I
can't remember off hand.
I'm going to put it into storage this weekend, but I'm going to
continue working on her. I plan on refinishing all of the locker
and kitchen drawer fronts. I'd like to install a new fridge and
possibly refinish the dash over the next 4 months as well.
I thought I was a child of the 60's, but I seem to have a lot of
stuff from the 70's!
Richard Waters, Troy, MI
1976 GMC Palm Beach
1979 Cessna Skylane Turbo RG
1976 Hydro Stream Boat
1978 Case Tractor
1975 Married
1978 bought house in Troy, MI
1978 Kid
