Welcome to the clan. Based on your literary style, we can look forward to many
more interesting posts.
Ron and Julie
73 Painted Desert
> Greetings from a proud (so far) and somewhat bewildered, new owner of a "73
> 26' (?).
>
> It was purchased in San Francisco 3 weeks ago on impulse. Our reason for
> having an RV is that we are dog people, meaning we breed and show Soft Coated
> Wheaten Terriers and an RV makes going to Dog Shows/Trials a bit more
> reasonable (although still very much at the unreasonable end of the scale
>
). We purchased a '97 Rialta two years ago, which is small, easy to
> drive, good gas mileage and fully equipped. It is perfect for what we bought
> it for which is to take to the close shows we go to for the day, as a home
> away from home for the dogs while we stay in motels for more distant shows,
> and for when I go to Agility trials alone with a dog. However, for two
> people and 3 dogs, staying in it is a bit tight to say the least. We had
> noticed the GMC's on the road, and told each other if we ever wanted to move
> up a notch we should look into them.
>
> At an Agility Camp I attended recently (Agility is a dog sport where you run
> with your dog directing it over a prescribed course of jumps, tunnels, teeter
> toters, etc. Your dog has a ball, while you get all confused and worn out),
> I got into a discussion with a GMC owner who told me lots of nice things
> about them and some warnings: e.g. front wheel bearings, '73's desirable
> because you don't have to smog check them in CA, etc. Anyhow a week after I
> got back from camp I saw an ad in the paper for this '73 26 footer so I
> called and made an appointment to see it the next day. I then informed my
> wife that I was going to see it and just wanted to see what the inside of one
> looked like. (I'm an Architect(retired) and design is important to me.
> Needless to say the beautiful exterior design of these machines had already
> sold me.) Elaine can see right through me though, and replied "If you are
> at all serious, you better go tonight. It will be gone if you wait till
> tomorrow." So I said "Do you want to see it?". She said "Yes, sure.". So I
> called back and made arrangements to see it that evening. We saw it. We
> loved it. We put a down payment down and went to the bank to arrange
> financing. So now we own it! I know, I know, I read all those checklists of
> things to do before you buy one, but there is something to be said also for
> just simply "I like it, lets get it".
>
> I have already taken two test weekend tryouts to Agility Trials in it, not by
> choice, but because the Rialta wouldn't start
. With stoic calm, my first
> drive was up through San Francisco and across the Bay Bridge in Friday rush
> hour traffic. I very shortly discovered the steering is very loose, and it
> didn't seem to have any brakes, and the dash AC didn't work (it was very
> hot), but the little front sliding windows did slide open which helped except
> the curtains kept wanting to go out and wave at passing traffic. I tested the
> brakes when I got the opportunity and discovered that they actually did work.
> It just took all the force I could apply and if I left a 1/4 mile between me
> and the vehicle in front of me, it was perfectly safe. I slowly adjusted to
> the play in the steering wheel and eventually learned how to occupy just one
> lane at a time. I wish I could have spared a glance at some of the other
> drivers around me while I was developing the proper muscle memory to control
> the thing. I bet there were a few terrified weekenders who had a few stiff
> drinks when they finally got to Tahoe or wherever they were headed.
>
> I made it to Dixon, the site of the Trial and proudly pulled in and plugged
> in and had a stiff drink myself and then a wonderful stay for the 3 days of
> the Trial in this luxurious vehicle. My dog loved it also which is really the
> most important thing. I think it was the air conditioned comfort, in 90
> degree weather that sold him. However, when preparing to leave I ran into
> one more little problem. When I twisted the cap off the dump pipe to attach
> the dump hose I discovered that the slide valve for the dump tank was not
> functioning, i.e. it stays in the open position when you have it pushed in!!
> That was a bit messy, but fortunately I was standing by the side, not in
> front of it, as it emptied itself on the ground. (I had used the facilities
> at the site mostly so it was mostly gray water. The '73's evidently have a
> combined black/gray water tank I understand).
>
> I have just come back from Nor Cal GMC in San Rafael - which I found out
> about from this list and your referred sites, thank you! Tony and Dave tell
> me I have a steal buy, a terrific GMC in very good shape (relatively
> speaking). Next will be an appointment to have them do over the brakes to
> make it stop like a BMW (I used to have a '72 Bavaria so I know that is
> good), to replace steering link that is causing the play, and fix a few of
> the higher priority other items. I do want to be able to steer and stop
> before I take my wife, Elaine for a ride.
>
> Anyhow, it is fun so far and very convenient to have something to dump all my
> extra cash into
I'm looking forward to meeting you on the road in the
> coming months/years and in the mean time I want you to know that you are
> keeping me up way too late each night as I read your always very informative
> and often very funny posts.
>
> Cheers,
> Bob Nerrie
> Redwood City, CA
