Looking,,for GMC or Travco........PREFER GMC....

[victorb153]

I just made a post that I can copy and paste to every add that comes up..so I dont waste your time or mine..Thank you...here it is......


.......Ive collected several types of vehicles in my life time any all have a list of things to look for....and I am interested in a Travco or GMC motorhome...I have to have unique vehicles with style....ive done Amphicars and micro and mini cars and AMC's etc etc...and thanks to forums you learn the things to look for or ask questions...so when a vehicle is listed....Maybe its a little out of my price range or its a little to far away...I can usually tell if its too much of a project vehicle . and dont have to ask.....But many vehicles....are something I might consider...But I hate calling and writing and if its far away finding someone to go check it out for me ..and wasting the sellers or my time.....so with these GMC's I am sort of developing my own check list.....


so questions are standard for all vehicles....


1..Odometer reading......


2..registered and last time driven regularly...or if actually inspected..


3..Engine and tranny work..timing belt.......**.( a memeber added there is no timing belt )**.........and is it documented....


.....fuel system tanks etc....


4..Suspension and tires....and is it documented..

*******A MEMEBER HAS ADDED THAT REAR BOGIE PINS ARE EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN airbags..
******
5...with these GMC's I am reading airbags very important....


6.. Dash AC...blowing ice cold....My pet peeve..especially these being old R-12 systems.....


7...when it comes to RV's. generator function..


8...Refridgerator.....1-2-or 3 way....and condition.....


9..the rest of interior operation sinks showers waste tanks stoves heat . and AC unit.../Cosmetics I can deal with.....


......for me it has to be a drivable vehicle while I restore....Transporting these things is cost prohibitive..I live in Rhode Island and most all of these seem to be Mid West and West Coast....probably wouldnt want a New England vehicle anyway...its been that way with every vehicle iv ever bought.....


I have until Xmas to choose a vehicle....I have a Travco someone plans to sell for 9000$ and know the mechanic who has maintained it....It has a nice Nostagic look.....But I also have some JDM Japanese import wierd cars......a Toyota Sera a vey spaceship looking lightweight car ...That would match the futuristic GMC look so perfect....That I really want a GMC.....I have a nice 1989 Toyota motorhome for local New England spring summer fall use.......But I would like to go south for winter Jan thru April....and be able to tow my little Toyota Sera....and I am a single parent with a 10 year old daughter and son 14..so 4 months ..id like something a little bigger.....It will really be for only point A to point B travel....Like RI to Florida in January...then back again in April....then maybe a trip or 2 RI to Maine summer and fall.....then maybe next year a point A to B..trip to southwest . Canyon and lakes area.....and using my Sera I tow along for daily trips......


My dream vehicle is actually one that is mechanicaly as perfect as can be with an interior that needs to rebuilt so I can custom build it like a treefort for me and the kids....Kitchen areas allways seem a waste of space..with airfryers and a small convection oven and a hot plate you dont need gas stoves and ovens and kitchen sinks..........toilet and shower I like ..we mostly always use campground or restaurant facilties and only use shower and toilet for absolute conveiniance....


......So im typing this up so I can copy and paste...so when every add is posted I can respond with this....Thank you all for sharing so much info and experience.....


.......

 

[tmsnyder]

GMCer's rule of thumb; to get a coach mechanically safe and reliable is $30k. Not including work on the interior or exterior. That's just engine, tranny, brakes, fuel, cooling system, tires, suspension....

I'm not even sure this number is correct anymore, they've been using that number for at least a decade.

 

[Matt Colie]

Victor,
Don't kill the galley until you have used it. You may not like gas, but being able to be self contained makes a big difference.
A nice running coach with most of the interior gone sells in the 3~5K$us range. They are available all the time. Just work Evilbay and Craig's list real hard.
Matt

 

[tmsnyder]

Victor,
Don't kill the galley until you have used it. You may not like gas, but being able to be self contained makes a big difference.
A nice running coach with most of the interior gone sells in the 3~5K$us range. They are available all the time. Just work Evilbay and Craig's list real hard.
Matt

"My dream vehicle is actually one that is mechanicaly as perfect as can be with an interior that needs to rebuilt"

3-5k isn't going to get him that. Coaches in that range are more likely to die on the way home and leave him stranded. And then require about $20k in work to get them road worthy.

 

[kidjedi]

$5k used to get you a gutted, solid runner, but these days that price range is a serious gamble. $15k can get you great mechanics with a rough interior. That's exactly what I was looking for and got (and my interior is actually pretty nice). Prices are crazy inflated right now, so it makes searching difficult. It's a lot like the current housing market. Nothing lasts more than a day, and most things sell before they go to market. My rig had only been listed two hours when I bought it in August. You have to be ready to pounce, and you have to actively watch (Facebook marketplace, craigslist, RV Trader, etc). You blink and you miss out.

 

[Matt Colie]

Kid, (I was "kid" for a lot of my young years in boat and ship yards)
Lots of luck looking for a 23. They were and are still only about 11% of the production and the later production all went to other outfitters, so be real ready to jump if one shows up.
Matt

 

[kidjedi]

Kid, (I was "kid" for a lot of my young years in boat and ship yards)
Lots of luck looking for a 23. They were and are still only about 11% of the production and the later production all went to other outfitters, so be real ready to jump if one shows up.
Matt

Yep. There's one here in Colorado that the guy wants way too much for, but I call every once in a while to see if he's ready to take my offer yet.

I'm having fun with the Kingsley (it's a solid traveler and I'm just messing around with the interior), so I can be patient. I have a little bit set aside so I can jump on the right 77 or 78 if it comes along, otherwise I'm just biding my time. I have a feeling that by the time it actually happens, all the parts will be available off-the-shelf to create my EV GMC dream.