Owning a GMC MH

[Irish Rogue]

Hi Again Al G.:
Just so you know - I don't necessarily agree w/ Matt Colie who says think twice before owning a GMC MH if you are not a mechanic!
My advice would be: Be careful to buy a good one, expect to maintain it very well, be prepared for the worst, and pray for the best.
For instance I am not a mechanic nor an electrical guy - I do carry a few basic tools and can follow simple wrenching instructions.
My phone and the Blacklist are my safety nets. For instance - my phone contains the numbers of 25 mechanics who are familiar w/ GMC's around the country and 5 GMC Olds engine rebuilders around the country.
I don't hesitate to go - would head out for Alaska tomorrow in either of my two "ready to roll" GMC's. In approx'y 70,000 GMC miles over 5 years, I have had to ride the hook (be towed) twice and been stranded overnite (one nite) at an R V Park twice.
Thanks to fellow GMC'ers and the Blacklist, I am confident I will get where I intend to go. Will I get a surprise one day - of course - but "Life is an Adventure" and I intend to enjoy it.
After all I am retired and if I get delayed a day or two - God must have had a different plan for me during those days.
There are many of us GMCers who travel in faith and enjoy life doing so.
I also am a believer in having good insurance to cover possible disasters. 1st time around I thought I had the right insurance - turned out they only covered $250.00 per occurrence - not near enough!!! My 62 mile ride on the hook to my mechanic's house cost me $1,290.00 - always ask for a rate per the mile - do not accept a "we will bill you at the end of the trip" deal. Fellow GMCers in your area can tell you which Insurance Companies have treated them right.
My attitude is "you only live once and you better enjoy it". To each his own and I don't force or expect others to see it my way.
Enjoy!!!
Mike Kelley/The Corvair a holic
Own 13 of those little beauties!

Sent from my iPad

 

[Tom Lins]

Pretty much sums up the way we look at it.
We had a big DP for a while but we have come back.

--
Tom Lins
Elkton, FL
77 GM Rear Twin, Dry Bath, 455
Manuals on DVD
http://www.bdub.net/tomlins/

 

[jim galbavy]

Mike,

What you have said expresses my 15 year experience with my GMCMH. I'm no mechanic,
know just enough to screw things up royally by myself. But with some adult supervision,
have done well. One of my "additional duties as assigned" in the Army was MAINTANANCE
OFFICER for an Armor Battalion. It all has to do is to do your due diligence as best
you can and surround yourself with people that can and do. Currently home safe and sound
from an other BEAN STATION where we had a great time with Great friends.

jim Galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Lake Mary, Fl

 

[Keith V]

Some people consider a breakdown/failure/unplanned issue the end of a vacation. I consider it the start of an adventure.
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Tom Lins
Sent: Monday, May 7, 2018 11:02 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Owning a GMC MH

Pretty much sums up the way we look at it.
We had a big DP for a while but we have come back.

--
Tom Lins
Elkton, FL
77 GM Rear Twin, Dry Bath, 455
Manuals on DVD
http://www.bdub.net/tomlins/

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[Matt Colie]

> Some people consider a breakdown/failure/unplanned issue the end of a vacation. I consider it the start of an adventure.

I, for one, am of Bilbo's thinking.
"We are plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner!" -

Now, excursions are another matter altogether.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[Totality]

I dont think you have to be a mechanic (I'm a mech eng) but I would consider above average mech and electrical aptitude AND/OR being reasonably well
off to be a major advantage to owning one of these 40+ year old machines. Even good ones will likely have issues your average dealership could not
deal with.
Being retired would also be good.....because then you HAVE to be somewhere by a certain date less often!

Pete
--
Cary, NC

1978 Center Kitchen Royale.

 

[Ken H.]

I agree with Pete -- but having owned 'most every type of RV, from tent
trailers through self-built teardrops and near-new SOBs, to brand new
diesel pushers over the past 60 years, I DON'T confine the recommendations
to 40 yo GMCs -- ALL of those are BETTER enjoyed with "...above
average...". One is often hard-put to find willing or able repair people
these days.

Let me give an example: I bought a new 40' diesel pusher off the floor at
the big Tampa RV show some years back. I was present at the dealership
when they were doing the pre-delivery checkout of the coach. When the H2O
pump wouldn't quit, the "mechanic" checking the coach very obligingly
replaced the water pump with a new one. He was amazed that didn't fix the
problem -- until I closed the bypass valve which enabled the tank to be
filled from an external water connection -- or the pump to continuously
recirculate from-to the tank. THAT's the quality of "mechanics" we
encounter too often.

​Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, Troy-Bilt APU, etc., etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com

> I dont think you have to be a mechanic (I'm a mech eng) but I would
> consider above average mech and electrical aptitude AND/OR being reasonably
> well
> off to be a major advantage to owning one of these 40+ year old machines.
> Even good ones will likely have issues your average dealership could not
> deal with.
> Being retired would also be good.....because then you HAVE to be somewhere
> by a certain date less often!
>
> Pete
> --
> Cary, NC
>
> 1978 Center Kitchen Royale.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>

 

[Gary Coaster]

Well Said!

Gary Coaster / Reno, NV
1977 GMC Eleganza ll
GMC RV Day Night Shade Sales
GMCShades
www.GMCMotorhomemarketplace.com/GMC_Shades/

>
> Some people consider a breakdown/failure/unplanned issue the end of a vacation. I consider it the start of an adventure.
> ________________________________
> From: Gmclist on behalf of Tom Lins
> Sent: Monday, May 7, 2018 11:02 AM
> To: gmclist
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Owning a GMC MH
>
> Pretty much sums up the way we look at it.
> We had a big DP for a while but we have come back.
>
>
> --
> Tom Lins
> Elkton, FL
> 77 GM Rear Twin, Dry Bath, 455
> Manuals on DVD
> http://www.bdub.net/tomlins/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[Bob Dunahugh]

Go out and see what $25 to $30 thousand get you as to SOB's. How about a 15 to 20 year old wood framed box on wheels. That's in the proses of coming apart. And they'll cost you equal to, or more to repair. ALL motor homes/campers cost lots of CASH. Go buy a 5th wheel at $60,000. And a 1 ton to pull it at $70,000. There you go. And we're $100,000 less. We paid $4500 for our 78 Royale. Then put $37,500 worth of parts in it in 6 months. Everything is now new. Our biggest problem has been the replacement parts that came from China. Bob Dunahugh

 

[Vern and Lenore]

By the way, for folks new to our group:
SOB=Some other brand
PO=Previous owner

> Go out and see what $25 to $30 thousand get you as to SOB's. How about a
> 15 to 20 year old wood framed box on wheels. That's in the proses of coming
> apart. And they'll cost you equal to, or more to repair. ALL motor
> homes/campers cost lots of CASH. Go buy a 5th wheel at $60,000. And a 1 ton
> to pull it at $70,000. There you go. And we're $100,000 less. We paid
> $4500 for our 78 Royale. Then put $37,500 worth of parts in it in 6 months.
> Everything is now new. Our biggest problem has been the replacement parts
> that came from China. Bob Dunahugh
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Vern Crawford (and Lenore Langsdorf)
155 JJ Lane
Center Point, TX 78010
(618) 203-8296 Vern's cell
(830) 928-5550 Lenore's cell
VernCrawford
LenoreLangsdorf

 

[Matt Colie]

> I agree with Pete -- but having owned 'most every type of RV, from tent trailers through self-built teardrops and near-new SOBs, to brand new
> diesel pushers over the past 60 years, I DON'T confine the recommendations to 40 yo GMCs -- ALL of those are BETTER enjoyed with "...above
> average...". One is often hard-put to find willing or able repair people these days.
>
> Let me give an example: I bought a new 40' diesel pusher off the floor at the big Tampa RV show some years back. I was present at the dealership
> when they were doing the pre-delivery checkout of the coach. When the H2O pump wouldn't quit, the "mechanic" checking the coach very obligingly
> replaced the water pump with a new one. He was amazed that didn't fix the problem -- until I closed the bypass valve which enabled the tank to be
> filled from an external water connection -- or the pump to continuously
> recirculate from-to the tank. THAT's the quality of "mechanics" we encounter too often.
>
> ​Ken H.

I remember well when I first heard this story from Ken.

It seems to be an effective and accurate benchmark for the current world.

Matt - running on batteries
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[paul zerkel]

Bob,

While I agree wholeheartedly with the point you are trying to make, I must challenge some of your math.

5th wheel @ $60,000 + truck @ @70,000 = $130,000

Royale Purchase price @ $4,500 + $37,500 in parts = $42,000.

$130,000 - $42,000 = $88,000 difference.
Granted it is close to $100,000 less, but not quite. And That is with free labor, and assuming purchasing a brand new truck.

The reality is that free labor is not as much of an option for those more mechanically challenged than you. And that a reliable capable tow vehicle
could be purchased for substantially less.

I love my GMC. It has taught me enough about wrenching that I feel I can address many minor (and some intermediate) issues as DIY projects. But to be
honest watching you report on many of your projects has made me realize that I (and probably many current and potential owners) do not possess the
skillset you do, and are simply going to have to pay for labor sometimes.

IMO, all of this shifts the equation somewhat in favor of the newer option, but granted the entry price for that route is still higher; I just contend
that it is not necessarily $100,000 higher.

--
Paul Zerkel
'78 Eleganza II
Salisbury IL (near Springfield)

 

[dave king]

In Canada, a brand new long tall Mercedes Sprinter Airstream conversion was $200 K at the Spring
2018 Motorhome.
One could have a VERY nice GMC MH for half the price. But I guess it would still have a
3 gear tranny. Oh well !!
--
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

 

[Matt Colie]

It happens all the time over in the RV groups of Facebook and rarely at other RV pages.
Someone comes across an old RV and thinks it will be cheap way to have a house.....
The ones that buy a Wini-boxo type that have "Just a little water leak" are the first to find that it was a mistake when a side collapses. But there
have been two that I was real sorry about, but not that sorry, I tried. Both of these got GMCs at bargain prices. I do not recall names or handles.

One had front bearing troubles, and as soon as he could he was going to take off touring the northwest. I told him what he had to do and we all know
the story. But, there was another individual that "Knew all about GM and Motorhomes" that convinced him that there was very little wrong with the
front bearings and they could be tightened externally and they would be fine. He did not take my advice. He wrote for about two weeks more about
where he had gone and that he was having handling a front brake issue that tightening the front drive axle nut did not cure. He still would not take
the advice that either I or another GMC owner that writes there would give. Finally, we heard it had met with difficulty on the road as a front wheel
was now out of place as best I could translate from his description. He finally had to agree to giving it to the tow operator for the cost of the
tow. When he saw it next the refrigerator, the generator, a roof unit, some interior parts and a window or two were gone. He wrote a little more,
but I never read him again.

There was another, he got a GMC cheap. He got it towed to where he could work on the engine. "All it needs is some engine work and brakes." He had
thought he was going to pull the heads and drop the pan to repair it, but when I found out he could not get the pan off and it needed boring, his new
plan was to get a crate motor and drop it in. It seems a friend got a crate motor and after all, "all GM engines are the same". (I tried to interrupt
here too. This was the third time with him and I stopped trying.) Then He wrote that the frame had to be patched and he had gotten some used SB
Chevy to that should be plenty power because it is what is in some other person's coach. Then I heard he had lost his access to where the coach was
and was hoping to sell it (at a gain) and I stopped reading him also. I haven't seen him on there in a long time now. Long for FB anyway....

This is why I stand by the ~30K$ (including sweat value) when I come across these.

Back in my wooden boat days, I once heard a knowledgeable person say, "If it you get a boat for free, you probably can't afford it."

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit