On the Western States GMC web site I found the following information and
I thought it was important enough to pass on to other GMC owners. Noting
the date of the letter, I do not know if this is still a valid issue.
_______________________________________________________________
The State of Colorado is in the preliminary stages of outlawing ANY
vehicle with modified suspension on the highway. Other states may follow
Colorado's lead. This letter was sent to the Colorado legislature. If
you live in the Colorado, copy it to your own word processor and send a
copy yourself. If you live outside Colorado, you might about sending a
copy to your local representatives in case your state is thinking about
doing the same thing.
December 22, 1997
Honorable Dick Mutzebaugh
Colorado state Capitol
200 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203
Dear Senator Mutzebaugh:
Recently I was informed of a proposed bill to prohibit altered
suspension on any vehicle to be operated on Colorado highways. While the
full implications of this proposed legislation are not obvious, certain
aspects appear very disturbing. I am president of GMC Western States, a
chapter of the 100,000 plus member Family Motor Coach Association. Our
group includes 450 owners of the classic GMC Motorhome throughout the
country, although primarily in the western states and Canadian
provinces.
It may be noted that approximately 7000 to 8000 of these coaches remain
in operation across the country of the 13,000 were built from 1973
through 1978. The fact that these coaches were designed and built on the
average of 25 years ago creates a very critical concern with regard to
any legislation which would prohibit altering the suspension and, by
inference, the drivability. Certain technologies have improved
tremendously in the
intervening period. For example, many of us have added much stiffer
front sway bars to reduce the effects of 18 wheelers blowing by and
rocking the coach. Clearly this is a safety improvement.
Other GMC Motorhome owners have added rear sway bars and up graded the
brake system on their coaches. Many have gone to cast aluminum wheels
and wider profile tires. Again these are all drivability and safety
improvements, but these are alterations to the original design.
It may be that there would be no intent to enforce the proposed law on
our coaches, but the problem would not lie with enforcement. It would
lie with the interpretation of our insurers. If the law was on the
books, it would give the insurance companies an excellent means of
canceling our insurance or denying coverage in the event of an accident.
Some of us have already seen this happening where safety improvements
and/or alterations have been used to deny claims - even where such
alterations are permitted by law.
Please consider all the ramifications of this proposed legislation
before proceeding to outlaw obvious safety and drivability improvements.
Thank you for you time and interest.
Yours very truly,
Bill Harvey, President
xc and/or email: Other GMC Motorhome Chapters
I thought it was important enough to pass on to other GMC owners. Noting
the date of the letter, I do not know if this is still a valid issue.
_______________________________________________________________
The State of Colorado is in the preliminary stages of outlawing ANY
vehicle with modified suspension on the highway. Other states may follow
Colorado's lead. This letter was sent to the Colorado legislature. If
you live in the Colorado, copy it to your own word processor and send a
copy yourself. If you live outside Colorado, you might about sending a
copy to your local representatives in case your state is thinking about
doing the same thing.
December 22, 1997
Honorable Dick Mutzebaugh
Colorado state Capitol
200 East Colfax Avenue
Denver, Colorado 80203
Dear Senator Mutzebaugh:
Recently I was informed of a proposed bill to prohibit altered
suspension on any vehicle to be operated on Colorado highways. While the
full implications of this proposed legislation are not obvious, certain
aspects appear very disturbing. I am president of GMC Western States, a
chapter of the 100,000 plus member Family Motor Coach Association. Our
group includes 450 owners of the classic GMC Motorhome throughout the
country, although primarily in the western states and Canadian
provinces.
It may be noted that approximately 7000 to 8000 of these coaches remain
in operation across the country of the 13,000 were built from 1973
through 1978. The fact that these coaches were designed and built on the
average of 25 years ago creates a very critical concern with regard to
any legislation which would prohibit altering the suspension and, by
inference, the drivability. Certain technologies have improved
tremendously in the
intervening period. For example, many of us have added much stiffer
front sway bars to reduce the effects of 18 wheelers blowing by and
rocking the coach. Clearly this is a safety improvement.
Other GMC Motorhome owners have added rear sway bars and up graded the
brake system on their coaches. Many have gone to cast aluminum wheels
and wider profile tires. Again these are all drivability and safety
improvements, but these are alterations to the original design.
It may be that there would be no intent to enforce the proposed law on
our coaches, but the problem would not lie with enforcement. It would
lie with the interpretation of our insurers. If the law was on the
books, it would give the insurance companies an excellent means of
canceling our insurance or denying coverage in the event of an accident.
Some of us have already seen this happening where safety improvements
and/or alterations have been used to deny claims - even where such
alterations are permitted by law.
Please consider all the ramifications of this proposed legislation
before proceeding to outlaw obvious safety and drivability improvements.
Thank you for you time and interest.
Yours very truly,
Bill Harvey, President
xc and/or email: Other GMC Motorhome Chapters
