Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey
 GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122714] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 07:32  |
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gordh1
Messages: 332
Registered: February 2011
Karma: 0
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Just an unscientific survey if you folks don’t mind?
I’m curious to know what things in a GMC Motorhome, you really like, what you dislike, what you use and don’t use, and what if anything, you “must have” or could live without?
Pondering this – let’s say I have a GMC to take me to my favorite campground(s) and those destinations have fine ‘facilities’ as in washrooms and showers. So I don’t need to carry around all the plumbing and such, I might say I could live without all that on board. Maybe also I live in a very hot climate so air conditioning is paramount essential, furnace…pointless, so I could live without that. Never use an oven but sure use a microwave. Enjoy internet and radio but never watch television. Storage space? Engine power? Generator? Propane? Sleeping space – as in more or less?
I know everyone’s uses will be different and unique, but I’m just curious to hear over the years of use and travel, some of the good and the bad points that people have crossed. Again, by no means scientific, certainly no intent to be too 'personal' either.
Many thanks,
Gord
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| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122721 is a reply to message #122714] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 08:37  |
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I'm not sure how you want feedback so here goes my response.
Tops on the list - reliable engine and drive train. If it won't go, what's
the point?
We live in Kentucky so I appreciate the gas furnace and the roof AC. AC for
the warm to hot days and furnace for the cool to very cool nights - so cool
that a heat pump/heat strip wouldn't work.
Oven not needed but a convection microwave greatly appreciated. We do eat in
the coach frequently.
Therefore, the refrigerator/freezer is essential.
Two burners on a stove is quite adequate. In fact, almost overkill. I like
Dan's stovetop with one electric and one gas burner.
Comfortable captain chair for driving. I'd replace the original as quickly
as possible.
TV is almost inessential. If you have to watch something to be entertained,
stay home. You can't watch TV and get out to see where you're parked or
visit and meet new people. It isn't called "boob tube" for no reason.
I only turn the radio on when absolutely bored. However, having an Aux In
greatly changes the game so that I can use my iPhone/iPod to listen to "my
kind of music", whatever that may happen to be at the time. For weather,
just use one of the iPhone/iPad apps and get it as accurately as any TV
talent.
Neither my wife nor I appreciate getting up early enough to beat the crowd
to the shower facilities only to get there and stand in someone else's
water, etc. When I left college I left sharing a shower in my past. We enjoy
having our own facility to keep clean.
A bed that is permanent. This is what we grew to dislike in our rear bath
Royale. We also sleep better knowing the other person is also in bed so
separate beds, like Ricky and Lucy or Ozzie and Harriet, isn't for us.
An inverter/charger - since my wife started working as a medical
transcriptionist she needs power when I can do without it. She also needs
wireless broadband for a more reliable connection to cloud. Free WiFi can be
great if no other critters are around but when the hoard shows up or the
DHCP server isn't set quite right on the backbone then free sucks big time.
Pay-as-you-go is our friend.
--
Byron Songer
1978 GMC Royale
Louisville, KY
http://www.gmceast.com
http://web.me.com/bnsonger
Gord H wrote:
>
>
> Just an unscientific survey if you folks don’t mind?
> I’m curious to know what things in a GMC Motorhome, you really like,
> what you dislike, what you use and don’t use, and what if anything, you
> “must have” or could live without?
>
> Pondering this – let’s say I have a GMC to take me to my favorite
> campground(s) and those destinations have fine ‘facilities’ as in
> washrooms and showers. So I don’t need to carry around all the plumbing
> and such, I might say I could live without all that on board. Maybe also I
> live in a very hot climate so air conditioning is paramount essential,
> furnace…pointless, so I could live without that. Never use an oven but
> sure use a microwave. Enjoy internet and radio but never watch television.
> Storage space? Engine power? Generator? Propane? Sleeping space – as in
> more or less?
>
> I know everyone’s uses will be different and unique, but I’m just
> curious to hear over the years of use and travel, some of the good and the bad
> points that people have crossed. Again, by no means scientific, certainly no
> intent to be too 'personal' either.
>
> Many thanks,
>
> Gord
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122724 is a reply to message #122714] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 08:53 |
Luvn737s
Messages: 1106
Registered: June 2007
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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All that Byron mentioned plus a REALLY reliable generator or engine driven source of AC power to run the roof AC on the road.
We never have intentionally used the shower, I'd hate to find out about drain leaks the hard way. So if I didn't need a sealed fiberglass shell in the bath, I could tile it and it wouldn't sound like I'm stepping into a giant egg carton everytime nature calls.
I'd also like a light on the dash telling me I'm hooked to shore power and a light or gauge telling me the status of the genset.
A diesel engine; simple and reliable and who cares about emissions!
A full size see-through sun screen for the front windshield. If ya gotta drive off into the sunset, it shouldn't mean you have to drive off into oncoming traffic.
Thankfully almost all if not all of these enhancements are available through reliable vendors. All it takes is time and money.
Anyone got any of both I can borrow?
Randy
1973 26' Painted Desert
Ahwatukee (Phoenix) AZ
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| Re: GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122733 is a reply to message #122714] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 10:01 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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My only real pet peeve about the GMC is the sleeping space. Having to crawl over my wife, or vice versa, to get in and out is a bit of a pain. I really think the GMC would have lost nothing by being 28' or 29' with a front to back bed.
If I really wanted to list something else, I'd say the wet bath. It just isn't much fun for showering and we tend to use the campground facilities. However, that could also be a function of me being too round for my own good. I think if I was skinnier, I wouldn't mind the wet bath so much.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122756 is a reply to message #122714] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 11:45 |
Michael Bozardt
Messages: 367
Registered: January 2007
Location: College Station, Texas
Karma: 1
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In the Bible, we are offered blessings and curses and advised to choose blessings, however, the GMC IS a blessing and a curse. It is a blessing in that it is fairly easy to own without monthly payments for umpteen years. It is a curse because it always needs or wants something. It is a blessing in that one can do much of the work oneself. It is a curse because....well, you get the picture!
Probably the one thing in this GMC that we use the least is the oven followed by the stove top and galley vent. The built in vacuum does not have much suction and we carry a small 12amp unit. We don't have an awning but know they are useful from other coaches we have had. The rear bedroom is left down, made into the bed, however my wife does not like to sleep next to the window and I do not like crawling over her, so I make the dinette into a bed for me. The dogs, however, utilize both at will. We live in Texas, but when we lived in California near the Left Coast, we still used the roof A/C and dash A/C, furnace, refer, on-board water, generator, WC(Water Closet European for toilet), hot water, plumbing, electrical, small microwave, lights, seats, cabinets, etc. In short, I cannot think of anything here we do not use. Ours has built in extra storage via extended galley and under dinette and love seat storage. I like the floor plan because it is open for the front half of the coach.
However, we are changing over to a modified GMC Edgemonte model with dry shower, large bath, and twin beds in the rear with custom made mattreses(the dogs will have fun jumping from one to the other). The coach has twin closets and a 2-door refrigerator, Electro-Level I, late style windows, reclining and rotating flexsteel seats and a host of other goodies.
Reliability, absolutely, is the number one goal.
BTW, having had 5 other, non-GMC motorhomes, including two older turbo-diesels, I can tell you, none are perfect. While they may not have the drive train issues we sometimes have. everything else seems to be fair game, including slide-outs. I worked at an RV facility in Hollister, California for awhile in the early 2000's and I was amazed at the problems people have with other motorhomes and trailers. So, while I complain(loudly, at times) about our GMC, I see other brands and recall my past experience. None are as much fun to drive or ride smoother than the 37 year old GMC........Thx, Michael at GEMRECS also Irma(wife), Ilse(Black Schnauzer), and Willy(Yorkie) BTW-Yorkies rule!
74 GMC Eleganza "Yellow Rose of Texas"
76 GMC Edgemonte "Puff"
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| Re: GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122777 is a reply to message #122714] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 13:38 |
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I agree with almost everything said before but, for me, having a good working TV is essential. Since I travel alone or with my son who is essentially non-verbal I (both of us actually) would go stir crazy every evening without it. I'm even installing another TV in the back bedroom.
Bill Brown - '77 Buckeye Cruiser
Coshocton OH
carguybill@sbcglobal.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122779 is a reply to message #122756] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 13:42 |
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Wow. I can't believe I left out the awning. Our Royale has them on both
sides. They do make a big difference on the feeling inside with both are out
on a sunny day.
--
Byron Songer
1978 GMC Royale
Louisville, KY
http://www.gmceast.com
http://web.me.com/bnsonger
Michael Bozardt wrote:
> we still used the roof A/C and dash A/C, furnace, refer, on-board water,
> generator, WC(Water Closet European for toilet), hot water, plumbing,
> electrical, small microwave, lights, seats, cabinets, etc. In short, I cannot
> think of anything here we do not use
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--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122781 is a reply to message #122777] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 13:47 |
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Understood and do agree. You have a good case for a TV.
Maybe Dan doesn't talk to Teri? He probably just does email for a
distraction.
Byron
Bill Brown wrote:
>
>
> I agree with almost everything said before but, for me, having a good working
> TV is essential. Since I travel alone or with my son who is essentially
> non-verbal I (both of us actually) would go stir crazy every evening without
> it. I'm even installing another TV in the back bedroom.
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--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122784 is a reply to message #122714] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 14:09 |
Craig Lechowicz
Messages: 541
Registered: October 2006
Location: Waterford, MI
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Gordon,
I've probably used my GMC less than most people on our forum, but may have used it for more different things than many. As a single guy, my needs are different and often simpler than the predominance of couples in our group. But, what has amazed me about the GMC, is how good and flexible the design is for doing a lot of varied things.
Every year, I sort of tailgate at the Woodward Dream Cruise, and between the tiny kitchen, and a marine bbq grille feed and quench as many as 30 people over a long day. About the only issue is the holding tank can get really close to full at the end of the day. Thanks to my neighbor's great spot near U of M stadium, I've also now done some real tailgating in style with a group ranging from me and one set of neighbors and kids, to 20 of their clients. I bring my 32" LCD from home, set it up outside, and alternate between running off batteries and inverter, and re-charging with Onan use, so a good running generator is important to me. I'd like to get one of those great, quiet small Honda or Yamaha generators for those situations, and have thought about ditching the Onan, and storing it in that compartment. It can rain in either of these situations, so having both the rear, and lots of front seating to pack people in is helpful, so I'm reluctant to trade the rear davo or front dinette for a less flexible rear permanent bed or dinette captain's chairs.
Last year, I spent 4 days dry-camping at Mid-Ohio race track with 2 other guys. Great to have relatively separate places to sleep - rear davo, front dinette and one of the bunks. I actually prefer the bunk bed, although it's narrow, it's longer than the other spots, and I don't feel the "joints" where things fold together. A foam mattress pad would solve that, but I just haven't bothered. Me and my two friends all preferred the wet bath showers to the long walk to the heavily used track showers. We did get to empty the holding tank and refill fresh water in the span of the weekend, so bigger tanks are an issue I really would like to change. I still have the original electric water heater, and it works fine with the Onan, while also charging batteries. I still have the original electric only fridge, which I actually like. (especially compared to spending 1k for a new one!) but it does lead to a lot of generator running over 4 days. Even when I add my 2nd set of house batteries, it won't be enough. Lotso' solar like Dan Gregg would be a great answer for that, though.
I plan on doing a kitchen makeover to a 2 burner cooktop, and turn the original sink sideways to gain some more countertop room. (Need to put that frozen concoction maker somewhere.) Broom the oven, and put drawers in it's place for more kitchen storage. Put a convection microwave in a modified above the cooktop cabinet, which is mostly wasted space now due to the range vent, which I plan to re-use, but lower about 3".
Finally, I've actually used it at a couple of campgrounds with hookups, and usually run a small ceramic heater. My furnace doesn't work, but plan on getting a new one someday. Just hooked up an Olympic catalytic heater last summer, but haven't been anywhere cold enough to use it yet. Want to do some northern lower peninsula Michigan skiing with it (about a 5 hour trip) but haven't figured out how much I should worry about water issues. Some say if you protect the supply water, you can let the waste water freeze, but haven't been brave enough to try it yet.
For A/C, I haven't had it in any really hot country yet. With it being a '77 the slightly better dash a/c is tolerable. Long-term, I'd like to add a 2nd evaporator unit. I figure if I did that, I wouldn't need to worry about running the generator while driving, and it would make brooming the Onan for a portable a better proposition. (although, the wired in approach sure is convenient. I also haven't given up on finding a cheap Honda r/v generator instead). For the longest time, I really thought 1 a/c was enough, but I was doing a lot of wiring on a hot summer week, and between working hard, and sun load, I had both original coach a/c's running sitting in my hot concrete driveway. Plan on re-doing the ceiling and adding insulation this year though.
So, overall, I'm very happy with the basic GMC configuration. It's surprisingly good at doing just about anything I want. The best things I've done so far have been the macerator, and the fantastic fan in the bath, where the added light really improves that small space. I'm okay with the powertrain performance and even the braking is okay if you're conscious of the 6 tons of inertia you have. Between the windows, the high seating (in my case newer Chevy Venture buckets also a good add) and that great GMC ride and handling it's really nice to drive.
I've mentioned some planned kitchen reworks, and at some point, I may make the rear bed semi-permanent. Use some flip and fold plywood, and movable cushions, that still allows both seating and sleeping back there. Bigger tanks would be a plus, solar would be a great add, and either a newer permanent generator or a small (and even quieter) portable would help. Mainly, though I'm literally a happy camper, planning on chipping away at some of the reliability stuff, and then prettying up 30+ years of wear.
Craig Lechowicz
'77 Kingsley, Waterford, MI
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| Re: GMC Motorhome usage unscientific survey [message #122786 is a reply to message #122756] |
Fri, 22 April 2011 14:29 |
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Michael, I'm curious to why the vac doesn't have much suction. I find mine more than enough. I've actually pulled my car next to the rig and cleaned it out with the built in vac. I did notice that the seal on the bag door sometimes needs attention. If that leaks then you will loose suction.
Persoanlly I haven't found anything in my GMC that I haven't used. Just need a good solar system and then I won't need the gen as much...
73 Canyon Lands, (a.k.a. The Yellow Submarine) West Los Angeles CA
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