| Re: [GMCnet] Picking up the '77 Kingsley; Dayton to Minneapolis [message #128887] |
Mon, 06 June 2011 09:31  |
Gary Stoneking
Messages: 42
Registered: April 2011
Location: Minneapolis
Karma:
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Member |
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Greetings!
I want to report that, with Bob and Barbara Swartz's help and encouragement,
I was able to pick up my new-to-me 1977 Kingsley coach in Dayton last week.
I hitched a ride to Dayton with a friend who has a Beech Bonanza. It was a
2 1/2 hour ride down to Dayton, just a bit shorter than the drive home I
faced later in the week. We arrived at about 4:30 local time, Bob Swartz
met me at the coach and we did a quick tour before deciding to go ahead with
the purchase. The Kingsley was not new, by any means, but she started right
up and everything important seemed to be operational. We took the short
trip to Bob and Barbara's place and had dinner. We returned to the Swartz's
after dinner, filled the fresh water tank and checked the water pump. That
worked, too. We called it a day.
On Thursday, Bob was extremely helpful arranging logistics to bring the
coach to Grandview Motorhomes in Marysville for new Alcoa wheels and tires.
We picked up some parts deemed necessary by Tom Hampton after he gave the
coach the once-over.
Friday morning, Bob and I installed a new steel fuel line from the fuel pump
to the carburetor and I was on my way. The PO had replaced the steel fuel
line with a length of rubber hose that Tom decided was an engine fire in
waiting. The new Alcoas and tires look great on the coach and the ride was
excellent.
I left Dayton at around 1:30 p.m. on Friday. Had a nice trip through
Indiana. Couldn't help noticing that gas prices increased .30 a gallon
crossing the border from Ohio to Indiana. Crossed right back to Ohio to
fill up at $4.10, which looked good after seeing the prices in Indiana. I
had to stop and check out Shipshawana, Indiana on the way through. Cute
town, and the site of a Six-Wheeler's rally next month. Continued on to
Madison, arriving there at 11:30 p.m. Advice for anyone driving from Dayton
or points east to Minneapolis: Avoid Chicago. Traffic was nuts in the
city, even at 10:00 p.m. At least the gas was only $4.60 a gallon there.
Fortunately, the Kingsley was pretty good on gas, so I made it to Madison
with reserves. There, the gas wad a much more reasonable $3.87.
Caught five hours of sleep in the rear bed (first night in the coach) and
left the friendly WalMart lot in Madison early on Saturday morning. I
arrived home at around noon on Saturday. There were no mechanical issues on
the trip at all.
I can't say enough about the kindness, concern and wonderful help the
Swartz's provided during my stay in Dayton. I was treated like a family
member while I was there. If these folks are examples of the type of people
associated with GMC motorhomes, I can't wait to meet more GMCers.
Gary Stoneking
1977 Kingsley
Minneapolis, MN
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