Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » What,Where,When and Why?
| What,Where,When and Why? [message #225966] |
Thu, 17 October 2013 14:01  |
Cadillackeeper
Messages: 464
Registered: October 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Karma: 1
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I am just curious how you all got into the GMC? I am a concert sound engineer.I toured the planet inside a concert tour bus for almost 25 years.Another thing is
I took my drivers test on my Dad's 1970 Eldorado after that When I was 18 I got my first 67 Eldo,I have owned and drivin about 5 since 1979.The first time I found out about my tranny being the same as the Motorhome,I checked it out and Voilia'
I had to have one,Budget and other reasons it took so long to achieve.One of them is cause I was not home anyways.One tour I was away for 18 months.Had ours now for a year and just keep on waxing it.
Here is a little story about the most expensive car in America at the time.Kinda like nowadays the dealer can charge what ever they want to on a hot car.My sticker for my current car is $9800 in November 1966.My coach I think is $31,000 in November 1976.
http://www.examiner.com/article/a-look-back-at-the-1967-70-cadillac-eldorado-a-classic-ahead-of-its-time
77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
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| Re: What,Where,When and Why? [message #225973 is a reply to message #225966] |
Thu, 17 October 2013 16:14  |
Chris Tyler
Messages: 458
Registered: September 2013
Location: Odessa FL
Karma: 7
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My Dad coveted one back in the 70s and we did go to look at them. They were so far ahead of their time, but also so much more expensive than the competition. He ended up deciding we couldnt afford it.
Fast forward to the 80s, when I was an RV service tech and later parts mgr for Lazy Days [at the time the largest RV dealer] Got to see a number of them, and was always a fan. The air suspensions were beginning to have issues pretty often.
Aestheticly, I still think they are one of the best looking coaches out there. The final deciding factor is the large community of enthusists and shops.
The right oppertunity came along, and now I have one...
76 Glenbrook
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| Re: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why? [message #225995 is a reply to message #225966] |
Thu, 17 October 2013 21:22 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Well, I'm a broadcast engineer for 55 years, we had a pair of Transmodes as remote vans in the 80s, in Orlando and Worcester. For the last 15 years my pet dofs have got to go to the occasional show. I picked up an old SOB and found out a motorhome which actually worked would be a good way to make shows. The GMC looked like it might continue running and not rot... and there's a hell of a support syste
johnnym for them. I did what you should never do, bought one uinseen 500 miles away off eBay. Wonder of wonders, it was as advertised. I've fed it tires and wheels, hoses, a water pump, ad little else. I've run it 13,000 miles so far. The dogs love it too. The water pump died in Gastonia, the only time it stopped on the road. Fortunately, I got sent to a good mechanic and hit the road the next evening to my show in Roanoke.
johnny
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On Thu, 10/17/13, anthony ezzo <ezzo@earthlink.net> wrote:
Subject: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why?
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Date: Thursday, October 17, 2013, 7:01 PM
I am just curious how you all got into the GMC? I am a
concert sound engineer.I toured the planet inside a concert
tour bus for almost 25 years.
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: What,Where,When and Why? [message #226042 is a reply to message #225966] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 07:48 |
Cadillackeeper
Messages: 464
Registered: October 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
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Almost 300 peeks at the question and only a handful of responses?Nobody else has a Toronado/Eldorado connection to their getting into a GMC proper?
77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
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| Re: What,Where,When and Why? [message #226047 is a reply to message #225966] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 08:04 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
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>connection
My dad was a wonderkid for the GM Delco Light Plant Division back in the early 30's and I do have some tweaks of nostalgia sometimes when I see the GMC emblem. But the reality is that I like anything that moves under power and am a sucker for anything with a deep bass exhaust note.
>The final deciding factor is the large community of enthusists and shops
I should add that the community was what brought me to GMCs. The strength of the design and the overall aesthetics clinched it.
SOLD 77 Royale Coachmen Side Dry Bath
76 Birchaven Coachmen Side Wet Bath
76 Eleganza
Elizabeth City, NC
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| Re: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why? [message #226065 is a reply to message #226042] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 09:48 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Anthony,
Looks like you're the only EldoCentric here! ;-)
I wanted to tour the East Coast so I checked on renting a Class C camper to find out it would cost me about $6000 to rent it for six
weeks plus mileage.
No way, Jose!
I checked and found out that the cheapest Winnebago would cost me @ $75,000 new and I'd loose @ $25,000 as I pulled it off the lot.
I stumbled on to the GMCnet and the Black List and I said to myself; "this looks interesting."
Then came The Blue Streak came followed by Double Trouble.
Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
-----Original Message-----
From: anthony ezzo
Almost 300 peeks at the question and only a handful of responses?Nobody else has a Toronado/Eldorado connection to their getting
into a GMC proper?
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: What,Where,When and Why? [message #226067 is a reply to message #225966] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 09:57 |
1275gtsport
Messages: 272
Registered: September 2009
Location: Rothesay NB
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We had just spent almost 2 years getting a little 22foot SOB up and running. it was a 1974 Dodge class C with a 318. we are a family of 4 the 2 girls slept up top and the wife and I on the dinette. there was plenty of space and we had a ball (once we sunk more money in then it was ever worth) we put a couple of thousand miles on it. was sitting around looking at pictures of really big really expensive class A motorhomes on the internet. saw a picture of the GMC with a modern swoopy paint job. saw the 3 wheels down the side and clicked on the picture wondering how big is that that it needs that many wheels.
it was a forsale ad that came up. the rig was only an hour from me. reading the ad said it was only 26 feet long? couldn't be. the floor was only 14 inches off the ground? Impossible! the door was wide enough for a wheel chair? that could be handy. the unit was Front wheel drive. What how can that be? they don't make front a wheel drive motorhome.
so we opened up a new web page and typed in GMC motorhome. found this site and bdubs site and read for 2 days straight!
called the guy that had the one for sale close to me and went and looked at it. took the check list from here for what to check (rust on the frame etc.) turned out the unit had a nice paint job but everything else was very tired.
That started my search. we met Mike and Alan and Hugh down in NS we even went and looked at all of their coaches. and I spent about a year looking at every GMC for sale Ad I could find. finally found Pheboe. the 1977 Palm Beach. she was waiting for us down in Jersey. we are the 4th owner she has about 87k on the clock and she needs some paint. The drivetrain has been well maintained by all of the PO's and she loves to go on trips.
The girls (that includes my wife) love the green plaid interior and the frosted mint exterior. I love the 455. I think this is our 3rd year of ownership.
No Toronado/Eldorado connection, sorry
Adam Raeburn
Rothesay, NB
1976 Austin Mini
1977 GMC Palm Beach
---------------------------------------------------
Once you replace everything that is attached to something else. It will all be fixed.
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| Re: What,Where,When and Why? [message #226070 is a reply to message #225966] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 10:10 |
GMCNUSA
Messages: 283
Registered: August 2006
Location: Indianapolis, IN
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I had seen and coveted GMC TZEs for years but never had a reason to buy. I was single running a small business. Got married and wife needed a way to rest while we traveled. We looked at SOBs and fell in love with a 34' Airstream Land Yacht it was too long we said absolutely under 30'. There was an Argosy down the road I had been watching but it was not for sale. We asked about it but it was very rough. Then on to the internet for what I thought was a very rare thing the GMCs. The internet lead me to buy one.
Larry Dilk
Indianapolis, IN
76 Eleganza II
Patterson 455,Turbo City TBI,
Just LOVE It!
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| Re: What,Where,When and Why? [message #226073 is a reply to message #225966] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 10:26 |
Bob S.
Messages: 143
Registered: October 2012
Location: Rapid City, SD
Karma: 2
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I was car shopping with my Dad in the mid 70's and we happened to see some GMC's motorhomes on the lot we were at. Out of curiosity we checked them out and ever since I have had a "crush" on these magnificent machines. Unfortunately until recently they were always out of my financial reach. I convinced my wife that I really should be the proud owner of a GMC and when she agreed, I bought one, before she could change her mind. The one I bought was 800 miles away. I flew down to pick it up on a cold week end and drove home with only the dash heater working. I later discovered that the furnace will operate only if the propane tank is NOT empty. Anyway I drove it home shivering all the way, but still feeling like the King of the World.
We redid the interior, added some mechanical upgrades,and have come to the realization that we will never be done. Now when ever I get to drive it, I still feel like the King of the world (even though I am now probably the "$ most Broke $" king ever).
Bob and Pam Schilling
Rapid City, SD
"78 Royale
[Updated on: Fri, 18 October 2013 10:28] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: What,Where,When and Why? [message #226079 is a reply to message #226073] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 10:46 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
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I bought a 22' SOB to tow my Vette to the race track. Loved it, but hated working on it as I knew I was throwing my money away.
Soon after I bought it I found the GMC forum and really liked the community. and the mh its self looked pretty cool.
After a 2 week family trip in the SOB the wife was sold. We liked the concept but the SOB had issues, like no rear bedroom. So I sold it and bought a 76 GMC
I also was looking at the FMC, and a few others, but realized they were all orphans and would be a nightmare to keep running. I do think the FMC has a lot of potential, but the hardware is only a small part of the equation.
And thats what sold me on the GMC, the support is outstanding.
Keith Vasilakes
Mounds View. MN
75 ex Royale GMC
ask me about MicroLevel
Cell, 763-732-3419
My427v8@hotmail.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why? [message #226083 is a reply to message #225966] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 10:52 |
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My first ride in a Toronado was in 1972. A bank president in the small town
where I was living owned it. He was single and lived with "mama". We became
friends. One day he needed to go to Nashville on some business and I needed
to visit church members in Vanderbilt Hospital. He drove and I rode along
until we got to his destination. I took it to the hospital and back to the
business. I liked the feel of the FWD.
Then I saw the Popular Mechanics article about the introduction of the GMC
MotorHome. The logical sense of design, engineering, etc. sold me though I
couldn't afford one.
In 1976 I rented a 74 Glacier for a two-week trip with teens. In 1977 I
rented that Glacier and a 77 Eleganza for another two-week trip with teens.
Both trips there were nine in each coach with luggage. (I wonder if we
really went over the weight limit).
It only took 30 more years to have the right wife, the right amount of money
(I sold several shares of Apple stock I had purchased for $8.98 to raise the
funds), and a certain opportunity. I had always checked for used coaches off
an on. After a close friend died of pancreatic cancer at 52 I decided the
opportunity was right. That was 2007.
$20,000 more dollars and three years later we sold that coach and bought
something larger because our plan was to go full-timing. We're within
spitting distance of doing that.
Along the way we've made great friends. I still am fascinated by the GMC,
which is one reason, in addition to the friends, that we like to attend
GMCMI conventions. The friends are first and my fascination is second.
Byron Songer
Louisville, KY
anthony ezzo wrote:
> I am just curious how you all got into the GMC?
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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: What,Where,When and Why? [message #226091 is a reply to message #225966] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 11:18 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Never had an Eldo, but remember seeing on as a child going up an ice-covered road with its front wheels spinning. Made an impression for me to remember it all these decades later!
I tried for 10 years to convince my wife we needed a motorhome. But each one I pointed out as a candidate was always met with the same response... "too ugly" (or variations thereof). Then one day we were driving across New Mexico and saw a nice (23', I think) GMC towing a Suzuki towd. We were both struck with "that's the one syndrome" immediately, and she even said that it was a motorhome she'd consider. That's all I needed to hear, and immediately got into paralysis by analysis mode, scouring every possible source for used GMCs nationwide. Eventually, I decided that I was going to hold out for a very well maintained / updated '77 or '78 Royale Center Kitchen within a 12-hour radius. I finally found it in west Los Angeles about a year and a half ago, and we've enjoyed it very much since then, including three house-building trips with our church high school kids to Mexico, and a meandering trip from AZ to IL, TN, KY, NC, TX and home again, all with nearly no issues at all (in that relative sense).
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why dish washer. [message #226099 is a reply to message #226083] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 12:05 |
mickeysss
Messages: 1476
Registered: January 2012
Karma: 0
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great story. great memories created. GMC,
for those that cannot wash dishes.
http://tinyhousetalk.com/dishwashers-and-tiny-houses/
mickey anaheim ca. 77 palm playa
On Oct 18, 2013, at 8:52 AM, Byron Songer wrote:
> My first ride in a Toronado was in 1972. A bank president in the small town
> where I was living owned it. He was single and lived with "mama". We became
> friends. One day he needed to go to Nashville on some business and I needed
> to visit church members in Vanderbilt Hospital. He drove and I rode along
> until we got to his destination. I took it to the hospital and back to the
> business. I liked the feel of the FWD.
>
> Then I saw the Popular Mechanics article about the introduction of the GMC
> MotorHome. The logical sense of design, engineering, etc. sold me though I
> couldn't afford one.
>
> In 1976 I rented a 74 Glacier for a two-week trip with teens. In 1977 I
> rented that Glacier and a 77 Eleganza for another two-week trip with teens.
> Both trips there were nine in each coach with luggage. (I wonder if we
> really went over the weight limit).
>
> It only took 30 more years to have the right wife, the right amount of money
> (I sold several shares of Apple stock I had purchased for $8.98 to raise the
> funds), and a certain opportunity. I had always checked for used coaches off
> an on. After a close friend died of pancreatic cancer at 52 I decided the
> opportunity was right. That was 2007.
>
> $20,000 more dollars and three years later we sold that coach and bought
> something larger because our plan was to go full-timing. We're within
> spitting distance of doing that.
>
> Along the way we've made great friends. I still am fascinated by the GMC,
> which is one reason, in addition to the friends, that we like to attend
> GMCMI conventions. The friends are first and my fascination is second.
>
> Byron Songer
> Louisville, KY
>
>
> anthony ezzo wrote:
>
>> I am just curious how you all got into the GMC?
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why dish washer. [message #226105 is a reply to message #226101] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 12:38 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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Espen,
I'm sorry to disagree with you but the GMC did not come with an Eldorado drive train it came with a Toronado drive train.
Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
-----Original Message-----
From: Espen Heitmann
Well you are not all alone, I had a pretty good smile on my face when I found out that the Eldo and GMC had the same drive train.
Below are some pictures of my -73 Eldo vert that I restored, in the middle picture you can also see the -73 HT parts car that I
bought for the interior.
http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/Espen_Heitmann/media/1973%20Eldorado/CaddyTrifocal001.jpg.html
http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/Espen_Heitmann/media/1973%20Eldorado/_MG_2509.jpg.html
http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/Espen_Heitmann/media/1973%20Eldorado/IMG_7332.jpg.html
--
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Regards,
Rob M. (USAussie)
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
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| Re: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why dish washer. [message #226108 is a reply to message #226105] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 12:58 |
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Loffen
Messages: 1087
Registered: August 2013
Location: Norway
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Ok same same but different 
Just to be on the safe side, in 1966 the Toronado did come with the TH425 transmission and front wheel drive, the Eldorado did use the same set up from 1967, so the olds was first, that does not mean that the caddy and GMC are different beside the lenght of the drive shaft and upper and lower arms.
Uhm.. and I did not say that the GMC did come with a caddy drive train, did I ?? I said same didnt I 
1973 23' # 1848 Sky Blue Glacier called Baby Blue and a 1973 26'-3 # 1460 Parrot green Seqouia Known as the Big Green,
And sold my 1973 26'-2 # 581 White Canyon lands under the name Dobbelt trøbbel
in Norway
[Updated on: Fri, 18 October 2013 13:14] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why dish washer. [message #226109 is a reply to message #226101] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 12:55 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Well, that certainly settles that question: You really ARE just as crazy
as the rest of us here!
What a project! And so well executed, too!
Ken H.
On Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 1:19 PM, Espen Heitmann <bimet@online.no> wrote:
>
>
> Well you are not all alone, I had a pretty good smile on my face when I
> found out that the Eldo and GMC had the same drive train.
>
> Below are some pictures of my -73 Eldo vert that I restored, in the middle
> picture you can also see the -73 HT parts car that I bought for the
> interior.
>
>
> http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/Espen_Heitmann/media/1973%20Eldorado/CaddyTrifocal001.jpg.html
>
>
> http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/Espen_Heitmann/media/1973%20Eldorado/_MG_2509.jpg.html
>
>
> http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/Espen_Heitmann/media/1973%20Eldorado/IMG_7332.jpg.html
> --
> 1973 26' Parrot green Seqouia in Norway
> "Loffen" translates to white bread, it is also a nick name for your.. well
> you know..down there.. and it was my dog's name, but hey you can also call
> me Espen ;)
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] What,Where,When and Why? [message #226132 is a reply to message #226091] |
Fri, 18 October 2013 15:44 |
Ronald Pottol
Messages: 505
Registered: September 2012
Location: Redwood City, California
Karma: -2
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Senior Member |
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I've always had the urge to live in something that can move, in the late
1980s, I was interested in sailboats, but rather hard to get on line from
the middle of the ocean ;-)
Later on, I ran across http://www.robgray.com/graynomad/index.php and
started to think about building something on a mill surplus truck, then I
realized that the people who did the build full time took a year, and the
part timers took three, and I don't see having that kind of time, or skill
set. Looking around, I saw a Kent Cortez for sale cheap, which lead me into
looking at the Toronado based motorhomes, of which the GMC is the clear
winner (yeah, you see people having major suspension parts fabricated, and
you start thinking you want something with some real support).
I've not bought yet, but I think I finally have my ducks in a row to make
that happen before summer.
I may well live full time in it, and have something to go out and do things
with my three kids when I have them for the weekend.
On Fri, Oct 18, 2013 at 9:18 AM, Mark <mark@habcycles.com> wrote:
>
>
> Never had an Eldo, but remember seeing on as a child going up an
> ice-covered road with its front wheels spinning. Made an impression for me
> to remember it all these decades later!
>
> I tried for 10 years to convince my wife we needed a motorhome. But each
> one I pointed out as a candidate was always met with the same response...
> "too ugly" (or variations thereof). Then one day we were driving across
> New Mexico and saw a nice (23', I think) GMC towing a Suzuki towd. We were
> both struck with "that's the one syndrome" immediately, and she even said
> that it was a motorhome she'd consider. That's all I needed to hear, and
> immediately got into paralysis by analysis mode, scouring every possible
> source for used GMCs nationwide. Eventually, I decided that I was going to
> hold out for a very well maintained / updated '77 or '78 Royale Center
> Kitchen within a 12-hour radius. I finally found it in west Los Angeles
> about a year and a half ago, and we've enjoyed it very much since then,
> including three house-building trips with our church high school kids to
> Mexico, and a meandering trip from AZ to IL, TN, KY, NC, TX and home again,
> all with nearly no issues at al
> l (in that relative sense).
> --
> Mark Hickey
> Mesa, AZ
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Plato seems wrong to me today.
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1973 26' GM outfitted
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