Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome (To buy or not to buy!)
| Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302084] |
Mon, 13 June 2016 17:30  |
theresa1987
Messages: 1
Registered: June 2016
Location: San Francisco
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Hello everyone!
I am new to the RV community and I have a lot to learn. I am looking into buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome.
The RV lowdown
38k miles. Current owner bought this motorhome non running for $3200. He is a mechanic himself that repairs Ferraris and also does work on RVs. He installed 6 new tires and spare. Fuel hoses have been changed. New Carburetor. Transmission is good. Water hoses are new. 50 gallon gas tank. Roof is good since its aluminum. Not an RV pro but I am assuming that is a good thing.
Biggest repair: two rear airbags which he is repairing for me.
The owner mentioned he found termites in one cupboard but that he exterminated I just wonder if they spread to other areas? I did some research and I heard that termites in an RV are less common. Strange, right?
He mentioned if I paid in cash he would sell it for $4500. My initial thoughts are it is older, rare and would be hard to find parts if things goes wrong but its low in cost, and I could make it work, I hope! I already have been working with this particular seller for a while so I would like to buy from him.
She wouldn't be driven around a large amount and would mostly be parked and temporarily lived out of.
My questions are:
Does this seem like a good purchase?
What are typical issues this RV runs into?
Are the termites a deal breaker?
Any other questions I should ask or things I should know?
Willing to put a couple grand in this RV but I don't want this to be a money hole and complete nightmare.
Thanks!
Theresa
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| Re: Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302086 is a reply to message #302084] |
Mon, 13 June 2016 18:04  |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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usually old gmc's have rubber/plasic failure from non-use/sitting. So new tires, airbags, fuel likes takes care of alot of thay. Other items are brakes, hoses and belts. You may want him to use your couple thousand extra on brakes, because stopping is really important.
As far as termites? I am no expert and know nothing about them. But the wood in a gmc that could be eaten by termites, is floor, cabnets. The structure of a gmc is aluminum and plastic, so no super structural damage could of been done other then the interior cabnets, and floor? I would call 3 exterminators and ask them how sucessful a termite extermination is. And belive it if they all give you the same answer.
Aluminum roof is nice, But joints can leak. You probably have to do leak repair, but usually minor and can be fixed and kothing permant.
All parts are easily attainable for gmc motorhomes. No worry about parts.
Now lastly, you are looking at spendi g $4500 on a driving home. I have a hard time finding a good car that can be driven regularly with some sort of repairs or work even at that price. But any non-gmc motorhome i would be pretty scared to see what $4500 buys you and what may cost to keep a $4500 other brand going and working.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302087 is a reply to message #302084] |
Mon, 13 June 2016 18:09 |
Scott Nutter
Messages: 782
Registered: January 2015
Location: Houston/San Diego
Karma: 4
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Senior Member |
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Hello Theresa,
Fortunately you are close to one of the best GMC shops on the west coast.
It's called Applied GMC. Out in the east Bay Area. Give them a call and they might have a service to go and check it out for a small fee.
No matter what gmc you go with, you will love it! Good luck, Scott.
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, Dave Lenzi super duty mid axle disc brakes, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi. Alex Ferrera installed MSD Atomic EFI
Houston, Texas
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| Re: Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302090 is a reply to message #302087] |
Mon, 13 June 2016 18:38 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Teresa, For the termite infestation, you might try one of the foggers designed to kill ticks and fleas in a household environment. I used it successfully on an ant invasion. I used the entire package, one each night. Just be sure to open all the doors to allow the fog to get into the cabinets. Termites would be in the wood, but they still need oxygen to survive. Have no food or pots and pans in the coach. Keep frig closed. Turn off the propane.
Good luck.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302095 is a reply to message #302084] |
Mon, 13 June 2016 19:06 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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OK Theresa,
It sounds like you have thought this through and that is refreshing. Many people have jumped into a GMC without having their brain engaged.
You may have a real winner in your sights, but I would caution you. We keep finding out that these coaches want to be used and driven. They do not do well sitting still. If you are going to run her a couple of hundred miles every other month, that will probably be enough.
As Jon said, parts are a big non-issue. Look up Applied GMC in Newark. If you might need it, they will be able to get it for you. Jon was also correct about the brakes. Sitting like that is not what they like. The rubber parts are probably shot and the fluid does age out.
Speaking of Applied (Jim Kanomata), tell the owner to talk to him about the airsprings (air bags). The simplest and most cost effective is a set of "Sully Bags". This would be a particularly good fix for you, but I will not go into why here and now.
Termites are another non-issue. Exterminating them in a closed space is usually successful and a GMC has no structural wood, so they can't kill it.
We do have a standard line he that I will drop on you, not to scare you, but so you know.
"A reliable, ready to travel GMC will cost about 25K$. All at once or as a kit."
This means that if you get one for a grand and drag it out of a field somewhere and then take it to someone to work on, you can expect to be there before you can make a cross country run. It sounds to me like the current owner has come a long way on that. The complete fuel line job is several grand at shop rates. If this guy is that level of wrench, he would put the equivalent of several more grand into it without a second thought. (Do not ask him what his shop rate is for working on Ferraris until you own the coach, you might start a thought that you don't want him to have.)
Can coaches this old be reliable??
You bet that they can, hang around here and you will find out. Yes, we talk about repairs a lot but that is only because it is more of a universal interest here than the 10K mile excursion with no issues to speak of. Of course things need repair. We did a 4K+ run that included Yellowstone (from Michigan) and broke a drawer guide. But, if you become a member of this community, you will have a level of support that is unbelievable.
I wish you luck in your future. I didn't say adventure because that always reminds me of Bilbo Baggins about adventures, "Nasty, disturbing and uncomfortable things. Make you late for dinner." We find out coach most comfortable.
Matt
Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
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| Re: [GMCnet] Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302123 is a reply to message #302107] |
Tue, 14 June 2016 12:34 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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It not rare or unusual, it's just a cool old hotorhome. Being an old GMC adds little value.
( but is IS WAY more valueable than a normal 73 motorhome! )
The new carb worries me, these had a special carb and some say they don't like carbs off of cars.
It leaks, I'd bet money on it. They all do unless you spend a lot of time unleaking them!
They can be as reliable or more so than a modern motorhome, but if it hasn't been maintained you will have a lot of catching up to do.
If you and/or yours can do the work, they are a low cost ride, if you have to pay someone, it's more expensive, but probably less expensive than a newer version.
But the best part?
This place and the support. For example, you can get a new engine shipped to you in a day or two from at least two different places. Not just an engine, but a good reliable GMC specific engine.
Better support than a Prevost IMHO
>
> 38,000 miles is probably the second time around.
> 138,000 is more realistic.
>
>
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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: Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302124 is a reply to message #302084] |
Tue, 14 June 2016 13:22 |
Don A
Messages: 895
Registered: October 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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If you want a RV for the fun of travel, it seems like a good purchase.
You might enjoy checking others adventures
https://www.instagram.com/lifefullyembraced/
But if is going to be mostly parked, it will soon not be reliable
Don Adams Dallas, TX
'76 26' Glenbrook, '90 Sidekick
rebuilt by R Archer, powered by J Bounds, Koba
[IMG]http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/6109/G2.jpg[/IMG]
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| Re: [GMCnet] Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302125 is a reply to message #302084] |
Tue, 14 June 2016 13:54 |
Sandra Price
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Theresa, I must chime in, too. Just because you have spent a lot of time
with the seller, don't feel you are locked in to purchasing from him/her.
After you buy, he, most likely, won't available any more...
Sandra Price
On Jun 13, 2016 5:31 PM, "Theresa Cable"
wrote:
> Hello everyone!
>
> I am new to the RV community and I have a lot to learn. I am looking into
> buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome.
>
> The RV lowdown
> 38k miles. Current owner bought this motorhome non running for $3200. He
> is a mechanic himself that repairs Ferraris and also does work on RVs. He
> installed 6 new tires and spare. Fuel hoses have been changed. New
> Carburetor. Transmission is good. Water hoses are new. 50 gallon gas tank.
> Roof
> is good since its aluminum. Not an RV pro but I am assuming that is a good
> thing.
> Biggest repair: two rear airbags which he is repairing for me.
>
> The owner mentioned he found termites in one cupboard but that he
> exterminated I just wonder if they spread to other areas? I did some
> research and
> I heard that termites in an RV are less common. Strange, right?
>
> He mentioned if I paid in cash he would sell it for $4500. My initial
> thoughts are it is older, rare and would be hard to find parts if things
> goes
> wrong but its low in cost, and I could make it work, I hope! I already
> have been working with this particular seller for a while so I would like to
> buy from him.
>
> She wouldn't be driven around a large amount and would mostly be parked
> and temporarily lived out of.
>
> My questions are:
> Does this seem like a good purchase?
> What are typical issues this RV runs into?
> Are the termites a deal breaker?
> Any other questions I should ask or things I should know?
>
> Willing to put a couple grand in this RV but I don't want this to be a
> money hole and complete nightmare.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Theresa
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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| Re: [GMCnet] Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302126 is a reply to message #302125] |
Tue, 14 June 2016 15:35 |
Keith V
Messages: 2337
Registered: March 2008
Location: Mounds View,MN
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Theresa,
Why is he selling it?
Show us some pictures.
Have a local look at it with you.
Take it for a long drive, it should feel like a big van, but it should steer easy and drive straight, no wander no scaryness. I mean one hand and relaxed. ( once you are OK with driving something that wide ) Make sure the engine gets good and hot, then when the test drive is over leave the engine run and walk around outside the coach. ( if the owner turns the engine off, say oh? OK well bye )
Stomp on it at a light, it should impress you how well it goes.
Look in on and under it.
Check the oil
Check the transmission fluid
Exercise _every_ system, especially the water system, pressurize it and stand back, many of the ones I looked at made good lawn sprinklers
He's asking $4500, you should offer $1000 less than that.
>
> Theresa, I must chime in, too. Just because you have spent a lot of time
> with the seller, don't feel you are locked in to purchasing from him/her.
> After you buy, he, most likely, won't available any more...
>
> Sandra Price
> On Jun 13, 2016 5:31 PM, "Theresa Cable"
> wrote:
>
>> Hello everyone!
>>
>> I am new to the RV community and I have a lot to learn. I am looking into
>> buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome.
>>
>> The RV lowdown
>> 38k miles. Current owner bought this motorhome non running for $3200. He
>> is a mechanic himself that repairs Ferraris and also does work on RVs. He
>> installed 6 new tires and spare. Fuel hoses have been changed. New
>> Carburetor. Transmission is good. Water hoses are new. 50 gallon gas tank.
>> Roof
>> is good since its aluminum. Not an RV pro but I am assuming that is a good
>> thing.
>> Biggest repair: two rear airbags which he is repairing for me.
>>
>> The owner mentioned he found termites in one cupboard but that he
>> exterminated I just wonder if they spread to other areas? I did some
>> research and
>> I heard that termites in an RV are less common. Strange, right?
>>
>> He mentioned if I paid in cash he would sell it for $4500. My initial
>> thoughts are it is older, rare and would be hard to find parts if things
>> goes
>> wrong but its low in cost, and I could make it work, I hope! I already
>> have been working with this particular seller for a while so I would like to
>> buy from him.
>>
>> She wouldn't be driven around a large amount and would mostly be parked
>> and temporarily lived out of.
>>
>> My questions are:
>> Does this seem like a good purchase?
>> What are typical issues this RV runs into?
>> Are the termites a deal breaker?
>> Any other questions I should ask or things I should know?
>>
>> Willing to put a couple grand in this RV but I don't want this to be a
>> money hole and complete nightmare.
>>
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Theresa
>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> 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
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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: Buying a 1973 GMC Motorhome [message #302275 is a reply to message #302084] |
Sat, 18 June 2016 16:59 |
Luvn737s
Messages: 1106
Registered: June 2007
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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I've had my 73 for about 8 years. Do you enjoy tinkering with old things, or does it frustrate the heck out of you when you fixed something once and it breaks a 2nd or 3rd time almost right away? If you want a camper, a nice travel trailer would fit the bill. If you would enjoy restoring an old car, and that old car just happened to have a bed and a bathroom in it, then a GMC might be right for you.
I am the outlier on the $25k comment. There are plenty of restored GMCs out there being sold by heirs and by those who are ready to move on from the GMC and they are your better buy. But they are easily had for much less than $25K ( well someone may have put $25k into the coach, but it doesn't have to be you). Buy a good one that someone on the forum or who has owned a GMC before has looked over and then drive it as much as possible: to the cleaners, on dates, picking up the kids from school, etc.
Randy
1973 26' Painted Desert
Ahwatukee (Phoenix) AZ
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