| Re: [GMCnet] Owning a GMC MH [message #331819] |
Tue, 08 May 2018 00:21  |
BobDunahugh
Messages: 2465
Registered: October 2010
Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Karma: 11
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Go out and see what $25 to $30 thousand get you as to SOB's. How about a 15 to 20 year old wood framed box on wheels. That's in the proses of coming apart. And they'll cost you equal to, or more to repair. ALL motor homes/campers cost lots of CASH. Go buy a 5th wheel at $60,000. And a 1 ton to pull it at $70,000. There you go. And we're $100,000 less. We paid $4500 for our 78 Royale. Then put $37,500 worth of parts in it in 6 months. Everything is now new. Our biggest problem has been the replacement parts that came from China. Bob Dunahugh
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| Re: [GMCnet] Owning a GMC MH [message #331820 is a reply to message #331819] |
Tue, 08 May 2018 00:41  |
Vern Crawford
Messages: 81
Registered: August 2016
Karma: -1
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By the way, for folks new to our group:
SOB=Some other brand
PO=Previous owner
On Tue, May 8, 2018 at 12:21 AM, Bob Dunahugh wrote:
> Go out and see what $25 to $30 thousand get you as to SOB's. How about a
> 15 to 20 year old wood framed box on wheels. That's in the proses of coming
> apart. And they'll cost you equal to, or more to repair. ALL motor
> homes/campers cost lots of CASH. Go buy a 5th wheel at $60,000. And a 1 ton
> to pull it at $70,000. There you go. And we're $100,000 less. We paid
> $4500 for our 78 Royale. Then put $37,500 worth of parts in it in 6 months.
> Everything is now new. Our biggest problem has been the replacement parts
> that came from China. Bob Dunahugh
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> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
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--
Vern Crawford (and Lenore Langsdorf)
155 JJ Lane
Center Point, TX 78010
(618) 203-8296 Vern's cell
(830) 928-5550 Lenore's cell
VernCrawford@GMail.Com
LenoreLangsdorf@GMail.Com
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| Re: [GMCnet] Owning a GMC MH [message #331839 is a reply to message #331819] |
Tue, 08 May 2018 14:42 |
pzerkel
Messages: 212
Registered: September 2007
Location: Salisbury, IL
Karma: 0
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Bob,
While I agree wholeheartedly with the point you are trying to make, I must challenge some of your math.
5th wheel @ $60,000 + truck @ @70,000 = $130,000
Royale Purchase price @ $4,500 + $37,500 in parts = $42,000.
$130,000 - $42,000 = $88,000 difference.
Granted it is close to $100,000 less, but not quite. And That is with free labor, and assuming purchasing a brand new truck.
The reality is that free labor is not as much of an option for those more mechanically challenged than you. And that a reliable capable tow vehicle could be purchased for substantially less.
I love my GMC. It has taught me enough about wrenching that I feel I can address many minor (and some intermediate) issues as DIY projects. But to be honest watching you report on many of your projects has made me realize that I (and probably many current and potential owners) do not possess the skillset you do, and are simply going to have to pay for labor sometimes.
IMO, all of this shifts the equation somewhat in favor of the newer option, but granted the entry price for that route is still higher; I just contend that it is not necessarily $100,000 higher.
Paul Zerkel
'78 Eleganza II
Salisbury IL (near Springfield)
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| Re: [GMCnet] Owning a GMC MH [message #331840 is a reply to message #331819] |
Tue, 08 May 2018 15:41 |
kingd
Messages: 592
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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In Canada, a brand new long tall Mercedes Sprinter Airstream conversion was $200 K at the Spring
2018 Motorhome.
One could have a VERY nice GMC MH for half the price. But I guess it would still have a
3 gear tranny. Oh well !!
DAVE KING
lurker, wannabe
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Re: [GMCnet] Owning a GMC MH [message #331841 is a reply to message #331819] |
Tue, 08 May 2018 16:55 |
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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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It happens all the time over in the RV groups of Facebook and rarely at other RV pages.
Someone comes across an old RV and thinks it will be cheap way to have a house.....
The ones that buy a Wini-boxo type that have "Just a little water leak" are the first to find that it was a mistake when a side collapses. But there have been two that I was real sorry about, but not that sorry, I tried. Both of these got GMCs at bargain prices. I do not recall names or handles.
One had front bearing troubles, and as soon as he could he was going to take off touring the northwest. I told him what he had to do and we all know the story. But, there was another individual that "Knew all about GM and Motorhomes" that convinced him that there was very little wrong with the front bearings and they could be tightened externally and they would be fine. He did not take my advice. He wrote for about two weeks more about where he had gone and that he was having handling a front brake issue that tightening the front drive axle nut did not cure. He still would not take the advice that either I or another GMC owner that writes there would give. Finally, we heard it had met with difficulty on the road as a front wheel was now out of place as best I could translate from his description. He finally had to agree to giving it to the tow operator for the cost of the tow. When he saw it next the refrigerator, the generator, a roof unit, some interior parts and a window or two were gone. He wrote a little more, but I never read him again.
There was another, he got a GMC cheap. He got it towed to where he could work on the engine. "All it needs is some engine work and brakes." He had thought he was going to pull the heads and drop the pan to repair it, but when I found out he could not get the pan off and it needed boring, his new plan was to get a crate motor and drop it in. It seems a friend got a crate motor and after all, "all GM engines are the same". (I tried to interrupt here too. This was the third time with him and I stopped trying.) Then He wrote that the frame had to be patched and he had gotten some used SB Chevy to that should be plenty power because it is what is in some other person's coach. Then I heard he had lost his access to where the coach was and was hoping to sell it (at a gain) and I stopped reading him also. I haven't seen him on there in a long time now. Long for FB anyway....
This is why I stand by the ~30K$ (including sweat value) when I come across these.
Back in my wooden boat days, I once heard a knowledgeable person say, "If it you get a boat for free, you probably can't afford it."
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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