| Trip report [message #333636] |
Sun, 17 June 2018 21:46  |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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It has always been on my list to take my GMC to the Black Hills/Mt Rushmore ever since I hauled my GMC home on the flatbed. I am proud to report that the GMC has made the trek and is parked back in my driveway with no "New" items to repair.
We left on June 7th, and after a quick stopover thursday night, a small airbag issue friday morning that was resolved by the help(tool needed) of an ex GMC owner who still has his name on the Blacklist, we attended the Greater Midwest Classics Rally in Yankton, SD last weekend. The Town welcomed our group and we had a car show in town on Saturday night that was well attended. There is some great video's I hope to get put together for our website out there of the rally.
We then headed further west on Sunday and the GMC made it to Rapid City. I was towing, and was pretty disappointed in the GMC's performance going into the headwind, and climbing hills as we got close to rapid city. I ended up having the wife drive the towd the last 20 miles. It was also a very hot trip, as I am now running with no A/C. The GMC remained parked all week and we had a great time visiting the sights with the Towd. Friday, I realized that our trip home on Saturday would have the daytime temps at 95 degrees, so we packed up and had the coach ready for early morning launch. I also decided to take a closer look at the engine, and I found the secondaries on the Q-jet seemed a bit sticky. So a little oil on the spring on the upper plate, got them flapping nice and smooth. After taking off at 5 am, to try to beat the heat, it did not take long for me to believe the secondaries probably did not open up on my trip west. GMC ran well 400 miles where we stopped at 1 pm in Pipestone, MN, with the inside the coach temp at 91 degrees.
Today the last 3 hours home, went flawless.
So to make this long story short, 8 years ago I paid $500 for my GMC and hauled it home with my wife threatening to divorce me when it showed up in the driveway. I have spent money and time getting it to where it is today, with my motto of fix it faster then it falls apart, We have used it many trips the last 8 years and it has grown to be a member of the family, and she never did divorce me. there was a few years I would not take it further then my AAA would tow me home, but it was those trips that helped me figure out the items I needed to get updated. get out and enjoy the GMC.
FYI- even though no "New" items showed up this trip, the "old" item of getting the generator and a better dash A/C going has now been pushed up to the top of my list. My generator runs well, but last august quit putting out 110v. I put in a new bridge rectifier, and that did not help, so I will be pulling out the onan and troubleshooting that. i also now have plans on putting in a Aux A/C evaporator, so hopefully in the future I will have Belts and suspenders when it comes to keeping the family and myself a little cooler. I don't see how you guys do it down south... I would be towing a trailer with 2-3 generators as spares if it was any hotter or more humid.
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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