Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] On making your GMC look and feel more open
| [GMCnet] On making your GMC look and feel more open [message #340753] |
Fri, 08 February 2019 10:50  |
JerryW
Messages: 256
Registered: August 2018
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
One factor that sets GMCs apart from most other motorhomes is they are only 96 inches wide while most modern motorhomes are 102. Most GMCs were built with overhead cabinets running across both sides. The combination of the narrower body, the overhead cabinets and the dark cabinet colors used on GMCs often conspire to make the coach seem smaller that it actually is.
We saw those same factors play out when bus conversion owners visited our Prevost here on the beach in Mexico. Theirs is an older Eagle bus that is 96 inches wide and the interior is done in solid Koa wood, a dark, beautiful, now unobtainable,Hawaiian hard wood. It had over head cabinets running along both sides. When those owners came into our coach they gasped at what they thought was a much bigger interior. In fact, our Prevost is only 6 inches wider but has light colored laminate cabinets, light colored uph materials, large windows (somewhat like the GMC only higher), no overhead cabinets in the living room area, and a mirrored ceiling panel all of which gives the impression of much greater interior space.
The same would be true of a GMC if you were willing to do away with the overhead cabinets on one or both sides in the front room area and change out the dark wood and uph colors for much lighter tones. I know many have done this and found ways to live without the overhead cabinets while other owners say they just would not have enough storage space without them.
If you are looking to sell your GMC, or just want a change of pace, consider doing these things. Your GMC will really stand out from the crowd and you just might find you like spending more time in there yourself.
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
in historic Kerby, OR
http://jerrywork.com
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] On making your GMC look and feel more open [message #340757 is a reply to message #340753] |
Fri, 08 February 2019 11:35  |
JerryW
Messages: 256
Registered: August 2018
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
I kept the overhead cabinets, but we used light colors in the coach, which
gives it an open feel. Light colors are really important, I think, at least
above the interior waistline.
The craft of the PO-built cabinets is poor and I’ll redo it someday, but
still with the light colors. My craft is a bit better, but I know I’m
talking to a furniture maker. :)
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g5212-interior-2009.html
Rick “can’t give up those overheads, but skinnied up the closet and got rid
of drawers” Denney
On Fri, Feb 8, 2019 at 11:51 AM Gerald Work via Gmclist <
gmclist@list.gmcnet.org> wrote:
> One factor that sets GMCs apart from most other motorhomes is they are
> only 96 inches wide while most modern motorhomes are 102. Most GMCs were
> built with overhead cabinets running across both sides. The combination of
> the narrower body, the overhead cabinets and the dark cabinet colors used
> on GMCs often conspire to make the coach seem smaller that it actually is.
>
> We saw those same factors play out when bus conversion owners visited our
> Prevost here on the beach in Mexico. Theirs is an older Eagle bus that is
> 96 inches wide and the interior is done in solid Koa wood, a dark,
> beautiful, now unobtainable,Hawaiian hard wood. It had over head cabinets
> running along both sides. When those owners came into our coach they
> gasped at what they thought was a much bigger interior. In fact, our
> Prevost is only 6 inches wider but has light colored laminate cabinets,
> light colored uph materials, large windows (somewhat like the GMC only
> higher), no overhead cabinets in the living room area, and a mirrored
> ceiling panel all of which gives the impression of much greater interior
> space.
>
> The same would be true of a GMC if you were willing to do away with the
> overhead cabinets on one or both sides in the front room area and change
> out the dark wood and uph colors for much lighter tones. I know many have
> done this and found ways to live without the overhead cabinets while other
> owners say they just would not have enough storage space without them.
>
> If you are looking to sell your GMC, or just want a change of pace,
> consider doing these things. Your GMC will really stand out from the crowd
> and you just might find you like spending more time in there yourself.
>
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
> in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
> in historic Kerby, OR
> http://jerrywork.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Rick Denney
73 x-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Off-list email to rick at rickdenney dot com
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] On making your GMC look and feel more open [message #340758 is a reply to message #340753] |
Fri, 08 February 2019 11:41 |
GatsbysCruise
Messages: 261
Registered: January 2017
Location: Waukegan, Illinois
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
There are many ways to make the GMC motorhome "look" and feel larger.
My motorhome went through EXACTLY what you are talking about. The PO
removed ALL of the above cabinents and put NONE back in.
He also added lighter colored wall panels and light colored ceiling material.
The color along make the GMC feel huge for its size.
But the loss of the upper cabinets will severely limit your storage ability
and you type of camping options.
If you want to to long term camping, and you want to remove the upper
cabinets, you better consider adding a big box on the back end of your GMC.
I can tell you from experience, the little cabinet space you have is already
taken up. The upper cabinets is pretty much your only option, remove that
and you are driving a bus.
The storage option after the upper cabinets are gone is not a lot because of
the low chasis on a GMC. You will certainly be needing to consider space
under the couch and if you can, under the bed.
I have been considering a wall unit where the dinette used to be, (PO removed
it too), with a table top that can be put up when needed and stored when not.
The wall unit would have shallow shelves but something is better than nothing.
If you have space under the driver and passsenger seats, you can put something
under there as well.
There is a big plus to removing the upper cabinets, but it is only cosmetic.
The upper cabinets cover the top windows, about 9 to 12 inches and your window
space to look out is limited. Removing those cabinets opens that up to a
panaramic view that no other motorhome has, not including those with the
sliding glass doors.
Using light colored wall panels, mine are white with blue print, and a light
colored ceiling cloth, mine is a very light tanish color, makes the interior
seem much larger.
Whether this is a good idea or not, or even if you would enjoy this depends on
what you plan to do with your GMC.
With the upper cabinets gone, you are pretty much stuck to trips and short camp
trips. You simply cannot carry enough of anything without storage, simply put.
Those that want to do long term camping, booning, etc will need that rear storage
box on the bumper AND the upper cabinets for that little bit of storage that
you search for, storage under the couch and bed would be fantastic as well.
It depends on what you plan to do with your GMC.
Another factor that will make the GMC look larger is lighting.
The old tensile bulb with a filament gives off a yellowish light. This in itself
will make the interior seem smaller.
ToDays led technology has warm white, which mimics the filament bulbs in color,
and daylight color, which is bright white and depending on the interior color of
your RV, will make the interior feel larger.
The LED light sources also make solar possible because they have such a low
requirement for power.
If you plan to remove and not put the upper cabinets back in, you really need
to think about the type of travel or camping you plan to do. I would strongly
suggest going camping and pretend the upper cabinets are not there and see how
your camping experience goes. if you can get by without using the upper cabinets,
then you might not mind if there were gone. But I will suggest that in my GMC,
with those upper cabinets gone, STORAGE is a very critical thing and there is
never enough storage. To put it simple, how well would you do if you went camping'
in your car for a week??? The experience would be similar.
GatsbysCruise. \
74GMC260 Former Glacier Model style. \
Waukegan, Illinois \ Keep those MiniDiscs Spinning \ MY GREYHOUND IS FASTER THAN YOUR HONOR ROLL STUDENT \ WindowsXP-Win7-Win8.1-UBUNTU STUDIO - UBUNTU VOYAGER - Berzin Auto Center
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] On making your GMC look and feel more open [message #340762 is a reply to message #340753] |
Fri, 08 February 2019 12:11 |
JerryW
Messages: 256
Registered: August 2018
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
That MAY be why a previous owner of our coach painted all the cabinets a light grey, seemingly with a brush!
D C "Mac" Macdonald
Amateur Radio K2GKK
Since 30 November '53
USAF and FAA, Retired
Member GMCMI & Classics
Oklahoma City, OK
"The Money Pit"
TZE166V101966
'76 ex-Palm Beach
k2gkk + hotmail dot com
________________________________
From: Gmclist on behalf of Gerald Work via Gmclist
Sent: Friday, February 8, 2019 10:50
To: GMC Motor Home Post
Cc: Gerald Work
Subject: [GMCnet] On making your GMC look and feel more open
One factor that sets GMCs apart from most other motorhomes is they are only 96 inches wide while most modern motorhomes are 102. Most GMCs were built with overhead cabinets running across both sides. The combination of the narrower body, the overhead cabinets and the dark cabinet colors used on GMCs often conspire to make the coach seem smaller that it actually is.
We saw those same factors play out when bus conversion owners visited our Prevost here on the beach in Mexico. Theirs is an older Eagle bus that is 96 inches wide and the interior is done in solid Koa wood, a dark, beautiful, now unobtainable,Hawaiian hard wood. It had over head cabinets running along both sides. When those owners came into our coach they gasped at what they thought was a much bigger interior. In fact, our Prevost is only 6 inches wider but has light colored laminate cabinets, light colored uph materials, large windows (somewhat like the GMC only higher), no overhead cabinets in the living room area, and a mirrored ceiling panel all of which gives the impression of much greater interior space.
The same would be true of a GMC if you were willing to do away with the overhead cabinets on one or both sides in the front room area and change out the dark wood and uph colors for much lighter tones. I know many have done this and found ways to live without the overhead cabinets while other owners say they just would not have enough storage space without them.
If you are looking to sell your GMC, or just want a change of pace, consider doing these things. Your GMC will really stand out from the crowd and you just might find you like spending more time in there yourself.
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
in historic Kerby, OR
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] On making your GMC look and feel more open [message #340767 is a reply to message #340757] |
Fri, 08 February 2019 15:11 |
JerryW
Messages: 256
Registered: August 2018
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Nicely done, Rick! Clean and modern, just what the Dr. ordered and what the next generation of owners will value.
Jerry
Jerry & Sharon Work
Kerby, OR
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
Prevost Country Coach
Formerly 78 Royale with most everything done to modernize a GMC mechanically
77/94 Clasco that looked like it just left the Clasco facility. Loved them both.
> On Feb 8, , at 9:35 AM, Richard Denney wrote:
>
> I kept the overhead cabinets, but we used light colors in the coach, which gives it an open feel. Light colors are really important, I think, at least above the interior waistline.
>
> The craft of the PO-built cabinets is poor and I’ll redo it someday, but still with the light colors. My craft is a bit better, but I know I’m talking to a furniture maker. :)
>
> http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/g5212-interior-2009.html
>
> Rick “can’t give up those overheads, but skinnied up the closet and got rid of drawers” Denney
> On Fri, Feb 8, 2019 at 11:51 AM Gerald Work via Gmclist wrote:
> One factor that sets GMCs apart from most other motorhomes is they are only 96 inches wide while most modern motorhomes are 102. Most GMCs were built with overhead cabinets running across both sides. The combination of the narrower body, the overhead cabinets and the dark cabinet colors used on GMCs often conspire to make the coach seem smaller that it actually is.
>
> We saw those same factors play out when bus conversion owners visited our Prevost here on the beach in Mexico. Theirs is an older Eagle bus that is 96 inches wide and the interior is done in solid Koa wood, a dark, beautiful, now unobtainable,Hawaiian hard wood. It had over head cabinets running along both sides. When those owners came into our coach they gasped at what they thought was a much bigger interior. In fact, our Prevost is only 6 inches wider but has light colored laminate cabinets, light colored uph materials, large windows (somewhat like the GMC only higher), no overhead cabinets in the living room area, and a mirrored ceiling panel all of which gives the impression of much greater interior space.
>
> The same would be true of a GMC if you were willing to do away with the overhead cabinets on one or both sides in the front room area and change out the dark wood and uph colors for much lighter tones. I know many have done this and found ways to live without the overhead cabinets while other owners say they just would not have enough storage space without them.
>
> If you are looking to sell your GMC, or just want a change of pace, consider doing these things. Your GMC will really stand out from the crowd and you just might find you like spending more time in there yourself.
>
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
> in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
> in historic Kerby, OR
> http://jerrywork.com
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> --
> Rick Denney
> 73 x-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
> Off-list email to rick at rickdenney dot com
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] On making your GMC look and feel more open [message #340823 is a reply to message #340809] |
Sat, 09 February 2019 18:25 |
JerryW
Messages: 256
Registered: August 2018
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Along the right rear outside wall is an IKEA porcelain sink. With ceramic tile on the wall above the sink. That's over the outside tool storage. Then a handicapped shower bench. A shower head is mounted in the wall at the right rear corner. It's has a scald guard shower control. Then with the toilet between the shower bench, and large closet. The toilet is handicapped height/length porcelain. ABSOLUTLY NO WABBLE. Lower half of walls, and flood are powder coated aluminum. Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale
________________________________
From: Bob Dunahugh
Sent: Saturday, February 9, 2019 1:16 PM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: RE: On making your GMC look and feel more open
The Royale rear bath is the most conducive to do this too. First. By just not putting the right and/or left rear upper fold out hanging bunk into their upper position. Or just remove them both. You'll never notice the small screw holes that held them to the wall. I made our right rear lower bed into a folding pull out unit. We have a 42 inch walkway to the rear bath. This next idea got radical. Widened the bathroom door, removed the bath tub, and installed a large linen closet. Plus a large clothes hamper that has sorting binds in it. Linda can now drive her powered wheelchair into the bathroom that's fully handicap acceptable. Remove the dinette. Use two nice comfy chairs. Then a real big plus has been the big improvement in storage space. We now have inside storage space that has nothing in it. The IKIA store has helped that a lot. The Royale rear bath has the largest closet of any GMC. Next. All the tools, and I mean ALL, are now NOT inside. But behind the outside right rear door that we all have. That tool storage has every tool hung in there own designated storage location. No more rummaging for tools. Lighting for night use. With 12V, and 110V access. It's a gear heads dream. At the GMCMI open house events. Most can't believe how open it feels. Bob Dunahugh 78 Royale
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Fri Sep 27 09:08:32 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.04227 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
) so they don't block the windows very much at all, and really "opens" up the interior. Best of both worlds - that open feeling plus still have storage. 
