Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » It's great to own a GMC (Good news for once)
| It's great to own a GMC [message #59906] |
Mon, 12 October 2009 19:14  |
Gail Marks Cruiser
Messages: 125
Registered: August 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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G'day
A week ago our GMC took Gail, Spud and I to the C.M.C.A.'s (Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia) 24th national rally in Rockhampton Queensland. It was only about 970 miles for the round trip, but we used no oils (I keep the engine dip stick at half full, anymore and it ends up back at half full in a few hundred miles anyway!). Coolant still full, no tire or suspension problems,the new body pads (took out 4 1/2 put in 22) made it so quiet we could actualy enjoy a bit of 70's R&R, plus we got to enjoy some great rest areas along the way.
This was our first time going as a trader, we set the GMC up to sell Gail's software but it seemed more people were interested in the GMC. Trakka Campers were set up opposite us, with a Fiat based FWD camper, with tandem suspension on a streached chassis. It even had a "suicide" door on the left the same as our GMC. Just goes to show 30 plus years on and the others are still trying to copying the best!
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] It's great to own a GMC [message #59912 is a reply to message #59906] |
Mon, 12 October 2009 19:56  |
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By chance, do you know if the Fiat was on a Ducato chassis or a conversion
of a Ducato panel van?
Glad to know your GMC performed well.
Byron Songer
1978 Royale by Coachmen
Louisville, KY
Personal - http://web.me.com/bnsonger
Eastern States - http://www.gmceast.com
Mark Bennett wrote:
>
>
> G'day
> A week ago our GMC took Gail, Spud and I to the C.M.C.A.'s (Campervan and
> Motorhome Club of Australia) 24th national rally in Rockhampton Queensland. It
> was only about 970 miles for the round trip, but we used no oils (I keep the
> engine dip stick at half full, anymore and it ends up back at half full in a
> few hundred miles anyway!). Coolant still full, no tire or suspension
> problems,the new body pads (took out 4 1/2 put in 22) made it so quiet we
> could actualy enjoy a bit of 70's R&R, plus we got to enjoy some great rest
> areas along the way.
> This was our first time going as a trader, we set the GMC up to sell Gail's
> software but it seemed more people were interested in the GMC. Trakka Campers
> were set up opposite us, with a Fiat based FWD camper, with tandem suspension
> on a streached chassis. It even had a "suicide" door on the left the same as
> our GMC. Just goes to show 30 plus years on and the others are still trying to
> copying the best!
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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: [GMCnet] It's great to own a GMC [message #59920 is a reply to message #59906] |
Mon, 12 October 2009 21:21 |
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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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G'day,
Mark forgot to introduce you to Spud! He's the lucky Lab that gets
chauffeured around in the GMC. He even has his own couch to lie on! I hear
that sometimes he is generous and let's Mark or Gail use it for short
periods!
Regards,
Rob Mueller
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
'75 Avion - USA - The Parts Coach TZE 365V100324
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark Bennett
Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 11:15 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] It's great to own a GMC
G'day
A week ago our GMC took Gail, Spud and I to the C.M.C.A.'s (Campervan and
Motorhome Club of Australia) 24th national rally in Rockhampton Queensland.
It was only about 970 miles for the round trip, but we used no oils (I keep
the engine dip stick at half full, anymore and it ends up back at half full
in a few hundred miles anyway!). Coolant still full, no tire or suspension
problems,the new body pads (took out 4 1/2 put in 22) made it so quiet we
could actualy enjoy a bit of 70's R&R, plus we got to enjoy some great rest
areas along the way.
This was our first time going as a trader, we set the GMC up to sell Gail's
software but it seemed more people were interested in the GMC. Trakka
Campers were set up opposite us, with a Fiat based FWD camper, with tandem
suspension on a streached chassis. It even had a "suicide" door on the left
the same as our GMC. Just goes to show 30 plus years on and the others are
still trying to copying the best!
--
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
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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: It's great to own a GMC [message #59943 is a reply to message #59906] |
Tue, 13 October 2009 02:35 |
Gail Marks Cruiser
Messages: 125
Registered: August 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Byron,
It is a Ducato cab chassis. The tandem wheels were fitted to keep the overhang legal and increase the carring capacity.The body is a fiberglass cab-over,low like a GMC but narrower.Wish I had taken a photo,if you want more information, let me know.
Mark
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
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| Re: It's great to own a GMC [message #60000 is a reply to message #59906] |
Tue, 13 October 2009 16:51 |
Gail Marks Cruiser
Messages: 125
Registered: August 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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That's the one!
It took me a couple of days looking at it across from us before I noticed the suicide door. I'd still prefer a GMC anyday.
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
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| Re: It's great to own a GMC [message #60008 is a reply to message #59965] |
Tue, 13 October 2009 18:03 |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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It still looks like a box.
THAT said, It has many interesting ideas on the interior. Like the "pull-out-potty" in the last two pictures on this page:
<http://www.trakka.com.au/tway730int.htm>
It looks like a good space saver but I am not sure of the plumbing connections. Anyone know how it works?
Gail & Mark,
We always like to hear about (and see) ideas and methods from "other places." Keep them coming, (Pictures too) we appreciate it.
Mike Miller -- Hillsboro, OR -- on the Black list
(#2)`78 23' Birchaven Rear Bath -- (#3)`77 23' Birchaven Side Bath
More Sidekicks than GMC's and a late model Malibu called 'Boo'
http://m000035.blogspot.com
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| Re: It's great to own a GMC [message #60011 is a reply to message #59906] |
Tue, 13 October 2009 18:54 |
Gail Marks Cruiser
Messages: 125
Registered: August 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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G'day
The Porta pottie or cassete Toilet, is the best way to go in a motorhome in Australia.
The main reason is that we haven't got many camp sites were you can hook-up, especialy black water, even a lot of caravan parks only cater for grey water. In our travels we have met a lot of people traveling around with full black tanks because they cannot find a dump point, some even dig a hole and dump it in the bush, very much frowned upon. The C.M.C.A. (Campervan and Motorhome club of Australia) has a program , with some Goverment funding, to intall dump points in more remote areas. This scheme is not going so well as a lot of areas have septic rather than sewerage systems, and the toilet chemicals are killing of the bacteria in some towns septic systems, not happy towns folk.
The porta-pottie works on a unit which is joined at the middle, the top half has the bowl and flush water, the bottom half is where the waste is collected. The unit comes apart so you only have to lug the bottom half to the dump point.
The cassette system is similar to the porta-pottie but a bit "cleaner". The toilet is fixed into the motorhome with either a manual or electric flush. Some models have the own flush tank, while others flush from your water tanks. To empty them you open a door on the outside and slide the cassette out, it automaticaly seals its self to stop spillage. These cassettes can weigh 20 plus kilos when full, the bigger ones are equiped with wheels to make it easier to take to a dump point.
We like the cassette toilet, which is what we fitted to our GMC, as it means we don't have to worry as much about a full waste tank. The toilet chemical debate is a hot topic at the moment, anything with formaldahide? in it is frowned upon. But what to use, most "green" chemicals don't realy stop the smell, and those that mask it are bad for the septic system.
I hope no one was eating whilst reading this, and you may think twice about shaking my hand, but i was just answering the question.
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] It's great to own a GMC [message #60013 is a reply to message #60011] |
Tue, 13 October 2009 19:16 |
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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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Mark,
Will the camp grounds allow you to dump a black tank if you can demonstrate
to their satisfaction that you do not use formaldehyde or any other
chemicals that will kill the bacteria in their septic systems?
Has the CMCA considered approaching the Australian Federal Government to ask
them to ban the importation and sale of the chemicals that kill the
bacteria? That would solve the problem in a heartbeat!
Having said all this I reckon that a bit of odor from the "dunnie"
(Aus-speak lesson #1 for the day) isn't going to kill you!
I will admit that I used one of the offending chemicals in Double Trouble
but now that I am aware of this I will cease and desist and use only
chemicals that are green.
We did buy a Glade air freshener for the bathroom and that "worked a treat"
(Aus-speak lesson #2).
Regards,
Rob Mueller
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
'75 Avion - USA - The Parts Coach TZE 365V100324
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Mark Bennett
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 10:54 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] It's great to own a GMC
G'day
The Porta pottie or cassete Toilet, is the best way to go in a motorhome in
Australia.
The main reason is that we haven't got many camp sites were you can
hook-up, especialy black water, even a lot of caravan parks only cater for
grey water. In our travels we have met a lot of people traveling around with
full black tanks because they cannot find a dump point, some even dig a hole
and dump it in the bush, very much frowned upon. The C.M.C.A. (Campervan and
Motorhome club of Australia) has a program , with some Goverment funding, to
intall dump points in more remote areas. This scheme is not going so well as
a lot of areas have septic rather than sewerage systems, and the toilet
chemicals are killing of the bacteria in some towns septic systems, not
happy towns folk.
The porta-pottie works on a unit which is joined at the middle, the top half
has the bowl and flush water, the bottom half is where the waste is
collected. The unit comes apart so you only have to lug the bottom half to
the dump point.
The cassette system is similar to the porta-pottie but a bit "cleaner". The
toilet is fixed into the motorhome with either a manual or electric flush.
Some models have the own flush tank, while others flush from your water
tanks. To empty them you open a door on the outside and slide the cassette
out, it automaticaly seals its self to stop spillage. These cassettes can
weigh 20 plus kilos when full, the bigger ones are equiped with wheels to
make it easier to take to a dump point.
We like the cassette toilet, which is what we fitted to our GMC, as it means
we don't have to worry as much about a full waste tank. The toilet chemical
debate is a hot topic at the moment, anything with formaldahide? in it is
frowned upon. But what to use, most "green" chemicals don't realy stop the
smell, and those that mask it are bad for the septic system.
I hope no one was eating whilst reading this, and you may think twice about
shaking my hand, but i was just answering the question.
--
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
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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: It's great to own a GMC [message #60025 is a reply to message #59906] |
Tue, 13 October 2009 21:52 |
Chr$
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Cassette toilets are common here in Pop up campers. I considered one for a small trailer I was going to biuld before I got the GMC. I think they have a bit of a negative rap here in the states, what? I have to carry and dump my poo in the toilet? Eeeewwwww. And so it goes.
Have you got pics of your installation in the GMC? Do you have to access the cassette from inside? I would think the wheelwell is in the way in a normal 26" wet bath setup.
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ
77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
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| Re: [GMCnet] It's great to own a GMC [message #60043 is a reply to message #60029] |
Wed, 14 October 2009 00:29 |
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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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Mike,
Mark called me this avo and we had a yak about this subject. It turns out it
is more complicated than it appears.
You noted "With the lack of good dump sites it would seem to me that
Macerator systems would be popular. You could dump anywhere you could reach
with a hose."
You are 100% correct in what you state in the second sentence, however, the
problem is finding places that ARE WILLING to let you dump! As Mark noted in
his message quite a few of the towns in Australia are still on septic tank
systems and the chemicals in holding tanks will kill the bacteria. I asked
what about petrol stations? He advised even though you may have just bought
over $150 worth of petrol they would probably say no. They are on septic
tanks and don't want 40 gallons of liquid dumped in them in one shot.
Avions have a single tank and I will plumb the macerator into The Blue
Streak the same way I did on Double Trouble. During Helen and my recent tour
in Double Trouble in the USA I noted that we could go about three days
before having to dump. That should be the same here with The Blue Streak. I
think what I'll do is dump whenever / wherever I have the opportunity. As
you noted the macerator will increase the number of places I can dump and
hopefully I can find places that are willing to let me do so. I won't use
any chemicals and to keep the odor down I'll flush the tank with fresh water
after every other dump. That will keep the odor down to an acceptable level.
To mask what odor is generated I'll use one of those night lights with the
scented oil.
Regards,
Rob Mueller
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
'75 Avion - USA - The Parts Coach TZE 365V100324
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Miller
Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2:01 PM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] It's great to own a GMC
Gail Marks Cruiser wrote on Tue, 13 October 2009 16:54
> ... The Porta pottie or cassete Toilet, is the best way to go in a
motorhome in Australia. ...
Ahhh! It is a porta-potty type toilet. That simplifies the plumbing! (None
is simple.) I am not sure I could get wife to go for that, regardless of
the space savings. She HATES chemical toilets.
<http://www.trakka.com.au/images/Trakkaway730/Shower-2.gif>
With the lack of good dump sites it would seem to me that Macerator systems
would be popular. You could dump anywhere you could reach with a hose.
<http://appliedgmc.com/prod.itml/icOid/513>
<http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/producte/10001/-1/10001
/59323?&cid=chanintel&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=59323>
I have never been big on using lots of chemicals. "Poop Sheets by phred"
has a section on black tanks that reduces the chemicals used. He also has a
lot of other information.
<http://www.phrannie.org/phredex.html>
Thanks for the info,
--
Mike Miller
`73 26' X Painted D.
`78 23' Birchaven
Hillsboro, OR
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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] It's great to own a GMC [message #60060 is a reply to message #60043] |
Wed, 14 October 2009 09:58 |
Rick Denney
Messages: 430
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Rob Mueller writes...
> Mark called me this avo and we had a yak about this subject. It turns out it
> is more complicated than it appears.
I'm curious about this subject. When we rented a campervan in New
Zealand, every campground in which we stayed had a sewer dump. But we
could not find a dump where we returned the camper, and the result of
that was that we were charged an extra $100NZ for them to do it at the
rental facility in Aukland.
Maybe Maui Rentals or other large-scale motorhome rental outfit can
provide advice on how to dump in 'Stralia.
Maui also provided us with chemical pellets, with the instruction to
drop one in the tank after each dump.
I do not use any chemicals at all in Jaws. The thinking is that
natural processes work better than trying to keep the tank sterile
with formaldehyde-based deoderants. I have occasionally used products
designed to enhance the natural enzymes, which would cause no issue
with a septic system. But if I dump every three days, the smell is
never bad enough to worry about.
There are a couple of tips, though. One is to avoid using your
Fantastic Fan to exhaust the coach when using the toilet. It will draw
"air" through the tank vent and tank into the coach when the toilet
valve is open. Even when using the fan to pull air into open windows,
I will switch it to spin the other way when using the toilet to push
the fumes back into the tank and out the vent.
Another tip is not always feasible, and is unacceptable to some: No
poop on the bus. If we are in a campground that provides toilets, then
I use them.
Now, for my question. How do the cassette toilets work? If they use a
chemical (similar to a porta-potty), then that will be just as
detrimental to a septic system as anything else, especially when
dumped in one large dose. If they use "containment", then what they
contain still has to be dumped somewhere, somehow. I can't imagine
campervan owners in Australia dumping the cassettes into their toilets
at home.
I would suspect that many campgrounds in the U.S. use septic systems
rather than public sewerage, because public sewerage in the U.S. is
only available in cities for the most part. I wonder why it is not a
problem here?
Rick "curious" Denney
'73 230 Ex-Glacier "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
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'73 Glacier 230 "Jaws"
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| Re: It's great to own a GMC [message #60110 is a reply to message #59906] |
Wed, 14 October 2009 19:48 |
Gail Marks Cruiser
Messages: 125
Registered: August 2009
Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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G'day,
Wow, this post has gone from being a good news post, hoping to encorage more to get out and enjoy their GMC, to poop!
As I discussed with Rob Mueller yesterday, Australia's dump point question is to big to put on a single post,so to clarify a couple of points.
- KEA (New Zealand based motorhome supplier) is suppling free dump points to ares where the C.M.C.A. thinks they are needed, and the our Government is suppling a $1,000 for instalation. It is just most councils don't want them, because of what has happened in other areas. One case about 40 motorhomers stopped in at a small town and most dumped their tanks before they left, the result of all that extra waste in the small towns septic system, killed off the baceria and overloaded the tanks shuting it down for over a week.
- Using no chemicals is one of the best options
- Yes people do dump their toilet cassettes in public toilets
- I have spoken to three suppliers of toilet chemicals and they all said it is best to poop in the toilet to kick start the bacteria.
- Some of the scents used to mask chemicals in toilets, kill off the bacteria too.
I feel this subject is drifting away from the point of this forum, so it may be best if you send me a P.M. if you have more questions on the subject of Dump Points. Other than that I am always very keen to answer questions, especialy about G.M.C.'s and Motorhoming in OZ.
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
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| Re: [GMCnet] It's great to own a GMC [message #60145 is a reply to message #60060] |
Wed, 14 October 2009 22:45 |
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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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Rick,
The Blue Streak has been under renovation since I bought it and therefore
I've never been camping in it. So I really don't KNOW what I'm talking about
re dumping in
Australia hence my discussion with Mark. He has MANY years of experience
camping / motor homing in Australia.
I see he has responded to your queries.
One comment as far as Aussies asking the Kiwis for advice that's akin to the
Yanks asking the Canucks for advice and vice-versa! ;-)
Regards,
Rob Mueller
Sydney, Australia
'75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
'75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
'75 Avion - USA - The Parts Coach TZE 365V100324
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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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