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| Am I looking for the right thing [message #84234] |
Wed, 12 May 2010 15:02  |
sidleylaw
Messages: 5
Registered: May 2010
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I am thinking of purchasing a GMC for my familys use. I don't consider myself handy or very mechanically inclined. I would like the coach to be reliable so that we could use it "on demand". I would also like it to sleep 4 comfortably and be safe on the road. Should I consider the GMC? What does anyone think one which fits the bill would cost? Is anyone aware of any for sale in the LA area which would also fit the bill? Thanks, Mike Sidley
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| Re: Am I looking for the right thing [message #84268 is a reply to message #84234] |
Wed, 12 May 2010 19:57  |
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mike miller
Messages: 3576
Registered: February 2004
Location: Hillsboro, Oregon
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| sidleylaw wrote on Wed, 12 May 2010 13:02 |
I am thinking of purchasing a GMC for my familys use. I don't consider myself handy or very mechanically inclined. I would like the coach to be reliable so that we could use it "on demand". I would also like it to sleep 4 comfortably and be safe on the road. Should I consider the GMC? What does anyone think one which fits the bill would cost? Is anyone aware of any for sale in the LA area which would also fit the bill? Thanks, Mike Sidley
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First I need to point out something:
The "newest" GMC is 32 years old. (The oldest are about 37.) How reliable are most 32 year old cars? How many "problems" do 32 year old houses have? Granted, a 32 year old GMC will have less structure problems than a 16 year old "stick and staple" box style motorhome. (Half the age and miles.) Expect to get a "little" handy if you buy ANY motorhome (even new)... the older the motorhome, the more handy you'll need to get. BUT, you can always PAY someone else to be handy for you.
That said, if maintained properly, and older vehicle can be reliable enough. A well maintained GMC coach THAT IS IN USE will fit you needs. Most likely, you will need to pay a premium for a good coach. Do not try and do this on this on the cheap.* BUT asking price alone will not tell you if the coach is a good one. Get help from a local Black lister or even better, one of the GMC service suppliers. (There are several across the country.)
Start here:
<http://www.bdub.net/GMCLinks.html>
Good Luck!
* Handy and mechanically inclined types MIGHT be able to get away with doing it on the cheap... but even if they do not like breaking down on the side of the road!
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: [GMCnet] Am I looking for the right thing [message #84326 is a reply to message #84268] |
Thu, 13 May 2010 05:56 |
Jim Bounds
Messages: 842
Registered: January 2004
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Senior Member |
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A GMC can certainly do the job you want but--- and this is a big one---- you cannot rely upon a 30+ year old machine, thats just not sound. You would not purchase a 30+ year old vehicle to assure you will get to work every day on time. If the vehicle had been totally updated maybe but not in it's original form. This is also true with relying upon a GMC to take your family places, the coach must be updated and in many cases upgraded to newer technologies, concepts, materials etc. This is what drives our business, renovating these coaches for use today. Less as an object of appreciation, an updated coach has it's value and thus the cost of renovation targeted at incresing the reliability and usefulness. Some look at their coach as an object for their frustration and do things "just because they can". I prefer to involve issue that increase the coaches reliability and ease of maintenance keeping it usable and reliable.
If you say you do want as vehicle to take your family places, investing the money into updating a GMC for the task will actually be the least expensive solution as well as the best. You have to "break eggs to make an omelet" meaning there is much to consider in using a GMC for this application but in the end you will have a more useable, impressive, comfortable machine using a GMC as your platform, this I have proven.
"How Much" money will you have into a GMC is the big question. First ask "how much" would you have into getting something non GMC to do the job well. That will tell you the budget of the project, now look again on what you would have spending that amount of money to build up a GMC and there you will see the value in renovating a GMC. Entry level of a quality based (all are not this) downsized, economical vehicle that will do for you what a GMC will-- these machines begine at @ $100,000 and go up from there. For less than that, a GMC can be outfitted to the hilt and be a very impressive alternative. As I said, this is what drives our business.
So, the suggestions that were made to you were good, don;t try and do up a GMC on the "cheap"-- you will be forever working on it. Do a quality job to bring the reliability up to standard and the GMC will be a great alternative. Good luck on your search, if you like I can give you many things to gauge a quality "core" for a build up project.
Jim Bounds
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----- Original Message ----
From: Mike Miller <m000035@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Wed, May 12, 2010 8:57:24 PM
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Am I looking for the right thing
sidleylaw wrote on Wed, 12 May 2010 13:02
> I am thinking of purchasing a GMC for my familys use. I don't consider myself handy or very mechanically inclined. I would like the coach to be reliable so that we could use it "on demand". I would also like it to sleep 4 comfortably and be safe on the road. Should I consider the GMC? What does anyone think one which fits the bill would cost? Is anyone aware of any for sale in the LA area which would also fit the bill? Thanks, Mike Sidley
First I need to point out something:
The "newest" GMC is 32 years old. (The oldest are about 37.) How reliable are most 32 year old cars? How many "problems" do 32 year old houses have? Granted, a 32 year old GMC will have less structure problems than a 16 year old "stick and staple" box style motorhome. (Half the age and miles.) Expect to get a "little" handy if you buy ANY motorhome (even new)... the older the motorhome, the more handy you'll need to get. BUT, you can always PAY someone else to be handy for you.
That said, if maintained properly, and older vehicle can be reliable enough. A well maintained GMC coach THAT IS IN USE will fit you needs. Most likely, you will need to pay a premium for a good coach. Do not try and do this on this on the cheap.* BUT asking price alone will not tell you if the coach is a good one. Get help from a local Black lister or even better, one of the GMC service suppliers. (There are several across the country.)
Start here:
<http://www.bdub.net/GMCLinks.html>
Good Luck!
* Handy and mechanically inclined types MIGHT be able to get away with doing it on the cheap... but even if they do not like breaking down on the side of the road!
--
Mike Miller
`73 26' X Painted D.
`78 23' Birchaven
Hillsboro, OR
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| Re: Am I looking for the right thing [message #84365 is a reply to message #84234] |
Thu, 13 May 2010 09:36 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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You are going to have to have either a) some inclination to work on your coach or b) a good chunk of money to pay someone else to do it. I'm not particularly mechanically inclined, so I tend to pay for all but the most basic of those services and repairs. I probably shell out more for mechanical issues than a lot of people on this list simply because it isn't my forte and a lot of these guys are flat amazing.
On the other hand, I do work on all the house systems. In any RV, the house systems are much more labor intense than in your normal home. Rumbling down the road is going to jar things lose, freeze thaw cycles cause problems because insulation is different, etc. While a 30+ year old coach is going to be more labor intense this way than a newer one, I've found our components are cheaper, easier for a layman to work on (mostly), and even provide a lot of pleasure for a job well done. I don't know how to do a lot of the things I do in the coach before I start, but with our amazing support system I can almost always muddle my way through.
Can the GMC be what you want? Possibly, but accept that you are either going to have to learn on the fly in areas you are comfortable, or shell money out to someone. We have great support from our vendors, from this list, from the Black List, from guys that have been there and done that for 30+ years. You won't find a better group, but a GMC can easily turn into a very large, very discouraging, do-it-yourself project. There are an awful lot of gutted coaches that guys had great ideas for until they discovered how much work it can be.
On the other hand, a small Class A will cost you 100K new at least. A beautifully refurbished GMC that will probably give you minimal major problems (do your homework before buying) will cost 25-75K. Is the 25-75% discount worth whatever problems come up from owning a true American classic? That's one you'll have to sort out for yourself.
Go visit a few GMCs, see a wide range of them, contact a local black lister or vendor if you live close to one and have a chat. My wife and I spent quite a bit of time at Alex Sirrum before buying our coach and still bought something that turned out to be a struggle. But we're on the home stretch now and nothing beats being out and about in a classic GMC.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: Am I looking for the right thing [message #84386 is a reply to message #84234] |
Thu, 13 May 2010 11:18 |
Dennis S
Messages: 3046
Registered: November 2005
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Mike,
If you decide to pursue a GMC, prioritizing safe and reliable, you should contact Steve F and see if his coach is still available. botiemad@gmail.com
His coach has almost more new items than can be listed.
I believe his price is $30,000 -- well below the replacement cost. You will see less expensive coaches -- many in the $9-17,000 range -- but to put any of them in comparable condition would cost substantially more and it would not be de-bugged. You would have to make some interior mods to accomodate four -- presuming 2 adults and 2 younger.
Since you are in the LA area -- I assume Los Angeles -- you may be close to Miguel, one of the excellent GMC service providers who could help you to see that the coach was kept in "on demand" condition.
Good luck,
Dennis
| sidleylaw wrote on Wed, 12 May 2010 15:02 |
I am thinking of purchasing a GMC for my familys use. I don't consider myself handy or very mechanically inclined. I would like the coach to be reliable so that we could use it "on demand". I would also like it to sleep 4 comfortably and be safe on the road. Should I consider the GMC? What does anyone think one which fits the bill would cost? Is anyone aware of any for sale in the LA area which would also fit the bill? Thanks, Mike Sidley
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Dennis S
73 Painted Desert 230
Memphis TN Metro
[Updated on: Thu, 13 May 2010 13:16] Report message to a moderator |
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