Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip (Long post (it's winter))
| questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110481] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 09:52  |
hertfordnc
Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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In 1976 My uncle invited me to join him and three of his kids for a trip from Massachusetts to Berkeley in a 24 foot Pace Arrow.
It was life changing. I was 16.
I've dreamed of recreating that trip ever since. I'm on my second marriage and a second set of young children. Summer of 2012 might be the year.
So here are some of my thoughts, assume each has a question mark attached to it and jump in with any other thoughts or corrections to my thinking.
First, the vehicle;
For the purposes of this conversation the Revcon is interchangeable with a GMC (I know,heresy) But everything that moves it down the road is subject to the same risks and resources as the GMC,minus the added complications of the vastly superior air bag system.
So, having said that, i'd like to do it in the Revcon but given the time constraints I wonder if a more dependable vehicle might be a better choice.
This board is filled with wonderful stories of people who had wonderful experiences during catastrophic failures, helped out of a jam by fellow GMCers, made new friends and had a wonderful time.
But a lot of those people are retired. I won't be able to afford a five day stop to locate and change a transmission.
So, an SOB class C with a modern drive train might be less likely to throw major part and easier to get repaired in a hurry at the nearest truck shop.
Then there's fuel economy; I believe gas will be at $5/gallon by then. So the difference between 8mpg and 12mpg is about $1400 for the trip.
I could shoot for the best MPG i can from the Revcon or maybe look at something like a Eurovan powered Rialta. They're supposed to get 18-20
They are stupidly expensive but I'm thinking the vehicle is just for this trip. I could sell it when i'm done.
Then there's the trip;
The rough sketch is Nagara,Yellowstone, Rushmore, relatives in Portland and Oakland, Grand Canyon, Tucson, Smokey mountains and return to East NC. - 7500 miles over 40 days, average of 180 miles per day with mostly 500 miles days between points.
Another option might be to have someone run the coach out to the west coast and fly to it.
I'm wide open to whatever anyone wants to add, even the snarky comments from Dan & Rob.
Happy New Year
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC
76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
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| Re: questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110484 is a reply to message #110481] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 10:05  |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
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It sounds like a great adventure! If you're concerned about breakdowns, would it make any sense to simply rent an RV for your trip, then just turn the keys in when it's done. That way, any breakdowns (hopefully not) would be someone elses problem to repair.
No matter what, I feel that taking the kids on trips to see the USA is a great idea!
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110487 is a reply to message #110481] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 10:28 |
jknezek
Messages: 1057
Registered: December 2007
Karma: 5
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Sounds like an incredible idea. As a GMCer with a young family, I share the same concerns. Unfortunately I have to be back at work when my vacation or long weekend ends, so sitting around waiting for parts or help somewhere for a week is out of the question. We took a decently long trip from Birmingham up through the Smokies to central VA this fall. First trip with a towd and it really takes a lot of the pressure off. Luckily we only had a few minor problems that were solved and kept up on schedule, but if it had all fallen apart we could have piled in the towd and either kept going or headed back.
One other option is renting. I wouldn't got this route as it is stupidly expensive. We were going to rent an RV before buying the GMC just to make sure my wife was on board. For a one week rental, it would have been almost cheaper to drive our own car and go stay in hotels by the time we were done paying rent, campgrounds, and gas. Renting was marginally cheaper than a hotel only because you could cook instead of going out to eat every night.
Finally, you could buy an RV just for the trip. Just don't buy a new to do it. That would get expensive when you go to sell. Of course, if you buy used you could end up with the same problems as your current vehicle. There is no guarantee that a breakdown in a new RV is easily fixable. When we were on our trip, our exhaust came apart crossing the Smokies. We pulled into Tom Johnson's Camping Center in N.C. and there were plenty of people there in newer RVs that are waiting days or weeks for parts to arrive. We, on the other hand, had a clamp put on the exhaust as a temporary fix and were on our way two hours after service opened and $70 poorer. It's all a crap shoot when something breaks in an RV and having a newer one isn't really a guarantee it will be better.
Thanks,
Jeremy Knezek
1976 Glenbrook
Birmingham, AL
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| Re: questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110490 is a reply to message #110481] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 10:43 |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma: 3
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Dave,
You already have the Revcon and seem to like it and are continuing to repair and make it more dependable.
You have 18 months before the proposed trip in which time ALL of the bugs can be worked out at a cost far less than buying another motorhome.
Over the next year take a number of trips ranging from a few hundred to a 1000 miles each to shake out additional problems and get comfortable with the Revcon.
If after that time, you still question the reliability of the Revcon you still have 6 months to find another coach for the trip.
Having said all that; If I were concerned that I could not get the Revon road worthy for an extended trip I'd sell it and look for a coach that I could enjoy NOW and in the future; rather than continue to spend time, money, and effort on a motorhome that I am reluctant to use for fear of breakdowns.
Have a Happy new Year!
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
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| Re: questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110491 is a reply to message #110484] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 10:45 |
Chr$
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
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If you are considering buying one for the trip then selling it when done, just rent a new RV. You will have the added benefit of the rental agency's roadside assistance or the swapping of the coach if need be...
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ
77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
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| Re: questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110492 is a reply to message #110491] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 10:47 |
Chr$
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
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Further to renting, you can also rent one on craigslist. Many people who buy new ones rent them out to help pay for them. you could probably negotiate a pretty good deal...
-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: questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110496 is a reply to message #110481] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 11:42 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Dave,
Unfortunately, the breakdown area is a complete crap-shoot.
When you read this list, you hear a lot about breakdowns and such because (apart from Dan and Teri) the ones on the road don't write very much - They are out having fun.
An associate (not really a friend, but I know him very well) has a 30odd foot diesel pusher he purchased new several years ago. He was in the habit of chiding my "antique" motorhome and the fact that I always seem to be working on it. He does not understand the difference between maintenance, upgrades and repair. (My guess is that his loan payments for the time he could not use the coach totaled more than I have spent on maintenance - including tires.)
The same year we did Route 66 from Joliet IL to Albuquerque NM in time for the balloon show and back through Arkansas, he and his family had waited most of the season for the repair parts to arrive so they could go 250mi and "camp" at an RV Resort. He has been quiet these last couple of years.
I think you have gotten good advice here. If you are worried about reliability, rent something. Yes, fuel is a big expense, but fire up Street Atlas or Stips and Treets and plan a route. Then open a spreadsheet and put in all the expected numbers. You will quickly realize that coach travel can be very cost effective.
What ever you decide to do - start the planning now so you can ask questions here and other groups so you don't miss anything neat along the way.
If you meant Niagara, be ready for a long trek. From there to Yellowstone, you have to go either north or south of the lakes. If you go north, you have to re-enter the country and you may have to discard much of the meat and produce on board. If you are going to make the run south of the lakes and are museum people. Come back to me for a starter list.
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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| Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110499 is a reply to message #110481] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 11:56 |
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USAussie
Messages: 15912
Registered: July 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Karma: 6
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G'day,
Snarky Rob here. :-)
I think you've made some assumptions that may or may not be valid:
"For the purposes of this conversation the Revcon is INTERCHANGEABLE WITH A
GMC (I know, heresy) But everything that moves it down the road is subject
to the SAME RISKS AND RESOURCES as the GMC,"
I just checked the Black List and it says "Sorry no help for those in SOB's.
Just a GMC." So that's one resource you won't have. It is true that you
won't have it whether you drive the Revcon or buy another RV, unless of
course it's a GMC.
"So, having said that, i'd like to do it in the Revcon but given the time
constraints I wonder if a more dependable vehicle might be a better choice."
Only you know can assess that question by comparing the condition of the
specific RV you intend to buy with your Revcon.
"I could shoot for the best MPG i can from the Revcon or maybe look at
something like a Eurovan powered Rialta. They're supposed to get 18-20
They are stupidly expensive but I'm thinking the vehicle is just for this
trip. I could sell it when i'm done."
This assumes that the better gas mileage of a newer vehicle will save you
more than any loss you might incur in the buying and selling process. Is
that a valid assumption to make?
"Another option might be to have someone run the coach out to the west coast
and fly to it."
This will save you time, however, I wonder how much it will save you? Would
you not have to cover the costs of the person who drives it across country
to get it there and then get back home. If you want a vehicle on the west
coast you could have your relatives buy an RV in Portland and then you drive
it back. Also will you not have to fly yourself and your family out to the
west coast?
Did I do OK, I reckon none of these comments were snarky were they?
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue StreakTZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of dave silva
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 2:52 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip
In 1976 My uncle invited me to join him and three of his kids for a trip
from Massachusetts to Berkeley in a 24 foot Pace Arrow.
It was life changing. I was 16.
I've dreamed of recreating that trip ever since. I'm on my second marriage
and a second set of young children. Summer of 2012 might be the year.
So here are some of my thoughts, assume each has a question mark attached to
it and jump in with any other thoughts or corrections to my thinking.
First, the vehicle;
For the purposes of this conversation the Revcon is interchangeable with a
GMC (I know,heresy) But everything that moves it down the road is subject to
the same risks and resources as the GMC,minus the added complications of the
vastly superior air bag system.
So, having said that, i'd like to do it in the Revcon but given the time
constraints I wonder if a more dependable vehicle might be a better choice.
This board is filled with wonderful stories of people who had wonderful
experiences during catastrophic failures, helped out of a jam by fellow
GMCers, made new friends and had a wonderful time.
But a lot of those people are retired. I won't be able to afford a five day
stop to locate and change a transmission.
So, an SOB class C with a modern drive train might be less likely to throw
major part and easier to get repaired in a hurry at the nearest truck shop.
Then there's fuel economy; I believe gas will be at $5/gallon by then. So
the difference between 8mpg and 12mpg is about $1400 for the trip.
I could shoot for the best MPG i can from the Revcon or maybe look at
something like a Eurovan powered Rialta. They're supposed to get 18-20
They are stupidly expensive but I'm thinking the vehicle is just for this
trip. I could sell it when i'm done.
Then there's the trip;
The rough sketch is Nagara,Yellowstone, Rushmore, relatives in Portland and
Oakland, Grand Canyon, Tucson, Smokey mountains and return to East NC. -
7500 miles over 40 days, average of 180 miles per day with mostly 500 miles
days between points.
Another option might be to have someone run the coach out to the west coast
and fly to it.
I'm wide open to whatever anyone wants to add, even the snarky comments from
Dan & Rob.
Happy New Year
--
Dave & Ellen Silva
Happy owners of a 1972 Flatnose Revcon
Here by the generosity of the GMC community
http://www.davesilva.com/revcon
_______________________________________________
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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| Re: questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110503 is a reply to message #110481] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 12:51 |
Luvn737s
Messages: 1106
Registered: June 2007
Karma: 2
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Senior Member |
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Here's another opinion from someone with younger children (7 and 12). Make sure you talk to your kids over a period of a few months to determine if they are excited about taking such a long trip. If they aren't, get them more involved in the preliminary planning and such. If they are super excited, temper it with an explanantion of the good and bad points. Either way you need to cultivate enough enthusiasm to last a couple months or so.
NOTE- Just because the road trip in your memory meant so much to you, you can't assume your kids will share it identically. You have the benefit of nostalgia.
I planned a cross-country trip last summer which never made it, but our plans included a variety of overnight accomodations: camprgounds, hotels, relatives and even a few WalMarts. And I looked over http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ to get some ideas for where to stop off the beaten path. Look up some local festivals and so on so that the family has something to look forward to at the end of 8 hours on the road.
Do the best with what you have, do as much mechanical work in the driveway rather than on the shoulder of the road, and then go on and drive. The most likely thing is that nothing major will happen. If you have to change plans, you come back early.
But whatever you do, you'll do it as a family and if you are planning on building memories, there's hardly a better way.
Randy
1973 26' Painted Desert
Ahwatukee (Phoenix) AZ
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| Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110505 is a reply to message #110481] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 12:51 |
Mike Teets
Messages: 299
Registered: January 2004
Location: Dublin, OH
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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The vehicle: I have not experienced a catastrophic failure in 10 years of
weekends and family vacations... but I always figure if something like that
goes wrong, we can just find a suitable place to leave it and either rent a
vehicle or fly home.
The trip: This is roughly a trip that my family made in our 31 foot Pace
Arrow in around 1976 as well... Sounds close to what you are planning.
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&msa=0&msid=216693765657187480373.00043c54c597701a5067d
On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 10:52 AM, dave silva <david.j.silva@uscg.mil> wrote:
>
>
> In 1976 My uncle invited me to join him and three of his kids for a trip
> from Massachusetts to Berkeley in a 24 foot Pace Arrow.
>
> It was life changing. I was 16.
>
> I've dreamed of recreating that trip ever since. I'm on my second marriage
> and a second set of young children. Summer of 2012 might be the year.
>
> So here are some of my thoughts, assume each has a question mark attached
> to it and jump in with any other thoughts or corrections to my thinking.
>
> First, the vehicle;
>
> For the purposes of this conversation the Revcon is interchangeable with a
> GMC (I know,heresy) But everything that moves it down the road is subject to
> the same risks and resources as the GMC,minus the added complications of the
> vastly superior air bag system.
>
> So, having said that, i'd like to do it in the Revcon but given the time
> constraints I wonder if a more dependable vehicle might be a better choice.
>
> This board is filled with wonderful stories of people who had wonderful
> experiences during catastrophic failures, helped out of a jam by fellow
> GMCers, made new friends and had a wonderful time.
>
> But a lot of those people are retired. I won't be able to afford a five
> day stop to locate and change a transmission.
>
> So, an SOB class C with a modern drive train might be less likely to throw
> major part and easier to get repaired in a hurry at the nearest truck shop.
>
> Then there's fuel economy; I believe gas will be at $5/gallon by then. So
> the difference between 8mpg and 12mpg is about $1400 for the trip.
>
> I could shoot for the best MPG i can from the Revcon or maybe look at
> something like a Eurovan powered Rialta. They're supposed to get 18-20
>
> They are stupidly expensive but I'm thinking the vehicle is just for this
> trip. I could sell it when i'm done.
>
> Then there's the trip;
>
> The rough sketch is Nagara,Yellowstone, Rushmore, relatives in Portland and
> Oakland, Grand Canyon, Tucson, Smokey mountains and return to East NC. -
> 7500 miles over 40 days, average of 180 miles per day with mostly 500 miles
> days between points.
>
> Another option might be to have someone run the coach out to the west coast
> and fly to it.
>
> I'm wide open to whatever anyone wants to add, even the snarky comments
> from Dan & Rob.
>
>
> Happy New Year
>
>
>
>
> --
> Dave & Ellen Silva
>
>
> Happy owners of a 1972 Flatnose Revcon
> Here by the generosity of the GMC community
> http://www.davesilva.com/revcon
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Mike, GMCing since 2002
77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
Dublin, OH
http://teamteets.com/gmc/
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| Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110510 is a reply to message #110499] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 13:27 |
hertfordnc
Messages: 1164
Registered: September 2009
Location: East NC
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Rob,
You showed excellent restraint.
On the one hand, a Revcon or a GMC can be just as dependable as any new coach. And thanks to the GMC vendors many parts are easier to get.
I would not count on the Black List as a resource but I know there's guy her who would help if I asked and a few more who would help just so they could stand on the side of the road with me an laugh at my Revcon.
Renting an RV for this trip would cost $11,0000
I could buy a decent used coach and sell it. I doubt I could lose that much in one season.
I'm pretty good at finding bargains, i think i could snag a good deal in the winter, use it for a season and sell it the following season and lose maybe $2000
As for SOB reliability and repairability; none of the RV systems will stop you from continuing on the trip. A class-C with an E350 chassis is about as common a drive train as you will find anywhere, even if you have to go to a Ford dealership.
But I do like the idea of using the Revcon. So maybe I can get it to a high enough comfort level and keep my fingers crossed.
Dave & Ellen Silva
Hertford, NC
76 Birchaven, 1-ton and other stuff
Currently planning the Great american Road Trip Summer 2021
It's gonna take a lot of Adderall to get this thing right.
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| Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110515 is a reply to message #110503] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 16:54 |
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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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Randy,
I remember reading a few emails here about guys that wanted to buy a GMC but
their Partner wasn't that enthusiastic so this advice holds true in that
situation.
Get 'em enthused about touring in a GMC!
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue StreakTZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of Randy
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 5:52 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip
Here's another opinion from someone with younger children (7 and 12). Make
sure you talk to your kids over a period of a few months to determine if
they are excited about taking such a long trip. If they aren't, get them
more involved in the preliminary planning and such. If they are super
excited, temper it with an explanantion of the good and bad points. Either
way you need to cultivate enough enthusiasm to last a couple months or so.
NOTE- Just because the road trip in your memory meant so much to you, you
can't assume your kids will share it identically. You have the benefit of
nostalgia.
I planned a cross-country trip last summer which never made it, but our
plans included a variety of overnight accomodations: camprgounds, hotels,
relatives and even a few WalMarts. And I looked over
http://www.roadsideamerica.com/ to get some ideas for where to stop off the
beaten path. Look up some local festivals and so on so that the family has
something to look forward to at the end of 8 hours on the road.
Do the best with what you have, do as much mechanical work in the driveway
rather than on the shoulder of the road, and then go on and drive. The most
likely thing is that nothing major will happen. If you have to change plans,
you come back early.
But whatever you do, you'll do it as a family and if you are planning on
building memories, there's hardly a better way.
--
Randy
1973 26' Painted Desert
Ahwatukee (Phoenix) AZ
_______________________________________________
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:
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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| Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110516 is a reply to message #110513] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 17:11 |
Craig Lechowicz
Messages: 541
Registered: October 2006
Location: Waterford, MI
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Dave,
You've gotten some great advice already, but wanted to add to the discussion. Based on your posts, you seem like a pretty handy guy. So, even if there is a breakdown, unless it's super-catastrophic, you can probably fix it and be on your way in a few days. If you end up chopping a state or two off to accommodate that, a lot depends on your and your family's perspective. Is it a ruined trip because you missed a specific site out of a month long trip, or was it a family bonding experience due to a little adversity? If it is catastrophic, as Mike points out, that's why they make rental cars, airplanes and credit cards.
So, a lot depends on what your long term plans are for the RevCon. $11k of rental expense will do a lot of fixing if it's something you are planning on keeping for a long period.
On the money side, remembering the history of the GMC, not to mention house prices, I would say there is a huge amount of uncertainty around buying a vehicle or any other large asset and planning on re-selling it at minimal loss. What if OPEC rears up and gas prices go to $6 or $7 while you own it? That minimal loss may shoot to 80% or so pretty quickly, no matter what kind of mileage it gets. Not sure what tax rates are in NC, but in MI, by the time you got past sales tax, transfers and license fees, you'd have more than 2k invested if you sold it at the same price you paid for it.
One thing you might do is send the engine and trans oil out for analysis. What scares me with mine is a fatal engine or trans. failure while far away. Given the rental expense you were looking at, doing an engine change in your driveway beforehand might look cheap by comparison, if you didn't like the oil analysis and planned to keep the RevCon.
As the people on the East Coast were recently reminded, though, there are very few certainties when it comes to either travel or life, so it really depends on being patient and flexible within limits your comfortable with.
Craig Lechowicz
'77 Kingsley, Waterford, MI
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| Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110518 is a reply to message #110510] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 17:20 |
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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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Dave,
Yeah, I sure did; didn't I! ;-)
One other thing, it seems to me to make more sense to invest the money you
would spend renting or buying / selling a SOB in the Revcon and get it to "a
high comfort level" since once it was done you could make more than one
trip!
Regards,
Rob M.
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion-The Blue StreakTZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion-Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of dave silva
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 6:27 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip
Rob,
You showed excellent restraint.
On the one hand, a Revcon or a GMC can be just as dependable as any new
coach. And thanks to the GMC vendors many parts are easier to get.
I would not count on the Black List as a resource but I know there's guy her
who would help if I asked and a few more who would help just so they could
stand on the side of the road with me an laugh at my Revcon.
Renting an RV for this trip would cost $11,0000
I could buy a decent used coach and sell it. I doubt I could lose that much
in one season.
I'm pretty good at finding bargains, i think i could snag a good deal in the
winter, use it for a season and sell it the following season and lose maybe
$2000
As for SOB reliability and repairability; none of the RV systems will stop
you from continuing on the trip. A class-C with an E350 chassis is about as
common a drive train as you will find anywhere, even if you have to go to a
Ford dealership.
But I do like the idea of using the Revcon. So maybe I can get it to a
high enough comfort level and keep my fingers crossed.
--
Dave & Ellen Silva
Happy owners of a 1972 Flatnose Revcon
Here by the generosity of the GMC community
http://www.davesilva.com/revcon
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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] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110520 is a reply to message #110516] |
Sat, 01 January 2011 17:24 |
comcast
Messages: 604
Registered: August 2009
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Dave,
Simple, you got it, USE IT!!!!!
Don't let the potential stuff stop you in your tracks. If so, I'd
have left my Birchaven sitting on the side of the Interstate right out
of Cincinnati. Instead, I became friends with a lot of guys I'd
probably only meet in passing at a GMC rally. I mean, the adversity
helped make me some of the best friends I have in the GMC community.
Note to the guys, don't get a big head!!!!
Being able to roll with the punches as they come makes for an
interesting life. Wife was with me when engine blew in Cincy and was
totally beside herself UNTIL we found out the Garden Center in Cincy
had a butterfly show. So, a little bit of lemonade came out of the
trip though she still won't go with me in the GMC.
Guess we could make an exception for you with the Black List. <G>
Roger Black
77 Birchaven
Burns, Tn
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| Re: [GMCnet] questions and thoughts on the great american RV trip [message #110586 is a reply to message #110520] |
Sun, 02 January 2011 17:10 |
Sandra Price
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Dave, I'd opt for taking the Revcon, too, since you have some time to work
on the mechanicals and get everything in order. Even if you should buy a
different RV for the trip, you still could have problems of one type of the
other.
Bob and I bought our '73 GMC at the end of January '05; he worked on the
mechanics; and we left the first of July driving to Alaska. Had no problems
that he couldn't take care of. (Saw one new SOB being put on a float about
800 miles from nowhere and were thankful it wasn't us.) Drove to AK again
in '08--still with no probems in the four months we were gone. This past
summer we drove to the Maritimes after having the engine rebuilt. Were gone
five months; had two incidents of problems due to bad pushrods, which Bob
was able to replace where we were (some of the replacement pushrods were
provided by fellow GMCer Paul Doane in Nova Scotia), with no lost time.
When we got back home, we discovered substandard work had been done to the
motor and, as we speak, Bob and his friends are just finishing getting it
put back together so we'll be ready to use it for a GMC Classics rally in
January.
As others have encouraged, USE IT! The more you work on it, the more
intimate your relationship with it, the more at ease you will be when
traveling. That Black List is good to have and I believe you should be able
to find someone to help most everywhere you go. Just a shout out for help
over the internet or a phone call will most definitely get some quick,
creative, helpful suggestions.
Go for it!
Sandra Price
On Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 5:24 PM, Roger Black <r1black@comcast.net> wrote:
> Dave,
> Simple, you got it, USE IT!!!!!
>
> Don't let the potential stuff stop you in your tracks. If so, I'd
> have left my Birchaven sitting on the side of the Interstate right out
> of Cincinnati. Instead, I became friends with a lot of guys I'd
> probably only meet in passing at a GMC rally. I mean, the adversity
> helped make me some of the best friends I have in the GMC community.
> Note to the guys, don't get a big head!!!!
>
> Being able to roll with the punches as they come makes for an
> interesting life. Wife was with me when engine blew in Cincy and was
> totally beside herself UNTIL we found out the Garden Center in Cincy
> had a butterfly show. So, a little bit of lemonade came out of the
> trip though she still won't go with me in the GMC.
>
> Guess we could make an exception for you with the Black List. <G>
>
> Roger Black
> 77 Birchaven
> Burns, Tn
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
IN GOD WE TRUST!
Sandra and Bob in the 52nd Year of our State of Marriage
“Life’s a Trip” in “The Roadhouse”
’73 Painted Desert
Huntsville, TX
Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another, be sympathetic, love
as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or
insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so
that you may inherit a blessing. --1 Peter 3:8-9
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