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| The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198570] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 07:13  |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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Armand wrote the title, not me. I'd been thinking about this for a long time already, but ever since Steve Ferguson signed off on converting his "getting your gmc under control" presentation to web pages, I've been downright brooding over it. ...and judging by some of the past posts here as well as some emails from other members, I'm not the only one. Dave Silva, Armand, Kerry, JimB -to name a few- have all tried to rally the troops. Many times.
By definition, to 'brood' is to 'think anxiously or gloomily about' ...except now I'm no longer particularly gloomy. You know that old quip about when the only tool you have is a hammer? Well, if we're going to make a case to 30-40-50-60-something potential coach owners then we've got the (TWO) biggest tool(s) in the box; the web and the GMC brain trust.
-to be continued-
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| Re: [GMCnet] The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198571 is a reply to message #198570] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 07:23  |
Robin Hood
Messages: 1078
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 3
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I agree, being one of the New Guys. At 40 years old, I'm a kid
compared to a lot of y'all.
I knew going into this that there was an incredible amount of
information and support in this community. By itself the GMC is just a
mostly well-engineered interesting old RV. When the externalities of
the community and vendor support are added in, however, it becomes
greater than the sum of its parts.
The fact that there is a community and support network like there is
helps to keep these rigs alive. Kill GMC-Net, kill GMCMHI, kill the
rallies and clubs, and within 20 years the only place you'll see GMCs
is in junkyards, vacant lots, and deercamps.
I think boating has their Chris Crafts, I know that trailering has the
Airstream. RVing has the GMC. I just don't see any other model that
would step into the ecological niche that the GMC has carved out.
Also, you gotta be a bit weird to get into this particular hobby, I
think. :) We march to the beat of our own drum.
On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 7:13 AM, RC Jordan <rc@rcjordan.com> wrote:
>
>
> Armand wrote the title, not me. I'd been thinking about this for a long time already, but ever since Steve Ferguson signed off on converting his "getting your gmc under control" presentation to web pages, I've been downright brooding over it. ...and judging by some of the past posts here as well as some emails from other members, I'm not the only one. Dave Silva, Armand, Kerry, JimB -to name a few- have all tried to rally the troops. Many times.
>
> By definition, to 'brood' is to 'think anxiously or gloomily about' ...except now I'm no longer particularly gloomy. You know that old quip about when the only tool you have is a hammer? Well, if we're going to make a case to 30-40-50-60-something potential coach owners then we've got the (TWO) biggest tool(s) in the box; the web and the GMC brain trust.
>
> -to be continued-
> _______________________________________________
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Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2003 Buick Lesabre
1968 Pontiac Catalina
1978 GMC Royale motorhome
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome
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| Re: The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198580 is a reply to message #198570] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 08:25 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Hear, hear! The only problem the GMC has in creating a vibrant market among the tail end of the baby boomers (and younger) is simply the fact they don't know about them. When I had my coach in the church parking lot, getting ready to take a bunch of kids down to Mexico to build houses, I had a non-stop stream of parents who were doing impromptu tours of my rig, and several said they had been considering an RV but this was the first one they'd ever seen that seemed to make sense. The same thing has happened with a couple neighbors.
The product is great, but no one's advertising it.
Sadly (in a way) the fastest way to create a big buzz about our beloved FWD coaches would be if one of them showed up on the boob tube (hopefully not as a rolling meth lab though). I'd really, really love to see one show up on Wheeler Dealers (probably my favorite car show of all time, and unlikely since it's based in the UK), but an appearance by a nicely updated GMC on a "mainstream" show would create a real shot in the arm.
About the best we can do is to keep our coaches visible. Attending vintage car shows would be a great start, though that would play mainly to the retirees.
And I'm thinking that the land speed record attempt has to garner some good vibrations for the GMC as well. That kind of thing does matter to a younger buyer (and in more than just a "race car idol" sense - they would realize that the attributes that allow a coach to go faster also help it save gas).
I'm the third owner of my coach - both POs sold it because they were in their 70's. Since I'm "only" 55, mine shouldn't hit the market for quite a while, but I hope when it does it will be there as a cherished classic instead of a dated oddity.
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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| Re: [GMCnet] The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198582 is a reply to message #198580] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 08:32 |
Robin Hood
Messages: 1078
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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What if we had a twice a year "Go Out There And Be Interesting Day?"
Find a spot with high foot traffic (parks, festivals, flea markets,
the corner Snack-A-Whack) and just set up and give tours and talk to
whoever stops by?
I mean, darn near every time we gas gas up, don't we get people
walking over to take a better look? And that's during a ten minute
fuel stop. Imagine what you could do with several hours?
On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 8:25 AM, Mark <mark@habcycles.com> wrote:
>
>
> Hear, hear! The only problem the GMC has in creating a vibrant market among the tail end of the baby boomers (and younger) is simply the fact they don't know about them. When I had my coach in the church parking lot, getting ready to take a bunch of kids down to Mexico to build houses, I had a non-stop stream of parents who were doing impromptu tours of my rig, and several said they had been considering an RV but this was the first one they'd ever seen that seemed to make sense. The same thing has happened with a couple neighbors.
>
> The product is great, but no one's advertising it.
>
> Sadly (in a way) the fastest way to create a big buzz about our beloved FWD coaches would be if one of them showed up on the boob tube (hopefully not as a rolling meth lab though). I'd really, really love to see one show up on Wheeler Dealers (probably my favorite car show of all time, and unlikely since it's based in the UK), but an appearance by a nicely updated GMC on a "mainstream" show would create a real shot in the arm.
>
> About the best we can do is to keep our coaches visible. Attending vintage car shows would be a great start, though that would play mainly to the retirees.
>
> And I'm thinking that the land speed record attempt has to garner some good vibrations for the GMC as well. That kind of thing does matter to a younger buyer (and in more than just a "race car idol" sense - they would realize that the attributes that allow a coach to go faster also help it save gas).
>
> I'm the third owner of my coach - both POs sold it because they were in their 70's. Since I'm "only" 55, mine shouldn't hit the market for quite a while, but I hope when it does it will be there as a cherished classic instead of a dated oddity.
> --
> Mark Hickey
> Mesa, AZ
> 1978 Royale Center Kitchen
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2003 Buick Lesabre
1968 Pontiac Catalina
1978 GMC Royale motorhome
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome
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| Re: The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198583 is a reply to message #198570] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 08:36 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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>I knew going into this that there was an incredible amount of
information and support in this community. By itself the GMC is just a
But just **how** exactly, did you first come to know this, Robin? Because if we're going to get in front of, say, a younger family just starting to look then GMCs simply are not going to be on their radar. They didn't see one when they were growing up, they don't see any at RV shows.
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| Re: [GMCnet] The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198585 is a reply to message #198583] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 08:43 |
Robin Hood
Messages: 1078
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 3
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Oh, well I just did my research. It pretty much went like this: "I
wish I had an RV. I can't afford a brand new one. I wonder what's out
there used? Oh my, THAT looks neat, what on earth is it? Hmm, it's
called a GMC. Let me google that and see what the story is with them."
At which point I was nearly drowned in a tidal wave of information.
Blueprints, wiring diagrams, parts interchange lists, forums, photos,
and vendors currently supporting it. I knew I had struck gold.
On Sat, Feb 16, 2013 at 8:36 AM, RC Jordan <rc@rcjordan.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I knew going into this that there was an incredible amount of
> information and support in this community. By itself the GMC is just a
>
> But just **how** exactly, did you first come to know this, Robin? Because if we're going to get in front of, say, a younger family just starting to look then GMCs simply are not going to be on their radar. They didn't see one when they were growing up, they don't see any at RV shows.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2003 Buick Lesabre
1968 Pontiac Catalina
1978 GMC Royale motorhome
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome
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| Re: The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198586 is a reply to message #198570] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 08:57 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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>Let me google that
That's the answer I was fishing for.
And here I'll insert another point; according to sources inside and outside the real estate industry, 90% + of home buyers FIRST turn to the internet for researching. Having logged my 10,000 hours as an internet marketer (3 times over), I know that this is where the potential buyers we seek are. More importantly, they are in the decision-making stage.
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| Re: The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198589 is a reply to message #198583] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 09:31 |
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Matt Colie
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
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Senior Member |
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| rcjordan wrote on Sat, 16 February 2013 09:36 |
But just **how** exactly, did you first come to know this, Robin? Because if we're going to get in front of, say, a younger family just starting to look then GMCs simply are not going to be on their radar. They didn't see one when they were growing up, they don't see any at RV shows.
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This Why I have a signboard that I put in the windshield anytime we are parked where the coach might get some attention. (This has turned out to be more places than one might expect.) There are two distinct kinds of stop-bys. First is the "My XXXX had one of these and loved it. I didn't know if any were still around." And then there is the "What is it, where can I get one?" group.
The signboard says: (the formatting will be blown here)
1973 GMC Motor Home
Model 230 (23ft coach) Trim Version - Glacier
Matthew & Mary Colie
New Boston, Michigan - Since September 2006
Maintained - not restored - 118000+ miles <=Have to update this
Still in regular use and we do not expect to change that any time soon.
Built in Pontiac by GMCTruck and Coach
Interior was designed and documented by GMC but assembled and installed by Gemini Coach
Sold through selected GMC dealers
Olds 455 Engine -- TH425 Transmission
Disk Brake Front -- Drum Brake (4) Rear
Torsion Bar Front Suspension -- Rear Air Suspension is Automatic or Cab Control
End caps are SMC fibreglass -- Mid-Section is bonded aluminum
This unit’s standard and optional* features
4 Burner Stove with Oven and Broiler* -- 3.5 Cuft 12/120V Refrigerator w/Freezer
Engine/120v Water Heater -- Sleeps 4 in two double beds
Closet with non-slide rod -- Bath with shower
40 Gallon Fresh Water Tank w/level gage -- 4.0Kw Onan Remote start generator*
Rooftop AC*
12,921 Total Were Produced from 1973 to 1978
11,276 were 26 foot, 1,645 were 23 foot
629 - 23 ft were completed by GM/Gemini
9000 of the total are still in use
The registry knows where nearly 8000 are today Another 1000 show as being registered vehicles
They are supported by GMCMI and 16 local clubs
The few parts that are actually out of production have been supplanted by effective replacements.
What Here is not Original?
The cellphone antenna on the left mirror. -- The hitch receiver in the rear bumper.
The roof AC was replaced in 2007. -- The wiper arms and the rear vent cover.
Inside:
The radio, speakers and light in the cab. -- Lights in the bath and back bedroom <= Have to update this too
The panel under the steering column -- The cab seats were redone at some point.
The original toilet was an Electomagic. -- The microwave
As a result of a recent effort to assist an SOB owner (of a much newer coach), I am going to add this line to the next print.
Full documentation of structure, plumbing and electrical systems are available for all GM fitted coaches.
I print it in sections and then use spray mount to put the sections on a piece of foam core. It store behind one of the dinette cushions and travels very well there.
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: The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198590 is a reply to message #198586] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 09:34 |
kerry pinkerton
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
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| Quote: |
Let me google that...
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Well here you go RC. I've been having phone conversations with Bob Dunahugh about his door widening project and told him last night that SOMEWHERE is a paint chart. Just now I googled "GMC Motorhome paint codes" and it led me right to:
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com/faq/GMCExterior2.html
As a new guy in the community, I am blessed to have all the data that makes up the community. However, at the risk of sounding like THAT GUY, I'll say that there is a huge difference between DATA and INFORMATION (organized and summarized data).
In a perfect world, we would have all the vast sources of data/info in a single repository. Several people have made attempts but, to my knowledge, no one has been completely successful because the new stuff is going to a jillion different places from folks personal web sites/blogs, to GMCMI, to various regional clubs, to ...
And no, I'm not beating up anyone or volunteering to build a web site or anything of the sort. What we have here is a VERY talented and knowledgeable group (Vastly more than the typical group) that are pretty happy with the status quo. They've been around long enough to know where everything is and who the wizards of this subject or that subject are. And then you have a bunch of folks who have a lot to contribute that don't 'do' the internet. I met a bunch of these at the LazyDays rally. Obviously very knowledgable guys who don't post. All this means that it is the new folks that struggle with "trying to drink from the firehose that is the GMC community."
I'm just extraordinary thankful that it is there.
But I will add that if I had found the community earlier, I would have made some different choices.
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
[Updated on: Sat, 16 February 2013 09:37] Report message to a moderator |
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| Re: The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198597 is a reply to message #198570] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 11:11 |
rcjordan
Messages: 1913
Registered: October 2012
Location: Elizabeth City, North Car...
Karma: 1
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Matt, excellent. There's a GMCers template somewhere around here. I plan to have engraved or laser-cut plaques made for mine with each coach's website or maybe FullRetro.com ---yeah, FullRetro will be the lead, with the url to that coach's tour.
>search on GMC
And there's the problem in a nutshell. Part of the problem, anyway. Let me preface my coming remarks about search engine usage with a little thumbs-in-suspenders megalomania; I know what I'm talking about on this. I'm one of the guys who co-founded the fields of Search Engine Optimization and Search Engine Marketing. Ok, the first part of the problem is that people really aren't very skilled at search. The second, far larger, problem is that the person we're trying to snag isn't going to be searching on terms with 'GMC' in them. So all your paint codes, all your parts vendors, everything that makes the GMC a realistic, RATIONAL consideration only rarely makes it to their screen.
And, even if they do, this place, this brain trust -GMCnet- is daunting. No, scratch that, it's scary to the average lurker. Forums are already too scary for most, but crap, to a newbie just looking for a coach this place looks like a cross between Bell Labs and White Sands Proving Grounds.
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| Re: [GMCnet] The future of the GMC depends on GMCnet making a market for it [message #198601 is a reply to message #198585] |
Sat, 16 February 2013 11:14 |
habbyguy
Messages: 896
Registered: May 2012
Location: Mesa, AZ
Karma: 3
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Senior Member |
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| Robin Hood wrote on Sat, 16 February 2013 07:43 |
Oh, well I just did my research. It pretty much went like this: "I
wish I had an RV. I can't afford a brand new one. I wonder what's out
there used? Oh my, THAT looks neat, what on earth is it? Hmm, it's
called a GMC. Let me google that and see what the story is with them."
At which point I was nearly drowned in a tidal wave of information.
Blueprints, wiring diagrams, parts interchange lists, forums, photos,
and vendors currently supporting it. I knew I had struck gold.
|
Pretty much the same here. I'd been working on trying to talk the missus into an RV for 10 years, but she just couldn't get past the "ugly white fiberglass box on a truck chassis thing". Then we saw a nice 23' (I think...) GMC rolling across New Mexico, pulling a Suzuki, and we both had the same reaction you did (including the google search that had me drinking from the firehose for weeks).
In other words, we got lucky. The trick is in finding ways to help others get lucky, too (keep your mind out of the gutter, folks... Valentine's day is over). 
Mark Hickey
Mesa, AZ
1978 Royale Center Kitchen
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