Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story....
| [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241143] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 14:40  |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 10
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As some may remember, we removed the pod from the Royale prior to our trip across country to circumnavigate the Maritime Provinces in 2010. When we got home we also removed the ladder and rails as I just did not think it a safe thing for me to be climbing up there at my age. That left the top looking quite ragged so while here in Mexico we decided to have the top repainted. For the last four days young 20s guys have been scraping off all the old junk (like decades old anti-slip tape) and carefully hand sanding the roof. They go up and down on a step ladder placed along one side. So, before they got here yesterday I thought it would be a good time for me to go up there and tighten the angle joint on the radio antenna that had a tendency to fall over toward the back while under speed. All was fine going up, but my foot slipped off the ladder while transitioning from the roof to the ladder coming down and I hit the gravel and sand parking lot with a giant thud.
Fortunately the outcome was far better than befell one of our west coast posters who fell off his coach and onto a concrete pad last fall. He suffered numerous broken bones including a cracked cranium and may well have permanent impairments. I suffered only a badly bruised tail bone, sprained ankle and cuts in my scalp where hair used to grow. So far it looks like I will heal with no long term damage. But, the logic I used when removing the pod, ladder and rails still rules - old guys do not belong on the top of a GMC!
Oh, and for those of you who might wonder if removing the pod, rails and ladder might have any beneficial effect on gas mileage or wind noise, nope, it doesn't.
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
Visitors always welcome!
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241181 is a reply to message #241143] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 17:38  |
rallymaster
Messages: 662
Registered: February 2004
Location: North Plains, ORYGUN
Karma: -4
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Darn! Young Punks and Old Farts don't belong on top of Coaches. That's
why you fell off..
"Jusr Right" aged folks like me are OK up there. If that parking lot was
like my parking area, you'd just have splashed when you landed. Might
have drowned in the mud, though.
ronC
On Mon, 24 Feb 2014 12:40:29 -0800 Gerald Work <glwork@mac.com> writes:
> As some may remember, we removed the pod from the Royale prior to our
> trip across country to circumnavigate the Maritime Provinces in
> 2010. When we got home we also removed the ladder and rails as I
> just did not think it a safe thing for me to be climbing up there at
> my age. That left the top looking quite ragged so while
> here in Mexico we decided to have the top repainted. For the last
> four days young 20s guys have been scraping off all the old junk
> (like decades old anti-slip tape) and carefully hand sanding the
> roof. They go up and down on a step ladder placed along one side.
> So, before they got here yesterday I thought it would be a good time
> for me to go up there and tighten the angle joint on the radio
> antenna that had a tendency to fall over toward the back while under
> speed. All was fine going up, but my foot slipped off the ladder
> while transitioning from the roof to the ladder coming down and I
> hit the gravel and sand parking lot with a giant thud.
>
> Fortunately the outcome was far better than befell one of our west
> coast posters who fell off his coach and onto a concrete pad last
> fall. He suffered numerous broken bones including a cracked cranium
> and may well have permanent impairments. I suffered only a badly
> bruised tail bone, sprained ankle and cuts in my scalp where hair
> used to grow. So far it looks like I will heal with no long term
> damage. But, the logic I used when removing the pod, ladder and
> rails still rules - old guys do not belong on the top of a GMC!
>
> Oh, and for those of you who might wonder if removing the pod, rails
> and ladder might have any beneficial effect on gas mileage or wind
> noise, nope, it doesn't.
>
> Jerry
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic
> Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
> Visitors always welcome!
> glwork@mac.com
> http://jerrywork.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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Ron & Linda Clark
1978 GMC Eleganza II
North Plains, ORYGUN
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Ron & Linda Clark
North Plains, ORYGUN
78 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241195 is a reply to message #241143] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 18:37 |
jhbridges
Messages: 8412
Registered: May 2011
Location: Braselton ga
Karma: -74
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Well, I still climb up there because I need the pod space. But, since I'm acrophobic to a degree, I've been referred to as 'chickenshift' by my peers for many years. I don't care that crawling looks silly. It's more stable. Yes I throw cheap chairs and hoses down. They survive and I ain't carrying them.
That being said, glad to hear there's no permanent damage!
--johnny
________________________________
From: Gerald Work <glwork@mac.com>
To: Gmc Forum <gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org>
Sent: Monday, February 24, 2014 3:40 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story....
As some may remember, we removed the pod from the Royale prior to our trip across country to circumnavigate the Maritime Provinces in 2010. When we got home we also removed the ladder and rails as I just did not think it a safe thing for me to be climbing up there at my age. That left the top looking quite ragged so while here in Mexico we decided to have the top repainted. For the last four days young 20s guys have been scraping off all the old junk (like decades old anti-slip tape) and carefully hand sanding the roof. They go up and down on a step ladder placed along one side. So, before they got here yesterday I thought it would be a good time for me to go up there and tighten the angle joint on the radio antenna that had a tendency to fall over toward the back while under speed. All was fine going up, but my foot slipped off the ladder while transitioning from the roof to the ladder coming down and I hit the gravel and sand parking
lot with a giant thud.
Fortunately the outcome was far better than befell one of our west coast posters who fell off his coach and onto a concrete pad last fall. He suffered numerous broken bones including a cracked cranium and may well have permanent impairments. I suffered only a badly bruised tail bone, sprained ankle and cuts in my scalp where hair used to grow. So far it looks like I will heal with no long term damage. But, the logic I used when removing the pod, ladder and rails still rules - old guys do not belong on the top of a GMC!
Oh, and for those of you who might wonder if removing the pod, rails and ladder might have any beneficial effect on gas mileage or wind noise, nope, it doesn't.
Jerry
Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building in historic Kerby, OR
Visitors always welcome!
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com/
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Foolish Carriage, 76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241202 is a reply to message #241143] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 19:05 |
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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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Jerry,
You were LUCKY that you didn't break anything. Double Trouble still has the ladder and luggage rails and I do venture up there,
however, I am VERY careful and move VERY slowly and deliberately.
However, around the house I stay off ladders, I have a guy that cleans the gutters when they need it.
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: Gerald Work
As some may remember, we removed the pod from the Royale prior to our trip across country to circumnavigate the Maritime Provinces
in 2010. When we got home we also removed the ladder and rails as I just did not think it a safe thing for me to be climbing up
there at my age. That left the top looking quite ragged so while here in Mexico we decided to have the top repainted. For the
last four days young 20s guys have been scraping off all the old junk (like decades old anti-slip tape) and carefully hand sanding
the roof. They go up and down on a step ladder placed along one side. So, before they got here yesterday I thought it would be a
good time for me to go up there and tighten the angle joint on the radio antenna that had a tendency to fall over toward the back
while under speed. All was fine going up, but my foot slipped off the ladder while transitioning from the roof to the ladder coming
down and I hit the gravel and sand parking lot with a giant thud.
Fortunately the outcome was far better than befell one of our west coast posters who fell off his coach and onto a concrete pad last
fall. He suffered numerous broken bones including a cracked cranium and may well have permanent impairments. I suffered only a
badly bruised tail bone, sprained ankle and cuts in my scalp where hair used to grow. So far it looks like I will heal with no
long term damage. But, the logic I used when removing the pod, ladder and rails still rules - old guys do not belong on the top of
a GMC!
Oh, and for those of you who might wonder if removing the pod, rails and ladder might have any beneficial effect on gas mileage or
wind noise, nope, it doesn't.
Jerry
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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] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241216 is a reply to message #241143] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 19:33 |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Jerry,
Sure glad your dignity was the worst casualty.
It's probably time for me to quit climbing onto the spare tire and then
onto the roof, huh?
Ken H.
On Mon, Feb 24, 2014 at 3:40 PM, Gerald Work <glwork@mac.com> wrote:
> As some may remember, we removed the pod from the Royale prior to our trip
> across country to circumnavigate the Maritime Provinces in 2010. When we
> got home we also removed the ladder and rails as I just did not think it
> a safe thing for me to be climbing up there at my age. That left the top
> looking quite ragged so while here in Mexico we decided to have the
> top repainted. For the last four days young 20s guys have been scraping
> off all the old junk (like decades old anti-slip tape) and carefully hand
> sanding the roof. They go up and down on a step ladder placed along one
> side. So, before they got here yesterday I thought it would be a good time
> for me to go up there and tighten the angle joint on the radio antenna
> that had a tendency to fall over toward the back while under speed. All
> was fine going up, but my foot slipped off the ladder while transitioning
> from the roof to the ladder coming down and I hit the gravel and sand
> parking lot with a giant thud.
>
> Fortunately the outcome was far better than befell one of our west coast
> posters who fell off his coach and onto a concrete pad last fall. He
> suffered numerous broken bones including a cracked cranium and may well
> have permanent impairments. I suffered only a badly bruised tail bone,
> sprained ankle and cuts in my scalp where hair used to grow. So far it
> looks like I will heal with no long term damage. But, the logic I used
> when removing the pod, ladder and rails still rules - old guys do not
> belong on the top of a GMC!
>
> Oh, and for those of you who might wonder if removing the pod, rails and
> ladder might have any beneficial effect on gas mileage or wind noise, nope,
> it doesn't.
>
> Jerry
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed and hand crafted in the 1907 former Masonic Temple
> building in historic Kerby, OR
> Visitors always welcome!
> glwork@mac.com
> http://jerrywork.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241252 is a reply to message #241249] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 23:35 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Getting on and off the roof is sketchy under ideal circumstances due to the varying stiffness and curvature of the roof and the railing which appears to be designed to ensure your head is the first thing that hits the ground if you do slip. My pod is in a landfill and when I do get up on the roof I ensure that I have nothing other than the rails in my hands when I transition onto or off of the ladder.
Todd Sullivan
Sully
77 royale
Seattle
> On Feb 24, 2014, at 9:27 PM, A. <markbb1@netzero.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> I won't climb on the roof because I am too heavy (fat). If I fall it would probably be THROUGH the roof, not off of it.
> --
> '73 23' Sequoia For Sale
> '73 23' CanyonLands For Sale
> UA (Upper Alabama)
> CanyonLands most likely for a parts coach. Sequoia being restored to service.
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241254 is a reply to message #241249] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 23:50 |
stick miller
Messages: 1036
Registered: March 2010
Location: Americus, Georgia
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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My coach's PO, the late Bill Telgen, added a diving board-like gang plank on the top. It has a sanded surface and I am much more comfortable up there than I would be otherwise.
Although I climb up there to use the pod, I'm reminded of one guy who was showing me his coach for sale when he slipped off the top, landed on a rock, and broke a couple of ribs as I watched.
Negotiations for the purchase of the coach broke off almost immediately.
Stick Miller
'78 Royale - "White Trash" - she left me for another man
'76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie" Sold
'84 Bluebird Wanderlodge - "Past Tents"
Americus, GA
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241256 is a reply to message #241143] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 23:59 |
roy1
Messages: 2126
Registered: July 2004
Location: Minden nevada
Karma: 6
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Senior Member |
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I guess what you consider old would matter some. I have climbed letters my working life so ii don't give it too much thought. The attached ladder would have been a lot safer then a step ladder in my opinion the rounded top of the coach would make transition from the roof to a ladder tricky for even a middle aged guy especially if he weren't in really good shape
Roy Keen
Minden,NV
76 X Glenbrook
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241257 is a reply to message #241254] |
Mon, 24 February 2014 23:55 |
sgltrac
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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So were you able to knock him down a little on price so to speak?
Ba da dump da
Todd Sullivan
Sully
77 royale
Seattle
> On Feb 24, 2014, at 9:50 PM, Stick Miller <stickmiller@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> My coach's PO, the late Bill Telgen, added a diving board-like gang plank on the top. It has a sanded surface and I am much more comfortable up there than I would be otherwise.
>
> Although I climb up there to use the pod, I'm reminded of one guy who was showing me his coach for sale when he slipped off the top, landed on a rock, and broke a couple of ribs as I watched.
>
> Negotiations for the purchase of the coach broke off almost immediately.
>
>
> --
> Stick Miller
> '78 Royale - she left me for another man
> '76 Eleganza - "Cousin Eddie"
> Americus, Georgia
>
>
>
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Sully
77 Royale basket case.
Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list)
Seattle, Wa.
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241270 is a reply to message #241263] |
Tue, 25 February 2014 06:28 |
tphipps
Messages: 3005
Registered: August 2004
Location: Spanish Fort, AL
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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I had a piece of anti-skid tape left over from another project. Placed it on the roof where you would naturally place your foot when entering or leaving the ladder. Not very visible, but really works well.
I have no desire to bounce, mud or no mud.
Tom, MS II
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241286 is a reply to message #241143] |
Tue, 25 February 2014 08:10 |
JohnL455
Messages: 4447
Registered: October 2006
Location: Woodstock, IL
Karma: 12
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Senior Member |
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Most accidents hapoen within a few miles of home. But when you take the home wherever you go, all accidents happen within a few miles of home. Seriously the only close calls I have noticed is when I'm up there with truck wash brush on a pole, hose and car wash suds, there is that 'ever increasing logrithmeticly steepening curve' as you move toward the rain gutters from which it's hard to recover. I make a point to keep the feet 24" from the edge when wet and soapy. Roof rail is a great place to hook the hose to keep it from running away.
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II
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| Re: [GMCnet] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241403 is a reply to message #241339] |
Tue, 25 February 2014 19:35 |
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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,
I agree and re-organized where I keep stuff in Double Trouble last year as per your "system." HOWEVER, I noticed that I had TOO MUCH
weight in it as the ceiling liner under the pod dropped down.
I am going to jack up the ceiling inside and run some supports from the bathroom wall / door supports (2" x 2") and the fridge /
closet fascia (not sure what it measures) up to the aluminum roof beams to stop that problem. It should also stop the middle age
spread the GMC is famous for.
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: mike foster
I put the things in the pod that I NEVER want to need to use...spare air bag, lug wrench, belts, hoses, water pumps (house and
engine) etc. IF I have a need to go there, it is not a happy time.
Other than that, going up there doesn't bother me....I'd live at the top of that tallest apartment building in the world over in
Dubai (?) if I had the money and didn't truly hate that part of the world. (BTDT Hated every minute there)
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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] Another old guy on ladder story.... [message #241415 is a reply to message #241403] |
Tue, 25 February 2014 20:21 |
mikethebike
Messages: 331
Registered: January 2014
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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I don't like walking on the roof because of that. I'm thinking about reversing the pod so I can get to it from the drivers side on a telescoping ladder...or move it to the passenger side so that should I need to get into it I'll be on the far side from traffic. That was one of the things I noticed about German cars I've owned, they put the gas filler on the passenger side so that should you run out you will be away from traffic as you correct your TARFU.
| USAussie wrote on Tue, 25 February 2014 19:35 |
Mike,
I agree and re-organized where I keep stuff in Double Trouble last year as per your "system." HOWEVER, I noticed that I had TOO MUCH
weight in it as the ceiling liner under the pod dropped down.
I am going to jack up the ceiling inside and run some supports from the bathroom wall / door supports (2" x 2") and the fridge /
closet fascia (not sure what it measures) up to the aluminum roof beams to stop that problem. It should also stop the middle age
spread the GMC is famous for.
Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
-----Original Message-----
From: mike foster
I put the things in the pod that I NEVER want to need to use...spare air bag, lug wrench, belts, hoses, water pumps (house and
engine) etc. IF I have a need to go there, it is not a happy time.
Other than that, going up there doesn't bother me....I'd live at the top of that tallest apartment building in the world over in
Dubai (?) if I had the money and didn't truly hate that part of the world. (BTDT Hated every minute there)
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