Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Maiden Voyage Report (First trip a success)
| Maiden Voyage Report [message #267830] |
Fri, 19 December 2014 00:00  |
The Dr
Messages: 75
Registered: July 2014
Location: Toledo, OR
Karma: 0
|
Member |
|
|
We finally had our maiden voyage in our 26' Avion two weekends ago. Before leaving, we did upgrade to the house electrical which included transfer switch, power quality monitor, and new converter/charger/fuse and breaker box. Other changes included new axles, front shocks, LED clearance lights, new air bag control valves, New insulated fantastic fan cover, door grommets, oil, fuel, and air filters, quick connector and fill valve on the air tank, LED light strip in the galley cabinet, and sealing everywhere we could find a hole.
We didn't have a working refrigerator, but it was a short trip to Honeyman State park near Florence, Oregon. I used my home compressor to pump up the rear bags to get out of the driveway without scraping anything. Fortunately someone had mentioned checking the carburetor fuel connection after changing the filter. That delayed us a bit but saved us a major problem as it was leaking badly.
Off we went. Found out about Yachats that the compressor was no longer pumping even though running. Locked off the bags and continued on after lunch. Everything went well and made it to the campground before dark. Enjoyed a campfire for about an hour before it started to rain. Didn't need fire starter since I had a butane torch for working on the soldering and heat shrink tubing. Forgot the hatchet too, but had a pry bar and hammer that worked pretty well
We enjoyed our day and a half there. I found out I was right. It is great to have those big windows to enjoy nature when it rains here in Oregon. The furnace kept Donna toasty warm. I warned her that the bed was going to be like a piece of bread on a plate. It was a thin, king mattress from a sleeper sofa just temporary until we can afford something better.
On the way home we found another leak in the carburetor that only seems to happen during the warm up pumping. Need to get the choke working. It also seems the master cylinder may be going bad. It got us home with no major scares or issues.
Decided to get it back in storage before the big storms hit. Pumped up the air bags again to get out of the driveway. Set the valves to travel and off we went. After a about half the trip, it felt like it was riding funny. Couldn't figure out what the problem was. After it was in storage Donna said she knew what the problem was. Looking from the back it was visible that the driver's side was much higher than the passenger side. The ride height valve had been sticking and left us cockeyed. At least that is a cheap easy fix.
All in all a wonderful trip and we look forward to the next after fixing some problems.
Thanks to everyone on the forum that helped me catch things even if you didn't know. 
Mike Sauer
Toledo, OR
1975 26' Avion
1-ton front end, SullyBilt AirBag System, 3.21 tranny
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Maiden Voyage Report [message #267832 is a reply to message #267830] |
Fri, 19 December 2014 00:29  |
Sandra Price
Messages: 709
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Great report, Mike. Is Honeyman the park in the trees, very flat, where
you can walk through the park out onto the beach? Bob and I camped in
Oregon one night in 1995 BEFORE we were GMCers. We were awed by the
beauty... Were not able to find/recognize it when we GMCed on our way to
AK in 2010. Love that Oregon coast and envy your trip
Sandra Price
On Dec 19, 2014 12:00 AM, "Mike Sauer" wrote:
> We finally had our maiden voyage in our 26' Avion two weekends ago.
> Before leaving, we did upgrade to the house electrical which included
> transfer
> switch, power quality monitor, and new converter/charger/fuse and breaker
> box. Other changes included new axles, front shocks, LED clearance lights,
> new air bag control valves, New insulated fantastic fan cover, door
> grommets, oil, fuel, and air filters, quick connector and fill valve on the
> air
> tank, LED light strip in the galley cabinet, and sealing everywhere we
> could find a hole.
>
> We didn't have a working refrigerator, but it was a short trip to Honeyman
> State park near Florence, Oregon. I used my home compressor to pump up the
> rear bags to get out of the driveway without scraping anything.
> Fortunately someone had mentioned checking the carburetor fuel connection
> after
> changing the filter. That delayed us a bit but saved us a major problem
> as it was leaking badly.
>
> Off we went. Found out about Yachats that the compressor was no longer
> pumping even though running. Locked off the bags and continued on after
> lunch. Everything went well and made it to the campground before dark.
> Enjoyed a campfire for about an hour before it started to rain. Didn't need
> fire starter since I had a butane torch for working on the soldering and
> heat shrink tubing. Forgot the hatchet too, but had a pry bar and hammer
> that worked pretty well
>
> We enjoyed our day and a half there. I found out I was right. It is
> great to have those big windows to enjoy nature when it rains here in
> Oregon.
> The furnace kept Donna toasty warm. I warned her that the bed was going
> to be like a piece of bread on a plate. It was a thin, king mattress from a
> sleeper sofa just temporary until we can afford something better.
>
> On the way home we found another leak in the carburetor that only seems to
> happen during the warm up pumping. Need to get the choke working. It also
> seems the master cylinder may be going bad. It got us home with no major
> scares or issues.
>
> Decided to get it back in storage before the big storms hit. Pumped up
> the air bags again to get out of the driveway. Set the valves to travel and
> off we went. After a about half the trip, it felt like it was riding
> funny. Couldn't figure out what the problem was. After it was in storage
> Donna
> said she knew what the problem was. Looking from the back it was visible
> that the driver's side was much higher than the passenger side. The ride
> height valve had been sticking and left us cockeyed. At least that is a
> cheap easy fix.
>
> All in all a wonderful trip and we look forward to the next after fixing
> some problems.
>
> Thanks to everyone on the forum that helped me catch things even if you
> didn't know. :)
>
> --
> Mike Sauer
> Toledo, OR
> 1975 26' Avion
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
|
|
|
|
| Re: Maiden Voyage Report [message #267836 is a reply to message #267830] |
Fri, 19 December 2014 01:22 |
Steve
Messages: 506
Registered: September 2013
Location: East Greenville, Pa
Karma: 1
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Good report. Sounds like a good time. I wish you and everyone many more great trips.
1978 GMC Royal
Eastern Pennslyvania
1968 Chevrolet C20 396 Camper Special
1969 Chevrolet C20 Camper Special
1985 Buick Electra Park Avenue
1992 Camaro 25th Anniversary Heretage Edition Black
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Maiden Voyage Report [message #267846 is a reply to message #267832] |
Fri, 19 December 2014 07:53 |
The Dr
Messages: 75
Registered: July 2014
Location: Toledo, OR
Karma: 0
|
Member |
|
|
Sandra,
Honeyman has trees, dunes and a lake on the other side of the highway. Haven't made it to the beach there yet. Sunset Bay down near Charleston is flatter and we did walk out to the beach. Beverly Beach just north of Newport also opens up to the beach. All nice parks in the trees. There are still quite a few we have to check out but we enjoy them all. 
Mike
Sandra Price wrote on Thu, 18 December 2014 22:29Great report, Mike. Is Honeyman the park in the trees, very flat, where
you can walk through the park out onto the beach? Bob and I camped in
Oregon one night in 1995 BEFORE we were GMCers. We were awed by the
beauty... Were not able to find/recognize it when we GMCed on our way to
AK in 2010. Love that Oregon coast and envy your trip
Sandra Price
Mike Sauer
Toledo, OR
1975 26' Avion
1-ton front end, SullyBilt AirBag System, 3.21 tranny
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Maiden Voyage Report [message #267856 is a reply to message #267846] |
Fri, 19 December 2014 10:33 |
Rob
Messages: 651
Registered: November 2013
Location: Victoria, BC
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
The view from the top of the dune (next to the lake) is worth the hike!
Thanks for the trip report! Maybe I'll go spend the morning in the GMC...
Rob
Victoria, BC
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
On 2014-12-19, at 5:53 AM, Mike Sauer wrote:
> Sandra,
>
> Honeyman has trees, dunes and a lake on the other side of the highway. Haven't made it to the beach there yet. Sunset Bay down near Charleston is
> flatter and we did walk out to the beach. Beverly Beach just north of Newport also opens up to the beach. All nice parks in the trees. There are
> still quite a few we have to check out but we enjoy them all. :d
>
> Mike
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Rob -
Victoria, BC -
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
|
|
|
|
| Re: [GMCnet] Maiden Voyage Report [message #267857 is a reply to message #267852] |
Fri, 19 December 2014 10:35 |
Rob
Messages: 651
Registered: November 2013
Location: Victoria, BC
Karma: 3
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Beverly Beach is one of our fav spots on the Oregon coast... Make sure you bring a kite and a bottle of wine!
Rob
Victoria, BC
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
On 2014-12-19, at 8:09 AM, Sandra Price wrote:
> I believe we probably stayed at Beverly Beach. After parking in our space,
> we followed a path that led us onto the unexpected wide open beautiful
> beach--one of those serendipitous moments that is forever etched in my
> memory. Enjoy!
>
> Sandra
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Rob -
Victoria, BC -
76 Royale - Rear Twins/Dry Bath
|
|
|
|
Goto Forum:
Current Time: Mon Sep 30 01:20:11 CDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.00729 seconds
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
