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| Trip report [message #333636] |
Sun, 17 June 2018 21:46  |
lqqkatjon
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
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Senior Member |
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It has always been on my list to take my GMC to the Black Hills/Mt Rushmore ever since I hauled my GMC home on the flatbed. I am proud to report that the GMC has made the trek and is parked back in my driveway with no "New" items to repair.
We left on June 7th, and after a quick stopover thursday night, a small airbag issue friday morning that was resolved by the help(tool needed) of an ex GMC owner who still has his name on the Blacklist, we attended the Greater Midwest Classics Rally in Yankton, SD last weekend. The Town welcomed our group and we had a car show in town on Saturday night that was well attended. There is some great video's I hope to get put together for our website out there of the rally.
We then headed further west on Sunday and the GMC made it to Rapid City. I was towing, and was pretty disappointed in the GMC's performance going into the headwind, and climbing hills as we got close to rapid city. I ended up having the wife drive the towd the last 20 miles. It was also a very hot trip, as I am now running with no A/C. The GMC remained parked all week and we had a great time visiting the sights with the Towd. Friday, I realized that our trip home on Saturday would have the daytime temps at 95 degrees, so we packed up and had the coach ready for early morning launch. I also decided to take a closer look at the engine, and I found the secondaries on the Q-jet seemed a bit sticky. So a little oil on the spring on the upper plate, got them flapping nice and smooth. After taking off at 5 am, to try to beat the heat, it did not take long for me to believe the secondaries probably did not open up on my trip west. GMC ran well 400 miles where we stopped at 1 pm in Pipestone, MN, with the inside the coach temp at 91 degrees.
Today the last 3 hours home, went flawless.
So to make this long story short, 8 years ago I paid $500 for my GMC and hauled it home with my wife threatening to divorce me when it showed up in the driveway. I have spent money and time getting it to where it is today, with my motto of fix it faster then it falls apart, We have used it many trips the last 8 years and it has grown to be a member of the family, and she never did divorce me. there was a few years I would not take it further then my AAA would tow me home, but it was those trips that helped me figure out the items I needed to get updated. get out and enjoy the GMC.
FYI- even though no "New" items showed up this trip, the "old" item of getting the generator and a better dash A/C going has now been pushed up to the top of my list. My generator runs well, but last august quit putting out 110v. I put in a new bridge rectifier, and that did not help, so I will be pulling out the onan and troubleshooting that. i also now have plans on putting in a Aux A/C evaporator, so hopefully in the future I will have Belts and suspenders when it comes to keeping the family and myself a little cooler. I don't see how you guys do it down south... I would be towing a trailer with 2-3 generators as spares if it was any hotter or more humid.
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now.
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
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| Re: Trip report [message #333637 is a reply to message #333636] |
Sun, 17 June 2018 21:54  |
SpookyEng
Messages: 208
Registered: June 2016
Location: Navarre, FL
Karma: -5
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Senior Member |
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Sounds like a great trip. The aux evaporator makes a huge difference. When I was driving back today in 94 degree 70% humidity heat. I turned off the aux fan and was amazed at how little air actually comes out of the stock vents.
JD Lisenby- USAF Ret
1978 Royale-455
MacDash, Manny Tranny, FI-tech, 3.70 etc etc
Navarre, FL
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| Re: Trip report [message #333640 is a reply to message #333636] |
Sun, 17 June 2018 22:36 |
Carl S.
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
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Senior Member |
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That sounds like a great trip, Jon. I'm happy to hear that the wife came around. Kathy was reluctant at first too, but she now LOVES the coach and the traveling we do in it. You're making great memories with your family.
I wish there was some way of getting my old, reliable Onan to you so you could swap it out. Having the roof air is the ONLY way we can travel in the Summer months in the Southwest. When we had issues with it, it became priority #1 to get it back up and running again. From what I have heard, the Vintage Air units work miracles for the front seat passengers, and that mod is on my list, but the roof air, run by the Onan is needed to keep the living area comfortable.
I'm also glad to hear that you are developing confidence in the coach. You are going about it the right way, trying to stay ahead of the curve on repairs, before they let you down. I will need to work on my confidence again after the catastrophic failure of both my engine AND transmission back in January, but with only a few hundred miles on it since the rebuild, I'm thinking it is going to be better than ever.
Carl Stouffer
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.
Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
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| Re: Trip report [message #333649 is a reply to message #333636] |
Mon, 18 June 2018 08:41 |
Larry
Messages: 2875
Registered: January 2004
Location: Menomonie, WI
Karma: 10
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Senior Member |
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If you are traveling as a couple, no kids, drape a set of drapes just behind the front seats to contain the cool air (or warm air in the winter) in the drivers compartment. No need to heat or cool the whole coach when you are spending multiple hours up front while traveling. The drapes make a BIG difference. JWID
Larry 
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.
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