| Decided not to blow up my GMC! [message #150484] |
Tue, 22 November 2011 22:52  |
RadioActiveGMC
Messages: 1020
Registered: November 2010
Location: Hot AZ desert
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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HELLO AGAIN!  Its been many mths since I have posted on the forum.
After a long hard journey I haven't posted on the forum for a long time. I haven't posted on the forum forever since I know my questions and way I communicate can at times seen annoying! lol. But I'm back to keep bugging! lol-jk Honestly I almost gave up hope for my GMC even though I love it.
I've parked my GMC for many mths now after putting in $25,000 in work (or more!) (and tones of busted knuckles and blood, sweat and tears far above the $25,000) and still the thing drove like a giant lemon. Massive bills at rip off shops and only a few short camping trips under my belt. I could of bought a time share in Hawaii, or bought a small island somewhere for the money I have in this 23 ft RV.
Mths after mth I poured my heart into this sucker and while it moved forward progress was slow. I never thought of myself as mechanical but between this 1973 GMC, my 1971, 73, and 79 Mercedes Benz fleet, I've learned a few things about 70s vehicles. Being 38 years old, I now own a fleet of vehicles that all qualify for historic plates go figure.
I had nothing but massive issues with everything. However I solved them all one by one. The one that I couldn't solve NO MATTER what was why in the world the coach over 45 mph drove like GARBAGE. The handling was TERRIBLE. On the "dangerous" side really. Felt like a 1000 gal fish tank in the back. Where I felt so uncomfortable at times I didn't want the family in it so I keep speeds down to nothing.
This is the point where I'd like to say I'm not concerned with what to use or not to use, but I'm just letting ones know what I did. My coach was HORRIBLE on the hwy. So bad it was not useable. Front wheel bearings, and suspension issues fixed helped, not a lot but just a small percent. Not enough to ever make driving this machine feel safe.
I bought the correct tire rated tires last dec (2010) But I found one thing I'd like to tell everyone to avoid, and while I'm sure many will say they would of never went down the same road I did, I hate to say it I'm guessing many would because of massive cost differences.
I brought my coach in for tires last dec, and they sold me equal rated tires as to what the coach needed. CHINESE vs NON Chinese tires. CHINESE TIRES FOR A MOTORHOME THIS WEIGHT STINK! I called the tire shop I bought the tires from telling them of my non stop problems I've had and they tell me "oh the tires we sold you are bad, they discontinued them"
Over $2000 in now all steel (yes I know what some are going to say about all steel) Michilin LT RIBS these tires are the real deal and those chinese tires are in a junk heap where they belong. What a difference. I've read peoples displeasure of all stell tires, I'm not concerned about that. Those Chinese tires are nothing but words I can't type in public, or words that never come out of my mouth but they are words deep in my head! And these new steel tires MADE A MASSIVE DIFFERENCE.
I only got to take it on one fast hwy drive since I was running late after I bought these new. But it was NIGHT and DAY in difference. I did change the tire pressure to 65 lbs per tire for my 23ft. So far so good. This thurs a long awaited camping trip about 130 miles away will be the test. I'm praying these tires still make me as happy as they have felt around town and at 75 on the interstate. But at last there is HOPE! It was driving like a arrow. It felt like a totally different coach. If my camping trip goes poorly I'll have a 23 ft 1971 mostly restored GMC for sale cheap! But my gut is telling me my results I've had on my test runs will yield the same results I have had thus far. Can't wait to take it up to the mountains for a few days for dry camping with the family!
***"Gettin There"-1973 23' Sequoia-
Michael, Onans smell, "Go solar/wind power!"
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