| [GMCnet] Great 1000+ mile jaunt trip report [message #276906] |
Tue, 28 April 2015 11:49  |
glwgmc
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
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Just back from a 1000+ jaunt in the Clasco to watch our grandson compete in the State of Washington High School Music Championships. Was a fantastic event and we are so impressed with the quality of the music and the poise of these young performers in all categories of musicianship. Yup, he did very well indeed in all three of the venues for which he was selected!
We also learned from him that he has selected Oberlin College in Ohio for his under grad studies. There is both a Conservatory of Music and a College of the Arts and Sciences on the same campus. He will be entering the College but also will get to take courses and lessons from the Conservatory as well. Should be a really good experience for him matching his interests in both Science and Music.
We had a bit of an issue starting out (see previous post) with what turned out to be a loose 12vdc+ wire going to the distributor. Once that was corrected the coach ran like a champ. There is a lot of high power, low vacuum running in this trip. Kerby is at 1200 feet but any direction you go is a climb up. The route we used was up the I5 to Portland (several mean climbs of around 2000 feet and back down), then up the Columbia river gorge to a bridge across the river (at about 200 feet) to the Washington side, then a big hill up to around 4000 feet, across the high desert to Ellensburg, WA with more ~2000 foot ups and downs. Coming back we returned to the same bridge but this time continued on into central Oregon. From the river at around 200 feet we climbed up to over 6000 feet going through Bend, OR, and around Crater Lake before starting a final big downhill into Medford, OR, and then on to Kerby back at 1200 feet.
The S&J engine in the Clasco remains very strong. Now apparently fully broken in with over 2500 miles on the clock it is nearly as strong feeling as the one in the Royale. Never needed to shift into 2nd, never at WOT, never less than 3-4 inches of vacuum and never less than 50mph climbing all those hills. Temps were steady at 195-200 indicated and oil pressure the same. The external trans cooler and air baffles directing ram air through the aluminum radiator and external trans cooler kept the trans oil temps below 175 the whole time. 175 is where the fan assist kicks in and we never heard that fan come on. Best of all, no more fan clutch issues (see previous posts on the plastic fan and fan clutch issues) having gone back to the stock fan and standard duty fan clutch. The last day we did experience a malfunction in the wireless air system - it would not correctly level that night but did stay at proper ride height - that i will investigate today.
Lots of high power, low vacuum driving means less than “normal” gas mileage, but it was better than we expected. Didn’t keep accurate mileage/fuel records but seat of the pants says 8 or maybe a bit more in these conditions. All in all, a first rate experience.
Before joining the GMC bunch on the river trip in Europe in August, we have several more 1000+ trips planned for either the Royale - big bed, kitchen and refer - or the Clasco - big socialization spaces, a good second bed when needed, but slow going because everywhere we stop someone wants a look inside this time machine. Shiny silver and black base coat/clear coat paint that still looks like new draws lots of attention. Those of you fortunate enough to have quality paint on your coach know that story all too well!
Jerry
Jerry & Sharon Work
Kerby, OR
glwork@mac.com
http://jerrywork.com
78 Royale
77/94 Clasco
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
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