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Yellowstone Trip Report [message #320243]

Mon, 10 July 2017 00:03

werewilfs

Messages: 329
Registered: July 2012
Location: Rappahannock County, VA

Karma:

Senior Member

We have returned from our 3 week adventure to the west. Apart from the Transmission issue, we had an absolute blast. And even that ended up being a blessing in disguise as it allowed us to witness the awesomeness that is the GMC community. We were lucky to have broken down just mere miles from a great transmission shop that had experience working on our beauties. Bob Donaghue just happened to have an "extra" Manny Tranny in his possession a mere 2 hours away in Iowa. The weather was PERFECT for "camping" on the side of the road for 18 hours while fighting with Allstate and the crooked Chicagoland tow truck companies. The transmission shop owner allowed us to camp behind his shop for the weekend until he got back Monday to install the new trans.

Making phone call after phone call to Allstate and Black List members. Thankfully we had a nice spot away from homes and the cops were fine with us making arrangements where we were located.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/7063/medium/20170622_110423.jpg

Making the best of our time at the Transmission shop.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/medium/20170622_193334.jpg

The bad was I almost got in a fight with the first idiot tow truck driver who tried to lift the front end by the front bumper. He got all pissy with me when I politely informed him that isn't an option. Literally took his toys and started to leave bec he apparently knew better. (Cop that was there watched him google "how to tow GMC motorhome" and called him out on his assholery. My awesome wife ended up sending me off somewhere else to stew while she dealt with the dumbass. (which was good cuz I was ready to have it out with that guy). He apparently didn't have the correct "equipment" to tow by the wheels. When the next tow truck finally came around 18 hours later he had the exact same style truck. But the front wheel lift equipment was heavy as hell and was a PITA to haul from truck to RV. So my guess is 1st guy had it. He just didn't want to pull it out and use it.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/7063/medium/20170622_173914.jpg

We drove 5230 miles. Consumed 652 gallons of fuel for an average MPG of 7.98 miles per gallon (average cost was 2.30/gal) This while towing a 3000# Honda Civic. It was a lot easier coming east than going west. We took the northern route into Yellowstone (which IMO is the ONLY route to Yellowstone that should be used for Motorhomes... there were literally zero mountain passes that we needed to tackle.) I kept waiting for that mountain pass to come around the bend and before I knew it, we were at 5500' entering Yellowstone. Yellowstone itself is around 7500' and we topped out at 8200' in the motorhome. It performed flawlessly throughout once we got the new transmission in Illinois.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_20170627_193219_182.jpg

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/medium/20170627_165757.jpg

Great little campers

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/medium/20170703_083710.jpg

Barking at furry cows

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/medium/20170702_120348.jpg

Our site in Yellowstone.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/medium/20170629_092001.jpg

Our view out the back window.

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/medium/20170629_105624.jpg

We got to meet up with several GMCers across the country. Ken Burton in Indiana, Bob and Pam Schilling in South Dakota, and Bob and Linda Donoghue in Iowa. (And talked to numerous others on the phone. Can't believe how amazing this community really is.)

Bob Schilling allowed me to change the oil in his driveway and showed us his beautiful coach. Can't thank him enough for that hospitality. Bob Donoghue allowed us to "borrow" a Manny Tranny he happened to have and hadn't installed in Ken Schaefer's coach yet. Thanks so much to both Bob and Ken for allowing us to take this transmission and order another one to be delivered to Bob. Ken Burton let us use his hanger to check a few things before we went home. Namely making sure the axel bolts were tightened to the correct torque. (they weren't). and making sure the transmission stick was right. (It was. Pulling the modulator right after shutting off the coach did the trick to determining the correct fluid level.)

Thanks so much to everyone who assisted us. We had a blast crossing this beautiful country of ours. Can't wait to do it again.

Jared & Stefanie Kohl Rappahannock County, VA 1973 Painted Desert "Onslow"

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[Message index]

		Yellowstone Trip Report By: werewilfs on Mon, 10 July 2017 00:03
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: werewilfs on Mon, 10 July 2017 00:12
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: Bullitthead on Mon, 10 July 2017 00:18
		Re: [GMCnet] Yellowstone Trip Report By: jimk on Mon, 10 July 2017 00:14
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: werewilfs on Mon, 10 July 2017 00:21
		Re: [GMCnet] Yellowstone Trip Report By: USAussie on Mon, 10 July 2017 02:42
		Re: [GMCnet] Yellowstone Trip Report By: tphipps on Mon, 10 July 2017 06:17
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: jhbridges on Mon, 10 July 2017 08:27
		Re: [GMCnet] Yellowstone Trip Report By: James Hupy on Mon, 10 July 2017 09:49
		Re: [GMCnet] Yellowstone Trip Report By: Dennis S on Mon, 10 July 2017 10:10
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: bhayes on Mon, 10 July 2017 15:16
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: Ty Hardiman on Tue, 11 July 2017 22:10
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: werewilfs on Wed, 12 July 2017 09:36
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: werewilfs on Wed, 12 July 2017 09:40
		Re: Yellowstone Trip Report By: Ty Hardiman on Thu, 13 July 2017 20:22

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