We at the Co-op think it very important that you consider as many
ideas as possible when making option selections and the renovation direction of your
coach. We also work very hard to explore new ideas, concepts, products and
techniques incorporating many into our restoration work. This page explores these
new approaches, explains our view and hopefully gives you a chance to see a bit more
inside the Co-op Motor Works movement. We really have a great time working on this
classic coach. We're excited about the future of the GMC motorhome and would like to
share more of our excitement with you.
Enjoy!
"It wasn't Beauty that killed the Beast" afterall!
Usually I find that after a coach has major renovations that even with doing a shakedown that there is a second tier of issues that could create possible problems. Those are the items (sometimes original parts but not always) that were not involved in the work in any way, that are checked to be good to go-- but are they really? I have found it the most difficult thing to do in any renovation is to figure where to stop-- where to say "those parts will be OK". Leroy and family took off yesterday headed back to Kansas-- everything checked out AOK, all the work that was done was together and in a test and shakedown -- everything looked "nominal".
About and hour or so after they left-- the shop line rang. I was on call for them through my cell number as they headed out so I figured the call "Benny don't loose that number-- I'ts the only one you have"! Said he had pulled over cause his Brake Buddy alarm came on and the motor died when he stopped-- battery was dead! Yep, the battery was dead-- His generator was on so the AC could keep them cool while I saddled up the horse and got some tools. BTW I always tell people in times of trouble with their coach, fire up the generator, get safe and give me a call--- and that is where we were at--- Cool, we're on a mission, half pac of cigarettes (not really), 1/2 tank of gas, it;s dark (not really) and we're wearing sunglasses--- Good hit it, lets go! So Janie & I got some lunch and headed out there. There is some imaginary line where I can look at a run like this as "entertainment" or too far and this fell right at the edge, Leroy was about 40 miles out so hey, lets roll.
Tried to talk him through "boosting" to the back battery but it did not seem to do anything--- Hmmm another anomaly, OK more valuable information--- Hmmmm what are we dealing with? As I drove I worked the problem in my head thinking about what I would check first, where that test would take me and what the end issue could be. This was Leroy but I get calls with issues like this most weekends so I've grown used to it. Hey, it's great, I get to hone up my "pull it out of the air" ideas.
No power to the starter means no power to the ignition or a problem with the ignition or start circuit-- could be bad alternator and a drained battery, a failed battery, bad cable or something---- what will we find, you see the excitement---- the solve it on the spot situation I have myself in. Options could include an expensive tow or shuttling for more geer-- maybe we will have a smoke test, I hate it when that happens. OK, I see them, just after the toll booth on the side-- no flashers. Looks like a dead fish laid up on the beach and the Love Bugs-- they were thick -- they liked white maybe or just wanted to give us a taste of Hell but it was bad-- Looked like Pig Pen from Charlie Brown! Misery I guess DOES love company because they were giving us big company and it was pretty miserable!
Out of the truck with my Black & Decker doctors bag-- Felt like one of those Coast Guard guys landing by Hilo into a situation to assess, adapt and overcome! Lifting the hood I went for the battery with my DVM--- 9.5 volts--- we're flat line! Checking the living area battery test point I had 13.14--- Ahhh, I STILL HAVE A HEARTBEAT! The Troll was back there pumping out that lifegiving AC power and Leroy's converter was on and doing it's job. Why didn't the boost work??? Wait, the boost solenoid input was tied to the engine battery which was flat. This is an early year coach that had only one trigger. OK, we know our assets---
Now we need to adapt to overcome---- Yanked out a piece of 12 ga. wire from my bag, stripped it back with my Leatherman and tied it across the boost solenoid--- got a big spark, great! Checked the DVM to see I had current flow. Went up inside to Leroys dash, pushed the boost circuit-- heard the "click" and grabbed the key & fired that mother up! You betcha-- we have throttle up!
Leroy was following me around as I was talking to myself, fiddling and figuring. Looked over at him and saw that big smile that comes with a running motor within 2 minutes. His dash voltmeter showed 12. something so I was feeling like we had a pulse. Janie was back there with Elizabeth and Brandy in the bedroom of the coach-- all were smiling-- so there we all were with smiles---- what just happened and what happened to put us in on the side of the road--- is my question now. We have to stabilize the patient and rig for transport.
OK, we have power now so lets pull off that jumper I made and work the problem--- it was hot-- Hmmm, thats significant. I checked voltage on the engine battery--- it was down---- Ahhhhhhhhh Baccccccccch! Now I know what happened! Do you? Think a minute before you read farther, what was the problem read back and come up with an idea.
Was it a loose wire, a blown fuse, a bad
part--- come on, what was it!!!! The leg of the battery
isolator to the engine battery was open--
the living area side was fine but the
engine battery was not getting replenished -- so it died. It was that simple, an
original part finally decided to die. Probably the stress from sitting for
a time then being put into service was too much trauma for that old part. See,
even with thousands of dollars in building slides and all of that, nothing was
done to the charging system---- Woooda Thunkkk----Perfect reason why you
should not rely on critical parts like this that have not already been replaced.
The fault was of the original isolator-- nothing more.
I pulled off the charge wire on the isolator going to the engine battery and put it to the center (alternator) leg of the isolator. I bypassed the bad leg of the isolator and the alternator shot a good spark as I made the connection--- you didn't really think I would turn that motor off after it graced me with a perfect light up! Tied that in and did some voltage checks to assure the engine battery was getting oats. Good to go so I went over with Leroy the issue and gave him a prescription for a new isolator when he got home, I slapped that heifer on the tail light and called it done. It's a great feeling to solve the issue without fan fair-- no lawyers, guns or money-- nothing hit the fan! All was good and as Leroy pulled back on the road and following him to the next exit I thought to myself-- I love this job!
I've got a good one for ya, I get calls all the time fielding problems with folks on the road having problems. Some of them are issues there would be no way to prepare for, things that no matter how many parts you would replace--- stuff still just happens. Other issues may have been picked up with a regular maintenance program while still others could be anticipated and backups or work arounds could have been added to the coach to mitigate the impact of. Some people think "why me" and look around for Murphy hanging out in their coach. This short story is one about something that was set up with a backup system that saved the day. I'm not going to have to use a situation from one of you calling in your troubles, this one happened to me.
There are several enhancements I like to add the a coach giving it back ups for certain systems, here is a first person story of how one circuit saved my bacon:
I drove my Janie and some of her close friends to Jacksonville this weekend (@ 130 miles) for a lock in/birthday party for one of her girlfriends there. I made it an opportunity to stop by & check in on my Mom so it was a win/win for us all. We brought Larry (my coach) to get them a chance to party on the trip and to carry some geer up to my son who also lives in Jax. Maybe you could cal it a win/win/win trip. Anyway, on the ride home on Sunday evening, I noticed the coach surging a bit and loosing power on hills (hills are overpasses in Florida). I was close to home and the coach was still running so I figured I'd try to stab it all the way to the house and almost made it. Less than 2 miles from the house at a light-- the motor simply shut off when I touched the gas.
Oh great, I drove all this way to have my party walk the last 2 miles home was my first thought. Quickly, I went through different possibilities and tried to think through the problem. I guy pulled up in a pick up with a chain and offered us a pull to at least get the coach off the road. Thanks man, and while I scrambled to connect the chain, I thought through my options. I had Janie get out the AAA card and make sure the cell phone was working, I already had my generator on so I was good to go there so now we were into the "get safe" mode then I could test some of my repair theories.
A chain on the bumper shock got us into a parking lot, I thanked the guy and let him know there would be "manna in heaven" for his good deed-- tried to pay him but he said I've needed it and someone helped me so this was his payback-- man it was a good thing Karma kicked in at the right time! Next I told everyone to sit tight and let me try a few things. Hitting the key, the motor barely turned over-- kinda like the motor was partially froze, my starter or battery was fried. In that the trouble I was having had nothing to do with the starter, I thought of going toward a bad battery or cables. Cool, all we need to do is hit the boost switch and if the chassis battery or cables were dead, the motor would fire over on the living area battery, afterall, the generator was running throwing 40 amps from the converter and there was a hot battery on that circuit.
I flipped the switch, hit the starter ----
and nothing happened! Now wait, how can that be? I know I have
strong power now-- maybe I do have a major problem---- (froze motor or something
like that). Still staying with my first blush, I opened the pass. hood for
a looksee at my battery. Wow-- look at that-- the positive terminal on the
chassis battery was melted off!
May not look like much from a first glance but if you look closer, you will see
the trouble
. Just goes to show you how darn important it is to keep your battery
terminal clean and tight. The terminal had corrosion on it and since the
hold down bolts were probably loose cause I had not checked them in a "raccoons
age", the resistance from all of that created enough heat to melt off the
connection. OK, that explains where my power went but hey, why didn't my
boost solenoid save my bacon? 2 weeks ago, I found that Greg D. coach had
suffered from a bad boost solenoid-- sure it clicked when I hit the button but
it did nothing to tie his batteries together--- Hmmmm, maybe that my problem?
So, to test that theory out I looked over at the "combiner switch" I had
installed to mechanically tie the 2 electrical systems together in an emergency.
If the boost solenoid was working but fried, this combiner switch would bypass
it and make a strong current path around it. I used sealed switches now
but a year ago, I was installing "Frankenstein switches" for that duty.
It will still work and do the job as the new better switches so I said to myself
a few words of prayer, closed the switch and wiggled it in to break come of the
surface corrosion on the bare copper, and went to the driver seat for the big
test. The starter hit, the fuel injection computer allowed the crank to
turn over twice and she fired up. Now thats what I'm talkin bout!!!
Preplanning for 12 volt failure issues with the combiner switch gave me a "go
to" option that saved the day, the hot living area battery and generator running
the 40 amp converter zinged the motor to life and kept her on the stick.
We all piled back into the coach and pointed it down the last 2 miles of the trip. Janies friends were a bit freaked out after driving so long, having a breakdown in a 30 year old vehicle they at first had some reservations with but getting over that were shocked when we got so close to home and broke down. Adding to their "shockness" was the fact that from a dead hulk blocking traffic, I was able to diagnose the troubles and actually have a "thingy" that would make it work like there was no problem and finish the trip never having to break a sweat! Their confidence in the coaches ability to party down was saved and I could stand down from my own possible disaster.
The moral of this? #1-- install a mechanical "combiner switch" across your boost solenoid, it will give you many emergency "go to" options #2-- just because your boost solenoid clicks when you push the button does not mean it is doing its job-- if your boost solenoid is old (maybe origianl), give it a gold watch, retire it before it retires you! Neither of these parts are expensive but if I had not had at least one of them working--- well, you get the picture.
Hey, and don't think it all happens to you--- I work on these things and it happened to me! See, Murphy has no discrimination, the problem here was from time, corrosion and relying on old parts-- you just can't do that!!
OK, I wanna hear from you, go out and take a
look at your boost solenoid, if it looks crusted over just hanging out minding
its own business---
call me and order a new one right now! It's only $26 brand new and it fits
right back onto the original bolts and also get a combiner switch
,
they are only $23 but man it could save you big bucks not to mention your honor!
8.22.05
Where are we going -- with the GMC that is?
Being in the seat I'm in here, I get a unique perspective on the GMC community -- why folks are interested in the GMC, why they have them and what they expect from them. I also remember the day that I found cheesecake didn't taste the way I thought it would so in writing these thoughts down, I also need to remember its entirely possible that many of you out there have already thought of much that I might say. While its true new ideas are discovered every day, its also very true that many ideas have already been adopted, exploited, topped out and are again coming around -- kinda like rediscovering cotton clothes are fashionable. Keeping all of this in mind, I'd like to discuss what may be a possible direction for the future of the GMC and the community of those interested in its future.
Lately, the rising cost of fuel seems to
start every conversation.
So when is it that something like how much it costs to fill up your fuel tank
becomes more important that how much air is in the tires anyway?
Callers ask if our business is being effected by "the fuel crunch"?
Being in a position of being booked for 2 years with renovations, in our
rotation, impact of such a situation will lag the day a bit. Even at that
though, I have seen some issues arise from this "fuel thing".
Some folks have contacted me looking to put their coach up for sale, their reasoning is sound in that their use of the coach was marginal and in an effort to consolidate their holdings, they have decided that owning something like a motorhome has become more of a liability than an asset. This is sound logic which developes from the amount of usefulness a GMC is in their lifestyle. The cost of fuel did not break them but rather gently nudged them over the line. There are some pretty fair buys right now in the market
Then I get a call from someone interested in
a GMC reasoning that at 10 MPG, its much less that anything else they could buy
in the RV industry. To put this in perspective, feel bad for that poor guy
that thought he would reach his driving "nirvana" owning an H2 or an Excursion
or one of those other behemoth road rollers
,
they are many times not getting the mileage that a loaded GMC gets-- they
actually weigh much less and carry much less to boot!
I have calls from club members anguishing about spending the fuel they use in supporting their club by making the rallies. Are you kidding, I'm a member of 4 clubs, I could not make all the rallies even when fuel was less than $2 a gallon. Yes, I agree, the fuel cost situation will effect rally participation and because of this, its something we need to look at and be proactive on.
I don't see fuel prices impact the actual buying and selling of classic vehicles like the GMC as much as I see it effect their intended use. I don't see as many people saying "Hey, lets burn through a tank of fuel and give the old girl some exercise". No, I think there will need to be more reason to stoke up the fire in a GMC. It seems that there will be less redundant traveling, people will need to plan their activities and make the most of the fuel dollar invested. As far a club participation goes in the future, the total cost of getting out on the road has brought participating in such events prohibitive at the level we have seen. In the past, many people have hit a string of rallies making a long trip crisscrossing the country in their coach. I have done my best to support the club scene and make as many rallies as possible. Me feeling has been supporting the GMC community was a prime directive in that it is my only target market. The GMC is very important to me of course and I want to do all I can to support the community and maybe that is why we're here right now having this conversation.
I'm in this for the long haul, after building this business for over 8 years focused almost entirely on the GMC motorhome and its refitting, it only makes sense that I am most interested in the enthusiasm of the hobby core group of GMC owners. I will say now to you after saying that, the GMC community is not shrinking and coaches are not being turned into subcompact cars-- quite the contrary, the GMC is THE most cost effective way to move from point A to point B in a heavy lift vehicle. There will always be a segment of the country that reasons that life on the road is for them (I think I feel that way myself) and if this is true, the GMC is headed for even more attention. The new RV'er is looking less at how many slides a coach has and what the fuel cost impact and maintenance is. The initial coast of recreational vehicles is to the point that it locks many out from even playing the game. If I were not in the business of playing with these, I could not swing a $100K loan to buy something quality that has a chance of staying together until its paid off. No sir, I would be on the sidelines still walking with a backpack and I dare say many of you out there would also be patching leaks in your pop up.
The numbers do not lie when it comes to the expense of owning an RV. They are expensive toys and thats no doubt. The initial cost of a GMC gives you entry to the opportunity to maintain the coach in a useable condition for far less than the kings ransom most of the rest of the industry requires. Owning and maintaining a GMC impacts the wallet far less than the 20 year mortgage payments AND maintenance of any other RV you can buy. So, if the question is, "Will the GMC go the way of the Doe-Doe Bird?", I would have to say most definitely not. What the shape will be of the future of the GMC clubs and the community in general could be a bit different.
In the short term, its a no brainer that the rising fuel costs will negatively impact the participants in club rallies and events. The budget has been broken and until percentages are recalculated, the dollars we pump into the GMC fuel tanks is simply not there the way it used to be. I betcha there will be smaller rallies over the next year or so and falling rolls in the clubs. I feel though this is a correction both because of the expense in operating a coach but also in passing the club baton to another generation of GMC enthusiasts.
The internet has, of course, transformed our way of life and its logical, especially with the total cost of participating in rallies, that the internet should also help us through this problem as well. Every club has a web site and most owners do have web access of some sort. In the past, there has been reluctance to bring the club web sites into the mainstream of club activity. This was mainly do to the number of folks out there still not computer literate and those that are reluctant to push those that are not into the modern age. It's pretty much today a necessity to have web access and because of that shift, the clubs can use this new communication channel to a greater degree. You can feel connected to a group on their web site, you can read and see pics of others experiences. You can teach, learn and entertain yourself and others through a web site. If being there is impossible, you can at least feel a part via the internet.
There have been live streaming feeds from tech sessions (both audio and even some video) at GMC Eastern States rallies that were well recieved. Being the first time, there were technical issues but all in all, things went well and those that were in the know about how to participate were able to feel a part of being there.
If this trend takes hold, there will probably be smaller rallies and who is to say that is a bad thing. Clubs can combine rallies (say the ES club can throw in with a local club or even with GMCMI) to make an event more interesting for members. They can have fewer get togethers, combine with other clubs and even sanction several "mini rallies" in areas where club members nearby can attend without the extreme cost impact of traveling great distances.
Internet basing the GMC community is an inevitable trend, its just too efficient a communication source to ignore any more. I can see the Florida based "Sunshine Statesmen" having separate north and south mini rallies. The state is so long that location already plays into members rally participation. So whats wrong with having 10 coaches show up for a mini rally, I've found when more coaches come to events, the event turns from the intended excuse to get together to the burden of accommodating the large crowd. I will tell you some of the most memorable rallies have been smaller ones.
Speaking of smaller rallies, its always been a struggle to find parks to host rallies over 40 coaches. The logistics of such rallies really becomes a burden for the wagon masters and I feel there becomes a point when there are simply too many people to have a good time. In a big group, there always seems to be a number of folks that are not happy for some reason or another, life is too short to drive a long distance to be unhappy. Politics start to infiltrate the group, clicks show up and from there on the fun has been compromised. No, I find I like a smaller group-- that is if they expect a smaller turnout. It would be a bummer to drive all that way to a rally expecting to take a picture of 200 coaches lined up side by side and only 50 turn out. But wait--- 50 coaches, shoot, thats a Movement" as Arlo Guthrey would say. With 50 coaches, there is fun a foot, 50 coaches could block daylight in a small town and make headlines in their local paper. Feeding 100 people is no small chore to sneeze at and clean up of the area after a rally of 50 coaches will take a day at least. So don't be down trodden if only 50 coaches show at a function, is your cup half full or half empty-- celebrate the 50 that made it and think about those that could not and give them something too to enjoy via the web site.
I feel the future of the GMC (and the RV
community in general) will be a bit less cross country use oriented in favor of
close by getaways, short trips of less than a week and enjoyment more of local
attractions and recreation facilities. This weekend I experienced what I
would call a short but sweet get away. Last week, I met Jim G. and his
coach "Orphan Annie" for a shake down at a county park not 20 miles from the
shop. Being a total novice to operating his coach, Jim learned where the
fresh water tank fill was and the importance of getting close to the power hook
up. The Park (lakeside Moss Park) had just installed 54 long, good access
spots all with 50 amp access. That evening meeting Jim out there we were
the only 2 coachee in the park.
Now its true they called for no alcoholic beverages (outside), no pets (I think)
and there was no morning paper delivery to your door but it was a very nice
place to relax. It was quiet and the bathhouse was awesome, new and clean.
We grilled out that night and talked until our tongues were tired
The cost was $15 stay for the night, Janie & I got up late into the night and
drove back into town for a full day of work while Jim & Jane G. had a leisurely
morning and headed toward home when they had the mind to. It was such a
great experience that this weekend Janie & I decided to go out to Moss Park for
the day again.
Sunday morning we got up, watched "Sunday
Morning with Charles Osgood" and packed up "Blueocity" for another shakedown.
We didn't have to spend too much time getting ready, after all, we would not be
there that long and the meal would be something you would normally pack in a
picnic basket. Our pets were OK although they were clamering at the door
to get out of the coach
Got half way there and remembered I'd better stop for fuel (filling up that
first time for a big trip is always a traumatic experience) so $30 worth of
regular and my wallet went back into my pocket. Arriving at Moss Park, we
found ourselves the only motorhome in the park again--- how delightful.
We were there to be alone and by gosh we got our wish! The day was great,
the coach performed flawlessly. We were very comfortable and had the
opportunity see the sites the park had to offer
.
There was no shuttle to the flea market, we did not go there to find fleas, we
wanted to be alone. The park had everything we needed, sun, a cool place
to relax and peace and quiet.
Like I said before, I now love cheesecake and
probably many of you know the opportunity having a GMC gives you for local get
aways but I tell you this was a bit of a new experience for us. Harry
Chapin said it best in his song "WOLD" when he said "you can travel on ten
thousand miles and still stay where you are". You can have a great time in
your own backyard and the GMC fits right into that need. Total, we spend
less than $50 for the trip or should I say for the total experience. It
was a great time, just what I needed to go at the next weeks work. Yes, we
live in Florida and there are many attractions but there are county, state and
national parks everywhere.
Small, close by diversions should be doable for everyone. There are smaller RV parks everywhere more than willing to host smaller groups of rallies and now with the fuel situation and increasing maintenance coasts, short journeys are looking more and more a way to get good use from your classic coach. Call them "trouble free" travels, trouble free in that if you are close enough to home for your towing service, you can always get home with a minimal expense. Hey, if you can get there, you can get towed home (so don't worry-- Be happy)!
In closing, the future of the GMC is not in jeopardy, in fact I still see an emerging market for renovating these classic coaches. It is the least expensive way to own and operate a custom built heavy lift vehicle, they still have a strong resale value and are increasing in their value as we do our job well here at the Co-op. The GMC community is also alive and well, there may be some changes in store for us but all in all, the club scene, hobbyists and as well as general use GMC owners are gaining in number and in their enthusiasm for this classic vehicle. I can't wait for the next opportunity to take another small trip in my coach, think about it and plan a short trip for yourself-- its better than letting the coach just sit there. All is well.
And as always, thanks for your support,
Jim Bounds 
Thanks for your visit.
This page will not be updated on a daily basis but it will be added to as topics of interest come up that we feel important to talk with you about.