I guess I can blame this on the time of the season having so much interested in folks looking to buy a GMC.
I say that’s wonderful but I find I’m spending a great deal of time talking on the phone and in person about what to expect. I’d like to say that’s great and it is but it is becoming more difficult as these coaches age to prepare folks for what can happen.
Hey, these things are OLD! At most any traffic light you stop at chances are you will be the oldest…..biggest…..slowest most in the way of others vehicle waiting for that light to change!
You have more old parts, more tires and probably a bigger motor than any of those folks either………and in many cases you may have less money invested than that car sitting next to you. A new car is $30,000. How many of you have that much invested? And can you sleep, cook breakfast and take a shower all in that $30,000 car?
Motorhomes are not cheap things to have and just because a car get cheaper as it gets older, these vintage RV’s don’t. Its simply a true statement……” If you spend less than $10,000 to buy your GMC, that will be the smaller of the 2 checks to get it on the road…..and now lets talk about what it looks like!
If you want to try and put ownership and maintenance of a vintage RV in perspective, go to our site front page and click on “coaches for sale” and read. I know there’s a bit of verbiage there but if I can get thru to just 1 new GMC owner to make their stewardship for the machine they pick up better……its my goal to try and get everyone on the same sheet of music.
Example: Full restorations on a GMC with us average $100 to even as much as$200,000 is not unusual. That’s not being popular, its being reliable, good looking and comfortable to your needs. I have put $400,000 into a GMC so when we find something no one anticipated on one of the old machines, when that part is renewed it will be the best part of the coach moving forward.
Having resealed windows means they should not leak, a new tranny means chances are good you will hit 3 gears leaving from that traffic light……fuel injection means you won’t have to go 30mph up a steep grade and new tires means unless you run over a pound of nails your 6 wheels will hold you up.
Did I ever tell you I hate old motors? Its true a part works fine until it fails……..but when will that be and what assets will you have to help you when the thing will no longer go?
You have a 12,000 pound doorstop…….its too big to push and a flat bed tow bill will surely melt your wallet so why do we do this to ourselves??????? Us humans seem to work hard at complicating our lives to do things we want to do. Its true…….most animals look for the simple path……we go for whatever path we want to.
Driving a cool looking vintage GMC is something many want to do but small money usually will only cause heartache because each time money is extracted to keep your machine doing its thing we cringe. Of course we do, giving cash out for something that comes up without your knowledge is always a stressful thing and probably the bane of my existence having to point these points where money needs to be put. Its my job I only ask when it happens to you please remember no one can know truly the condition of a 45 year old machine until it shows you or you find it.
There will be things wrong with a coach possibly no one knew about but until its attended to …..its broken. Simple as that, your master cylinder fails and your brakes fail………WHY is the one thing that may have no answer. Things happen on old things…..even new things no one figured on………I will tell you now we see things every day we had no idea was there……its the nature of what we do.
Bottom line is, entry level for a quality downsized good RV being $100,000, we call the GMC Motorhome the cheapest toy in the box. You WILL have money invested and there will be issues no one anticipated but if you remember the alternative if you really want to experience the motorhome lifestyle, there will be folding cash involved. Do it on the cheap and you will be constantly fixing it. Do the updates and repairs well and you will have a better chance of enjoying the ride. Do not expect ANYTHING to work as needed on an old car, boat OR motorhome. Old stuff breaks……..old stuff needs love and how much is something we find only after the work is done.
Ok, enough verbiage, just next time a problem comes up with your coach remember you still own the “cheapest toy in the box”……..it certainly isn’t free and if it seems there’s a new problem every time you drive your beloved GMC…….get in it more and get more use out of that old part before it breaks and anticipate failure so it won’t happen at the worse possible time……that happens!
If you have less than $50,000 into your coach and its servicing you very will……..count yourself in the extreme minority. Life does not happen the way we always think it should but rest assured a GMC, even with their 45 years of good intentions can still be that cheapest toy in your box………..it won’t be “cheap” but is anything worth doing or having that way? Unless you are extremely lucky brother, hope but don’t bet on that one…….. And the beat goes on.
That all is still worth doing and when put together well, a GMC Motorhome can be the super- ride you always knew it would be. Like our motto says……….”The Dream’s Alive”
and if any of this makes sense to you please do not shoot the messenger when we discuss what you particular bundle of joy needs because they ALL need something much of which as this moment you may not be aware of. “Don’t shoot the messenger” comes to mind. Doing this 27 years now I say I’ve seen it all but it seems we find new stuff all the time…………. Its the way these things are.
Have a great day, see u tomorrow
