Last week I must have asked and answered that question 10 times when folks called excited about their new (to them) coach. Also on travel trailers it’s a critical thing to have insurance that will cover the value of old machines like this. If you know all of this you may want to skip down but for you guys who haven’t heard this please follow along with me:
“Full Coverage” insurance like you would have on a new car addresses the original value of your car…. if it’s 2 years old say and it’s totaled….. pulling out the ole devaluation scales the assessment is based on mileage, age and condition from a new car. But wait…. this motorhome is 40 years old! There IS NO original integrity and it’s value is more based on what has been done to it SINCE it was produced. There is no value in an original motor but there is on a fresh rebuild but full coverage policies don’t see that. You must have and “AGREED VALUE” policy which is appraised like a house then a value is assessed by this appraisal….. both parties (you and the insurance company) agree the machine is worth “X” and your premiums will be based on their exposure. NOT a “STATED VALUE” policy…. in that type you sit down across a negotiating table, you showing all of your receipt and them figuring out what you would take before coming across the table at them!
And it’s not that an agreed value policy is very expensive… most customers tell me they were surprised how low the annual premium was…… it seems that it’s just the right type of policy your motorhome needs.
You “Local” agent my not be able to sell you an agreed value policy…. they must be set up to offer that “product”. It’s like you go to a specialty insurance agent to insure your ocean going ship…… invite me on board…… you need a specialty agent this is allowed to offer those products.
This is very important to someone investing to have a coach restored…… if you have a basic policy on a GMC Motorhome and it’s hammered, chances are you will have to fight to get any more that $6000 for your broken baby! 
and that doesn’t just happen to those big ones 
You gotta be prepared!
So here is a company who only writes “agreed value” policies only on motorhomes….. this is one of the companies that CAN write you a policy that covers all the work you have or are getting ready to put into your object of frustration! 
When you call, ask for Marlene, she knows exactly what you are looking for and is very good at explaining all of it. Tell her hello for me and she will skip right to what you need.
If I could not find a company such as this to cover the work I do…. I would be taking your money! You MUST have insurance on the work that is done to keep your coach viable and on the road……. Same this with an antique car……. the value is in what has been done after the UAW rigged the beast up that makes that 57 Chevy attractive and valuable…. same thing with your motorhome. Actually Miller also insures vintage trailers as well. The put a policy together to cover this rig recently 
and my customer told me he was happy with what his insurance cost.
Most DMC specialty dealers can write you and agreed value appraisal which you will need to apply to prove the value of your coach.
So there it is, check with your local agent maybe first, ask if they can write and “agreed value policy”. Now not a “stated value” because that’s the one you “negotiate” your fate…… not good. If they can offer this form of insurance great but if not, Miller will.
Now they are in Oregon so call in the afternoon Eastern Time…….
Well it was a bit of a nippy ride in this morning on 2 wheels. To us down here 40 degrees is well not fit for man nor beast!
OK, so you techno guys, go get another cup of coffee and give me a few minutes to process a few pics….. THIS is a good one!……. Be right back
So for years drive belt systems have been used to turn things like the water pump, alternator, AC compressor, PS pump, etc. Well our beloved 70’s motorhome has the same 3 belt compliment that every other red blooded American motor had of the day.
Everyone has known how to treat these belts…. keep them tight and in good shape because as we all know…. when you throw a belt someone is in for some work! Belts stretch when they are new like everything else under tension when at work and it’s a fine line to get all 3 belts doing their thing. Some years ago the serpentine belt system took care of many of the problems out old 3 belt system had……. only 1 belt and with a tensioner pulley the tension is always set right. A big, fat belt the dang things pretty much last forever!
Today, all new cars have 1 serpentine belt system with a tensioner pulley that may go out at 100K miles but dang if the new belt systems really work!
So why not put a system like that on our GMC’s? One GMC guy tried it but his system ended up turning the water pump backwards and the tensioner pulley was on the torque side of the belt not the return 
That’s one we installed…… with the tensioner pulley on the torque side, every time you revved the motor the tensioner would max out! And forget converting your motor to a marine reverse rotation water pump!
Then a hot rod part company came out with a system…… very pretty and we put it in 
And I really like that little wingding pointy thing over the water pump….. Quite rodlike but wait….. that has 2 belts and instead of a tensioner pulley there’s and adjustment for the belt tension? No,no,no maybe cool for a 442 but it’s fluff for us.
Hey but still, can’t this be accomplished? So what do we do, hack up a bunch of washers and rig up a belt system off a 95 Chevy pickup? Naaaaaaa……
Lets just keep looking for the best belt we can and keepm tight……. how bout farm implement V belts? Sure is a kick butt belt but some coaches have the wrong Vpulley and it won’t work……..
Bottom line……. be ever vigilant and if you hot rod the thing you will be whipped by a belt!
Mr. Wizard what can we do!!!!!!! This weekend Jared, MY resident wizard on all things automotive performance, has been talking with a manufacturer buddy of his 
and he brought in a pre-copy catalog of a new serpentine belt system designed specifically for the Olds motors 
What’s all the hubbub?
o Made in America
o A single belt system
o Good looking
o tensioner pulley at the bottom left on the return side of the crank
o New late model off shelf 100amp alternator
o New off shelf AC compressor
o weall type remote fill PS pump
Holy crap, our skunkworks department has something to check out! COMPLETE hardware cost is $1800. I can get a kit now…. we have several projects in house that might benefit from something like this…. stay tuned
Why is this interesting? If all maintenance parts are off shelf (belts, pumps, tensioner pulley) and updated to new stuff, the single belt can be replaced without bloodshed and you are guaranteed to have proper tension on your belt system? Sign me up!!!!
Now wait… don’t everyone call up…. let me look into this but hey, with a self learning fuel injection system and an updated serpentine belt system…. now all that adds to adapting to the fluids and lifestyle we enjoy today. I mean who Hasn’t had some made up words to say about your fan belts? Lier!!!!!…… I don’t change things just to change them… the first filter needs to always be can it be repaired on the road and does it make something better? True all you need to have is 1 functioning alternator belt and you can move so our beloved 3 belt system does have it’s backups but no one does that today…. there’s one big ole belt and you can change it fast!
Today’s post was too long.. I had to answer the “I” question and then there is the cool stuff. I’ll let you guys watch as we check this one out……. take time and lets see what we have here…. could be good…. could be less….. see ya tomorrow 
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