The GMC Collectible MotorHome

In the 1970's, General Motors entered the RV market. Drawing on the exuberance of the times, the company set out to create the ultimate American Motor home.

Their aim was to produce a top-of the-line vehicle with cutting-edge design and construction, not just another competitor in the already crowded vacation vehicle market.

The common design in this era was a boxy, ungainly and top-heavy unit on a truck chassis. The GMC vehicle was intended to be a completely new design in every way. 

Design work began in 1970, with the market introduction planned for 1973. "Doesn't look like a box or ride like a truck" was the GMC ad slogan.

The new vehicle would be unusual for this era in several ways. First of all, it was to have a front wheel drive, a rare concept in cars of that day and unheard-of in mobile homes.

The drive train and suspension were taken from the design of the Oldsmobile Toronado. The 265 horsepower 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile engine was attached to a Turbohydramatic 425 transmission with torsion bar suspension.

The rear suspension was a product of GM's bus design, using dual swing arms, one leading and one trailing, with a single air spring on each side.

Instead of a auto body steel, the body was to be made of lightweight aluminum and molded fiberglass-reinforced plastic such as was used in the Chevrolet Corvette.

The front wheel drive and independent swing arm rear suspension brought great improvement to the standard motor home design.

The lack of drive shafts and axles underneath the coach allowed a very low floor height, leading in turn to a low overall vehicle height and lower center of gravity. 

Aside from easier entry and exit, this reduced rollover risk and wind resistance and made the vehicle much safer and easier to operate for buyers accustomed only to car driving.

A six-wheel braking system, with disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on all four rear wheels, further enhanced drivability.
Previous motor home design focused mainly on the use of the vehicle as a temporary home once it had reached its destination, an extended stay in a mobile home park or a camping spot.

Ease of getting to the destination was of secondary concern, and cumbersome handling on the road was taken for granted. GMC made a special point of targeting this feature for improvement by adding visibility from the driver's seat with a panoramic expanse of glass.

The motor home was featured in 23 foot and 26 foot lengths, fairly small even for this era. 

Nowadays, much larger models are common. The motor home's interior design was compact, with no permanent sleeping areas in the original design. All beds were converted from seating areas when required.

Hot water was provided by water heaters using engine coolant loops, which produced water so hot it could actually present a scalding hazard since coolant temperatures usually exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit.

The refrigerator was powered by a standard automotive battery, adequate only for overnight use before recharging.

The prototype was first displayed in May 1972 at the Transpro '72 trade show in Washington, D.C. Production started in 1973 with two models, Model 230 and Model 260, 23 and 26 feet long respectively.

They were sold with a finished interior for the public as well as unfinished to other RV manufacturers such as Avion and Coachman, who then provided their own interiors before reselling to consumers. 

30 different floor plans were available, and models were priced from $35,000 to $40,000.

The GMC vehicle changed slightly over time, the most notable alteration coming in 1977 when the 455 cubic inch engine was replaced by a 403 cubic inch model in response to the energy crisis. 

This decade caused hardship for all RV manufacturers as the increased price of fuel pushed large gas guzzling vehicles out of the market. 

The GMC motor home had never sold at high volumes, and the company decided that the RV production facilities could be more profitably used to make light trucks. After the manufacture of 12,921 vehicles, production of motor homes was discontinued after the 1978 model year.

Almost immediately after production ceased, GMC motor homes became collectors' items, with owners' associations being established to provide parts and service for these vehicles. 

Small manufacturers and garages developed a cottage industry servicing them. In 1992, as General Motors prepared to scrap all remaining tools and parts, Cinnabar Engineering purchased all the motor home manufacturing supplies and negotiated a deal to continue to provide parts for the discontinued vehicles. 

In 1992, a monthly magazine called GMC Motor home Marketplace was introduced, and in 1994 Cinnabar started publishing a quarterly newsletter called GMC Motor home News.

The vehicle's futuristic design has even found a place in pop culture: Mattel Toys created die-cast versions of the GMC motor home for its Hot Wheels line.

More than 50 different GMC Hot Wheels are available, and in 1977, Mattel released three toy GMC versions in a Barbie Doll Star Traveler promotion.

In an amazing example of customer loyalty and product durability, more than 8,000 units are still registered by owners. 

An internet search of "GMC Motor home" produces 771,000 results, as sites advertise motor home parts, engines and upgrades as well as classic car rallies for owners.

Used GMC motor homes sell for $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the condition of the vehicle.

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Types Of MotorHomes

Motor homes are categorized into several different types. We have reviewed in earlier articles Type A, the recreational vehicle. Then we reviewed Type B motor homes, these are the van camper and travel trailer. 

Type C motor homes are often called mini-motor homes. These often have the same amenities of larger motor homes, and can be ordered with quite luxurious amenities, but these mini-motor homes are much easier to handle on the road than the larger recreational vehicle. Type C mini-motor homes range in price between $5,000 and $20,000 used and up to $65,000 used. 

Another type of motor home is what is called the 5th Wheel. This is the "L" shaped trailer you see being pulled by large pick up trucks. These are also available for those who can afford them with luxurious amenities and design. As with the travel trailer these 5th wheel motor homes can be parked in a camp ground and you have your vehicle to do exploring with. 

A very popular family motor home is a truck camper. They are often very inexpensive ranging between $8,000 and $22,000 new. These work well for those that are single, or parents and kids. They are basic in design and function. 

A lot of families use pop ups for camping. These are essentially a tent on wheels and are a great first step for those thinking about Rving. These pop-ups can sleep from two to eight people. They usually have some type of small kitchen, stove top and sink and storage. The disadvantage is that you have less room and less protection from the elements due to the fact that you have screening and canvas as protection. 

Talk to family and friends who have RV's. Go to RV shows in your area and check out the different models of motor homes and recreational vehicles for yourself. 

Decide what type of vacationing you will be doing. Are you going to be vacationing in one area or are you going to be exploring a different area each day and staying in different places each night? What time of year are you going to be vacationing? Certainly a pop up wouldn't be your warmest choice for a winter vacation. What is your gas budget? Can you afford to fill the 100 gallon gas tank of a recreational vehicle that gets 5 to 8 miles per gallon? Do you have to be more cost conscious? In that case a mini-motor home may be for you.

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Using the Sun to Power Your RV

Jumping in your RV and leaving the rat race for the weekend is an American tradition. Did you know you can provide power to your RV with the sun while getting away from it all?

The Sun is Everywhere!

One of the biggest misconceptions regarding solar power is that it is limited to large panel systems on roofs. Au contraire! With new nanotechnology, solar power systems will soon be applied with the paint you use to improve your home. That’s still two or three years away, so what about now?

If you enjoy taking the RV out for an excursion, you can use solar power to provide your electrical needs. Whether you are going camping or to a NASCAR race, it is an exceedingly simple process. 

Unlike homes, RVs run on direct current electricity. This makes them perfect for solar electricity since solar systems produce direct current electricity instead of alternating current. Put another way, there is no need for bulky converters to flip the electricity from direct to alternating. Instead, you can use the sun to power up your batteries directly. 

Portable solar systems consist of pop-up solar modules with four or five panels. Essentially, they look like small ladders with solar panels instead of steps. You just pop them up on the roof of the RV or in an area where the sun hits them. The systems tie directly into your batteries and power them up during the day. Super easy and super clean. 

The real advantage to solar RV systems has to do with noise. The traditional method for recharging your RV batteries is to turn on a generator and generators can be very loud. Even the quietest generator makes enough noise to make you feel like you live next to a construction site. Solar systems make no noise at all. There are no moving parts, just the sun beating down on the panels. You’ll never know they are even there. 

If RVing is your thing, portable solar modules are worth taking a look at. With high fuel prices, you need to save a buck wherever you can.

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Buying an RV - Take some Advice

I fancy buying an RV darling. Ok Honey, go out and get one and we can spend all our vacation time in it and have great fun. Wrong, very wrong. Do not buy an RV if this is how you are thinking. Your RV will just be a waste of money.

Buying an RV is an important decision and something the whole family needs to be involved in. An RV is also an investment, an investment in time and cost but you will not see a profit on an RV, well not in financial terms but it can have a huge payback in terms of satisfaction and enjoyment but if you just rush out and buy an RV without giving it a lot of thought then it could be, at best, an expensive waste of money, and an RV can be, at worst, a marriage breaker. I know as I have seen it happen.

When we were trading up to a larger and newer RV, my sister in law from Atlanta decided she was going to buy our old RV. The trouble was it was her idea and not a joint family decision. She had been on vacation with us a few times and liked the lifestyle, thought it would be great for her daughter to spend more time in the countryside but she never really considered if her husband wanted an RV. He was the type who would choose a sports car to drive without thinking of where his daughter was going to sit. He liked speed, acceleration and easy maneuvering, not something you tend to find with an RV. It lasted a few years with him being unhappy with all his vacations in the RV, he bumped into a few trucks and did some damage to the RV, (which I had to repair), and was just generally unhappy with the whole idea of having a vacation in an RV. It got to the stage of seriously damaging their marriage. What went wrong? Well my sister-in-law did not sit down and really think about an RVer’s lifestyle.

Think about it, RVs can be small, they can be cramped compared to your house, RVs can be hard to drive and you can end up spending all your vacation just driving around. What she should have done is to rent an RV first to try things out. This way she could easily have seen if owning an RV was going to work.

So what do you look for when renting an RV.? Well I would think the most important is where it is at. Pick the area you would like to vacation in and they look for somewhere to rent one from. Think about how you are going to get there. Driving allows you to take more things with you than flying, so if you are flying then you may need to make sure that you rent an RV which comes fully equipped as some do not have things such as kitchen utensils in them or towels and so on, although many companies will supply these but sometimes they come at a price. 

What about the size of your RV from small to large. I suppose this depends on what you want to achieve. If you are a family then you need a larger RV and so on. Just make sure that everything you need is available but remember this may mean extra rental cost. Do you want to tow a car behind your RV.? Some companies will let you, some will not and if you are in a hire car, does the hire company allow it to be towed behind an RV. Is the RV you want to rent capable of towing a large car or only a small car? These questions could go on but the best people to answer them are the RV rental company you are dealing with. They are the RV experts so ask them.

I could go on with information like this but it is just commonsense. Think about where you are going to vacation in your RV, think about how to get there, think about your RV in terms of size, think about the equipment you need for your RV, think about pets in the RV if you have a pet and think about who to rent your RV from. Get several quotes from RV rental companies and then compare them and read the fine detail to see what you get for the price and what extra you need to spend.

Once you have done all this pick a suitable RV to rent and a suitable company to rent your RV from and then just do it. Once you have tried renting an RV you will then have a much better idea if being an RV owner is for you and can then make the commitment to buy an RV Good luck and just enjoy it. I do.

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Finding The Best Motor Homes For Sale

here are some things you need to know before buying motor homes. Motor homes or motorized recreational vehicles (RVs) come in different classes. Two of those classes are usually confused with each other, those being class A and class C motor homes. It’s essential to look at the physical appearance of the motor home in order to determine whether it is class A or class C. Class A motor homes resemble a bus design with a flat or vertical front end and large windows while hand class C motor homes have a truck cab with an over-cab bed, in some ways resembling a camper.

Considered to be top of the line, Class A motor homes measure at about 24 feet or 7.3 meters and can be as long as 40 feet or 12 meters. Their weight can range between 15,000 to 30,000 pounds or 6,804 to 13, 608 kg; the undercarriage may be custom or a 3 to 10 ton truck chassis. Class A motor homes come with each of the luxury amenities you can fathom like a kitchen, a bathroom with shower and a tub, and sometimes a separate bedroom at the back depending o the floor plan of the truck. They also have heating and air conditioning, hot and cold running water, 100-125 volt electrical system, a dinette or living room area complete with couch and recliners, closets and an entertainment center. This is just the tip of the iceberg. In fact, some of these motor homes can be more elaborate than homes themselves.

Class A motor homes are usually utilized by famous bands especially when they are in tour. There are also some rich families that own Class A motor homes for vacation and travel. A Class A motor home is perfect for those who can afford its high cost. Most Class A motor homes have all leather interior, a wet bar, big screen TVs, an advanced sound system and other high technology that may not be available to lower income families.

Depending on the model and the floor plan a class A RV can accommodate up to 8 people. But all of this luxury comes at a price. New, lower-end models are sold at up to $50,000 US dollars while larger and much nicer class A RVs can even cost more than any house in many states coming in at about $300,000+. Class A RVs are really very expensive; in fact even used class A RV can still be sold for $30,000-$40,000. If you prefer luxury lines, you may start saving about $325,000 up to over $1 million if you prefer the crème de la crème of all RVs.

Last but not least are Class C motor homes. Class C motor homes can also come in very luxurious models or more economical ones depending on your budget. They are much lighter in weight, ranging only from 10,000 to 15,000 pounds and generally run from just under 20 to 44 feet in length. They are constructed on cutaway chassis depending on the model. The cab is usually similar to that of the truck with a bunk above plus a rear bedroom. Just like the class A, Class C motor homes have all the amenities of home including kitchen, bathroom, dinette, heating and air conditioning system, and an entertainment center for additional cost.

Dinettes are not always present in class C motor homes and if ever there is one included, it usually converts into a double bed. If a dinette is not present, two captain chairs are available instead. Sometimes, the motor homes contain a couch and chairs instead of captain chairs. The couch may also be turned into a sleeper couch.

Because of the overcab bed, a Class C motor home can sleep more than a comparable Class A motor home, accommodating up to 10 people are accommodated. The cost of class C motor homes ranges from $50,000 to $170,000.

The common features of Class A and Class C motor homes are their slide-out wherein with a simple touch of a button the wall of the living room expands outwards to extend the living space by several inches.

Another type of motor home is the Class B which is usually referred to as van conversion. Class B motor homes look like pop-top camper vans and are self contained but cramped compared to their big motor home counterparts. The advantage of purchasing a Class B motor home is in terms of handling and size that is if you don’t want spacious motor home. They are usually promoted as a place to sleep more than what is deemed comfortable by most people. The class B motor home can also be used as a second car. Its price ranges from $38,000 to $75,000.

Motor homes are great for camping, road trips, or just simply living in style. If you are interested in purchasing a motor home, it is definitely wise to take time to do some comparison shopping and research as these motor homes can prove to be very expensive.

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Lemon Laws May Not Cover Recreational Vehicles

Although the price of gasoline continues to climb upwards, Americans still love driving recreational vehicles.  They are big and bulky, and get poor gas mileage, but the convenience of driving a vehicle that also contains some of the comforts of home is appealing, particularly since an RV will allow you to stay in national parks and other campgrounds.  Why stay in a hotel when you can stay by a lake?  A recreational vehicle does offer vacation opportunities that other types of transportation, such as sport utility vehicles, do not.   But like any other vehicle, an RV can break down, and when it does, the repairs can be expensive.  They can be even more expensive if you are unprepared for something that many RV buyers don't know - the lemon laws of most states do not cover recreational vehicles.  

Recreational vehicles are not cheap; the price tags of some of them can exceed one million dollars.  But while they are legally motor vehicles, most states exempt them from coverage under the lemon laws.  Lemon laws are statutes designed to provide consumers who buy defective motor vehicles with recourse against the manufacturer should the vehicle prove repeatedly unreliable.  Given the fact that RVs tend to be rather expensive, one would think that they would be covered under these laws, but in most states, that's not the case.  Why not?

Unlike most cars, which are mass-produced by the millions, RVs are mostly assembled by hand.  Not only that, but the parts tend to be made by a number of different companies.  The drive train might be made by an auto manufacturer, and the body and living quarters might be made by several other companies.  There is really no single manufacturer to hold responsible for vehicle defects.  A handful of states have some coverage for RVs, but those that do tend to cover only the drive train, and not the living quarters of the vehicle.  If you have a transmission problem, you may have recourse under the lemon law.  If the stove quits working, the problem is your responsibility.

If you are planning to buy an RV, you should take precautions to minimize the likelihood of problems:

Check your state's lemon laws to see if the type of vehicle you plan to buy is covered.

Look at vehicles from a number of different manufacturers and examine the warranties offered with the vehicles carefully.  You may wish to consider purchasing an extended warranty, if one is offered at the time of sale. 

Do some research on past reliability of the type of vehicle you are thinking about buying.  If that manufacturer has a history of problems, you may wish to consider buying from a different company. 

 See if the vehicle carries the seal of the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association.  This seal means that the manufacturer belongs to an industry group that requires its members to meet a set of safety standards that includes more than five hundred items. 

Owning a recreational vehicle is a lot of fun and can make vacations enjoyable.  The last thing you want, however, is to spend your vacation at home while the RV is in the shop.  Remember, your state's lemon law will probably not protect you.

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Limousine for Presidents

Sometimes I wonder how US Presidents used to get around. Before the invention of the limousine, the private jet, or even the car, what exactly set the President's mode of transportation apart from the mode of the regular citizen?
Armored cars are now considered almost essential for all high-profile figures in dangerous parts of the world. A Presidential Limousine has become virtually synonymous with the word "Armored Car," in essence it is a vehicle of hardcore protection.

The Presidential limousine may seem like a recent invention, something that came about within the past few Presidential terms. This, however, is a misconception. Officially, the first President to ride in what has become known as the Presidential limousine was Woodrow Wilson. Taking the streets during a parade celebrating the US victory in World War I, he was honoring the end of the war and, unknowingly, starting the beginning of a transportation tradition.
Protecting world leaders is a serious business and there are only a handful of companies around the world with the specialist engineering skills. One of the first armored cars for a political leader is thought to have been a limousine built by engineering firm O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt for President Harry S. Truman in 1949.

Today, the technology has greatly moved on - and it has been shown to save lives in the worst case scenarios. President George W Bush's vehicle is thought to be the most advanced ever. Vehicle security works on three basic principles: • Protection at point of attack • Ability to evade and escape • Counter-measures
Models openly advertised as having "presidential standard" security come fitted with armor around the battery, radiator, engine block and systems to automatically seal the fuel tank to prevent explosions. Another measure appearing in the top-of-the-range models is night vision systems. The Presidential limousine is sometimes taken to overseas stops where secure transportation is needed. Sometimes, the president uses transportation that is already in the country.

Limousines have long been viewed as a pinnacle of success. Presidential limousines with bullet proof glass and numerous security features are produced by automotive manufacturers and presented to the sitting president. Cadillac limousines have been a favorite choice of U.S. Presidents throughout the years as is illustrated by President Bush's new Cadillac DTS Limousine.

It doesn't really matter - the last Presidential limo was a Cadillac and the next one will be too. It's standard protocol for the head of State to drive a vehicle from their country's most prestigious automotive manufacturer. In Britain, that's a Jaguar, and in many countries it's a shared gig - Peugeot and Renault in France, BMW and Mercedes in Germany, and in Japan, Emperor Akihito is currently driven in a Nissan Prince Royal and there's a suitably up market Toyota under development.

As we are saying  limousine is a luxury car which is often associated with the wealthy and hardcore protection. Therefore limousines are owned not only by individuals, many are owned by governments to transport senior politicians, by large companies to transport executives, or by broadcasters to transport guests.

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Which Type Of RV Is Right For You?

In Europe, the main form of mobile accommodation is the caravan. These carry with them a reputation for being old-fashioned, slow and cramped. However, in America the mobile accommodation of choice is the RV. This stands for Recreation Vehicle and is an umbrella term for a whole variety of vehicles with living space included.

The most impressive type of RV is the Class A Motorhome. This vehicle is similar in size to a bus and has a cabin at the front from where the driving is done. These luxury vehicles are ideal for long trips, vacations and even living in on a permanent basis. They can be equipped with all of the mod-cons associated with a typical home and can sleep up to 10 people, depending on the model. These large vehicles are often found with a standard car being towed behind to allow the inhabitants to park the RV and undertake local journeys in a more practically sized vehicle.

If you already own a pick up or towing vehicle, the fifth wheel trailer may be more beneficial to you. Considerably cheaper than an RV, the trailer attaches to the truck and is towed in this manner. The master bedroom usually sits over the truck bed, giving the trailer a two storey dimension. It can be detached from the vehicle and is then freestanding, allowing the vehicle to be used for conventional purposes. 

The travel trailer is similar to the fifth wheel trailer but is suitable for towing by any standard vehicle once the required adaptation shave been made. This is most reminiscent of the European caravan but brings more luxurious accommodation and features with it.

The Class B Motorhome is similar to the Class A in that it has the drivers cab incorporated into it. However, it is much smaller and only sleeps up to 4 people on a temporary basis. The benefits of this are that it can be used as a traditional vehicle also, making it an ideal solution for a large family. The Class C Motorhome makes an ideal compromise between the Class A and Class B models. It too has an incorporated cab but sleeps up to 6 and is more suited to permanent accommodation than the Class B. As with the Class A model, all of the living space can be utilised whilst on the move making it versatile and practical to use. There is almost always a private sleeping area above the cab which can be used for extra storage if sleeping space is not required.

These are only a few of the varieties of RV available but give you a general idea of the scope and freedom that these vehicles can give you. Although they don’t come cheap, they are not over priced and give you the opportunity to have comfortable accommodation wherever you may go. You can make it very homely with all of your personal belongings on display and the comfort they provide is impressive.

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