| Author |
Message |
truthhunter@shaw.ca
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 12:30 pm: | |
I payed $8 to go to the RV convention (pay to vaguely examine someones product that they wish to sell me,hum I have lost it) and finally got a close look at a brand of motor home with 4 slides I had only examined this on the manufactures web site. In particular I wanted to understand how the aluminum "house superstructure" was attached to the steel chassis and perhaps give a little shake test to the 4 slide outs. The web site had several movies about the construction process but was rather slim on facts when it came to the integrated joining technique between the chassis and super structure; fortunately there was a cut away display at there dealer's both for me to examine. Yes they managed to find a way to maintian the weakness of the old wood stick and staple construction while boasting of aluminum strut side wall and roof frame construction. They actually had the "superstructure" lag screwed to a 2x4 sill plate that was lag screwed to chassis. More than one way to insure planned obsolescence while creating the appearance of lasting metal construction.
Long live the conversions!!! |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 21, 2006 - 10:50 pm: | |
Most of these RVs will basically be reduced to nothing in a rollover. I have driven by one rolled over on an interstate and it was basically down to the chassis.
Brian Elfert |
Crane
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 8:58 am: | |
What a shame that these manufacturers take a good idea to make an attempt at making a solid metal frame and they weaken the technology by inserting the wood connector.
How expensive would it have been to insert an isolation grommet to ward off electrolisis or corrosion and bolt the frame solid to the metal frame.
So near a better idea and yet so far.
Hmmmm---Would this reflect some of todays mentality at education or just big business's idea at saving a darn BUCK???????
No matter what the cause, the consumer is the loser once again.
Todays buisness mentality is cued to making that big buck profit/payroll for the upper management and no concern or thought seems to be reflected at the completed product.
Now, how long do you think something like that might actually last on the road?
If you look at the similarly comproble GMC MotorHome, manufactured 73 thru 78, metal frame and chasis, AND STILL ON THE ROAD, I doubt this model will see this life span.
I still give it 10 years, since is still has the "stick'n Staples" weak point built in. And whats worse, it is hidden from the buying public so unless they did some real good research, they don't even know that the all mental frame is a falacy and they are being sold a manufactured lemon.
Shame on the way business is going and how they deceive the buyer.
Crane |
Casper4104
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 22, 2006 - 12:59 pm: | |
Very observant Brian. I saw the same thing years ago on I-64 in Virginia, and decided then and there to never put my family in one of those things.
That issue, plus the availability of the diesel/stickshift, was what made me go looking for a bus.
Casper4104 |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 6:19 am: | |
"If you look at the similarly comproble GMC MotorHome, manufactured 73 thru 78, metal frame and chasis, AND STILL ON THE ROAD, I doubt this model will see this life span."
Many of these have had the floor pan and mucho underframe replaced as well as most of the brake lines from rusting out.
I was a interested in the GMC , till I was at the EAA Sun & Fun a day early and met the Pres of the GMC club.
A bit of creative begging and I got to read about 10 years of club tech bulletins.
(Da Book for restorers)
The amount of chasis replacement was huge (although these are cult Rv's so parts are OTS).
Enough for me to consider them almost as Eagle Coaches ,
a hobby in them selves, fighting endless rust.
Not!!! My Way,
Barth , Blue Bird and Superior are the only 60'&70'S production RV's that stand the test of time.
FAST FRED |
Cory Dane
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, March 25, 2006 - 8:50 am: | |
Geeese FF
Seems to me, the older Eagles don't fair out so well when it comes to rust as well as a few other buses.
I read at the GMCmotorhome site and a "endless" RUST problem is not a topic that is brought up very much, in fact, hardly ever.
Topics are almost the same as here, the upgrading of the coach.
In fact, I would say after all these years of reading at BNO, that the BUS converters attack more rust problems on these commercial buses than the owners do on the GMC motorhomes. Perhaps your comment was a bit "embelished" for sensationalism.
The fact is, you won't find a better riding A class motorhome, including busses, than the GMC motorhome.
Barth, Blue Byrd and Superior, though bus class vehicles, ARE NOT the only 60's & 70's vehicles to stand the test of time.
Shame on you.
CDane |
Jarlaxle
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, March 26, 2006 - 5:43 pm: | |
RevCons are pretty good, too. Big 455 Olds power, front wheel drive (odd), low floor, 4-wheel disc brakes, and rides like a luxury car. My biggest beefs were the oddball rear tires (12-16.5), the somewhat thin interior storage, and a small gas tank. |
|