[GMCnet] GMC motorhome or 85 Airstream Excella?

[Mark]

I have been planning on buying a GMC motorhome but recently saw an '85
Airstream for sale that looks interesting. Anyone have any thoughts on how
they would compare? Which would be easiest to maintain and repair if I had
a problem on the road?

Also, I've heard there is fellow here in Lexington NC who rebuilds old
GMC's. Anyone have any information about that?



Mark Vontsolos

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[Emery Stora]

Since it is doubtful that any of the GMCers here have ever had an Airstream I don't think that any can really answer your questions.

Fred Hudspeth does have an Airstream in Alaska that he stays in for the summer but he probably doesn't drive it much.

Emery Stora

[Norm Bowker]

  Since there aren't anymore replies to this question I thought I could throw in my 2 cents worth as an ex GMC owner & was a service manager in a large R.V. dealership back in the 80's. The airstream was a high quality mh built on the GM P-30 chassis running the 454. This was basically a truck frame.  Most R.V. dealers can work on them as many manufactures used that chassis also most G.M. dealers work on them. This is the only advantage for the Airstream as it doesn't ride & handle like a G.M.C.  My choice for another coach would be the G.M.C.
 Norm,  always lurking.

[David Orders]

I think there is about as much chance that someone from the GMC forum would recommend the Airstream as there is someone from the Airstream forum recommending the GMC ;o)
--
1976 Royale "Twinkie II", 1978 Palm Beach with front end fire. Lynnwood WA

“Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them and you have their shoes.”

[brian]

Barry, or is it Berry in lexington. He is on black list. Builds these things and race cars. He does have a lot of garage space.
--
brian
asheboro, nc
75 eleganza 2 74 build
118k miles and counting,
DOG HOUSE

[Darryl Meyers]

I haven't had an Airstream Motorhome but I do have a 75 Airstream Globetrotter 20 foot trailer. I can tell you that the quality in the 70's and 80's of the Airstream was not really any better than any other trailer. All the systems were "öff the shelf". The aluminum exterior shell (and maybe the suspension) is the only real advantage I have found to the Airstream trailer. A lot of things (like the "vista view" windows) that looked "cool" at the time have turned out to be major maintenance and renovation issues.

Unless you really "love" the Airstream I would go with the GMC.
--
Darryl Meyers

1978 Eleganza II

El Dorado Hills, CA

[George Beckman]

Mark wrote on Sun, 20 October 2013 10:30

> I have been planning on buying a GMC motorhome but recently saw an '85
> Airstream for sale that looks interesting. Anyone have any thoughts on how
> they would compare? Which would be easiest to maintain and repair if I had a problem on the road?
>
> Also, I've heard there is fellow here in Lexington NC who rebuilds old
> GMC's. Anyone have any information about that?
>
> Mark Vontsolos

Mark,

Airstream make quality trailers. I imagine the Airstream coach is well built as far as the house portion.

So the only thing I will suggest, is if you test drive the Airstream, go to a parking lot with speed bumps. Go over one and see how the back wheels handle the speed bump.

I have had stock bags as now Sully style bags on our GMC and other than being safe, don't slow down for speed bumps. The front is the harshest of the two but not bad at all with the torsion bars and the rear steps over the bump as if it is not there.

Just my thought. I spent some time in my parent's Airstream Trailer. I love my GMC.


--
'74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
Best Wishes,
George

[Ken Henderson]

Mark,

You're probably talking about the "classic" Airstream, all aluminum like
the trailers. I have no experience with those, but I did have a '90
Airstream Land Yacht, the fiberglass version. On a Chevrolet P-30 chassis.
I bought it used in '96. What a mistake! I later learned it was a lemon
from day one. The original owner had it back to the factory several times
for such things as complete replacement of the entire front cap. All of
the appliances were replaced under warranty. Most of the wiring was
replaced (not entirely successfully). The Chevy 454 was renowned for
lasting no more than 50,000 miles (dealers generally didn't want to take
them in trade with that many miles). Mine, at 47,000, ran well, but "ate
spark plugs for breakfast every day". If you examine that engine you'll
find the plugs surrounded with the exhaust manifolds, which explains why
the plug wires came with the plug caps enclosed in metal caps, mica
sleeves, and fiberglass insulation -- all of which didn't help much.

The rear brakes failed completely (literally came apart) at 50,000 miles or
so. That was when I discovered that the tag axle was a "torsilastic"
trailer axle with ELECTRIC brakes. The controller for them was
hydraulically actuated (hidden beneath the dash).

When the electric wiper motor failed, the factory informed the dealer that
they no longer supplied a replacement motor -- the entire wiper assembly,
consisting of a frame, pivots, linkage and motor would be required at $500.
Fortunately I was able to find a close-enough replacement motor for $57
and drill new mounting holes -- on the way to trade the pile of junk in on
a new Safari 40' diesel pusher -- but that's a whole 'nuther story! :-)

No GMC will be trouble-free, but believe me, no combination home & vehicle
will be.

Barry Owen is the guy you're looking for in Lexington, NC. He's a GMCMI
member.

Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL
www.gmcwipersetc.com

[Howard Nielsen]

Mark
Both are fine.
With the Airstream it's 55 MPH in the right lane for California plus the extra cost per-axel toll.
Camp ground pull troughs makes life EZ-PZ backing in a PITA
Yes I can backup.
Our dad owned a tree business and we hauled transplanted trees on long hay trailers.
On our last trip back from Coos Bay on US 395 saw a Airstream restoration shop near Victorville Ca.
Boy they sure looked good.

The GMC it's pick your speed and lane.
Camp ground not a problem.
Plus fixing a sandwich is nice running down the road or using the bathroom.
We like our GMC Hot Rod with Plumbing.
They sure look good.

It's like car shows.
They sure look good

Howard
Alpine Ca
74 Canyon Lands
All is well with my Lord

> On Oct 20, 2013, at 20:38, George Beckman <gbec...@pggp.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> Mark wrote on Sun, 20 October 2013 10:30

>> I have been planning on buying a GMC motorhome but recently saw an '85
>> Airstream for sale that looks interesting. Anyone have any thoughts on how
>> they would compare? Which would be easiest to maintain and repair if I had a problem on the road?
>>
>> Also, I've heard there is fellow here in Lexington NC who rebuilds old
>> GMC's. Anyone have any information about that?
>>
>> Mark Vontsolos
>
>

> Mark,
>
> Airstream make quality trailers. I imagine the Airstream coach is well built as far as the house portion.
>
> So the only thing I will suggest, is if you test drive the Airstream, go to a parking lot with speed bumps. Go over one and see how the back wheels handle the speed bump.
>
> I have had stock bags as now Sully style bags on our GMC and other than being safe, don't slow down for speed bumps. The front is the harshest of the two but not bad at all with the torsion bars and the rear steps over the bump as if it is not there.
>
> Just my thought. I spent some time in my parent's Airstream Trailer. I love my GMC.
>
>
> --
> '74 Eleganza, SE, Howell + EBL
> Best Wishes,
> George

[Emery Stora]

I think he was talking about the Airstream motorhome, not the trailer.

Emery Stora

[Howard Nielsen]

Emery thank you
I have know only one owner who stepped out of a GMC in to a large Airstream motor home he and his wife where very happy with the Airstream.
More room his wife has a on line business.
I don't remember his name.
John? Not sure if that was his name.
He was at the Thanksgiving get together in Arizona last year.
Steve Ferguson knowers him.
Howard

All is well with my Lord

> On Oct 20, 2013, at 23:17, Emery Stora <emery...@me.com> wrote:
>
> I think he was talking about the Airstream motorhome, not the trailer.
>
> Emery Stora
>
>> On Oct 20, 2013, at 11:49 PM, Howard Nielsen <hnie...@cox.net> wrote:
>>

[botiemad .]

The Airstream is built on a P-30 bread truck chassis and no matter what's
on top of that chassis, it will handle like a bread truck. The shell
quality (skin) of any airstream is above criticism, but it stops there. I
looked at those for years and decided on a GMC. Just about everything
involved in "hotel" systems in any motorhome is pretty standard fare and
replacements are no harder to find than your nearest RV Trailer Supply or
Camping World. Lastly, they are so damn ugly compared to just about
anything and that should drive the choice to a GMC.
Steve F.

--
Take care,
Steve

[Carl Stouffer]

hnielsen2 wrote on Sun, 20 October 2013 23:49

> Emery thank you
> I have know only one owner who stepped out of a GMC in to a large Airstream motor home he and his wife where very happy with the Airstream.
> More room his wife has a on line business.
> I don't remember his name.
> John? Not sure if that was his name.
> He was at the Thanksgiving get together in Arizona last year.
> Steve Ferguson knowers him.
> Howard
>
> All is well with my Lord

Howard,

That would be Peter Rachtman, and his wife Susan. I have contact info for him if Mark would like to get a-hold of him directly. They found that the GMC II (by Explorer) just wasn't big enough and still wanted a 'classic'. At the Saguaro Jetset Thanksgiving Rally, last year, they had just had the Airstream motor home for a short time and seemed to like it so far.
--
Carl S.
'75 ex Palm Beach
Tucson, AZ.

[Howard Nielsen]

Carl
Thank You

Howard

All is well with my Lord

[Jim Gunther]

Yes Peter bought my Explorer II.

I felt badly that he's sold my baby (He'd put some extra $$ in it too.)

Last time we talked (maybe a year ago), said they were enjoying the extra space in the silver guy.





Carl S. wrote on Mon, 21 October 2013 10:48

> hnielsen2 wrote on Sun, 20 October 2013 23:49
> > Emery thank you
> > I have know only one owner who stepped out of a GMC in to a large Airstream motor home he and his wife where very happy with the Airstream.
> > More room his wife has a on line business.
> > I don't remember his name.
> > John? Not sure if that was his name.
> > He was at the Thanksgiving get together in Arizona last year.
> > Steve Ferguson knowers him.
> > Howard
> >
> > All is well with my Lord
>
>
>
> Howard,
>
> That would be Peter Rachtman, and his wife Susan. I have contact info for him if Mark would like to get a-hold of him directly. They found that the GMC II (by Explorer) just wasn't big enough and still wanted a 'classic'. At the Saguaro Jetset Thanksgiving Rally, last year, they had just had the Airstream motor home for a short time and seemed to like it so far.


--

Jim Gunther
www.LotusV6.com

now former owner - ;(

73 GMC-II 2600
by Explorer

[Byron Songer]

My penny's worth.

A P-30 chassis is a P-30 chassis except for the day it ran down the line.
Mondays and Fridays were always days to avoid but you have no hope of
knowing that information.

There are three styles of Airstream motorhomes. There's the "classic" style
with the aluminum skin all around including the rear cap. The Excella is of
this variety. There is the fiberglass version with the "shark nose". Both
were built on P-30 chassis (the P is for parcel). Small busses, delivery
trucks, etc. are built on this chassis. Expect a medium truck ride because
it is a medium truck. The third variety is the "flat nose" with fiberglass
body. These were built on a Freightliner Custom Chassis so they had
generally had Caterpillar 3126 engines. They went by various names including
Clipper, Cutter, and Land Yacht XC (the Freightliner XC chassis).

Interior workmanship - I've seen and owned better - we currently have an
Airstream Land Yacht XC. It doesn't compare to the Royale or the Holiday
Rambler we've owned.

Windows - in the classic variety aren't made for cold weather - plexiglass
in a frame.

Insulation - I don't know about "in the day" that the Excella was built but
now they are using a brown variety of the pink, spun stuff. It has a better
R factor than the spray foam that shrank like GMC had.

Service - They treat you nicely at Airstream factory and dealerships -
that's about as far as it goes.

The house - as pointed out, a camper/RV is made of off-the-shelf stuff. Fans
from here, appliances from there, wiring from down the road, toilet from the
plumber, etc. The furniture is the only thing customized for the unit. At
least they didn't use fiberboard but real plywood. I hate fiberboard with
plastic laminate.

Airstream - it's a cult just like the GMC-TZE crowd. People are people
wherever you go. The Airstream forum has lots of good folks just like here.

Comparison - there will be more space in the longer Airstream (if it is
longer) but there will be leaks somewhere, more than likely.

The 454 - back when it was in the truck it wasn't designed to last as long
as we drive things today. Again, it depends on when the engine was
assembled, what the guys were watching for, and whether they cared.
Otherwise, parts is parts and quality is like oats - there's the kind before
it goes in the horse and the kind that comes out of the horse.

Design - other than the Airstream look with aluminum skin, there is no great
attempt at engineering like there is with the TZE's chassis. If you are
concerned about driving/riding - get the GMC.

Byron Songer
Louisville, KY

[Chris Tyler]

My $.02 from when I was in the RV parts and service business: Airstreams in general are a PITA. We called them "tin cans"
At Holiday we were a dealer and got a lot in for service. Many, many of the parts were specialized and only availible from Airstream. Something as simple as the entry door lock which looked like an ordinary Bargeman cost over 4x as much. Working on them always took much longer - have to drill out 6 rivets th get to the bolts that hold the toilet...you get the picture.
The shape loses some usable space. But they do look cool.
The exterior aluminum tends to corrode, needs to be stripped and polished to maintain the appearance. And God help you if you get caught in a hailstorm...it will look like it was attacked by a hoard of vandals with ball peen hammers. At least back then, insurance would not typicly repair, only pay out depreciated value that was never enough.
The chassis is a P30 as most SOBs.
Airstreams are well built, but for my money you could get a much better coach for the money.
Airstreamers are almost cultlike in their devotion. They are as a whole, a different breed... kinda like GMCers...
But I wouldnt have one.
--
76 Glenbrook

[Michael Bozardt]

Interesting comments - especially re hail damage. Note the GMC motorhome roof is also one piece aluminum.
Michael Bozardt

[Ronald Pottol]

Yeah, but it's painted, little dents are not going to be obvious.

Plato seems wrong to me today.