Date: Sun, 26 May 2002 10:32:59 -0500
Reply-To: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM>
Subject: Re: Best van ever designed (was: Why do we love that damn van so
much...)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
running example's ........... So give me the name of one person you know
personally that is running one.
I actually know where one is ...... been under restoration for ten years
but it isn't a driver.
Next item ........ that is STANETHULE not Stantowski.
I've been to Florida many times, right in the heart of the money belt and
in 33 years of going there and staying in Motor Home Parks I've never
seen one of those GMC lead sleads in a park after about 1978.
I admit I never expect to find them in the little State and Core of
Engineers parks I go to but, Spring Break in Ft. Lauderdale or Padre
Island, I'd expect to see one once in a while.
There are "Snow Bird" RV parks in McAllen and Brownsville Texas that
owners leave their units all year and just come for the winter months
.... I don't see any there.
If I were a dealer for the replacement parts for those GMC's I'd have
hung myself years ago.
Stan
On Sun, 26 May 2002 10:10:22 -0500 (CDT) CTONLINE@webtv.net (Terry K.)
writes:
> Whoa--Stantowski---
>
> Air Stream Suspension?
>
> Wrong answer---
>
> Air Bag Suspension----way ahead of their time--
>
> Borrowed from semi tractors---not air stream trailer's----
>
> If the front end is GREASED, and maintained , just as in the
> Vanatoilet's---it was a durable set up---
>
> And if half of the yo-yo's kept the proper air pressure in the
> heavy
> front ended unit's, the tire's would last one hell of a lot longer
> than
> 10,000 turns--
>
> There are many of these GMC's around here----not just
> parked--running
> example's
>
> Where do you come up with this stuff?
>
>
> Besides the GMC motorhome, I'm also kinda fond of the Prevost line
> of
> land yacht's--
>
> Detroit, Cat, Cummins Powered, with an Allison transmission, air
> ride
> all the way around, 11x22.5's on polished aluminum Budd
> wheels---yea
> baby, this is the way to fly-:>)
>
> A freind of mine has one---art deco interior---black marble
> john---trick---neat--marvelous----awe inspiring----and fast----
>
> Later,
>
> Terry
>
>
>
> E-mail message
>
> Most of these vans are not on the road! I see them all the time in
> junk
> yards.
> If you're seeing more than two a year on the road I'd be surprised.
> You
> might be seeing them parked under a shed or beside a house or barn
> but
> on the road; I doubt it.
> Those things were lead sleds with Air Stream Rear Suspension and
> bunches
> of stolen Air Stream features that GMC managed to tipple the weight
> on.
> That 10,000 mile set of front drive tires was a major killer of
> maintenance.
> NO! I've never had one. That is one mistake I never made.
> Stan Wilder
> On Sun, 26 May 2002 07:26:34 -0700 "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
> writes:
> "> The best... has to be the cabover current-model
> (1989-present) Toyota
> Hiace."
> Sounds like a great vehicle, But round here a "cabover" is called a
> "Class C" and is not considered a Van.
> If we are going to compare apples and oranges Ill take a 79' GMC
> 26'
> Motorcoach, front wheel drive 455cid Olds and a top speed of 80mph
> AND...great handling.
> check out the GMC history page:
> http://www.gmcmotorhomes.com/catalog/page00.html
> Most of these motorhomes are still on the road becouse they were
> designed to be tough as nails by an air craft engineer that worked
> for
> GMC.
> Phil
> --- Andrew Grebneff
> <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> wrote:
> ITS THE BEST VAN EVER DESIGNED.....EVER
> No way. Not looked at objectively. The body is great, the suspension
>
> is great (and therefore the handling). But it is seriously let down
>
> by unreliable mechanicals, poor electrics and crap-quality plastics
>
> and switchgear; unergonomic controls. The cargo bay is compromised
> by
> the engine hump; this could probably have been deleted by having no
>
> ancillaries atop the engine and a slightly higher floor.
> The best... has to be the cabover current-model (1989-present)
> Toyota
> Hiace. Solid, safe, reliable, big, ergonomic everything, decent
> handling, available with a huge variety of engines, body types, 3
> different van wheelbases and levels of trim from bare bones to
> ultraluxurious. And a flat cargo bay floor. All it lacks is an IRS
> option, though upmarket versions get torsionbar rear, and
> walkthrough. 4WD optional, including full-time and part-time
> versions. And with good looks to top it off, and Toyota's
> top-quality
> ergonomics, plastics, switchgear, fit and finish. Available with
> full camper conversions, including poptops.
> Toyota Hiace
> Engines
> 2.0 gas
> 2.4 gas
> 2.0 diesel
> 2.4 diesel (turbo oprtion)
> 2.8 diesel
> 3.0 EFI turbodiesel
> Auto or 5-speed manual; floorshift or column cartspring or
> torsionbar
> rear
> SWB, MWB (=VW length) or LWB
> RWD, part-time 4WD, full-time 4WD
> normal or high roof
> top-hinged normal tailgate or (rare) dual vertical-hinged doors
> single or dual sliders
> optional small rear wheels with no wheelarches intruding into floor
>
> electric locking, windows, morrors, dual aircon etc
> --
> Andrew Grebneff
> 165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
> <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
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