Building the Best Damn GMC Motorhome Ever E.12 - Lights and Ladders
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ต.ค. 2024
- After removing the stock Air Conditioner, I was struck by how much more modern and clean the motorhome looked. It motivated me to remove some more stuff from the roof and see just how much more aerodynamic and sleek I could make the GMC look.
Lexus LX470 Playllist: • How I Bought a 4x4 Car...
There are now a/c units that run from solar panels that will keep the unit cool. You have a great site. Save the GM Ladder as there is surely someone who will want to get that from you for their RV. You can get on line the exact lights your removing with LED & they are the Amber & in Fog you want that. So you won't have to do all the filler for the tiny one's your putting on.
I live an hour away from Orlando and my father, being a trend setter, ought a new 74 GMC in Chicago for our move to Colorado. I am looking right now to own another. They are as amazing as people say they are.
As has been stated, the roof marker lights are a regulatory item here in the US to indicate vehicle width. My concern with the ones you are using, in the orientation you are using them, is that you won't be able to see them from another vehicle. The housing/screws will block them going forward. You might get into trouble with johny law for that. There are more sleek, streamlined options out there, but the light needs to be oriented forward so that oncoming/trailing vehicles can see them.
As to the fade paint job, there's good reason you don't see it. Paint jobs for these coaches are incredibly expensive as it is, and fade paint jobs just multiple that cost, as they are incredibly expensive paint jobs on normal sized vehicles. If you are going to do a fade, I would recommend looking into a wrap instead.
Lastly, as has been said, unless you live in a very temperate climate, you are going to want that AC unit. Maybe a mini split unit will work better for you, I have seen a few GMC people install them over the rear window in their coaches. These rigs are heat sinks with the aluminum skin, and no amount of insulation has been able to satisfy the community thus far.
As a fellow GMC owner, I look forward to watching the rest of you build.
A very good yet critical comment. Thank you for your courteous input without the vitriol so commonly seen in TH-cam comments. Nothing is set in stone. That's not how I work. Nobody should be surprised if the final build is more inline with your assertions.
I quite liked the rack and ladder. But I can understand the wish for a sleeker look too.
OK, I've been skulking around watching and I have a couple of observations. First, even if you're boondocking, you're still going to need an AC unit in the thing. There are any number of smaller, sleeker, way more efficient units to replace the behemoth you ripped out of it and, if you don't put something in there to replace it, you will roast. Say you want to visit Arizona, or even Eastern Oregon in the summer. Second, aero be damned, you're also going to find yourself wishing you had some kind of storage on top of that thing eventually. Otherwise, why buy a ladder?
I've always wanted one of these to go all sick on customizing it (think "Orient Express" art deco on the inside) and I like watching how others approach problem-solving on these vehicles. And, fellow Stumptowner...
I really like the idea of the paint job... but perhaps maybe not brown because I think that makes the rv look constantly dirty. Just a thought
Yeah no need for pricey paint job when you just have to drive on dusty roads. lol
Monday morning, cup of coffee, logged into my wfh session and enjoying you RV reno video!
re: paint job ideas. A WIZARD and an Amazon warrior riding a tiger
You might wanna look into the possibility that polyester products don't stick very well too Gmc plastic I believe epoxies are the way to go. But you should put the question out to one of the GMC forms. Thanks for the videos
The seam sealer is asphalt based. It's very stinky and never fully hardens. It's not really a glue, just a water proofing agent.
GM makes a foam adhesive sealer two. Part. That is waterproof and flexible
7:15 Those “Indicator Lights” purpose/law are to indicate vehicles that are 80” wide & wider; 5 of these are required by law. 3 of the lights are in a row in the middle to indicate the presence of a “wide vehicle”. Additionally, 1 light sits at each side (2 total), at the widest point of the vehicle/roofline, to indicate how wide the vehicle actually is.
In one country, there was a trick to the clearance lights :
The lights would illuminate sequentially as the speed increased. A truck with all 5 on was really moving, and you better give way.
I think one of the main problems with the coach is the flexing of the seams on the roof? Would a fairing stip wider than the seam with gaskets help? The gaskets would keep water out, and still be able to shift. They would also block UV deterioration.
We have 2 GMC motorhomes and a Lexus LX470 too. I'm going to check out your LX470 videos. Keep the updates on your project coming as we enjoy them.
Make sure you keep what you take off. Other GMC owners will be glad to take them off your hands.
I am so intrigued and eager to see how the GMC shall look after you remove the roof accessories and reduce the lights sizes. I've seen similar minimalist ideas, but nothing as radical as your project. Your work will dictate the overall look of my Motorhome as well.
Me too. It's cool to see someone just go for it.
I love my GMC ladder and rails.. I bet some GMC guy would almost kill to have yours.. lol. I took off the pod and installed a Sepele deck on mine.. carries cargo and is a upper deck when camping...
Totally
You have the 3D printer, Mount the lights on the front side of the front of the cab, you can make a mount for the center one
Know exactly what you mean about the rain. Picked my van (VW T4 High Top) up just over a week ago and we have had 2 heavy downpours, first thing I checked was for leaks in my roof. It didn't have any lucky but god it was a nerve racking couple of days while it was coming down.
Wicked cool. Might want to try. A seam sealer or hi grade epoxy to seal the gap. GM. Makes a foam panel adhesive. Too....
Seeing as how you have a Palm Beach....do a green to white fade starting with the true PB green at the bottom. ....this way you dont have to change all the dssh colors etc. 🙂
Richard Mondor this is a really good idea! I hope he sees this.
Hi, I just ran across your site as I am getting ready to purchase my own GMC 23'. I agree with your design ethos of trying to make it more sleek and aero. I will be eagerly following your progress. You mention you live in the PNW, I'm in Portland, OR. How about yourself?
I'm right across the river in Vancouver.
@@IndustriousPursuits cool, when I get a GMC we should connect since we are both fairly local. I'd be happy to help out to learn more.
i would go for a different marker lamps, although you can see them bright from the side you need to take in mind that most traffic is lower then the roof of the motorhome, so should be able to see them from a lower angle (where i assume that the black part of your lamps is hiding part of the light going down).
try "roof marker LED" on ebay and there's many options.
Plain white paint would be the best
Very interesting video, and the progresses you are making are amazing. Fading paint looks sound...Will you try to handle the paint job yourself or get professionals to do it?
Probably going to get a pro. Unless it costs too much. Then I will build a booth around the MH and do it myself.
@@IndustriousPursuits can't wait to see how beautiful is going to be . 🐱🏍
Great info as always
Nice vid again today. Like the fad paint scheme...it will update the look of the motorhome. If no one has mentioned it. Would you mind listing the products you use in the vids. Keep it up.. It is going to be a great coach
I vote for the em50 paint scheme
At 6:07, the bare mounting point for a light on the left seems like a face from the "Scream" painting. Nooooooo.
Fade is nifty! Don't like the tube bumper much tho.
I would completely fill the running light holes and drill new ones right above the windshield. That way the running light are facing forward of the vehicle rather than being on top. I also wouldn't bother with the body filler over the screws. I would instead sand down the entire roof and use the Henry's Tropi-Cool sealant on the entire roof (effectively covering the screw heads) and insulating the roof from heat/cold. It should also cover the metal plate that you installed in place of the old A/C unit. Here's the sealant I'm talking about. henry.com/retail/white-roof-coatings/887-tropi-cool-100-silicone-white-roof-coating
You have one heavily armed recreational vehicle! #Stripes
I get why you want to shave the roof lights as much as possible, but they are a federal requirement. There are low profile LEDs available more suitable.
Hi what are going to do with the ladder?
It's for sale. $300 local or $500 shipped to the lower 48.
You said Pacific NW, where are you located? I'm in Snohomish County with a 73 23' Canyon Lands and a 77 Eleganza II
Nevermind, saw the blurred out Oregon plate on the Lexus.
I'm actually in Vancouver.
@@IndustriousPursuits Work down in Portland?
Are you going to put solar panels on the roof
Your body filler patches, I feel, are going to end up leaking. I feel in time the body filler is going the shift and crack, that will cause the paint to crack, and then the water is going to come through. I have seen issue with bondo on cars, just hoping it works for you.
This is certainly a problem with bondo on metal. I'm hopeful it will not happen because I've only patched holes in the SMC fiberglass with the body filler. As the materials are very similar versions of polyester resin, I think they will remain relatively constant to each other even during heat/contraction that comes with temperature changes. I 'm hopeful that the paint will not crack.
@@IndustriousPursuits The right way to do this is to sand down the SMC larger than the holes, say a 4"x4" area, lay down 2 layers of fiberglass, sand then bondo. Strong and leak proof.
They have som cab maker lights on Amazon that are low profile and Aero dynamic ijdmtoy store is who sells them on Amazon
You willing to sell your old ladder? My '78 needs one!
$400 local to Portland, $600 shipped. You can also get them from applied GMC: www.gmcrvparts.com/product-p/gm23-rv92.1.htm
@@IndustriousPursuitsyou go $500 during a pandemic and you promise to spend the money on the GMC?
Sell it to him for $300 and I’ll subscribe to your channel.
@@USAFA00 I hope the streamlining part of this GMC is for a crack at the land speed record! It would totally motivate me to do something with my stalled '78 gmc project!
If you live in the lower 48, you've got yourself a deal. 100% of the funds will go to the GMC. You can find my email address in the about tab of my channel here: th-cam.com/channels/vYks0_cyICBkMsBiWvX6jQ.htmlabout?view_as=subscriber We can work out the details via email.
Let me know if you want to sell the ladder and rails I can use it on mine
$400 local to Portland, $600 shipped. You can also get them from applied GMC: www.gmcrvparts.com/product-p/gm23-rv92.1.htm
I’m going to have to pass for now but thank you for responding so quickly.
Good job with the videos by the way