Anyone have or have experience with '73-'78 GMC motorhomes? There's one local, a '78 and the owner due to serious health issues is selling and just trying to get an idea of what issues I might run into on a 35+ year, well maintained with only 84k on the odometer? Six brand new radial tires on alco aluminum wheels (plus new spare and aluminum wheel) Engine is the 6.6L Olds Toronado FWD and gone through 10k miles ago. Original trans was serviced at that time also with no issues, knock on wood. Seems like in good to very good shape overall. When I asked a friend and longtime Mopar guy what he thought he said "old motorhomes usually leave you on the side of the rode on your vacation" so now I'm nervous. If anyone has had one or any experience or know someone that has, I'd like to hear about it, it would be greatly appreciated.

These are not it but samples of what I'm interested in. Thanks

Mike

I think there's a forum/site dedicated to them; they've always had a fan base, and I think have become somewhat of a collectible.
My only motorhome experience is from the mid-70s with mostly GM 454 and some Dodge 440 chassis.
I've only known one person with the GMC/Toronado deal, and don't recall him having problems, but that was long ago.
To my eye, the best-looking of them all. Dim memory of not much headroom inside if you're tall, but can't swear to it.

the great dOc might be an "expert" on those.............

Yep. Dad had one, I wrenched on it a little bit.

My buddy Ken rebuilt the Quadrajet for us, I bolted on some Doug Thorley headers purchased for a great price from DirectSubjection right here on Moparts, a million years ago.

I mean, driveline wise, it's just a big '70s GM product.....it has all the goodness and the issues a 455 powered Olds Toronado has.

The intake manifold has the carburetor lower than the intake runners, which isn't the best for cold drivability but it works in spite of itself.
The HEI is bulletproof within the parameters of a stock 455. Most of the motorhome specific stuff, I never got involved with. the vintage Onan generator,
the propane fridge and so on were out of my wheelhouse.

They have air suspension....I think Dad's had oddball 16.5" wheels that he didn't like finding tires for.

Exhaust manifolds love to crack, just like Dodge 440 and GM 454 motorhomes, and for some of the same reasons (3 hours hard use with heavy throttle and too quick of a shutdown, thermal shock,
do it enough times and they crack). Always idle for a few minutes after a hard run to let the manifolds cool off a little.

One inherent problem is, since the body can't rust, alot of folks assume the whole thing can't rust, and as a result they're driving around with a rusted frame.
In the 1990s when Dad had his, you could purchase a brand new frame! What a project to replace that, but lots of folks bought them. I don't believe GM was the source.

They have a cult following, boards like Moparts, and Dad belonged to several email lists back in the day. Made a few friends from them, travelling out of state as well.

Dad loved it for quite a few years but when Mom grew tired of travelling in it, it sat, and they got rid of it.

Been cleaning out the estate, and I came across an extra exhaust manifold for it recently which I'd donate to a good cause.

There is a rather large club for those, I'd be consulting with them

https://www.gmcmi.com/

As mentioned they still have quite a following.

One thing I have heard but not seen mentioned is they are "on road" only. With the single track front wheel drive they have a hard time on wet grass.

Maybe for some but a good friend and someone I raced with off-road and 8x National Enduro Champion had one from the first year of production '73 NEVER got stuck in the muddiest of pit and parking areas at some 24 events a year, along with dozens of other off-road motorcycle events. Then again he was as said an eight-time national off-road champion and star. Oh, and with a 16-foot trailer tagging along behind.

I've heard these models are lower than many other motorhomes. Does this mean fewer steps to climb up into it? Is the trade off less storage space?

if it's a good deal, maybe buy it, try it, then maybe flip it ?
how about a traveco 32 footer ?
just talked to a buddy about this, and that's what he said might be a good idea.
i don't know beans about these things. just tossing something out there to ponder.

Wow, did he have any special techniques?

Yeah, don't drive where you'll get stuck.

In a way that's part of it but also not parking in a spot where you will get stuck if it rains before you go to leave. Sometimes people would ask where he parked and it would be sometimes a good distance away motorhomes, trucks, or what seemed to be the most convenient to the event start and activity area. And then as noted knowing the best way out to not get stuck, even if you need to move it to a safe area and come back to finish up or wait for results. Like parking at the Nat's or Carlisle when there's a chance of rain sometime later so you find a place you have a better chance of NOT getting stuck.

I was told years ago that those motorhomes were built on an Oldsmobile Tornado chassis, which I find hard to believe

Heard they were a truck or bus frame and I think they would have to be considering the wheelbase and double rear wheels.

I watched a video years ago on the uniqueness of the GMC motorhome. It was advantageous that it was front wheel drive with that Toronado drivetrain. The FWD configuration made it so there was a better layout with more space in the living area. Not having to accommodate a transmission- driveshaft/driveshafts and a rear end made the interior more spacious and practical.

Just make sure you can still get any unique parts. Was just reading about the "Coachmen Clarion" which was also a FWD contraption which used Ford 4X4 stuff of the era and a VERY unique CV axle arrangement that is no longer made and thousands to have custom made. Even the front axle is weird, dana 50 with 44 guts or some nonsense.