A couple of weeks ago we received a callout request to a rather unusual vehicle - a 1970s GMC Motorhome.
At the time, I will admit I did not really know what it was. It looked intriguing straight away, with more than a hint of Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine about it, especially with the graphics. But once I started working on it, I went from intrigued to genuinely impressed.
This vehicle is around 50 years old, yet the suspension design is better thought out than quite a lot of what is currently available on the market. These GMC Motorhomes have a reputation for riding very well, and if you understand suspension, you can even see this illustrated in footage of them driving.
There is an interesting video here showing some of the history of these amazing vehicles:
Watch this video about the history of the GMC Motorhome
The rear suspension design is particularly unusual. Both rear wheels on each side work with a single air bag, rather than each wheel simply having its own separate air spring. The management system is also unusual, with automatic height control and full manual override, all operating through solenoids. Apparently, it had all been working until fairly recently.
My job was to get the system back up and running, understand how it had been plumbed and wired, and make recommendations for further work. That meant mapping the air suspension layout, checking the wiring and solenoid operation, and working out how the original system was meant to function.
Happily, I was able to leave the customer with functional air suspension, although further work will still be needed to bring everything fully back to where it should be.
It was a good reminder that interesting suspension design is not a new thing. Some older vehicles were extremely well engineered, and the GMC Motorhome is a great example. It is also the sort of job where specialist air suspension knowledge matters, because unusual systems are not always best approached by simply replacing parts and hoping for the best.
AirRide carries out air suspension callout work where suitable, including fault finding, temporary fixes, system mapping, repairs, upgrades and recommendations for further work. Whether it is a modern motorhome, a van, a pickup, a classic car, or something far more unusual, the first job is always the same: understand the system properly before deciding what needs to be done.
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