A GMC Motorhome demonstration procedure
(This script was sent to GMC salesmen in 1973 to help them sell the motorhomes.)


(The following are suggestions -- you may not want to bring up all the points; you may want to let a customer discover some things for himself.)

(Start by driving yourself)

Start the engine; point out that it starts only with the transmission in park or neutral.

Comment on the quietness.

Release the parking brake; comment that it works on all four rear wheels.

Make sure everyone is sitting down; comment on how the acceleration surprises people who are familiar with other motor homes. Point out that seat belts are standard equipment at all seat positions.

Put it in drive; point out that although you can now leave the transmission alone and just drive, if you were going to be going down any long hills, you could put the transmission into super or low range to use the gears to slow down and hold the vehicle.

(At first turn) comment on the power steering and how you can't really tell that it's front wheel drive from the feel of the steering wheel ... It has the same effortless turning of a good car.

(At first stop) Comment on the power assisted six-wheel braking.

(Get it up to speed) Comment on its ability to keep up with traffic with its 265 SAE net horsepower engine.

Comment on the forward visibility.

Comment on the quietness and explain some of the reasons for it; lack of a driveline and rear axle under the living area floor, the high-density sound-stopping properties of the laminated wood floor itself, the rubber isolating the body from the frame, the streamlining to reduce wind noise.
Comment on the ride and explain some of the reasons for it; torsion-bar front springs matched to the front weight, rear air springs that automatically match themselves to varying rear weights, tandem wheels that "walk over bumps", independent suspension of front and rear wheels instead of mounting them on axles which can transfer shocks.

Comment on stability. And explain some of the reasons for it; low center of gravity with lower overall height, design of the rear suspension which makes the tire centerlines the effective spring centers.


(Pull over and park)


(Trade places with customer)

Explain how to adjust seat, how to swivel it, where seat belt is.

Point out gauges and what they are registering.

If vehicle has tilt wheel, show him how to adjust it; if it has the standard wheel, tell him about the tilt wheel availability.

Have him adjust left-hand mirror until he can just see side of vehicle at right of it when he's seated correctly.

You adjust right-hand mirror until he can just see side of vehicle at left of it when seated correctly.

Ask him how he likes the forward visibility.

Caution him to do things gradually and easily until he gets the feel of the vehicle, particularly because of the acceleration. Explain about turning wide enough to keep the rear wheels clear.

Remind him to release the parking brake.

Let him drive without comment, or with just a word or two of encouragement, until he gets comfortable with it.

(Then)

When he goes around a curve, ask him if he can feel the front wheel drive pulling him around.

Ask him how he likes the power; remind him that he's not driving a fully-loaded vehicle, but even at maximum GVW of 10,500 pounds, the motorhome is still light in relation to most large motorhomes.

If possible, get him to start and stop the vehicle several times to try out the brakes.

Ask wife or other passengers to listen again to the quietness point out how this can reduce driving fatigue on a long trip.

Ask wife or other passengers how they like the ride; comment that most people feel st compares favorably with a good passenger car.

Point out to driver that engine is designed to run all day at highway speeds, with oversize cooling, plus water-coolers for engine oil and transmission oil.

Comment that low silhouette and streamlining make a considerable difference in range between fuel fills when travels at highway speeds, compared with a taller, flat-front vehicle

Ask him if he can feel the stability of the rear tandem with the air suspension.

Work on the wife to drive.

Point out that the driving controls are no more complicated than those of a car.

Comment that most women like the idea of being able to see over traffic and anticipate difficulties ahead before they get to them.

Comment that most motorhomers also like being on a face-to-face level with truck drivers; right there with them where they can't be overlooked or pushed around.


(Get man to trade places with wife)

Run through the same start-up procedures with her; seat adjustment, mirrors, controls, parking brake release.

Let her drive without comment or with small encouraging comments.

Ask husband to take advantage of opportunity to step back to rear and see for himself how well it rides back there and how quiet it is.

Talk to him from your position in the passenger seat; comment that you'd really have to shout to do this in some vehicles.
Congratulate woman on her driving.

Ask the man if he would like to drive again. (Let man drive again or drive yourself)
Ask for questions.
Talk about the available equipment, air conditioning, cruise control, thermasan system, AM/FM stereo.

(When you get back)

Run over the gauges and switches again.
Have the customer flip the battery-boost switch and you explain what's happening.
Do the same thing with the fuel selector switch.
Talk about the warranty.
Talk about one-stop service (and the 24-hour toll-free service number).