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Should I even be thinking about this? - Printable Version +- Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum (http://www.wanderlodgegurus.com) +-- Forum: Yahoo Groups Archive (/forumdisplay.php?fid=61) +--- Forum: WanderlodgeForum (/forumdisplay.php?fid=63) +--- Thread: Should I even be thinking about this? (/showthread.php?tid=7665) Pages: 1 2 |
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Should I even be thinking about this? - contactdevonheath - 02-09-2009 11:10 I dream every day of owning a Wanderlodge, but.... Money, money, money. I found this ad today: 1967 bluebird wanderlodge motor coach, 34 feet long, diesel engine, about 7,000 miles on the engine, automatic transmision, air brakes, onan generator, roof air, gas furnace, electric heat also, seats 12, sleeps 5 comfortably, complete bath, gas cook stove, refrigerator, alot of towing capacity, needs some work, runs and drives, new front tires, nice rear tires, drive it anywhere now with the right fuel mix that is, must sell right away for the best serious cash offer only, call 763-689-2775, please call mid afternoon only, jeff After doing some research I found a post on an owner's forum where he prices the coach at 7500, OBO. Should I even be thinking about this? What are the big negatives about a coach this old? What are some 'red flags' I should look for? Devon Cox Wanderlodge Wannabe Should I even be thinking about this? - Leroy Eckert - 02-09-2009 11:37
Should I even be thinking about this? - hippieforever3 - 02-09-2009 14:20 Assuming the major mechanicals are sound, it's probably worth $5000+ as parts. Offer them that. Assume nothing else will work reliably. Figure on spending another $5000 in parts and 200+ hours working on "stuff", and that's assuming you're handy. Most RV-truck places charge around $100 an hour shop-time. If you don't have the extra $5000 or the 200+ hours don't do it. I'm working on making a 84FC35 that was billed as "ready to camp" fail- safe and have put almost $700 in parts getting the gen-set working right. Just spent $300 on paint and sealer and 30+ hours on roof leaks. Regards, GPSGary 1984FC35SB Should I even be thinking about this? - Fred Bellows - 02-09-2009 14:51 Devon, I would do it. I agree with Gary though. You have to go into this knowing that you could easily spend another $5000 and a bunch of hours over the next year getting it totally usable. But if you gave them 5-6k for it, and spent another 5-6k getting it all working, you'd have a classic, vintage, early (very early) Blue Bird Wanderlodge that would be the hit of every BB rally, and every car show you ever go to. And the fact that it was customized and sold to some semi-celebrity-related people just makes it that much more fun. A friend of mine bought a '63 Blue Bird school bus about 25 years ago and totally converted it himself, over the years, while using it in whatever state it was in along the way. It was a blast! He still has it and it's still not quite finished, but has been mostly done and completely useful for hundreds of fun trips over the years. Yes, it was less reliable in the early days than a newer, complete one would've been. Some trips we took were "lengthened" due to a breakdown and repair of somekind. But you know what, those are the fondest-memory trips of all! Any body can find a totally maintained coach somewhere and get big loan for it, and have less hassles. But it will just be another, average Wanderlodge, and not a special, early vintage classic show piece one. The thing about older coaches is that things break, and we fix 'em. Even Wanderlodges. And along the way, we get to know our machines inside and out, which helps 'em not break as much. And that's what's great about Wanderlodges. A> They don't break nearly as often as other RV's. And B> They're easier to fix because they're engineered well, with good components, and there is documentation and forums like this. So, if you're handy, and up for it, I'd say "go for it" Fred Bellows '90 SP "Maunder Maximum" Phx Should I even be thinking about this? - jkenn48105 - 02-09-2009 14:52 Devon, $7500 will buy you a lot of heartache. If you need parts for another bus, maybe. I looked at an FC35 that I thought would make a great project bus, BUT when I got up close and personal (with check in hand) it was more than I could ever imagine. I would have had to gut the interior down to the external sheet metal - everything inside had to go! A new generator, overhaul the engine, new tires, new leveling jacks and on and on. He wanted $24K. If I were you I'd look for a bus that you could step in and drive away with 99% of everything working. Good luck, Should I even be thinking about this? - mbulriss - 02-09-2009 15:23 Well,.... since a 67 Wanderlodge would be 31' long with a gas engine, that's some first points of interest. Runs "with the right fuel mix"? As others have hinted, methinks "run" is the operative word here.... Mike Bulriss 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan" - back from weekend at Buckhorn Lake San Antonio, TX --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "contactdevonheath" > > I dream every day of owning a Wanderlodge, but.... > Money, money, money. > > I found this ad today: > 1967 bluebird wanderlodge motor coach, 34 feet long, diesel engine, about 7,000 miles on > the engine, automatic transmision, air brakes, onan generator, roof air, gas furnace, electric > heat also, seats 12, sleeps 5 comfortably, complete bath, gas cook stove, refrigerator, alot of > towing capacity, needs some work, runs and drives, new front tires, nice rear tires, drive it > anywhere now with the right fuel mix that is, must sell right away for the best serious cash > offer only, call 763-689-2775, please call mid afternoon only, jeff > > After doing some research I found a post on an owner's forum where he prices the coach at > 7500, OBO. Should I even be thinking about this? What are the big negatives about a coach > this old? What are some 'red flags' I should look for? > > Devon Cox > Wanderlodge Wannabe > Should I even be thinking about this? - Joyce and Richard Hayden - 02-09-2009 15:58 I'm not sure how much you're wanting to pay for a Wanderlodge but if I were looking for an older one, that I could depend on - one that was in great condition and looked awesome for a very low price, I'd be looking at forum member Jim Marsh's 1982 FC "Serendipity".Your odds of getting something dependable would be much better.
Regards,
Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA
Should I even be thinking about this? - Curt Sprenger - 02-09-2009 16:06 Does the coach have air brakes? I bought a 1974 FC31 in 2002. It has air brakes, not juice brakes, and has the 534 Ford Industrial gas engine. and other than that it was is in NEED OF REPAIR. The asking price was $7,500. I offered $3,000...and explained to the seller what it was going to take to make the coach usable. After an hour he decided to take my offer. I spent $17,000 on top of that to make it a road worthy and enjoyable machine. I spent a few dollars that some would not have spent but that is me. A newer 'Bird came along so I sold the '74. Today the 1974 is performing perfectly, enjoying CA beach trips, attending the SWBB rallies, etc. It's a conversation coach for sure. If you would like more info. I'd be happy to share with you what I have. Good luck on what ever you decide to do. Curt Sprenger On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 6:20 PM, hippieforever3 <"debra@ticogps.com"> wrote:
Should I even be thinking about this? - Curt Sprenger - 02-09-2009 16:11 Good point, Dick. I'll second what you have posted. Jim Marsh's 1982 is a great buy. Curt Sprenger On Mon, Feb 9, 2009 at 7:58 PM, Joyce and Richard Hayden <"rhhayden@msn.com"> wrote:
Should I even be thinking about this? - Michael - 02-10-2009 02:17 Hey Devon, Like Fred mentioned about 25 years ago I was doing what you are now except the Wanderlodge prices were over $100,000 at the time. So I ended up buying an old 1963 Bluebird All American school bus and started converting it to look like a Wanderlodge as I could not afford such a coach. I am pretty handy and thought I could just about do anything that needed done. Plus, it allowed me to spread the costs over the years and I truly enjoyed learning about the beast. I know that bus inside and out and that is a very comforting feeling. It's only down fall was an underpowered engine (455 Olds - don't ask) and so I finally broke down a few years ago and purchased a CAT 3208na with an Allison MT643 (just like the Wanderlodges) to complete my dream. Well, after 25 years, space issues, time issues, and a bad economy I was able to purchase my 78FC35 that I have now. I'm still going to complete the '63 as it is very unique and spacious. Once complete I'm not sure which bus I will keep as the '63 was built "my way" and accomodates my life style better with lots more room. My point is your decision should be based on; 1) What you're need really is? Project or instant use? 2) What your finance situation is? Building from scratch is far more expensive than fixing an existing design. I'd rather have a $10k dollar bus and put $10k in to it than buy a $20k used bus where the condition of everything is questionable. (Unless you buy from a known source such as some of our known members with history). Anyway, I feel more comfortable knowing the condition of the work I did. 3) What is your skill set? If you are handy then parts only costs aren't so bad. If you have to hire everything out you will not be cost affective. 4) Check the bus for rust! My '63 Arizona Bluebird has a lot LESS rust than my 78 Wanderlodge. AND the '78 Wanderlodge needs LOTS of little things fixed, I just made sure the drive train worked well as that has been the issue with my old '63. If you'd like to see pics or discuss further I'm available at mike.putz@.... BUT.. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! The fuel statement and seating statement don't make sense! See the bus yourself even if it means flying out to do so! A picture (visual look) is worth a thousand words AND dollars!!! hee hee hee Good Luck, Michael --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "contactdevonheath" > > I dream every day of owning a Wanderlodge, but.... > Money, money, money. > > I found this ad today: > 1967 bluebird wanderlodge motor coach, 34 feet long, diesel engine, about 7,000 miles on > the engine, automatic transmision, air brakes, onan generator, roof air, gas furnace, electric > heat also, seats 12, sleeps 5 comfortably, complete bath, gas cook stove, refrigerator, alot of > towing capacity, needs some work, runs and drives, new front tires, nice rear tires, drive it > anywhere now with the right fuel mix that is, must sell right away for the best serious cash > offer only, call 763-689-2775, please call mid afternoon only, jeff > > After doing some research I found a post on an owner's forum where he prices the coach at > 7500, OBO. Should I even be thinking about this? What are the big negatives about a coach > this old? What are some 'red flags' I should look for? > > Devon Cox > Wanderlodge Wannabe > |