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Buying our First Bluebird!!! - 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: Buying our First Bluebird!!! (/showthread.php?tid=3594) |
Buying our First Bluebird!!! - erniecarpet@... - 10-06-2006 06:50 Eddie, best wishes on your upcoming purchace of Harvey and Kathy's coach. I have been in and around that coach many times and I believe you have a keeper there. Ernie Ekberg 83 PT40 Livingston, Montana [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Buying our First Bluebird!!! - eddiemoranii - 10-06-2006 06:54 We are buying Mr. Lawrence's 1984 PT-40! We live in central Florida and look forward to many many years of enjoyment. So Bluebird (the company) does not support Vintage Birds? What will that mean for us? I would assume that many many parts are still available. I would also assume that parts that are not available can be fabricated? What if we get hit by a truck and we damage the skin? Can we get new skin? Thanks for your answers in advance and we look forward to picking up "Southern Comfort" at the Lawrence's in a few weeks. Eddie Buying our First Bluebird!!! - p_a_lazar - 10-06-2006 07:44 Congratulations on your Bird. Since I started the dust-up about BB support, I feel I must also explain that you did *NOT* make a mistake buying BB. As I have repeatedly said, owning a BB means *NOT* needing the factory for support and that is one of my main reason to buy one as well. Almost every part is standard RV or off the shelf boat stuff etc. The mechanicals are available at any bus/truck supplier. The engine & transmission are used everywhere. The generator is standard as well. Interiors can be completely stripped out and made new or matching/close to matching materials are readily available to the handyman or carpenter. THe skin is double galvanized steel readily available at metals distributors (unlike custom fiberglass). Do not fear your decision. My rants are directed at the companies short sightedness is abondoning it's roots. BBs can be kept on the road far beyond our lifetimes without having to look too hard for parts or to have them custom made. Paul 97wb43 P.S. Everything I say is just my opinions. --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "eddiemoranii" > > We are buying Mr. Lawrence's 1984 PT-40! > > We live in central Florida and look forward to many many years of > enjoyment. > > So Bluebird (the company) does not support Vintage Birds? What will > that mean for us? I would assume that many many parts are still > available. I would also assume that parts that are not available can > be fabricated? > > What if we get hit by a truck and we damage the skin? Can we get new > skin? > > Thanks for your answers in advance and we look forward to picking > up "Southern Comfort" at the Lawrence's in a few weeks. > > Eddie > Buying our First Bluebird!!! - Ralph L. Fullenwider - 10-06-2006 08:04 Hello Eddie: Your getting a good, well maintained, Coach in Southern Comfort. Harvey and Kathy are wonderful people. So congratulations to you and I know that you will enjoy the many miles of travel down the highways and byways of this vast and wonderful part of the hemisphere. As to your thoughts on parts, service and help, Paul and Mike H. have covered most of that. Then there is the support of the Wanderlodge Forum with sub divisions of "files, recommended service companies, various part up grades," and of course the vast knowledge of "owners" of the Forum. Please remember that the only dumb question here is a question that is not asked. Don't forget to add to your insurance package, towing insurance such as is available from the FMCA it is one of the best $85.00 per year, buys going. Just a thought there. Safe travels, Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma At 06:54 PM 10/6/2006 +0000, you wrote: >We are buying Mr. Lawrence's 1984 PT-40! > >We live in central Florida and look forward to many many years of >enjoyment. > >So Bluebird (the company) does not support Vintage Birds? What will >that mean for us? I would assume that many many parts are still >available. I would also assume that parts that are not available can >be fabricated? > >What if we get hit by a truck and we damage the skin? Can we get new >skin? > >Thanks for your answers in advance and we look forward to picking >up "Southern Comfort" at the Lawrence's in a few weeks. > >Eddie Buying our First Bluebird!!! - mbulriss - 10-06-2006 08:06 Eddie, Congrats to you (and Harvey also) and welcome to the WanderlodgeForum! You got a good Bird. May you have many miles of happiness together. Mike Bulriss 1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan" San Antonio, TX --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "eddiemoranii" > > We are buying Mr. Lawrence's 1984 PT-40! > > We live in central Florida and look forward to many many years of > enjoyment. > > So Bluebird (the company) does not support Vintage Birds? What will > that mean for us? I would assume that many many parts are still > available. I would also assume that parts that are not available can > be fabricated? > > What if we get hit by a truck and we damage the skin? Can we get new > skin? > > Thanks for your answers in advance and we look forward to picking > up "Southern Comfort" at the Lawrence's in a few weeks. > > Eddie > Buying our First Bluebird!!! - pattypape - 10-06-2006 08:14 Eddie, Do not be fearful, You made a good decision. All parts are available, or a substitute is available. A good truck parts place has it all or NAPA, and numerous internet businesses sell parts. Most parts are common to a truck or bus, The Interior RV stuff is easy to find. These BB Forums are great for information and support. So just start asking questions. Bill 88 FC Michigan --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "eddiemoranii" > > We are buying Mr. Lawrence's 1984 PT-40! > > We live in central Florida and look forward to many many years of > enjoyment. > > So Bluebird (the company) does not support Vintage Birds? What will > that mean for us? I would assume that many many parts are still > available. I would also assume that parts that are not available can > be fabricated? > > What if we get hit by a truck and we damage the skin? Can we get new > skin? > > Thanks for your answers in advance and we look forward to picking > up "Southern Comfort" at the Lawrence's in a few weeks. > > Eddie > Buying our First Bluebird!!! - eddiemoranii - 10-06-2006 10:08 --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "pattypape" wrote: >To all, I am not fearful. Although it is a large sum of money for us, we believe that we are getting into a Great bus with a great support network. My wife and I are very excited and we do feel that we are getting a great bus. I was just slightly concerned about the discussion of a lack of company support for the Bluebird. If the company has not been the source of most parts for a while then it will be no big deal. Also, I do work on things myself, when I have the time and am not working. Thanks for everyones responses.... Eddie > > Eddie, > > Do not be fearful, You made a good decision. > All parts are available, or a substitute is available. > A good truck parts place has it all or NAPA, and numerous > internet businesses sell parts. Most parts are common to a truck > or bus, The Interior RV stuff is easy to find. > These BB Forums are great for information and support. > So just start asking questions. > > Bill 88 FC Michigan > > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "eddiemoranii" > > > > > We are buying Mr. Lawrence's 1984 PT-40! > > > > We live in central Florida and look forward to many many years of > > enjoyment. > > > > So Bluebird (the company) does not support Vintage Birds? What > will > > that mean for us? I would assume that many many parts are still > > available. I would also assume that parts that are not available > can > > be fabricated? > > > > What if we get hit by a truck and we damage the skin? Can we get > new > > skin? > > > > Thanks for your answers in advance and we look forward to picking > > up "Southern Comfort" at the Lawrence's in a few weeks. > > > > Eddie > > > Buying our First Bluebird!!! - Pete Masterson - 10-06-2006 13:35 I just want to add my voice ... "factory support" for older BB WLs is just not that big a deal. I've tackled a number of things ... minor and not-so-minor and haven't felt the need to contact BB about any of it. Heavy truck places* and good general auto parts stores will take care of the standard stuff. Then much of the other stuff is common RV items. I've done a couple of projects with Camping World. They don't care what age or brand RV you have, their technicians seem to be able to work with whatever, since the RV systems they support are common to most RVs. My local auto parts stores were quite helpful in getting a variety of filters ... and I've been able to find the more esoteric items via the Internet. (Most recently, some "camloc" fasteners -- I managed to break one.) Sometimes the most tricky aspect is simply identifying the "thing" so you can search for it. As for the critique of BB's attitude ... I understand the concern, but it's mostly a matter of attitude. BB is in a very competitive business at the high end. Those willing to spend $800,000 or $1 million on an RV are clearly not in the same category as I ... and since I don't think I'll ever be on the Forbes 400 list, I'm unlikely to consider spending such a sum even if I could afford it. (In a few years, I might 'trade up' to a newer, but used, BB -- perhaps one with slide outs --- but I'm hoping that the magic of depreciation will make those much more affordable when the time comes.) *I had radiator work done by a local radiator shop that also works on a local transit district's busses. No problems and no need to be concerned with "factory support." Pete Masterson aeonix1@... '95 Bluebird Wanderlodge WBDA 42' El Sobrante, CA On Oct 6, 2006, at 3:08 PM, eddiemoranii wrote: > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "pattypape" > wrote: >> To all, I am not fearful. Although it is a large sum of money for > us, we believe that we are getting into a Great bus with a great > support network. > > My wife and I are very excited and we do feel that we are getting a > great bus. I was just slightly concerned about the discussion of a > lack of company support for the Bluebird. If the company has not > been the source of most parts for a while then it will be no big > deal. Also, I do work on things myself, when I have the time and am > not working. > > Thanks for everyones responses.... > > Eddie >> >> Eddie, >> >> Do not be fearful, You made a good decision. >> All parts are available, or a substitute is available. >> A good truck parts place has it all or NAPA, and numerous >> internet businesses sell parts. Most parts are common to a truck >> or bus, The Interior RV stuff is easy to find. >> These BB Forums are great for information and support. >> So just start asking questions. >> >> Bill 88 FC Michigan >> >> >> >> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "eddiemoranii" >> >>> >>> We are buying Mr. Lawrence's 1984 PT-40! >>> >>> We live in central Florida and look forward to many many years > of >>> enjoyment. >>> >>> So Bluebird (the company) does not support Vintage Birds? What >> will >>> that mean for us? I would assume that many many parts are still >>> available. I would also assume that parts that are not > available >> can >>> be fabricated? >>> >>> What if we get hit by a truck and we damage the skin? Can we > get >> new >>> skin? >>> >>> Thanks for your answers in advance and we look forward to > picking >>> up "Southern Comfort" at the Lawrence's in a few weeks. >>> >>> Eddie >>> >> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] |