New to group

[Brian Gatley]

I have been lurking for about a week now and just thought I would throw
my hat in the ring.

We are a family with 4 kids (ages 6 - 13) and bought a 97 Beaver Patriot
2 years ago to travel across the country. After putting 10,000 miles on
that coach and then selling it we now have our eyes on a Wanderlodge
(probably 90s vintage). Obviously sleeping accommodations is an issue
for us and in the Patriot we installed a drop dinette and had 2 joey-bed
couches.

As the kids get bigger, the dinette is getting a bit crowded for 2 kids
and maybe a little short for even just 1. I am not sure I would go to
the expense of installing a drop dinette again.

I have seen pictures of a Newell at Holland Motor Homes that sleeps 9
and I thought I would investigate a similar bunk installation in a
Wanderlodge.

http://imm.rvamerica.net/showinv/imm_det...lientid=33
<http://imm.rvamerica.net/showinv/imm_det...3&id=10908>
&id=10908

We have no intention of changing the queen bed in the back, but would
consider installing bunks above the couches in the living area (sleep 6
total - queen, 2 bunks and 2 couches)

There are several reasons we are looking at Wanderlodges:

1. Steel frame construction - I'm not sure I want to hang bunks like
these from the ceiling of an aluminum frame coach.

2. Towing capacity - We tow a Yukon XL and the older Beavers (and other
coaches) have towing capacities closer to 5000 than do the bus class
coaches. We towed a smaller 4600 lb van with our Patriot and it worked
fine, but I don't think I would tow our Yukon with it.

3. Safety - I like the idea of a "tank" for the family.

4. Ride and handling - The ride and handling of our Beaver was great (8
airbags), but I am hoping the ride of a bus class coach is going to be
as good, if not better, as the Beaver.

5. Long-term value - This purchase may be longer term if we enjoy the
coach more, but I want to be sure to retain value over that time also.

6. Repairs and maintenance - I do not have time or inclination for a
significant full-time project of constant repairs and remodeling. I
understand the need for on-going maintenance and now and then repairs.
However, I really do want more travel time than I do repair or
remodeling time.

As I have read some of the discussions about Wanderlodges and
investigated other information, they, like many other coaches seem to
have their issues, but with regular maintenance and possibly a little
help from this group, I hope to own a Wanderlodge one day that will
serve our desire to travel as a family.

Is anyone familiar with the bunk system that is in the Newell above and
possible ways to install a similar system in a Wanderlodge?

Also, any other tips anyone has for a "newbie Wanderlodge wanna-be"
would be helpful.

Brian


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Jeff Miller]

Welcome aboard Brian, and you are looking at the right coaches in the
Wanderlodge IMO.

We have four children, have struggled with sleeping accomodations in
our Wanderlodge coaches. Having some interest and experience
modifying Wanderlodge interiors, I too have been interested in the
bunk arrangement such as the Newell you've mentioned.

In the Newell you're mentioning, the bunks are pretty well designed
and reasonably useable. I feel that the design (up high, too high IMO
for young ones) is really more for teens-adults. It is fairly sturdy
when down, pins to the brackets when up. Very heavy beds, takes some
strength to raise/lower.

The storage is one big issue on this coach, as the beds have little
space on them when stowed and allow no overhead storage. A necessary
evil I suppose to gain increased sleeping space.

I've seen bunk-bed conversions in a couple of Wanderlodges, and so
far I haven't seen it done well (IMO). It can be done, and the
ceiling / walls of the Wanderlodge do have the strength to support
them.

You might call Coachcraft by MacDonald in Columbus, GA about the
possibility of converting one, they might even know of one out there
that could be bought, I don't know.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Brian Gatley"
wrote:<<snip>>
> Is anyone familiar with the bunk system that is in the Newell above
and
> possible ways to install a similar system in a Wanderlodge?
>
> Also, any other tips anyone has for a "newbie Wanderlodge wanna-be"
> would be helpful.
>
> Brian

[Dale Cooper]

My name is Dale Cooper, Have an 84 FC, live near Cleveland Ohio. and am in
need of some help/information. Looking for LED exterior lights. The sockets
are rusted out on the rear park light and thought it would be a good time to
upgrade.

Respectfully,
Dale

[Leroy Eckert]

Dale:

Contact Stephen Birtles, http://www.capeinnovation.com tele 905-328-0162. He supplied
my LED markers, and side turn markers. I think he has tail lights also. He may
chime in here also.

Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40 "Smoke N Mirrors"
Niceville, FL








----- Original Message -----
From: Dale Cooper
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, January 05, 2007 6:47 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] New to group


My name is Dale Cooper, Have an 84 FC, live near Cleveland Ohio. and am in
need of some help/information. Looking for LED exterior lights. The sockets
are rusted out on the rear park light and thought it would be a good time to
upgrade.

Respectfully,
Dale





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Wilhelmus Schreurs]

Welcome Dale:
There are a number of places you can purchase them.
http://www.capeinnovation.com has a number of different items for the BB including
some of the LED's, not sure about the clearance lights though.

http://www.pmlights.com/ is another company which has a lot of lights. Peterson
is the type which is on the coach right now.


Bill 84 FC 35 SB "$quanderlodge"
Terrace, B.C. Canada




----- Original Message ----
From: Dale Cooper
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, January 5, 2007 4:47:11 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] New to group

My name is Dale Cooper, Have an 84 FC, live near Cleveland Ohio. and am in
need of some help/information. Looking for LED exterior lights. The sockets
are rusted out on the rear park light and thought it would be a good time to
upgrade.

Respectfully,
Dale




__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Welcome to the WanderlodgeForum Dale:

You will find plenty of help here and remember the only goofy questions are
the ones not asked.

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35
Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma

At 07:47 PM 1/5/2007 -0500, you wrote:
>My name is Dale Cooper, Have an 84 FC, live near Cleveland Ohio. and am in
>need of some help/information. Looking for LED exterior lights. The sockets
>are rusted out on the rear park light and thought it would be a good time to
>upgrade.
>
>Respectfully,
>Dale
>
>
>

[Gardner Yeaw]

Dale,
Stephen birtles (Cape Innovation) is the guy. I just replaced all
my marker lights with LED units from Stephen and it looks really
good. He also has ballasts for the flourescent lights and many other
items.

Gardner
78FC33


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dale Cooper"
wrote:
>
> My name is Dale Cooper, Have an 84 FC, live near Cleveland Ohio.
and am in
> need of some help/information. Looking for LED exterior lights.
The sockets
> are rusted out on the rear park light and thought it would be a
good time to
> upgrade.
>
> Respectfully,
> Dale
>

[Tom Warner]

http://s69.photobucket.com/albums/i57/warbucks13477/


tom