PT40 inspection prelims

[Don Bradner]

I had a 90 PT40 (the one I've mentioned before in Phoenix) inspected today.
Won't get the photos until later tonight or maybe tomorrow, and the written
report a day or so later, but I have the highlights that I thought I would share
for comments.

Positive things:
Coach condition generally good, inside and out. Engine ran well, no sign of
leaks, belts and hoses look good.

Problem areas:
Bad propane leak. He said when he turned the gas on, he could both hear and
smell it. Of course the seller says they will take care of it, but???... As a
result, no testing of propane appliances has occurred. Refrigerator worked on
AC.

Batteries are shot. Had to get battery cart to start the coach, and the coach
set were so bad that he had trouble testing some of the things that only run
from the inverter. Seller says they will replace batteries. Generator started OK
(presumably separate battery - can someone tell me if that is the case in a 90?
- I know it was later). I'm told it has 6 Group 24s, 3 chassis, 3 coach. That
would be pretty marginal for me, I'm a pretty heavy power user for electronics.
Don't mind running the generator for the boondocking we do (primarily a month in
Q every year), but not if they run down in a hurry. Anybody out there who has
undertaken to add batteries to a coach like this?

Signs of water staining on walls at windows behind both front seats. Worrisome
for someone who spends a lot of time in Eureka California! Hard to test to tell
if anything has been repaired or not. On the plus side, we do have experience
with doing our own window removal and replacement, but I don't know if the Bird
windows would be different.

Some cracking of formica walls in bedroom. The inspector felt it was probably
not abnormal wear and tear.

A specific comment from the inspector: He said it had been awhile since he had
inspected a Bird, and he had to refer to the manual a few times to locate some
items. He said he's had quite a few jobs recently on "ordinary DPs," Winnies,
Monacos, etc. that are 2-4 years old. He said it was a real pleasure to do one
on a Bird where everything was so solid and well-built.


Don Bradner
http://www.arcatapet.net

[Pete Masterson]

On Dec 19, 2006, at 5:31 PM, Don Bradner wrote:
> <snip>. I'm told it has 6 Group 24s, 3 chassis, 3 coach. That would
> be pretty marginal for me, I'm a pretty heavy power user for
> electronics. Don't mind running the generator for the boondocking
> we do (primarily a month in Q every year), but not if they run down
> in a hurry. Anybody out there who has undertaken to add batteries
> to a coach like this?

Mine's a 95, but it has 6 'house' and 3 'engine' batteries. Perhaps
someone with a '90 can comment.

>
> Signs of water staining on walls at windows behind both front
> seats. Worrisome for someone who spends a lot of time in Eureka
> California! Hard to test to tell if anything has been repaired or
> not. On the plus side, we do have experience with doing our own
> window removal and replacement, but I don't know if the Bird
> windows would be different.

This would be my biggest worry. 'Birds are steel and steel rusts.
Water trapped in the wall near a window leak could start some serious
rust, if it is a major leak.

This might be something that requires a more careful inspection and
removal of moldings, etc. to get a closer look.

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA

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

[Al]

Hi Don,
Going from an SOB you are going to love a bird. Make sure you have
a look at the BMC line. You will get a 4 - 5 year newer bird for
same money w/Cummings powerplant. Of course the motosat sitting on
top is great too.

Al, Kathy, Alfred & Daniel Johnson
'96 BMC B50
Motosat Certified Installer
Mandeville, Louisiana


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> I had a 90 PT40 (the one I've mentioned before in Phoenix)
inspected today. Won't get the photos until later tonight or maybe
tomorrow, and the written report a day or so later, but I have the
highlights that I thought I would share for comments.
>
> Positive things:
> Coach condition generally good, inside and out. Engine ran well, no
sign of leaks, belts and hoses look good.
>
> Problem areas:
> Bad propane leak. He said when he turned the gas on, he could both
hear and smell it. Of course the seller says they will take care of
it, but???... As a result, no testing of propane appliances has
occurred. Refrigerator worked on AC.
>
> Batteries are shot. Had to get battery cart to start the coach, and
the coach set were so bad that he had trouble testing some of the
things that only run from the inverter. Seller says they will replace
batteries. Generator started OK (presumably separate battery - can
someone tell me if that is the case in a 90? - I know it was later).
I'm told it has 6 Group 24s, 3 chassis, 3 coach. That would be pretty
marginal for me, I'm a pretty heavy power user for electronics. Don't
mind running the generator for the boondocking we do (primarily a
month in Q every year), but not if they run down in a hurry. Anybody
out there who has undertaken to add batteries to a coach like this?
>
> Signs of water staining on walls at windows behind both front
seats. Worrisome for someone who spends a lot of time in Eureka
California! Hard to test to tell if anything has been repaired or
not. On the plus side, we do have experience with doing our own
window removal and replacement, but I don't know if the Bird windows
would be different.
>
> Some cracking of formica walls in bedroom. The inspector felt it
was probably not abnormal wear and tear.
>
> A specific comment from the inspector: He said it had been awhile
since he had inspected a Bird, and he had to refer to the manual a
few times to locate some items. He said he's had quite a few jobs
recently on "ordinary DPs," Winnies, Monacos, etc. that are 2-4 years
old. He said it was a real pleasure to do one on a Bird where
everything was so solid and well-built.
>
>
> Don Bradner
> http://www.arcatapet.net
>

[Terry Neal]

Don, my wife's uncle has a PT40 which I think now has 8 or 10 Trojans in
it. He revamped the entire Inverter/battery system as he needed more
power for everything + they boondock a lot in AZ. I will see him next
week & can get you the details / pictures if that might help in your
plans? The rest of the inspection seems to be things that can be
corrected. I would definitely have the seller fix the propane leak(s)
as well as verify the correct operation of all the gas appliances if I
were buying it. Good luck with the purchase should you decide to go
forward.

Terry Neal
Bozeman, MT
82PT40
74FC34



Don Bradner wrote:

> I had a 90 PT40 (the one I've mentioned before in Phoenix) inspected
> today. Won't get the photos until later tonight or maybe tomorrow, and
> the written report a day or so later, but I have the highlights that I
> thought I would share for comments.
>
> Positive things:
> Coach condition generally good, inside and out. Engine ran well, no
> sign of leaks, belts and hoses look good.
>
> Problem areas:
> Bad propane leak. He said when he turned the gas on, he could both
> hear and smell it. Of course the seller says they will take care of
> it, but???... As a result, no testing of propane appliances has
> occurred. Refrigerator worked on AC.
>
> Batteries are shot. Had to get battery cart to start the coach, and
> the coach set were so bad that he had trouble testing some of the
> things that only run from the inverter. Seller says they will replace
> batteries. Generator started OK (presumably separate battery - can
> someone tell me if that is the case in a 90? - I know it was later).
> I'm told it has 6 Group 24s, 3 chassis, 3 coach. That would be pretty
> marginal for me, I'm a pretty heavy power user for electronics. Don't
> mind running the generator for the boondocking we do (primarily a
> month in Q every year), but not if they run down in a hurry. Anybody
> out there who has undertaken to add batteries to a coach like this?
>
> Signs of water staining on walls at windows behind both front seats.
> Worrisome for someone who spends a lot of time in Eureka California!
> Hard to test to tell if anything has been repaired or not. On the plus
> side, we do have experience with doing our own window removal and
> replacement, but I don't know if the Bird windows would be different.
>
> Some cracking of formica walls in bedroom. The inspector felt it was
> probably not abnormal wear and tear.
>
> A specific comment from the inspector: He said it had been awhile
> since he had inspected a Bird, and he had to refer to the manual a few
> times to locate some items. He said he's had quite a few jobs recently
> on "ordinary DPs," Winnies, Monacos, etc. that are 2-4 years old. He
> said it was a real pleasure to do one on a Bird where everything was
> so solid and well-built.
>
> Don Bradner
> http://www.arcatapet.net
>
>



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

[Gregory OConnor]

Don, dont give too much away some one may snap it up. The water
behind the two windows may be a cloged aircon air filter which blocks
flow and allows the ac unit to ice up and the water runs out the
ducting.
Just get the seller to suck up 10G's and drive it home. You will
spend 10 to 15 g's fixing a perfect one anyway. I would spend the
bucks at a DD Alison shop reading the computer and doing a state
safety inspection on road wortheyness . Sounds like you know more
than the RV guy did that was a waste of money.
GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> I had a 90 PT40 (the one I've mentioned before in Phoenix)
inspected today. Won't get the photos until later tonight or maybe
tomorrow, and the written report a day or so later, but I have the
highlights that I thought I would share for comments.
>
> Positive things:
> Coach condition generally good, inside and out. Engine ran well, no
sign of leaks, belts and hoses look good.
>
> Problem areas:
> Bad propane leak. He said when he turned the gas on, he could both
hear and smell it. Of course the seller says they will take care of
it, but???... As a result, no testing of propane appliances has
occurred. Refrigerator worked on AC.
>
> Batteries are shot. Had to get battery cart to start the coach, and
the coach set were so bad that he had trouble testing some of the
things that only run from the inverter. Seller says they will replace
batteries. Generator started OK (presumably separate battery - can
someone tell me if that is the case in a 90? - I know it was later).
I'm told it has 6 Group 24s, 3 chassis, 3 coach. That would be pretty
marginal for me, I'm a pretty heavy power user for electronics. Don't
mind running the generator for the boondocking we do (primarily a
month in Q every year), but not if they run down in a hurry. Anybody
out there who has undertaken to add batteries to a coach like this?
>
> Signs of water staining on walls at windows behind both front
seats. Worrisome for someone who spends a lot of time in Eureka
California! Hard to test to tell if anything has been repaired or
not. On the plus side, we do have experience with doing our own
window removal and replacement, but I don't know if the Bird windows
would be different.
>
> Some cracking of formica walls in bedroom. The inspector felt it
was probably not abnormal wear and tear.
>
> A specific comment from the inspector: He said it had been awhile
since he had inspected a Bird, and he had to refer to the manual a
few times to locate some items. He said he's had quite a few jobs
recently on "ordinary DPs," Winnies, Monacos, etc. that are 2-4 years
old. He said it was a real pleasure to do one on a Bird where
everything was so solid and well-built.
>
>
> Don Bradner
> http://www.arcatapet.net
>

[Don Bradner]

I thought about the air conditioner as well - wouldn't have to be anything to do
with icing up, just bad seals allowing moisture in, and would account for both
sides. No ducting on a 90, i don't think, but that doesn't matter as it still
would have entry points to get into the roof, then the sidewalls.

On 12/20/2006 at 5:55 AM Gregory OConnor wrote:

> The water
>behind the two windows may be a cloged aircon air filter which blocks
>flow and allows the ac unit to ice up and the water runs out the
>ducting.


Don Bradner
Bird Wannabe
Currently 2003 Safari Zanzibar

[Jack and Liz Pearce]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner" wrote:
>
> I had a 90 PT40 (the one I've mentioned before in Phoenix) inspected
today. Won't get the photos until later tonight or maybe tomorrow, and
the written report a day or so later, but I have the highlights that I
thought I would share for comments.
>
> Positive things:
> Coach condition generally good, inside and out. Engine ran well, no
sign of leaks, belts and hoses look good.
>
> Problem areas:
> Bad propane leak. He said when he turned the gas on, he could both
hear and smell it. Of course the seller says they will take care of it,
but???... As a result, no testing of propane appliances has occurred.
Refrigerator worked on AC.
>
> Batteries are shot. Had to get battery cart to start the coach, and
the coach set were so bad that he had trouble testing some of the things
that only run from the inverter. Seller says they will replace
batteries. Generator started OK (presumably separate battery - can
someone tell me if that is the case in a 90? - I know it was later). I'm
told it has 6 Group 24s, 3 chassis, 3 coach. That would be pretty
marginal for me, I'm a pretty heavy power user for electronics. Don't
mind running the generator for the boondocking we do (primarily a month
in Q every year), but not if they run down in a hurry. Anybody out there
who has undertaken to add batteries to a coach like this?
>
> Signs of water staining on walls at windows behind both front seats.
Worrisome for someone who spends a lot of time in Eureka California!
Hard to test to tell if anything has been repaired or not. On the plus
side, we do have experience with doing our own window removal and
replacement, but I don't know if the Bird windows would be different.
>
> Some cracking of formica walls in bedroom. The inspector felt it was
probably not abnormal wear and tear.
=======================================================
This "cracking" would bother me. I have a 1993 WL and have no cracks in
any laminated surfaces. There are some small chipped area on the
cabinet doors. How long are these cracks?

Regards,
Jack and Liz Pearce
Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge WB40
Wintering In Hondo, TX - 2006