To buy or not part II

[littlehouseonprairie1]

Man, what terrific feedback! Much appreciated. My observation of the
33FC with rear bath is that it is more wide-open than the side bath
(making it feel bigger), providing good (but seperate) sleep
arrangements for 2, and adequate sleep arrangements for 4. The twin
couches and booth also provide adequate seating for 4. The 33 does
have limited floor space... basically an aisle, which might get a
little tight for extended time inside, and limited storage. The
trade-off appears to be good fuel economy and excellent maneuverability.
having grown up traveling the country with my folks and sis in a 16'
Shasta in the 60's, the 33 feels like a palace to me. Go's to show
how times change. Overall though, I'm rethinking the size issue more
carefully at this point. Thanks to everyone for your advice.

RW in Central Illinois

[ac7880]

If you budget $10,000 for upgrades and repairs in the first 2 years,
then you can't go wrong. After that $1,000 per year may be enough.

Check the condition and age of the batteries, and especially check
the date on the tires. There is a DOT code on the tires that give
the manufactured date. If older than 5 years consider replacement.
If older than 7 years, replace immediately for your family's safety.
A search on "DOT tire date" should get the info you need. A FC35
NEEDS 16 ply tires, a FC33 may get by with 14 ply tires. Michelin
etc truck tire sites have good info to include weight versus plys and
the date code.

Dan - prior 83 FC35, current 94 BB BMC 37, NM, in AZ currently.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "littlehouseonprairie1"
<murphy4@...> wrote:
>
> Man, what terrific feedback! Much appreciated. My observation of
the
> 33FC with rear bath is that it is more wide-open than the side bath
> (making it feel bigger), providing good (but seperate) sleep
> arrangements for 2, and adequate sleep arrangements for 4. The twin
> couches and booth also provide adequate seating for 4. The 33 does
> have limited floor space... basically an aisle, which might get a
> little tight for extended time inside, and limited storage. The
> trade-off appears to be good fuel economy and excellent
maneuverability.
> having grown up traveling the country with my folks and sis in a 16'
> Shasta in the 60's, the 33 feels like a palace to me. Go's to show
> how times change. Overall though, I'm rethinking the size issue
more
> carefully at this point. Thanks to everyone for your advice.
>
> RW in Central Illinois
>

[dspithaler@...]

I agree with that to Crit as we had a 79 FC 33' with a side bath.
Don
89 SP 36'
Butler, PA

one more thought and then I will leave you alone, I prefer the side
bath because: if the forward living area is to be used for sleeping
then every one has access to the bath with out having to walk through
any other sleeping areas.
Crit Bliss '80FC33 Harwich, ma.

"crittenden_"crittenden wrote






************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


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

[crittenden_bliss]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,

Hey RW, my wife and I have spent 7 months a year for the past 5 years
living aboard our coach and traveling everywhere. A big trailer
solved any space issues as it pertains to gear. We have had almost no
repairs ( I remember a h2o heater at RATS), but we have performed many
upgrades to tailor the coach to our needs and likes. Maintaining the
coach is simple, oil changes and belts and such, thats why a swing out
radiator is so important. My advise would be to by a coach that is
the owners pride and joy and used a lot, I have a friend that tried to
save a basket case FC, it was a losing battle, he paid ten grand less
than me, that ten grand went fast and he still had a long way to go.
Find a turbo coach, that means it will have almost enough power. Ours
had been re-powered up to the 250hp, that also means someone had been
through about everything associated with that motor and drive train,
he had also put in a new genset. Follow the link in the "link"
section over to Bruce's site to see how fiberglass coaches hold up
when the have a bad day. Good luck.
Crit Bliss '80FC33 Harwich, ma.





"ac7880" wrote:
>
> If you budget $10,000 for upgrades and repairs in the first 2 years,
> then you can't go wrong. After that $1,000 per year may be enough.
>
> Check the condition and age of the batteries, and especially check
> the date on the tires. There is a DOT code on the tires that give
> the manufactured date. If older than 5 years consider replacement.
> If older than 7 years, replace immediately for your family's safety.
> A search on "DOT tire date" should get the info you need. A FC35
> NEEDS 16 ply tires, a FC33 may get by with 14 ply tires. Michelin
> etc truck tire sites have good info to include weight versus plys and
> the date code.
>
> Dan - prior 83 FC35, current 94 BB BMC 37, NM, in AZ currently.
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "littlehouseonprairie1"
> <murphy4@> wrote:
> >
> > Man, what terrific feedback! Much appreciated. My observation of
> the
> > 33FC with rear bath is that it is more wide-open than the side bath
> > (making it feel bigger), providing good (but seperate) sleep
> > arrangements for 2, and adequate sleep arrangements for 4. The twin
> > couches and booth also provide adequate seating for 4. The 33 does
> > have limited floor space... basically an aisle, which might get a
> > little tight for extended time inside, and limited storage. The
> > trade-off appears to be good fuel economy and excellent
> maneuverability.
> > having grown up traveling the country with my folks and sis in a 16'
> > Shasta in the 60's, the 33 feels like a palace to me. Go's to show
> > how times change. Overall though, I'm rethinking the size issue
> more
> > carefully at this point. Thanks to everyone for your advice.
> >
> > RW in Central Illinois
> >
>

[crittenden_bliss]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
one more thought and then I will leave you alone, I prefer the side
bath because: if the forward living area is to be used for sleeping
then every one has access to the bath with out having to walk through
any other sleeping areas.
Crit Bliss '80FC33 Harwich, ma.











"crittenden_bliss" wrote:
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
>
> Hey RW, my wife and I have spent 7 months a year for the past 5 years
> living aboard our coach and traveling everywhere. A big trailer
> solved any space issues as it pertains to gear. We have had almost no
> repairs ( I remember a h2o heater at RATS), but we have performed many
> upgrades to tailor the coach to our needs and likes. Maintaining the
> coach is simple, oil changes and belts and such, thats why a swing out
> radiator is so important. My advise would be to by a coach that is
> the owners pride and joy and used a lot, I have a friend that tried to
> save a basket case FC, it was a losing battle, he paid ten grand less
> than me, that ten grand went fast and he still had a long way to go.
> Find a turbo coach, that means it will have almost enough power. Ours
> had been re-powered up to the 250hp, that also means someone had been
> through about everything associated with that motor and drive train,
> he had also put in a new genset. Follow the link in the "link"
> section over to Bruce's site to see how fiberglass coaches hold up
> when the have a bad day. Good luck.
> Crit Bliss '80FC33 Harwich, ma.
>
>
>
>
>
> "ac7880" wrote:
> >
> > If you budget $10,000 for upgrades and repairs in the first 2 years,
> > then you can't go wrong. After that $1,000 per year may be enough.
> >
> > Check the condition and age of the batteries, and especially check
> > the date on the tires. There is a DOT code on the tires that give
> > the manufactured date. If older than 5 years consider replacement.
> > If older than 7 years, replace immediately for your family's safety.
> > A search on "DOT tire date" should get the info you need. A FC35
> > NEEDS 16 ply tires, a FC33 may get by with 14 ply tires. Michelin
> > etc truck tire sites have good info to include weight versus plys and
> > the date code.
> >
> > Dan - prior 83 FC35, current 94 BB BMC 37, NM, in AZ currently.
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "littlehouseonprairie1"
> > <murphy4@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Man, what terrific feedback! Much appreciated. My observation of
> > the
> > > 33FC with rear bath is that it is more wide-open than the side bath
> > > (making it feel bigger), providing good (but seperate) sleep
> > > arrangements for 2, and adequate sleep arrangements for 4. The twin
> > > couches and booth also provide adequate seating for 4. The 33 does
> > > have limited floor space... basically an aisle, which might get a
> > > little tight for extended time inside, and limited storage. The
> > > trade-off appears to be good fuel economy and excellent
> > maneuverability.
> > > having grown up traveling the country with my folks and sis in a 16'
> > > Shasta in the 60's, the 33 feels like a palace to me. Go's to show
> > > how times change. Overall though, I'm rethinking the size issue
> > more
> > > carefully at this point. Thanks to everyone for your advice.
> > >
> > > RW in Central Illinois
> > >
> >
>

[Jeff August]

RW
We have a rear bath and love it, the bath is larger and you are right
about it being much more open inside. With a 33 foot it looks like all
you really lose is some kitchen counter space and the counter next to
the couches and one overhead storage box on each side. We like the twin
beds as well because the corner fullsize just is to small for both of
us and the dog. There are some good things about a side bath as well,
it splits the coach into living sections or areas. You can't go wrong
with eather one, just know whatever you buy there will be unexpected
issues.
Good Luck
Michelle & Jeff August
1980FC35RB
Plymouth Wi.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "littlehouseonprairie1"
<murphy4@...> wrote:
>
> Man, what terrific feedback! Much appreciated. My observation of the
> 33FC with rear bath is that it is more wide-open than the side bath
> (making it feel bigger), providing good (but seperate) sleep
> arrangements for 2, and adequate sleep arrangements for 4. The twin
> couches and booth also provide adequate seating for 4. The 33 does
> have limited floor space... basically an aisle, which might get a
> little tight for extended time inside, and limited storage. The
> trade-off appears to be good fuel economy and excellent
maneuverability.
> having grown up traveling the country with my folks and sis in a 16'
> Shasta in the 60's, the 33 feels like a palace to me. Go's to show
> how times change. Overall though, I'm rethinking the size issue more
> carefully at this point. Thanks to everyone for your advice.
>
> RW in Central Illinois
>