Serious question
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11-11-2008, 17:11
Post: #21
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Serious question
Troy,
Kind of like comparing apples and oranges??? A BB FC compared to a pusher coach. I just don't think that it's a fair comparison. I like the late 80's Newell's very much they are nice. Too bad they went to the 2000 series and FRP sides. They lost the Classic coach look. Kurt Horvath 95 PT42 10AC --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Troy Tikalsky" > > John, > As a former Blue Bird owner, I'll share my experience. Driving differences, the Newell drives like a corvette and rides like a caddy, great acceleration, cornering and handling with a smooth quiet ride. I've learned to watch the speed and monitor the gauges for systems status. The Newell is much simpler and systems are not nearly as compact, I can sit inside the engine compartment with the access doors closed, the plumbing systems are all run in the storage bays and easy to access. Both coaches had a split copper line that was not winterized properly, the line in the Newell was in the storage bay and fixed in 1 hour, the Wanderlodge line was behind the kitchen cabinets and required removal of the center furnace and much conditioning and time to fix. The Wanderlodge relies on heat tape to prevent plumbing lines from freezing, the Newell has electric, propane and hydronic heated bays that keep the lines from freezing. > > My experience with Truck and Bus shops is similar for both Newell and Blue Bird, RV shops are clueless on either coach. > > As for maintenance the Newell has fewer 'gadgets' and therefore less points of failure. Both require annual maintenance and my Newell has fewer lube points and no hidden filters, in fact all filters are in the engine bay. The Newell is much easier to access, maintain and repair. > > With that said the Wanderlodge is good coach but it is more compact and complex than the Newell. The Newell is simple and fun to drive. > > I would not be afraid of either brand. > > Troy Tikalsky > 1986 Newell 40' Wide Body > (1983 FC33SB) > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: brad barton > To: wanderlodgeforum@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 7:51 PM > Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Serious question > > > John, > As a former Newell owner, I'll give you a little of my experience. If you have trouble on the road, the easiest, most universal coaches to be fixed on route are Marathon, MCI and Prevost because they have so much in common with trucks and OTR buses. Blue Bird is probably next with identifiable components you can often replace on the road. Newell is more of a proprietary coach. If you have a mechanic with experience with Newell coaches, you're fine at home. On the road, I learned the hard way that most truck, bus and RV shops are clueless. Just the air-leveling system on the Newell had three different air tanks, automatic road, automatic park and manual park leveling controls with I don't know how many valves. I got the last Bendix air cruise control sending unit and the last air bags for that model. Air operated doors, different suspension, different water and climate control systems, they're all different from jsut about everyone elses'. They're generally high-quality components, but I think Blue Bird on average has the edge on interior fit, finish, materials and quality. In my opinion, Newell's ease of handling and drivability was superior to both Blue Birds I have owned. > If you can make a pilgrimage to Miami, Oklahoma once a year for regular maintenance, you could solve a lot of problems before they happen from filters, lubed hidden parts, etc. The guys who remember making your Newell would probably be the ones working on it. They have a nice overnight park. They'll even let you borrow a car to go into town. Last I knew, they were still family-owned and operated, great people, great service, but like Mac users, you have to be a sold-out Newell Kool-aid drinker to get the most out of your coach. > > Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@... > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > > To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com > From: jehdds@... > Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:48:27 +0000 > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Serious question > > > > As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to > something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and a > very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB > fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell coach ? > And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how serious I am > about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out" or "unwelcome" in > the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group and the friends I > have made in such regard that I would likely factor out the Newell and > not consider it at all if I was to be excommunicated from the BB group > functions. How's this handled and what should I expect? This is a > little premature but I want to know so that I factor it into my > decision making about what I would buy. > > John Heckman > central Pa > 1973 FC at > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- > You live life beyond your PC. So now Windows goes beyond your PC. See how > |
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11-12-2008, 06:54
Post: #22
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Serious question
A couple other things, as a former 86 Newell owner. Yes, the underside service areas are easier to get to, but the other thing that makes shopping for one more difficult is that each Newell is a custom-designed coach from the ground up. Some have basement airs like mine did, others had retrofitted roof airs, some had vents where you didn't want them, and switches where you'd never expect them. Some had only electric and engine-assist water heaters, others had heat strips in roof airs or baseboard heaters. Mine also had leaky windows and water damage down the walls because of them. Exterior and interior colors can also be very custom to specific likes and the cabinets, drawers and plumbing fixtures can . We were fortunate that we had neutral colors.Except for the very uncomfortable Recarro drivers' seat, I'll agree with Kurt, it's the best driving and handling coach I've ever been in.
Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@... To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com From: ttikalsky@... Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:15:52 -0600 Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Serious question Just curious what year and model Newell you owned Kurt?
I find more commonalities between Newell and Blue Bird so please elaborate why you believe they are so different?
A few of the commonalties and differences :
Common :
Detroit Motors (8V92 in mine)
Allison Transmission
Rockwell rear axle
Ridewell suspension
Firestone air bags?
Bendix Cruise
Alcoa wheels
Koni Shocks
Perkins/Kohler generator
Teleflex gauges
PMMI clocks and musical horn
Kool Matic
Dometic A/C
Appliances are common to RV industry (Norcold, Dometic.....
I believe the cabinets are made by Newell and Blue Bird.
Differences :
Exterior Skin : alum on Newell
Substructure : alum on Newell
I won't deny the Newell forum has fewer posting/posters but I believe that may be because my 86 Newell coach has half the complexity as my 83 FC and is 100% easier to work on (systems not nearly as compacted into small areas).
As for support, many of the people on this forum have offered help whenever requested.
Troy Tikalsky
1986 Newell
Waconia, MN
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11-12-2008, 08:32
Post: #23
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Serious question
FWIW, my '95 has hydronic heating (AquaHot) in the basement (which is
also fairly well insulated for an RV). I only discovered one bit of heat tape on a pipe running from the galley down a 'chase' in my side- aisle "hall" -- discovered when I was replacing the carpet (and tile) with bamboo flooring. I've stayed in freezing conditions several times for several weeks at each time without any complications to the plumbing or other systems. Pete Masterson '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 aeonix1@... On the road at Lockhart, TX On Nov 11, 2008, at 10:50 PM, Troy Tikalsky wrote: > <snip>The Wanderlodge relies on heat tape to prevent plumbing lines > from freezing, the Newell has electric, propane and hydronic heated > bays that keep the lines from freezing. > |
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11-12-2008, 08:48
Post: #24
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Serious question
> I like the late 80's Newell's very much they are nice.
> Too bad they went to the 2000 series and FRP sides. > > Kurt Horvath > 95 PT42 > 10AC I have seen this said before on this forum that the 2000 series (1990-current) have FRP sides. This is not true. Newell to this day continues to use aluminum roofs and side walls as they always have. Only the front and rear caps are a composite material to accommodate the compound curves. My 1992 has rivets. For the past several years, Newell has used an adhesive to attach the aluminum panels to the aluminum frame so there are no exposed rivets. I looked at Prevost, Newell and Bluebirds when I purchased my coach about 3 years ago. There are significant differences and significant similarities between the three. They are all top quality coaches. I learn a lot from lurking here, especially regarding engine and transmission issues. Michael Day 1992 Newell 2000 8V92 |
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11-12-2008, 11:07
Post: #25
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Serious question
Michael
I stand corrected. I did not know they are all metal skins. I was lamenting the change in body style after the '89 model, a true classic. Prevost also glues some of their panels to the frame on the newer coaches. It would have been nice to see the late 80's coaches in a 42' to 45' with a series 60. It would have been a much harder choice for me when I was choosing which coach I was going to live with for the next XX years. Thanks for the heads up. Learned something new today. Kurt Horvath 95 PT 42 10AC In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Michael Day" <michaeldday@...> wrote: > > > > I like the late 80's Newell's very much they are nice. > > Too bad they went to the 2000 series and FRP sides. > > > > Kurt Horvath > > 95 PT42 > > 10AC > > I have seen this said before on this forum that the 2000 series > (1990-current) have FRP sides. This is not true. Newell to this day > continues to use aluminum roofs and side walls as they always have. > Only the front and rear caps are a composite material to accommodate > the compound curves. My 1992 has rivets. For the past several years, > Newell has used an adhesive to attach the aluminum panels to the > aluminum frame so there are no exposed rivets. > > I looked at Prevost, Newell and Bluebirds when I purchased my coach > about 3 years ago. There are significant differences and significant > similarities between the three. They are all top quality coaches. I > learn a lot from lurking here, especially regarding engine and > transmission issues. > > Michael Day > 1992 Newell 2000 8V92 > |
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