Newer Wanderlodge For Me...Or Not?

[dthollis1961]

I started out 5 years ago with a nice '78FC33. Great coach, reliable
and simple. It never left me stranded and when I got done with it, it
went to a happy new owner.

I've now owned my present 84FC35 for 3 years. Great coach- More
power, retarder, diesel generator, air ride, etc. It is also more
complex. That makes sense with the upgrades over the '78. What I
can't seem to get over though, is what appears to me as taking a
reliable, simple way of doing things and making it complex only for
complexities'(?) sake. For instance: The '78 has fresh air vents for
driver and passenger operated by either a cable or a rod. This allows
the vent to be opened a little or wide open with a touch of your hand
to give just the right amount of fresh air. The '84 has air operated
vents that are either fully opened or fully closed. It's the same
with the driver's and passenger's heat. '78 has a cable operated
valve in a coolant line that can be opened anywhere between full on
and full off to fine tune the coolant flow to the heater. '84 has a
Sporlan valve that is either opened or closed.

I've got the '84 in great shape now and have been thinking of moving
up since I've run out of things to do to it, but I find myself
thinking of more complicated things on a new coach(early '90s). I'm
talking toilets here!(among other things I'm sure) If I want to take
a dump, you're telling me I have to have not only water, but also air
and 12 volts for a royal flush? Primus heating also seems to generate
more discussion than Suburban furnaces. I don't mind working on a
system to make it right, but by reading the posts here it seems that
some of these systems cannot be made to be as reliable as say pushing
a pedal on the toilet and the poop drops through the trap door. That
is simple and it works every time.

What I'm looking for is for you guys to tell me that I am wrong. I'm
looking for owners that have moved up in model years that say that
the benefits are far and away better than the negatives that are
stuck in my mind.(and not just because it cost a bunch more money)

I should be out working on that stuck Sporlan valve, but it's too
cold.

David Hollis 84FC35 Springfield,IL

[Leroy Eckert]

If you do not have air leaks the air Microphor works great. I have had no trouble in 4 years. I had Primus and had trouble with the one of the control panels, so I converted to a far better system; Webasto in a single loop and it works great. You don't have to worry about filling the propane tank any longer. I have filled mine once in 3 years and it is still half full. As for the air vents, yes mine are air operated, and the chassis heater has a timing board to operate a valve that sends hot water to the exchangers. I have not had any problem with that either. Knock on wood. My personal take on some of the perceived upgrades as the years went on is a high end coach at the time needed a sales tool. There is nothing wrong with a wire that sends heat to the driver. Later model WB's have DDECI or DDECII. I have been good there also. Knock on wood again. I did purchase a well documented well maintained coach so consequently I have had very few problems. I once thought I wanted an LXI but based on what I read I will stay with what I have. Mine is just like yours iit is just younger. Mine has a galley, bed, head, sofa, tv and all the other goodies. It's that pay me now or pay me later deal if you do not purchase the right coach. Leroy Eckert 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors Dahlonega, GA Royale Conversion --- On Mon, 1/5/09, dthollis1961 wrote: From: dthollis1961 Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Newer Wanderlodge For Me...Or Not? To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, January 5, 2009, 6:15 PM I started out 5 years ago with a nice '78FC33. Great coach, reliable and simple. It never left me stranded and when I got done with it, it went to a happy new owner. I've now owned my present 84FC35 for 3 years. Great coach- More power, retarder, diesel generator, air ride, etc. It is also more complex. That makes sense with the upgrades over the '78. What I can't seem to get over though, is what appears to me as taking a reliable, simple way of doing things and making it complex only for complexities' (?) sake. For instance: The '78 has fresh air vents for driver and passenger operated by either a cable or a rod. This allows the vent to be opened a little or wide open with a touch of your hand to give just the right amount of fresh air. The '84 has air operated vents that are either fully opened or fully closed. It's the same with the driver's and passenger's heat. '78 has a cable operated valve in a coolant line that can be opened anywhere between full on and full off to fine tune the coolant flow to the heater. '84 has a Sporlan valve that is either opened or closed. I've got the '84 in great shape now and have been thinking of moving up since I've run out of things to do to it, but I find myself thinking of more complicated things on a new coach(early '90s). I'm talking toilets here!(among other things I'm sure) If I want to take a dump, you're telling me I have to have not only water, but also air and 12 volts for a royal flush? Primus heating also seems to generate more discussion than Suburban furnaces. I don't mind working on a system to make it right, but by reading the posts here it seems that some of these systems cannot be made to be as reliable as say pushing a pedal on the toilet and the poop drops through the trap door. That is simple and it works every time. What I'm looking for is for you guys to tell me that I am wrong. I'm looking for owners that have moved up in model years that say that the benefits are far and away better than the negatives that are stuck in my mind.(and not just because it cost a bunch more money) I should be out working on that stuck Sporlan valve, but it's too cold. David Hollis 84FC35 Springfield, IL

[brad barton]

David,



I've upgraded twice from an 84FC35 like yours to an 86 Newell toan LXi. Outside of the money, I have not regretted moving up (and if money's the most important thing and you don't live in it, an RV is hard to justify).

Our 84FC was one of the nicest-kept used coaches out there. Exterior was a little faded and dated but the interior walls, laminate, carpet and upholstery were top of the line and good as new. But we had one of those stuck fresh-air vents up front, the corner queen was a little awkward and the switch from a 3208 in front to an 8V92 pusher was a major upgrade in power and cabin comfort. Our problem with the 86 Newell was that their quirky engineering and proprietary parts were getting hard to find and fix. What we like about our LXi is halogen instead of flourescent lighting, AquaHot (no problems so far) and superior power in the Detroit Series 60. It is inevitable that age andmiles will result in maintenance issues on electric,water and airlines. I would say that well-maintained wide-bodied BB pusher with everything working would have virtually as many creature comforts and conveniences as anything on the market, regardless of age.


Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...

---

Send e-mail anywhere. No map, no compass. Get your Hotmail® account now.

[timvasqz]

Dave, all in all if you can fix a sporlan valve, you can fix
anything on a newer 90's. prob is after 1990, Wanderlodge lost its
look. I like the 88 to 90 ptwide. but never found an interior in one
I could live with. I flipped several of the classics and some day
will move over from my 94pt to a 90pt unless Macy brings back the
chrome bumpers and chrome side stripes on one of his slide models.
I'm gonna keep an eve on ebay for their latest.

GregoryO'Connor of Tim&Greg
94ptCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "dthollis1961"
wrote:
>
> I started out 5 years ago with a nice '78FC33. Great coach,
reliable
> and simple. It never left me stranded and when I got done with it,
it
> went to a happy new owner.
>
> I've now owned my present 84FC35 for 3 years. Great coach- More
> power, retarder, diesel generator, air ride, etc. It is also more
> complex. That makes sense with the upgrades over the '78. What I
> can't seem to get over though, is what appears to me as taking a
> reliable, simple way of doing things and making it complex only
for
> complexities'(?) sake. For instance: The '78 has fresh air vents
for
> driver and passenger operated by either a cable or a rod. This
allows
> the vent to be opened a little or wide open with a touch of your
hand
> to give just the right amount of fresh air. The '84 has air
operated
> vents that are either fully opened or fully closed. It's the same
> with the driver's and passenger's heat. '78 has a cable operated
> valve in a coolant line that can be opened anywhere between full
on
> and full off to fine tune the coolant flow to the heater. '84 has
a
> Sporlan valve that is either opened or closed.
>
> I've got the '84 in great shape now and have been thinking of
moving
> up since I've run out of things to do to it, but I find myself
> thinking of more complicated things on a new coach(early '90s).
I'm
> talking toilets here!(among other things I'm sure) If I want to
take
> a dump, you're telling me I have to have not only water, but also
air
> and 12 volts for a royal flush? Primus heating also seems to
generate
> more discussion than Suburban furnaces. I don't mind working on a
> system to make it right, but by reading the posts here it seems
that
> some of these systems cannot be made to be as reliable as say
pushing
> a pedal on the toilet and the poop drops through the trap door.
That
> is simple and it works every time.
>
> What I'm looking for is for you guys to tell me that I am wrong.
I'm
> looking for owners that have moved up in model years that say that
> the benefits are far and away better than the negatives that are
> stuck in my mind.(and not just because it cost a bunch more money)
>
> I should be out working on that stuck Sporlan valve, but it's too
> cold.
>
> David Hollis 84FC35 Springfield,IL
>

[brad barton]

Amen on the metal bumpers, chrome and stainless steel. I miss those.

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...

---

To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: Petrover1@...
Date: Tue, 6 Jan 2009 01:09:47 +0000
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Newer Wanderlodge For Me...Or Not?

Dave, all in all if you can fix a sporlan valve, you can fix
anything on a newer 90's. prob is after 1990, Wanderlodge lost its
look. I like the 88 to 90 ptwide. but never found an interior in one
I could live with. I flipped several of the classics and some day
will move over from my 94pt to a 90pt unless Macy brings back the
chrome bumpers and chrome side stripes on one of his slide models.
I'm gonna keep an eve on ebay for their latest.

GregoryO'Connor of Tim&Greg
94ptCa

--- In "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com", "dthollis1961"
.> wrote:
>
> I started out 5 years ago with a nice '78FC33. Great coach,
reliable
> and simple. It never left me stranded and when I got done with it,
it
> went to a happy new owner.
>
> I've now owned my present 84FC35 for 3 years. Great coach- More
> power, retarder, diesel generator, air ride, etc. It is also more
> complex. That makes sense with the upgrades over the '78. What I
> can't seem to get over though, is what appears to me as taking a
> reliable, simple way of doing things and making it complex only
for
> complexities'(?) sake. For instance: The '78 has fresh air vents
for
> driver and passenger operated by either a cable or a rod. This
allows
> the vent to be opened a little or wide open with a touch of your
hand
> to give just the right amount of fresh air. The '84 has air
operated
> vents that are either fully opened or fully closed. It's the same
> with the driver's and passenger's heat. '78 has a cable operated
> valve in a coolant line that can be opened anywhere between full
on
> and full off to fine tune the coolant flow to the heater. '84 has
a
> Sporlan valve that is either opened or closed.
>
> I've got the '84 in great shape now and have been thinking of
moving
> up since I've run out of things to do to it, but I find myself
> thinking of more complicated things on a new coach(early '90s).
I'm
> talking toilets here!(among other things I'm sure) If I want to
take
> a dump, you're telling me I have to have not only water, but also
air
> and 12 volts for a royal flush? Primus heating also seems to
generate
> more discussion than Suburban furnaces. I don't mind working on a
> system to make it right, but by reading the posts here it seems
that
> some of these systems cannot be made to be as reliable as say
pushing
> a pedal on the toilet and the poop drops through the trap door.
That
> is simple and it works every time.
>
> What I'm looking for is for you guys to tell me that I am wrong.
I'm
> looking for owners that have moved up in model years that say that
> the benefits are far and away better than the negatives that are
> stuck in my mind.(and not just because it cost a bunch more money)
>
> I should be out working on that stuck Sporlan valve, but it's too
> cold.
>
> David Hollis 84FC35 Springfield,IL
>

---

Life on your PC is safer, easier, and more enjoyable with Windows Vista®. See how

[Pete Masterson]

I've got to agree with Brad... while I didn't start with an older BB -- and went from zero (no RV experience at all) directly to a '95-42' -- and all in all, I'm very glad I went this route.

I've had a couple of issues (radiator, shock mount) that were unexpected and a few maintenance items (muffler + various minor things) to deal with -- but I would have expected some issues with any RV that wasn't brand new. And, from what I hear, a brand new RV might have had more (but different) issues that I've had over the past couple of years. Certainly, the older BBs have their maintenance issues and have the effects of many more years of use (or non-use) to deal with as well.

Of course, owning an older 'bird, you're used to what you have and you, quite naturally, are suspect of the greater complexity of one of the newer models. Yes, some of the things are silly or pointless. (The little string lights around the windows and ceiling come to mind.) but most of the upgrades from year to year make good sense. The Aquahot (if properly maintained) is a great and apparently reliable furnace/water heater -- and I have enjoyed the 'never run out' hot water (although the water temperature can vary somewhat). 

When I got my coach, I was doubtful about all the mirrors (at least there's none on the ceiling). But we quickly adjusted and no longer really "see" ourselves all the time. The advantage is that they make the rooms brighter -- and they don't seem as small as they actually are.

I suspect that those of us who are attracted to the Blue Bird would soon adjust to almost any model year. Each one has strengths and weaknesses -- but overall, they're a solid and safe vehicle that has all the upscale features available for any given model year. 

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jan 5, 2009, at 4:00 PM, brad barton wrote:

David, 
 
I've upgraded twice from an 84FC35 like yours to an 86 Newell to an LXi. Outside of the money, I have not regretted moving up (and if money's the most important thing and you don't live in it, an RV is hard to justify).  
Our 84FC was one of the nicest-kept used coaches out there.  Exterior was a little faded and dated but the interior walls, laminate, carpet and upholstery were top of the line and good as new.  But we had one of those stuck fresh-air vents up front, the corner queen was a little awkward and the switch from a 3208 in front to an 8V92 pusher was a major upgrade in power and cabin comfort.  Our problem with the 86 Newell was that their quirky engineering and proprietary parts were getting hard to find and fix.  What we like about our LXi is halogen instead of flourescent lighting, AquaHot (no problems so far) and superior power in the Detroit Series 60.  It is inevitable that age and miles will result in maintenance issues on electric, water and air lines.  I would say that well-maintained wide-bodied BB pusher with everything working would have virtually as many creature comforts and conveniences as anything on the market, regardless of age.        
  
Brad Barton 00LXiDFW "bbartonwx@hotmail.com"