95 ---42' hi-milage

[Bob & Carol Howald`]

In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one
web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap
is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional
engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it!
The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil
/1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered
normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take
a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob
birdless in Illinois....

[William D. Young]

That's funny! I have been wondering why I see so many BB's and others, such a Prevost, that have had the engines replaced with so few miles on them. I thought these things were supposed to run for a million miles or more without being replaced/rebuilt. What's up with that?

 

Birless, too, in San Antonio

On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 10:48 AM, Bob & Carol Howald` <"rhowald@frontiernet.net"> wrote:

In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it! The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil /1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob birdless in Illinois....

--
William Young

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bob & Carol Howald`"
wrote:
>
> In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one
web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap
is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional
engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it!
The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil
/1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered
normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take
a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob
birdless in Illinois....


Sounds to me that you have answered your own question. You stated that the
engine has 750,000 miles on it? Well that a bit much for any engine and who
knows what maintenance was preformed on that particular engine from the time it
was new till the time it was sold as a used engine. Bob I would keep on looking
around and waiting. $75,000 dollars is a big investment and who knows how long
that engine will keep up and all the rest of the associated running gear. I
have 148,000 on my coach and its the original engine but I know it has been
serviced with love and affection. Jon
>
1978 Wanderlodge
Brmerton Washington
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942...ustom\
%20Motor%20Home/Donavanbirthdayparty016.jpg

[Pete Masterson]

1 qt/1000 miles isn't that serious an amount of oil usage -- but it's rather more than my DD S-60 uses. My S-60 uses very little oil once it starts showing down about 1/4 the way between the full mark and the add mark on the dip stick. I went over 5000 miles without using any significant oil (with nearly 140,000 miles on my coach). If I fill the oil back to the full mark, it'll burn it off in less than 1000 miles to show about 1 qt low. (The distance between the marks represents 1 gallon.) Apparently, the dip sticks aren't always calibrated as well as they could be.

The musical horns often can be fixed by installing new horn-speakers on the roof. They're out in the weather and tend to fade away. The P.O. put new speakers on my coach and the non-working musical horn was restored. There isn't much else to go wrong with the musical horn, so long as power is getting to the control system.

I'd be rather concerned about that old engine. Even at $75,000 you're not getting much of a bargain if you face a $20-25,000 engine rebuild. The NADA book on a '95 is $109,000 -- now NADA is notoriously unreliable in pricing BBs (due to the thin market and few dealer sales) but I'd put the value of a '95 at somewhere between $100 and $120K if it is in top notch condition in a _normal_ market.

Today, the market is _not_ normal, and I don't know where a fair price might be, but it will be considerably less than $109,000 -- it might be in a range of $70 to $90K -- in good condition. With a 750,000 mile engine, it might only be worth $50 to $60K....

Although I've taken my coach off the market for the time being, take a look at my listing site at

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html> and compare with the one you're considering.

Note, I have removed the filing cabinets and have replaced it with a "jack knife" sofa-bed.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Apr 28, 2009, at 8:48 AM, Bob & Carol Howald` wrote:

In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it! The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil /1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob birdless in Illinois....



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
"WanderlodgeForum-digest@yahoogroups.com"
"WanderlodgeForum-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com"

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
"WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com"

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[pattypape]

This is a great Bird that was fixed on the cheap, Hopefully everything else was
repaired properly, And at least the owner seems to be upfront, with information
about the replacement engine.
If this is the one for you, offer 20/25K less, leaving room to replace the S60.

Bill 88 FC Michigan

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bob & Carol Howald`"
wrote:
>
> In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one
web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap
is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional
engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it!
The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil
/1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered
normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take
a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob
birdless in Illinois....
>

[Ernie Ekberg]

Where is this coach located? Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair --- On Tue, 4/28/09, pattypape wrote: From: pattypape Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: 95 ---42' hi-milage To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 3:08 PM This is a great Bird that was fixed on the cheap, Hopefully everything else was repaired properly, And at least the owner seems to be upfront, with information about the replacement engine. If this is the one for you, offer 20/25K less, leaving room to replace the S60. Bill 88 FC Michigan --- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", "Bob & Carol Howald`" wrote: > > In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it! The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil /1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob birdless in Illinois.... >

[Ernie Ekberg]

Bob, Buy that baby- we can work on the horns. Now if the commode doesn't work~ Ernie Ekberg 83PT40 Wanderlodge Weatherford, Tx http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Bob & Carol Howald` wrote: From: Bob & Carol Howald` Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 95 ---42' hi-milage To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 10:48 AM In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it! The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil /1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob birdless in Illinois....

[Bob & Carol Howald`]

---Boy, I don't know, I don't mind the 750,000 mile engine that's only been
driven 2000 miles since installed, BUT thoses horn's can get to be expensive if
you have to work or replace them! Bob,birdless in Illinois


In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Ernie Ekberg wrote:
>
> Bob, Buy that baby- we can work on the horns. Now if the commode doesn't work~
>
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Wanderlodge
> Weatherford, Tx
> http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/erni...gandrepair
>
> --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Bob & Carol Howald` wrote:
>
> From: Bob & Carol Howald`
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 95 ---42' hi-milage
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 10:48 AM
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one
web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap
is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional
engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it!
The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil
/1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered
normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take
a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob
birdless in Illinois....
>

[Pete Masterson]

The principal reason that the diesel power plant in an RV gets rebuilt is due to overheating. Commercial vehicles in daily, heavy use, get watched carefully and the beginnings of problems generally get reported right away and proper maintenance to protect the considerable investment in the equipment is made. Commercial vehicles generally can go 400-500 thousand miles before an engine rebuild is required. Some engines may make it considerably further, if well cared for.

An RV or bus conversion, getting relatively light use for a vehicle of that type, is driven by an owner who is much less likely to observe or perhaps even understand the severity of a condition that leads to serious overheating. For example, not long ago, I was traveling up a moderate to heavy grade on US 101 somewhere between San Jose and San Luis Obispo. I was passed by a large, almost new, Monaco plastic palace and I noticed that water was pouring out of the radiator overflow. I couldn't believe that the driver wasn't seeing all kinds of warning lights -- it was clear that the engine was undergoing considerable stress -- but there he was, pushing up the grade at nearly 70 mph (I was doing about 55) doing who-knows-what damage to the engine. It really doesn't take too many bouts like this to cause serious damage.

While many owners are, perhaps, rather less oblivious than the driver of that Monaco, the low-level of experience with heavy equipment may cause them to be less aware of incipient problems -- or what to do if a situation starts to get out of control. Indeed, I took me some time to learn what to watch for and what to do when there was a problem.

I experienced some overheating on my maiden trip (home from Texas where I bought the coach). Westbound in eastern Nevada, there are a number of long grades through the mountains from Wendover to Wells -- and I had to pull off numerous times (on a warm afternoon) to let the engine cool down. The first order of business after I got the coach home was to take it to a heavy duty radiator service where I discovered that the radiator was seriously clogged with oily-dirt. While it could have been cleaned, more than half the cost was the R&R of the radiator, so I elected to have a new, more efficient design, radiator core installed. I have had no overheating incidents since (and I regularly clean the radiator fins). A less careful person might have 'pushed on' with the high temperatures -- and pushed right on to needing a rebuild. Fortunately, I was alerted to overheating as a danger and had learned to take the steps necessary to cool the engine -- slow down, down shift (higher RPM) while on the road. If temp doesn't drop, then pull off and fast idle until the engine returns to a normal temperature for the conditions. If warning lights come on, then pull off and fast idle until normal temperature returns. This may take 3 to 5 minutes.

It's best to avoid the problem in the first place, if you can. But if the problem occurs, then take the right defensive actions. Obviously, the engine should be checked for appropriate fluid levels at the start of each day.

Finally, there is a DD Series 60 operator's manual (or should be one) with the Blue Box. If you read nothing else, you should read and understand that manual.

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Apr 28, 2009, at 9:31 AM, William D. Young wrote:

That's funny! I have been wondering why I see so many BB's and others, such a Prevost, that have had the engines replaced with so few miles on them. I thought these things were supposed to run for a million miles or more without being replaced/rebuilt. What's up with that?

Birless, too, in San Antonio

On Tue, Apr 28, 2009 at 10:48 AM, Bob & Carol Howald`<"rhowald@frontiernet.net">wrote:

In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it! The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil /1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob birdless in Illinois....

--
William Young

[Leroy Eckert]

Somethin' aint right about this here horn deal. Horns? That is a Texas deal. "Hook em Horns".The guy lives in Ilini land.. I think Birdless Bob is jacking with you about those horns. If not, I ain't got a clue. Leroy Eckert 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors Dahlonega, GA Royale Conversion --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Bob & Carol Howald` wrote: From: Bob & Carol Howald` Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: 95 ---42' hi-milage To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 4:22 PM ---Boy, I don't know, I don't mind the 750,000 mile engine that's only been driven 2000 miles since installed, BUT thoses horn's can get to be expensive if you have to work or replace them! Bob,birdless in Illinois In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com, Ernie Ekberg wrote: > > Bob, Buy that baby- we can work on the horns. Now if the commode doesn't work~ > > > Ernie Ekberg > 83PT40 > Wanderlodge > Weatherford, Tx > http://autos. groups.yahoo. com/group/ erniesremodeling andrepair > > --- On Tue, 4/28/09, Bob & Carol Howald` wrote: > > From: Bob & Carol Howald` > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 95 ---42' hi-milage > To: WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups. com > Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 10:48 AM > > > > > > > > > In my quest for another BB I see there is one advertised for $85,000 on one web-site and the same bird on craig's list for $75,000. Reason this BB is cheap is. The origional series 60 engine blew up at 172,000 miles. The origional engine was then replaced with a Junk Yard truck engine with 750,000 miles on it! The coach today has around 175,000 miles. Owner state's it uses about 1 qt. oil /1000 miles. I don't know what the consumption of the series 60 is considered normal. My question is this , the musical horn's don't work, should I still take a chance on the horn's not being too big a problem and go ahead a buy it. Bob birdless in Illinois.... >