possible newbie

[Hugh Turner]

My wife and I both end up with all of our time free hers from social
security diability and mine from a va disablility and a very, very
eary cival service medical retirement. We have been considering a
class a for over a year now up until recnetly we were looking atthe
gas mid 90 30ft models. One thinking that was all we could afford 2
not wanting to go any older to have to deal with the carbed engines.
Recently an 1983 FC35 with 99,971 miles rb set up to sleep 8 with 3
new roof air new frig and new tolit came to my attention. It is in
the price range we are looking at. One family has owned it for 18
years and appearntly it has lived on the Texas coast I have not
personally inspect it .I do know that the interior was well used
which I can accept. I was told that some of the access panels on the
left side have rust to the point that the may have have to be
replaced. I have also been told that it appears that service records
are not complete.

My concerns are does this sound like bird that has roosted for the
past 18 years and used as a place for the grankids to stay? Should I
have a borescope of the engine performed? I did email the newbuy's
checlist from the vintagebirds website to the salesman. Yes I know he
is concerned in saling the unit. Ome of my big concerns is the rust.
Rust on a panels is no big deal but I am concern aboout rust on the
frame. any help would be appreciated
Hugh Turner
Air Force 1977-1992

[Samddurrett@...]

Sometimes there are some real bargains on ebay. You should check it out. I
trust them more than a dealer.
Sam 31 FC TN


In a message dated 2/15/2006 12:33:13 PM Central Standard Time,
mbulriss@... writes:

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Hugh Turner"
wrote:
>
> My wife and I both end up with all of our time free hers from social
> security diability and mine from a va disablility and a very, very
> eary cival service medical retirement. We have been considering a
> class a for over a year now up until recnetly we were looking atthe
> gas mid 90 30ft models. One thinking that was all we could afford 2
> not wanting to go any older to have to deal with the carbed engines.
> Recently an 1983 FC35 with 99,971 miles rb set up to sleep 8 with 3
> new roof air new frig and new tolit came to my attention. It is in
> the price range we are looking at. One family has owned it for 18
> years and appearntly it has lived on the Texas coast I have not
> personally inspect it .I do know that the interior was well used
> which I can accept. I was told that some of the access panels on the
> left side have rust to the point that the may have have to be
> replaced. I have also been told that it appears that service records
> are not complete.
>
> My concerns are does this sound like bird that has roosted for the
> past 18 years and used as a place for the grankids to stay? Should I
> have a borescope of the engine performed? I did email the newbuy's
> checlist from the vintagebirds website to the salesman. Yes I know he
> is concerned in saling the unit. Ome of my big concerns is the rust.
> Rust on a panels is no big deal but I am concern aboout rust on the
> frame. any help would be appreciated
> Hugh Turner
> Air Force 1977-1992






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

[Jeff Miller]

I have seen rusty 'Birds, never that bad, but rusty.

The frame is probably not a problem, but every working piece from the
generator windings to the threaded-rod holding the storage bins in
place, and lots of electricals are probably going to create an on-
going maintenance problem. As you read this forum you will see that
most people with older 'Birds (or classic anything else for that
matter) rely on their own skills and resources like this forum for
their repairs and maintenance (and most are also fairly skilled at
it).

Offer no more than $10k - $12k, and plan to spend a few thousand more
to keep it in working condition. If it's at a dealer and in the
condition you indicate, he probably paid 6-8.

Tires are likely rotted also, figure another $2500 or more there.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Hugh Turner"
wrote:
>
> My wife and I both end up with all of our time free hers from
social
> security diability and mine from a va disablility and a very, very
> eary cival service medical retirement. We have been considering a
> class a for over a year now up until recnetly we were looking atthe
> gas mid 90 30ft models. One thinking that was all we could afford 2
> not wanting to go any older to have to deal with the carbed
engines.
> Recently an 1983 FC35 with 99,971 miles rb set up to sleep 8 with 3
> new roof air new frig and new tolit came to my attention. It is in
> the price range we are looking at. One family has owned it for 18
> years and appearntly it has lived on the Texas coast I have not
> personally inspect it .I do know that the interior was well used
> which I can accept. I was told that some of the access panels on
the
> left side have rust to the point that the may have have to be
> replaced. I have also been told that it appears that service
records
> are not complete.
>
> My concerns are does this sound like bird that has roosted for the
> past 18 years and used as a place for the grankids to stay? Should
I
> have a borescope of the engine performed? I did email the newbuy's
> checlist from the vintagebirds website to the salesman. Yes I know
he
> is concerned in saling the unit. Ome of my big concerns is the
rust.
> Rust on a panels is no big deal but I am concern aboout rust on the
> frame. any help would be appreciated
> Hugh Turner
> Air Force 1977-1992
>

[Gregory OConnor]

Hugh, The skin on a Truss unibody is part of the frame structure. If
you notice a semi trailer open flat bed on the highway, it has frame
rails running for strength. A enclosed semi trailer has no frame
rails as the skin and side design give it support. Window and door
placement ,rivet counts and location , skin weight (cost) and skin
strength (value) are all part of the frame design of a bus. My
camper is a 94 and has no rails running the length. A test of
structure may be to jack up one corner of the bus and try to open the
door and windows, I did this to an old Caddy and the windshield
shattered... then I had to buy it.

Good luck on your search
Gregory O'Connor
94pt Romoland California
62 Devill for sale, runs good, needs windshield

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Hugh Turner"
wrote:
>
> My wife and I both end up with all of our time free hers from
social
> security diability and mine from a va disablility and a very, very
> eary cival service medical retirement. We have been considering a
> class a for over a year now up until recnetly we were looking atthe
> gas mid 90 30ft models. One thinking that was all we could afford 2
> not wanting to go any older to have to deal with the carbed
engines.
> Recently an 1983 FC35 with 99,971 miles rb set up to sleep 8 with 3
> new roof air new frig and new tolit came to my attention. It is in
> the price range we are looking at. One family has owned it for 18
> years and appearntly it has lived on the Texas coast I have not
> personally inspect it .I do know that the interior was well used
> which I can accept. I was told that some of the access panels on
the
> left side have rust to the point that the may have have to be
> replaced. I have also been told that it appears that service
records
> are not complete.
>
> My concerns are does this sound like bird that has roosted for the
> past 18 years and used as a place for the grankids to stay? Should
I
> have a borescope of the engine performed? I did email the newbuy's
> checlist from the vintagebirds website to the salesman. Yes I know
he
> is concerned in saling the unit. Ome of my big concerns is the
rust.
> Rust on a panels is no big deal but I am concern aboout rust on the
> frame. any help would be appreciated
> Hugh Turner
> Air Force 1977-1992
>

[mbulriss]

Hugh,

That Bird at PPL Motorhomes in Houston, may have an attractive price,
but be prepared for many repair expenses. PPL does a lot of
consignment sales for low bucks. They are by my Houston office and I
personally think of them as a sales lot of last resort for desparate
sellers. They do not plug in the units or do any upkeep on them, so
expect dead batteries, low air in the tires (or rotted tires as Jeff
said), and probably many mechanical/electrical challenges. On the
plus side, they are low priced. I think a couple of forum members
have gotten real low priced deals there, but they had many expenses
before getting their new purchases home. In fact, as I recall, I
think one of them went off the road with a blowout on the way home on
rotted tires on their new purchase.

While I would generally recommend an old Bird over any early 90 model
gas powered plastic palace, you will get what you pay for.
VintageBirds or Birdconnection might have higher quality Birds to
start with and you get to talk directly to the owner, not some
consignment lot sales person that knows nothing about the product and
just wants to move it as quick as possible to reap the commission.

Maybe one of our Houston area members can check on this Bird if they
get by that area of town and report back on it for you.

Good luck in your hunt.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Hugh Turner"
wrote:
>
> My wife and I both end up with all of our time free hers from social
> security diability and mine from a va disablility and a very, very
> eary cival service medical retirement. We have been considering a
> class a for over a year now up until recnetly we were looking atthe
> gas mid 90 30ft models. One thinking that was all we could afford 2
> not wanting to go any older to have to deal with the carbed engines.
> Recently an 1983 FC35 with 99,971 miles rb set up to sleep 8 with 3
> new roof air new frig and new tolit came to my attention. It is in
> the price range we are looking at. One family has owned it for 18
> years and appearntly it has lived on the Texas coast I have not
> personally inspect it .I do know that the interior was well used
> which I can accept. I was told that some of the access panels on the
> left side have rust to the point that the may have have to be
> replaced. I have also been told that it appears that service records
> are not complete.
>
> My concerns are does this sound like bird that has roosted for the
> past 18 years and used as a place for the grankids to stay? Should I
> have a borescope of the engine performed? I did email the newbuy's
> checlist from the vintagebirds website to the salesman. Yes I know he
> is concerned in saling the unit. Ome of my big concerns is the rust.
> Rust on a panels is no big deal but I am concern aboout rust on the
> frame. any help would be appreciated
> Hugh Turner
> Air Force 1977-1992
>

[Jeff Miller]

The Wanderlodge, both the '83 and the '94, are body-on-frame
construction. Which is to say that, the frame is the primary support
and all body is supported by that frame. The body does add some
rigidity to the coach, but by default not by design nor necessity. In
the '83 you can easily see the frame rails under the floor/coach, on
the later PTS you need to look in the bays beneath the coach to see
the frame rails which interrupt the upper part of the pass-through
bay or on both sides of the generator.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gregory OConnor"
wrote:
>
> Hugh, The skin on a Truss unibody is part of the frame structure.
If
> you notice a semi trailer open flat bed on the highway, it has
frame
> rails running for strength. A enclosed semi trailer has no frame
> rails as the skin and side design give it support. Window and
door
> placement ,rivet counts and location , skin weight (cost) and skin
> strength (value) are all part of the frame design of a bus. My
> camper is a 94 and has no rails running the length. A test of
> structure may be to jack up one corner of the bus and try to open
the
> door and windows, I did this to an old Caddy and the windshield
> shattered... then I had to buy it.
>
> Good luck on your search
> Gregory O'Connor
> 94pt Romoland California
> 62 Devill for sale, runs good, needs windshield
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Hugh Turner"
> wrote:
> >
> > My wife and I both end up with all of our time free hers from
> social
> > security diability and mine from a va disablility and a very,
very
> > eary cival service medical retirement. We have been considering a
> > class a for over a year now up until recnetly we were looking
atthe
> > gas mid 90 30ft models. One thinking that was all we could afford
2
> > not wanting to go any older to have to deal with the carbed
> engines.
> > Recently an 1983 FC35 with 99,971 miles rb set up to sleep 8 with
3
> > new roof air new frig and new tolit came to my attention. It is
in
> > the price range we are looking at. One family has owned it for 18
> > years and appearntly it has lived on the Texas coast I have not
> > personally inspect it .I do know that the interior was well used
> > which I can accept. I was told that some of the access panels on
> the
> > left side have rust to the point that the may have have to be
> > replaced. I have also been told that it appears that service
> records
> > are not complete.
> >
> > My concerns are does this sound like bird that has roosted for
the
> > past 18 years and used as a place for the grankids to stay?
Should
> I
> > have a borescope of the engine performed? I did email the
newbuy's
> > checlist from the vintagebirds website to the salesman. Yes I
know
> he
> > is concerned in saling the unit. Ome of my big concerns is the
> rust.
> > Rust on a panels is no big deal but I am concern aboout rust on
the
> > frame. any help would be appreciated
> > Hugh Turner
> > Air Force 1977-1992
> >
>

[Hugh Turner]

Thanks for the advise Jeff. I found out today that one had found anew
place to roost. So I will contiune my search will gathering more
knowledge. When I find my bird I will know it. I will have time to get
the test done that need to be done and give it the inspection that
needsto be done. The only differance between vintage mechanical and
mechanical stuff is the term in front of it it all break and it all
cos mony to fix. New you may first vintage you pay when it happens.
Hugh Turner
Thomaston Ga
94 Jeep
still Looking

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"
wrote:
>
> I have seen rusty 'Birds, never that bad, but rusty.
>
> The frame is probably not a problem, but every working piece from the
> generator windings to the threaded-rod holding the storage bins in
> place, and lots of electricals are probably going to create an on-
> going maintenance problem. As you read this forum you will see that
> most people with older 'Birds (or classic anything else for that
> matter) rely on their own skills and resources like this forum for
> their repairs and maintenance (and most are also fairly skilled at
> it).
>
> Offer no more than $10k - $12k, and plan to spend a few thousand more
> to keep it in working condition. If it's at a dealer and in the
> condition you indicate, he probably paid 6-8.
>
> Tires are likely rotted also, figure another $2500 or more there.
>
> - Jeff Miller
> in Holland, MI
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Hugh Turner"
> wrote:
> >
> > My wife and I both end up with all of our time free hers from
> social
> > security diability and mine from a va disablility and a very, very
> > eary cival service medical retirement. We have been considering a
> > class a for over a year now up until recnetly we were looking atthe
> > gas mid 90 30ft models. One thinking that was all we could afford 2
> > not wanting to go any older to have to deal with the carbed
> engines.
> > Recently an 1983 FC35 with 99,971 miles rb set up to sleep 8 with 3
> > new roof air new frig and new tolit came to my attention. It is in
> > the price range we are looking at. One family has owned it for 18
> > years and appearntly it has lived on the Texas coast I have not
> > personally inspect it .I do know that the interior was well used
> > which I can accept. I was told that some of the access panels on
> the
> > left side have rust to the point that the may have have to be
> > replaced. I have also been told that it appears that service
> records
> > are not complete.
> >
> > My concerns are does this sound like bird that has roosted for the
> > past 18 years and used as a place for the grankids to stay? Should
> I
> > have a borescope of the engine performed? I did email the newbuy's
> > checlist from the vintagebirds website to the salesman. Yes I know
> he
> > is concerned in saling the unit. Ome of my big concerns is the
> rust.
> > Rust on a panels is no big deal but I am concern aboout rust on the
> > frame. any help would be appreciated
> > Hugh Turner
> > Air Force 1977-1992
> >
>