(now ADVICE TO NEW OWNERS)

[Scott]

HOWARD, Quite honestly there are lots of more qualified than me when
it comes to advise. BUT NOTHING VENTURED NOTHING GAINED...how ironic
this subject came up. I just posted to another BB forum and well here
you have it.
************************************************
Gary, AHHH...the roadside assistance debate.

Basically, we belong to both groups, Good Sam and FMCA, each have
their own merits, discount campground fees, and rally info. We do not
like the Good Sam inundation of paperwork they send (almost daily)
which will ultimately cause us to discontinue membership.

Our towing is with FMCA which we have used :>(.. The FMCA will tow to
the nearest Dealer (almost 85mi to the CAT dealer) and does cover all
vehicles you own. Roadside lockout,flats,jumps etc. Julie, FMCA WILL
pull you out of the mud, provided you are within a certain distance
from the paved surface, since I do not have a 4x4 bird I will not be
getting off into the mud bog with RUBY! Gary first year with FMCA was
98.00 but you had to join FMCA first.

I believe that most tow assist groups are owned by 2 or 3 Major
companies and have many different names. It really is paramount you
investigate the individual ones for your bus. Often tow companies
send the wrong wrecker because of OWNER ERROR,when calling the
800# ..explaing what they have. I REQUEST THAT THE DISPATCHED TOW
COMPANY CALL ME DIRECTLY! I have heard that SOME have been charged
for the second truck..theory being they already made the free trip!!
BEWARE! We all know what can happen with less than credible companies
and you need them.

***** ATTENTION ALL FC OWNERS*******

REMEMBER THIS...it is IMPERATIVE that when contacting the wrecker, or
tow assist company you explain they need an extra long "stinger" (the
thing they lift with) AS WELL AS EXTRA TALL "LIFT CHOCKS" (not sure
that is proper but they will) BECAUSE IF YOU DO NOT ...WELL A CRUSHED
OIL PAN, or BENT BUMPER IS NOT FUN AFTER THE TOW TRUCK LEAVES...He
will ask you if all is ok before he leaves, which ends the tow
companies responsibility for your coach...ALWAYS do a walk around
before telling him ok to leave..THEN the repair center wants to
know "HOW DID YOU CRUSH THE OIL PAN ON THE CAT" WHAT!!! TOW GUY IS
GONE..LEAVING YOU TO REPAIR... word to the wise...

Gary bottom line is they are all pretty much the same. I believe that
I want to deal with folks that deal with big RV's on a regular basis.
not AAA (no offense here)

OH Gary, if you want to join FMCA let me know. Recomending new
members I can get some free stuff...I don't know what that is but I
like free anything!! :>)

ScottB
86FC35
SC
**********************************************

Just some of my thoughts...

ScottB
86FC35
SC




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Howard O. Truitt"
wrote:
>
> Scott,
> I have seen comments in the past such as you made about FMCA and
Good Sam regarding insurance and emergency road service. It seems
there is an important story that needs to be told but no one seems
willing to venture there. For the edification of new members will
someone please be bold enough to discuss this most important subject.
> Thanks,
> Howard Truitt
> Camilla, Ga
> 86 8V92 PT40
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Scott
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Saturday, March 25, 2006 11:29 AM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: need info please (now ADVICE TO
NEWBIES)
>
>
> Jerry, sounds great join the BB community it is made up of great
folks,
> with lots of knowledge, years of experience and offer all that up
here
> on the forum.
>
> ONE WORD of caution, try to know what you are buying! If from an
> indiviual get the maintenance logs, blue box, etc generally
owners keep
> them just like on the ship. If from a reputable dealer ask what
they
> have fixed, or what maintenance they perfomed, or what is broken!
THEY
> DID IT TO be sure they are not trading for a "pig in a poke" IF
you
> get lots of "I dunno" type answers from the seller BE VERY WARY!
Seems
> recently some folks have purchased their bird, which are
complicated
> machines, only to find out they have LOTS OF ISSUES to tend
to..Sorry
> that was more than one word! :>)
>
> Also, TIRES, check the date codes on them, they all have them.
How to
> do that is in the files section of this forum. If they are more
than
> 5yrs old you better plan on lots of $$ (I just spent 3500.00 on
my 6
> and you have 8!) I was remiss and trusted someone to tell me the
> dates, "drives were 98" only to find out inner drive was a 94! I
was
> lucky not to have thousands in body,plumbing damage if it blew.
>
> 170K is not too many miles if the coach is/was maintained
properly.
> Kinda like hours on the engines on the ship..their life can vary
> drastically. Insist on a mechanic evaluation. Engine repairs are
very
> expensive, maybe the reason for the sale! See if they have done
an oil
> analysis. The 6V someone else will chime in here, I have a 3208T.
>
> Does the genset run?? Start it..check the voltage output with a
meter
> (just check in any outlet) and/or check the overhead guages and
see
> what it is producing.
>
> Shop insurance, we have Progressive on RUBY (under $600.00/yr for
> stated replacement) At the Myrtle Beach Rally GUY SMALLEY gave a
talk
> on insurance and the ins and outs of working with the company in
case
> of a major accident/repair. Something to be learned there very
> interesting THANKS GUY.
>
> We joined FMCA AND Good Sam....therin lies a big debate..on
emergency
> road service...BUT GET SOMETHING BEFORE DRIVING OFF..towing a BB
is
> very expensive. First year with FMCA was like 98.00..heck of a
deal..I
> needed to tow RUBY returning from our first trip (blown head
gasket)
> Probably would have been picked up with an oil analysis!
>
> All of these things I have learned as a result of the Forum and
other
> owners. Owning a Vintage BB is kinda like a classic car or old
Chris.
> Lots of tinkering, which turns into a hobby, which turns into
meeting
> some of the best folks you can imagine. We have met some
> truly "wanderful friends" along the way. So jump in the water is
> great..just do it with eyes open.
>
> If we can help here ask LOTS OF QUESTIONS..that is what this
forum is
> for.
>
> Scott B
> 86FC35 "RUBY"
> Murrells Inlet SC (also a uscg capt)
>
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "captjerrylee"
> wrote:
> >
> > Hello all, Capt. Jerry here. New to this. I am about to make an
offer
> > on a clean 82 40 ft wonderlodge. outside paint, body, tires,
engine
> > look 1 to 10 as a 9.
> > Inside 1 to 10 is a 7
> > 6v93 engine with 170k miles. 12 kw gen set. Question, this
coach
> looks
> > well cared for. is 170 k too many miles ??
> > what kind of price range do you think this couch would bring.
> > I am semi retired ships captain looking for a lot of on the
road r&r.
> > My bank is not happy with the age (1982) so am going to just
cash
> out.
> > What can I look at for the price of good insurance and road
> assistance
> > club.
> > Thanks for any info. Jerry 310 346 4834
> >
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
> YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
>
> a.. Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum" on the web.
>
> b.. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
>
> c.. Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms
of Service.
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------
----------
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>