BIRD WANTED!

[Al]

George,
Don't know how long you have looked for a bird to call your
own. It took me over 1 1/2 years to locate the one we have and its
not for sale. LOL Just kidding, for the right price, anything is
for sale. :> Ok to the subject. In our quest to locate the perfect
bird, we started looking at 90 model pushers 40'. But quickly
realized that we are weekend warriors who enjoy State park camping.
Not knocking KOA but we are not interested in camping in a parking
lot. So we moved on to the SP model which was 36' but was not
considered a wide body which is 102". Then by chance, we located a
dealer with a BMC that was several years younger for the same money
as a SP or Wanderlodge. We were trying to excape a hurricane so we
went on a venture to go have a look. When we got there, we loved
most of the things about this BMC but dealer had an offer so it was
a done deal. Of course the dealer did not tell us before our trip.
But thats another story. Anyway, the wife and I had looked at
several birds and attended a Rally in the Valley so we by now had
narrowed down what we wanted. So out of frustration, we posted to
the forum what we wanted which went something like this:

BMC 36'
Light Interiors
Overhead storage
Wanderlodge Dash
Goat Rails
Latter

A week or so and I got an email from an owner in California who said
he had my bird. We exchanged several emails with pics and the owner
got real on the price and priced it in the ball park to peak my
interest. So we planned a trip to California with money in hand
just in case. When we got there it was better than I had wished
for. Of course we checked it out mechanically and everything seemed
in order. The owner had just changed out the rear axle ( blue bird
silent recall ) so we got new brakes. He had another set for the
front due to the fact that the shop said front did not need to be
changed yet. Just spent money fixing the front A/C and a bunch of
other little stuff. Tires were just replaced He had some
receipts, but what we wanted to see was the major stuff. So we
purchased this bird and the only thing that did not work was top
spot light, a couple of clearance lights, and left front landing
light. We spent the night in the bird at the owners house to make
sure we tested all things before we finalized the deal. The aguahot
unit would not come on so owner discounted price by $1000 to cover
what service that would be needed. But to be honest, he did not
know how to work it and we did not either. He used it to go to
local casino for camping. We got the book at the blue box and
figured it out and it worked fine. We drove the bird back from
California with no problems at all. We did break the air bag
leveler by lowering the bird off the jacks too fast but that was our
fault. We used duct tape to get us out of the national park and on
the way home where it has been replaced as soon as we had access to
the part.
We have since then added an outside TV, a joey bed and fixed all
the lights including the spot light. But now our left front is
out... Its always something. LOL But if you owned boats, you know
the uphill battle. But that is the fun of this hobby.
So if you are just getting started settle in and enjoy looking
for that special bird to call your own. I promise, it's out there
with your name on it waiting for you to find. But make sure you
know what you want so you don't get dissapointed and end up with one
not quite what you wanted.

Al & Kathy Johnson
'96 BMC B20
'93 Dodge Diesel B100
'03 Dodge Diesel B100
Looking for late model mercedes diesel and a jeep liberty diesel
Mandeville, Louisiana

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott"
wrote:
>
> George, great post. You absolutly deserve the information you
demand
> within reason. It is YOUR money. I know about selling boats (I
have
> sold ALOT OF EM) but there are some sales guys that will "qualify
> you" (being realistic or not) and will make assumptions. Well
shame
> on them, I have sold several six figure boats to guys in dirty
> overalls. (making a point NOT inferring)
>
> But you seem to have a definative idea of what you are looking
for,
> maybe they do not have that. FOR EXAMPLE: It is my opinion (I know
> that joke) that many of the coaches do not have a maintenance log
> that goes back to the beginning. I do not. I have one from the
time
> we bought the coach. So does that kick me out? Is that reasonable,
to
> expect the current owner to have records from say the first
owner??
> You have to make that decision. RUBY is no where near the
condition
> it was when we bought it. We have spent almost as much for
> repairs,upgrades, maintenance as the purchase price (documented).
It
> is much more road worthy today than the day we bought it.
>
> I have seen plenty of pristine coaches out there, the problem is
the
> owners are STILL ENJOYING THEM. They have a lot of sweat, money,
> grief tied up getting and keeping them that way. I have been told
> many times that our coach is beautiful, nicest for the year, model
> etc,etc..but it still has some flaws. If you know old ChrisCrafts,
or
> an old Grand Banks, they can be beautiful, but someone brought
them
> to that level, or is keeping them that way. Why would someone sell
> their coach if they love it, there are reasons I know.
>
> In so far as "helping you find" a great bird, whew open the flood
> gates buddy. Everyone's coach is pristine, maybe got a little
classic
> brown, but still top notch. Then the question why did you, or
better
> yet, why are you selling. Those must be some interesting
> answers. "Stringent survey" careful here, there are only a FEW
that
> could administer that..most techs do not even know what they are
> looking at when they look at a BB, and even less insurance guys
can
> fathom the redundancy of systems, complexity etc....make sure you
> employ a person qualified to administer such a survey. I see you
are
> from Mich. there is 1 guy in Mich. that is exceptional. Most
owners
> watch the tech while working on their coach, I do, if I can't well
my
> money is green and I will find one that understands. For example
> recently, while having the "underside" (air bags, u-joints, king
> pins, panhard bolts etc) checked the power steering pump made a
noise
> while trying to get it on the alignment rack. They suggested that
the
> pump was failing, sorry guys, it is known that the pump is
somewhat
> undersized on an FC and will make a noise, hell it is 20 yrs old
and
> is trying to move almost 14,000 pounds around while sitting
still..I
> would groan too. You get my point.
>
> Good luck in your search. You will not be disappointed. These
vintage
> coaches are second to none. Enjoy the experience of looking. Now
if
> you would like to send the finders fee for some "help" ...JUST
KIDDIN.
>
> Scott B
> 86FC35 "RUBY"
> Murrells Inlet SC "right next to heaven"
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "michigangeorge1"
> wrote:
> >
> > Hoping you good folks can help me find a great Bird. We are
newbies
> > moving from boats to land yachts and are totally frustrated with
> > finding a really nice coach. Seems that RV dealers and owners
are
> > unwilling to provide detailed information via the internet and
> expect
> > buyers to just jump on planes and fly all over the country based
on
> > little hard maintenance history and documentation, and even
fewer
> > detailed photos. Now this would be understandable if the unit is
> > trashed but I have been very specific regarding our desires up
> front
> > and just can't seem to obtain co-operative sellers. Maybe what
we
> want
> > just does not exist in the RV world (I am used to boats after
all).
> > We are looking for pristine examples of 1987-1991 Birds without
the
> > walkthru bath, original paint(sorry,no browns),low (but not too
low)
> > miles, few non-operable issues, extemely clean in and out, no
rust,
> > and complete maintenance records. I'm willing to pay top dollar
if
> the
> > rig can pass a stringent survey. I'm prepared to do some
> reuphostering
> > and replace the mattress and carpet but mostly for our decor
> > satisfaction and not out of need due to stains and dirt. The
> > fewer "upgrades" and "improvements" (from stock) the better! Is
> this a
> > realistic dream or should I stick to yachts?
> >
>