Complete newbie seeking advice

[pattypape]

Ryan,

The ride and driving ability are far and about a Travco.
BlueBirds are heavy busses with air suspention, air brakes, and
huge tires. They are a joy to drive and the trucks will not blow
these machines around. Hold back some of your budget for repairs
and upgrades and it will last another 20+ years.

Bill 88 FC

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ryan Wright"
wrote:
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> I'm looking to buy a nice coach and stumbled across an '83
Wanderlodge
> on eBay (item #140017325224). I was incredibly impressed with the
list
> of features and the huge capacities! The "modern" RVs we've looked
at
> don't come close! I mean, 200+ gallon fuel tanks; 12+kw
generators; 3
> A/C units and 50 amp electrical service; remote door locking,
heated
> waste tanks, etc, etc. I am very, very impressed.
>
> However, I don't like the layout of this particular coach - my wife
> and I don't sleep in separate beds and I'm not fond of the bathroom
> taking up the center area (seems claustrophobic to me) - but this
> really got me looking at the Wanderlodge coaches. From looking at
> other ads, I think I want a PT 40. My budget is modest: I prefer to
> spend around $30k, though I can stretch to $50k for the right
coach.
>
> As you can guess, I have a lot of questions.
>
> 1. Can someone orient me a bit? Tell me the ups and downs of
buying an
> early eighties Wanderlodge. What should I expect? Do the various
> systems hold up? Seems like a lot of parts to go wrong; do these
> coaches tend to be money pits, or can the old parts be expected
to, by
> and large, last for another 20 plus years? Should I expect to do a
lot
> of work on an old coach like this, or can I simply enjoy it with
only
> the occasional maintenance and repair item?
>
> 2. Do most of the models in this era have such an extensive list of
> features as indicated in that eBay auction?
>
> 3. I've noticed many of the ads are showing rebuilt engines at
~100k
> miles. What's with that? I thought these diesels ran "forever"?
>
> 4. How do these drive? I have a '66 Dodge Travco 27' I'll be
getting
> rid of if I buy a newer coach. It's a great rig but I get real
tired
> after traveling for a few hours, which isn't fun. I can drive my
SUV
> for a dozen or more hours virtually non-stop; I ought to be able
to do
> the same with an RV, right? Local RV dealers tell me I'll have the
> same problem with any coach made before about 1999. Of course, they
> may just want to sell me a new rig.
>
> Thank you all for your time. Perhaps I will become a proud new
> Bluebird owner one of these days.
>
> -Ryan
>