Complete newbie seeking advice

[Eric Johnson]

Hello Ryan,
You're likely to get many different answers to your question on maintenance
costs because
of varying mechanical skills, some of us have more or less things done by
others,
condition and degree of use have big affects as well. With your shop
capabilities you can
save a lot of money.

Personally, we have logged a little over 40,000 miles on our coach since we
bought it in
2000. Our total operating costs per mile, including indoor storage, insurance,
fuel,
repairs, upgrades and PM are about $1.25 per mile. Repairs, upgrades and PM
alone have
run about $0.93/mile. Sounds like a lot but we have a better coach now than
when we
bought it. I do some of the work on my own but avoid major engine or
transmission work
due to lack of training, tools and facilities.

Major cost items over the past six years have been:
New Powertech diesel generator - $6,000
Cat 3208 Valve adjustment + new injectors - $2,800
New set of Michelin tires - $2,800
New cruise control system - $2,000
New front suspension air bags $1,000
New set of AGM batteries - $1,000
New A/C units - $700
New icemaker - $600
New spin-on air dryer system $400

In summary, BB coaches are a wonderful way to travel, but not a cheap way to
travel. I
hope the above is helpful. Certainly don't want to scare you, but look
carefully before you
buy. The more of your own work you can do the better off you'll be.

Regards, Eric
84FC35SBWL2

--- 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
>