Looking to purchase used 1992 WB40

[brad barton]

Michael,
Congratulations on your new bird. Our first coach was an 84 FC-35 with a
Bendix air cruise unit. We had intermittent problems with our cruise, but
it was due to loose wiring. You may check under the buttons with a light
and mirror and see if anything can be snugged up.
After selling our Newell of 5 years, we are buying a 2000 LXi and I'll agree
condition is everything when it comes to a used motorcoach.
Brad Barton


>From: "mbrund" <mbrund@...>
>Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Looking to purchase used 1992 WB40
>Date: Mon, 12 Mar 2007 01:44:29 -0000
>
>Well we went and did it now, we went from being wannabee's last week
>to a newbee this week. We looked at two WB this week, a 1994 PT40
>(well used and abused), and the white 1992 that was on Bird
>Connection. The 1992 was in great shape for its years, we end up
>purchasing the unit after going over it for 3 hours, and then 1 hour
>drive on rought roads and interstate.
>
>The only items we could find that had issues where: Front A/C was
>low on freon, the tag axle tires have scrubbed off the inner tread
>on both sides, the other tires while not dry rotted show significant
>wear, the backup monitor does not work. That was pretty much the end
>of the list of issues.
>
>One issue that concerned me during the test drive revealed itself in
>the user manual. I had the retarder in apply, and set the cruise
>control at 65mph. We happen to hit a large expansion joint in a
>bridge that gave us one heck of a jolt, and the cruise control shut
>down. We expect that the retarder might have kicked in and shut off
>the cruise when the rear axle went over the bump because we had no
>more issues with cruise other than that incident as I turned off the
>retarder after that.
>
>The prior owner removed the rear body wide mud flap, so when I
>inspected the radiator for debris I was surprised how clean it was.
>And that is when he told me he removed the mud flap because he was
>told it would cause an issue.
>
>Engine campartment was clean, batteries showed no signs of
>corrosion, no oil leaks in the under carriage other than at hose
>joint for the hyd. fluid that I believe drives the power
>steering/fan (it is a hose right under the radiator).
>
>Michael Brundridge
>1992 WLWB PT40 - Georgetown, TX
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
> wrote:
> >
> > It's a good looking coach ... had it been available when I was
> > looking it would have been high on my list of units to consider.
>With
> > the new paint job, you'll find that hardly anybody (outside the
>BB
> > community) will believe that it's a 15 year old RV. (My coach is
> > quite similar, though a couple of years newer and with the Series
>60
> > engine.)
> >
> > The Primus heat is a concern ... but parts are available, even if
> > single-sourced. A steel bodied RV does need a bit more heat (when
> > it's cold) than, perhaps, a plastic model. (One of the trade-
>offs,
> > but I still much prefer the strength of steel.)
> >
> > The main concern is vehicle mechanical condition and the wear and
> > tear on the various systems. If the engine hasn't been mistreated,
>it
> > is certainly good for a lot of miles beyond the 144,000 lsited.
>The
> > miles divided by the engine hours equals an average movement speed
>of
> > 50 mph -- that suggest that the coach was a fair number of
>freeway
> > miles. I would plan a fairly complete servicing including oil
>change
> > and brake inspection early on.
> >
> > One "watch for" is the condition of the radiator. DD engines are
>not
> > forgiving of overheating. It is common for the radiator to become
> > partially clogged with oily-dirt. The tendency of DD engines to
>spray
> > a bit of oil through the breather tubes makes the problem worse
>as
> > the fan often sucks the oil mist back through the radiator mixing
> > with dust that kicks up. This should be something that you
>carefully
> > monitor and try to clean out the radiator if it shows any
>blockage.
> > (It was very difficult to examine on my coach as it sits behind
>the
> > air-charge radiator (that cools air from the turbo charger), but
> > perhaps the DD 8v92 configuration allows easier viewing of the
> > radiator.) Simply pulling the radiator is a $2000+ job. The
>complete
> > replacement of the core may run as much as $3000+. (I also had
>work
> > done on my chassis AC -- so my tab came to about $4000 for core
> > replacement and the other services performed by a professional
>heavy
> > duty radiator service. Costs for work done outside California may
>be
> > more reasonable.)
> >
> > Other expenses you might plan for would include new tires in a
>year
> > or two. (8 times $350~450) Also, the gel batteries have a life
> > expectancy of up to about 7 years... but if they've been
>mistreated,
> > they may also be next to go. I'm shopping for batteries now ...
>looks
> > like about $2100 for six size 4D AGM house batteries. I haven't
> > priced engine batteries (mine seem OK), but my coach has 3 AGM
>class
> > 37s -- about $160 each .
> >
> > Of some concern would be the refrigerator. While home
>refrigerators
> > used to run for 25-30 years, since the 80s, they've been
>manufactured
> > to only last about 10-12 years or so. It's hard to guess how long
>an
> > RV refrigerator might last -- it depends on brand, type (RV with
>gas
> > & electric option or regular home-type), and use. In particular,
>if
> > gas operated, the burner and venting is subject to corrosion.
> >
> > Not as difficult, but still a modest headache would be the
>microwave/
> > convection oven ... at 15 years, it, too, may be near it's
>expected
> > life span -- or not -- again depending on use, etc.
> >
> > Pete Masterson
> > aeonix1@...
> > '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
> > El Sobrante, CA
>

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