Thinking of joining the birders!

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Interesting analogy with some truths but fiberglass bodies? no.

Truth, the Wanderlodge II was a striped down model that what once was OE
became options. things like HWH jacks and many others.

Starting in '88 with the advent of wide body, the front and rear caps were
fiberglass but the side and roof were steel.

The BMC, true is not a Wanderlodge, however the sides and roof are steel,
though I think, not sure, that the compartment doors were fiber glass.

The LX, fiberglass caps that started in '88 but sides and roof are steel,
as are the LXI.

The M 380 was not fiberglass but a composite aluminium, 2 sheets of
aluminium with a composite center. The main problem with the 380 was the
skin would grow and shrink with heat and cold, thus the sides would
wrinkle. Yes there were a few problems with the electrical but the lay out
of the panel was done right for a change. The main problem with the
electrical we the marriage between the slide and HWH jack system via the
micro p[rocesser. If the Coach was not level, the microprocessor would not
allow the slide to move, so the computer had to be reset, jacks retracted
and start the system again. There was also a problem of the slide locks
pulling, going down the road, this was usually caused by a mis adjusted
micro switch.

The LX 450 got away form most of that and went to stainless steel and
introduced multiplexing of systems with a beefed up microprocessor.

The myth of the LX model being fiberglass came from the mid year change in,
what? 2002 or 2003 where the skin was taken to the composite used on the M
380 and was the test bed for the 380.

There was nothing cheap about all of this, the R&D alone had to cost a
bundle because of the change, it is just too bad that the skin problems on
the 380 were not better thought out.

Also with the 380 the signature of the Wanderlodge took it's major hit, the
"goat rails" were missing, and to my thinking, this was and is the largest
mistake BB could have made. Now they look like the Monaco's and various
other Manufacturers Coaches.

No, the LX and LXI models are good stable units, though a bit too glitzy
inside for my taste. I don't go camping to clean mirrors on the ceilings.


Just my 2 cents

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
84FC35
Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma

> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "brad barton"
> ><bbartonwx@...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Damien,
> > > I'm new to the group, but a longtime Blue Bird fan. I think the
> >coach you
> > > are looking at is a black and silver coach with modern decor..and
> >it's at a
> > > truck dealer. We were considering an LX but cooled off. A retired
> >dealer
> > > with whom we did business twice (for our first 84-35FC and a 1986
> >Newell
> > > Classic) nearly came unglued when I brought it up. He was a
> >longtime Blue
> > > Bird dealer in the 70s and 80s. I have since found out some things
> >about
> > > the LX. You're free to accept or reject all of this but I believe
> >it is
> > > true. Most of it came from a Blue Bird rep I spoke to just weeks
> >ago.
> > > Blue Bird has constantly searched for ways to a lower price point.
> >The
> > > WanderlodgeII was the first attempt..and pretty sad. Then as
> >Wanderlodges
> > > got more expensive, Blue Bird looked for a new approach. Their
> >engineers
> > > said it would take two years to come up with a less expensive 37-
> >40'
> > > chassis, so they bought Spartan chassis with Cummins M11 engines.
> >They were
> > > known as a Blue Bird Motor Coach..or a BMC. The only thing Blue
> >Bird on it
> > > was the dash and the label. The BMC is NOT a Wanderlodge. Not
> >bad, just
> > > cheap. By the time those chassis ran out, the engineers had a new
> >40'
> > > platform. They kept the fiberglass body, put new caps on front and
> >rear,
> > > kept the Cummins engine but used their own superior Blue Bird
> >chassis with
> > > Ridewell air suspension. Of all the "cheep" Birds, the LX is
> >probably the
> > > best. But it's still fiberglass outside, virtually no chrome,
> >ultraleather
> > > vinyl inside, smaller in tank capacity, lacking in design,
> >especially around
> > > the windows and roughly $150,000 in overall quality, fit and
> >finish. We bit
> > > the bullet and moved on to the LXi and we're very glad we did.
> > > LX owners asking 165K and up don't like to hear their coach is only
> >little
> > > more than "half" bird, but the truth hurts. NADA book prices on
> >the 2000 LX
> > > are very harsh..upper 90's to 110's. LX owners have every right to
> >feel
> > > bitter, but as a buyer, I asked several dealers (who had nothing to
> >gain
> > > from me) what they would offer. One said 95K, one said 110K and
> >the one
> > > whole actually knew the actual coach said 150K was a serious
> >stretch. Not
> > > only are LX owners unhappy, but WBPT and LXi owners are mad, too
> >because
> > > their own manufacturer made it harder for them to sell their high-
> >dollar
> > > coaches. And Blue Bird has done it again..most recently wiith the
> >M380
> > > which was a disaster (Blue Bird rep's word). I can't confirm it,
> >but I
> > > heard every one of them was recalled for various problems, mainly
> >electrical
> > > and wiring. They are not made any longer except by special order.
> > > All that being said, there's nothing wrong with a Cummins M-11 or
> >Allison
> > > 4060, or Ultraleather or fiberglass, for that matter. Just make
> >sure you
> > > understand it's not the steel-bodied full-fledged Wanderlodge most
> >of us
> > > think of. A poor man's Wanderlodge LX is probably still a lot
> >better than
> > > most coaches, new or used. If you want the best LX currently on
> >the market,
> > > look at this coach. It's garaged in Michigan and virtually
> >pristine. Nice
> > > people, too.
> > >
> > > http://www.rvtrader.com/rvdetail519280.htm
> > >
> > > BBarton in Dallas
> > >
> > >
> > > >From: "remiksjewelry"
> > > >Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > >To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> > > >Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Thinking of joining the birders!
> > > >Date: Tue, 13 Mar 2007 22:33:14 -0000
> > > >
> > > >Hello -
> > > >Thanks for having this group! We currently have a Safari Trek and
> >are
> > > >looking into upgrading to a Bluebird. We found one we like - it
> >is a
> > > >2000 LX Millenium edition. It is for sale in Maryland. Does any
> >know
> > > >anything about this particular coach? The price seems right, but
> >we
> > > >would have to travel quite a distance to see it for ourselves.
> >Also,
> > > >would love to know about the ride and handling of a bird.
> > > >Is the M11 450 cummings a reliable engine?
> > > >Any comments or advice will be greatly appreciated.
> > > >Thanks!
> > > >Damien
> > > >