Thinking of joining the birders!

[brad barton]

Ralph,
I bow to your command of detail on the BMC and LX bodies. I know the cargo
doors were fiberglass, but it was my mistake about the fiberglass bodies.
As I said, an LX is still better than most coaches, but BB's manipulation of
quality and amenities among various Wanderlodges makes it hard for LX owners
to get what they think is a fair price for their coach. Again, the coach in
Michigan listed on RVTrader is the nicest I've seen.
Brad Barton


>From: "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
>Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Thinking of joining the birders!
>Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 11:28:45 -0600
>
>
>
>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
> > > > >
>
>
>

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