SP's and Baby Birds

[brad barton]

Ralph and Hank,
I agree. The SP36 was a real Bird. Many of us would like to have coaches
under 40 or 43 feet for vacationing and party coaching. But who wants to
buy a short Bird of lower quality? And as a former Newell owner, I can
testify to the many advantages of a mid-entry coach; parking flexibility,
less ground to cover when loading the coach, more frontal-crash strength and
a co-pilot seat that's even with the driver and easier on the neck for
conversation.
Brad Barton


>From: "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
>Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] SP's and Baby Birds
>Date: Wed, 14 Mar 2007 12:06:59 -0600
>
>Ah Hank no argument on that at all, the mid door like the SP's would be
>great. But then BB would make a killing if they put out Baby Birds too. 450
>HP in a 28 or 30 footer! Talk scoot and get it! Now there would be a
>Bird to run at Maxton hey?
>
>Safe travels,
>
>Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
> '84 FC35 Duncan, Oklahoma
>Ralph's RV Solutions
>
>At 04:48 PM 3/14/2007 +0000, you wrote:
> >--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Ralph L. Fullenwider"
> > wrote:
> > >RALPH:
> >I've had a few BIRDS.....This 1990SP36 is probably the BEST BIRD
> >they ever made.....Mid door..all the trimmings etc. I call it my
> >M380 without the problems....except I would like it to go over the
> >mountains a little faster!
> >If Bluebird would make some 2008 SP38's with a mid-door and a 450hp
> >diesel engine they would sell a TON of them!!!
> >That's my two cents from VEGAS and I am confident that my comments
> >will get something started!!!
> >LOL
> >Hank Hannigan
> >1990SP36 in Vegas just "lovin it!"
> > >
> > >
> > > 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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