To buy or not part II

[crittenden_bliss]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,

Hey RW, my wife and I have spent 7 months a year for the past 5 years
living aboard our coach and traveling everywhere. A big trailer
solved any space issues as it pertains to gear. We have had almost no
repairs ( I remember a h2o heater at RATS), but we have performed many
upgrades to tailor the coach to our needs and likes. Maintaining the
coach is simple, oil changes and belts and such, thats why a swing out
radiator is so important. My advise would be to by a coach that is
the owners pride and joy and used a lot, I have a friend that tried to
save a basket case FC, it was a losing battle, he paid ten grand less
than me, that ten grand went fast and he still had a long way to go.
Find a turbo coach, that means it will have almost enough power. Ours
had been re-powered up to the 250hp, that also means someone had been
through about everything associated with that motor and drive train,
he had also put in a new genset. Follow the link in the "link"
section over to Bruce's site to see how fiberglass coaches hold up
when the have a bad day. Good luck.
Crit Bliss '80FC33 Harwich, ma.





"ac7880" wrote:
>
> If you budget $10,000 for upgrades and repairs in the first 2 years,
> then you can't go wrong. After that $1,000 per year may be enough.
>
> Check the condition and age of the batteries, and especially check
> the date on the tires. There is a DOT code on the tires that give
> the manufactured date. If older than 5 years consider replacement.
> If older than 7 years, replace immediately for your family's safety.
> A search on "DOT tire date" should get the info you need. A FC35
> NEEDS 16 ply tires, a FC33 may get by with 14 ply tires. Michelin
> etc truck tire sites have good info to include weight versus plys and
> the date code.
>
> Dan - prior 83 FC35, current 94 BB BMC 37, NM, in AZ currently.
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "littlehouseonprairie1"
> <murphy4@> wrote:
> >
> > Man, what terrific feedback! Much appreciated. My observation of
> the
> > 33FC with rear bath is that it is more wide-open than the side bath
> > (making it feel bigger), providing good (but seperate) sleep
> > arrangements for 2, and adequate sleep arrangements for 4. The twin
> > couches and booth also provide adequate seating for 4. The 33 does
> > have limited floor space... basically an aisle, which might get a
> > little tight for extended time inside, and limited storage. The
> > trade-off appears to be good fuel economy and excellent
> maneuverability.
> > having grown up traveling the country with my folks and sis in a 16'
> > Shasta in the 60's, the 33 feels like a palace to me. Go's to show
> > how times change. Overall though, I'm rethinking the size issue
> more
> > carefully at this point. Thanks to everyone for your advice.
> >
> > RW in Central Illinois
> >
>