1978 Wanderlodge, a few more questions.

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mr. Wolf"
wrote:
>
> Hey all,
>
> Spending some more time poking around, now that I'm in the beast
and I
> have all the living amenities working properly. A quick summary of
my
> questions:
>
> Where can I find replacement 12v florescent fixtures?
> What the heck does the 110v light switch in the single gang box
bolted
> to the large generator/shore power switch box under the dinette do?
> What are the extra two wires that come out of the same hole as the
> cable for the switch on the side of the switch box supposed to be
for?
> Did Wanderlodges come factory equipped with alarm systems?
> How would I adjust the ride height? She leans to the drivers side.
> Are the air horns on top supposed to be functional?
> Where can I find trash compactor bags?
>
> Now, to those that care to read, here's a much more thorough
> description of all the questions!
>
> I thought I had a few bad florescent bulbs, but it turned out it was
> ballasts or something else in the fixtures. I have since replaced
the
> fixtures I need with ones I wasn't using elsewhere in the bus. My
> question is where can I find replacement fixtures of the proper
size?
> Is this a standard item or one unique to Wanderlodges of this era?
>
> The previous owner had removed the dinette and replaced it with a
> large set of cabinets and a cabinet top that extended out far enough
> to be used like a breakfast bar. He was six foot four inches about,
> and by no means a thin man, so I could see how it found the existing
> dinette useless. Of course, I found the cabinets useless and pulled
> them out.
>
> Now, I have the large generator switch box sitting out in the open.
> There are three large cables going into it, as expected. It has a
> single gang electrical box mounted to it with a standard 110v light
> switch on it, and the faceplate is labeled MS STARTER at the top,
and
> Westinghouse at the bottom. This box has a cable coming out of it
and
> going into the wall. What is this switch for? On top of that, out of
> the same hole in the wall this cable goes into, there is another
> smaller cable that comes out but has been disconnected from
something
> by the previous owner. Anyone know what this switch is for and what
> the cable used to go to?
>
> Did Wanderlodges come factory equipped with alarms? I had previously
> noted that each and every window had a button that the sliding
window
> pressed when closed. The door has two, one for the air actuated
step,
> and the other I couldn't figure out. Under the hood too there was an
> old siren, that sounded like Andy Griffiths police car. I wondered
if
> there was an alarm system installed. I have since found a key hole
> under the drivers side mirror, and will need to put the siren back
> under the hood and test it out. It was removed during engine
> installation. I thought it was just something that had been added by
> the previous owner along with what appears to be aftermarket musical
> horns. under the passenger side.
>
> As the previous owner had installed air horns underneath the bus, I
> was wandering if this was a cheap fix to the air horns on the roof
> being damaged, or if it was just an addon and the horns on the roof
> were merely ornamental. Should they be functional? They aren't
currently.
>
> Is it possible to adjust the ride height? Were the Wanderlodges
> balanced out properly from the factory? If you consider that this
is a
> factory converted bus, it's logical to exact with all the material
on
> the drivers side that the bus would either lean slightly that way
from
> the factory, or that thirty years of usage would cause those springs
> to wear out unevenly. Add in the fact that much has been removed
from
> the passenger side, and it's to be expected. So, the question is, is
> it possible to adjust or would helper springs/replacements be
> required? There is at least an inch difference between the top of
the
> tire and the edge of the wheel well between the passenger and driver
> sides.
>
> My trash compactor works, but I assume there's a special bag I'm
> supposed to use before crushing up all my old food and paper plates?
>
> Thanks all,
> Joshua Long
> 78FC32
> San Antonio, TX

Hi Joshua!

I think you have came to the right place to ask all those questions.
Now I know one of them and that the two buttons question one is for
the steps and the other is for an entrance light! If your coach is
like mine it has a fluorescent fixture just above the door and it
goes on when you open the door. You can turn this one oft by looking
aft by the door and you should have three light switches one of those
controls that light. Why did they do this? well I guess it so when
your in bright day light you do not need to have that light come on
when you open the door. The horn thing I bet is that the top one is
shot and the previous owner just installed the one underneath for an
easy fix! Here a little heads up as you have not ask this yet but if
your coach has a 110 plug outlet next to your drivers seat that is
controlled by the switch by the door down by that fuse box you were
asking about. I think they did this so when you and about you could
just turn on that one switch and leave a 110 light on in the coach.
Well anyway have fun and your going to be in for a big learning curve
as you know all ready- Jon

PS Here is a picture of my 78 and I call her the Rebel Bird! Kind of
like me.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y4/1942...ebeach.jpg
Jon
78 Wanderlodge (Back door model)
Bremerton Washington


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