Factory tour report

[mneshati2]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> No not a You Tube tour but a report on my tour this week. Actually
it
> was more like a visit as I was the only person on the tour.
Stepping
> into the plant I had a flashback. Not the drug induced "back to the
> 50's" style. I couldn't help thinking that this must have been
> something to see in the mid 80's or earlier. I could imagine the
> sounds of shears, punch presses and brakes all making body panels.
> Lots of good old boys welding frame members. Maybe 3 or 4 units a
> week coming off the line. I wish I could have been there. The new
> owners seem to be trying hard but it is an uphill battle. They have
> had to go out and buy a lot of equipment as Henley sold it all off.
I
> did not know that since 2000 BB farmed out a lot of the work. All
the
> side walls were made at a metal fab plant. All the wiring harnesses
> were made elsewhere. Now it will be done in house. Maybe that is
why
> some of the quality of the 2000 and up coaches was not the same as
in
> previous years. They are working on the coach that will go the
> Minneapolis FMCA show. The frame is complete, side walls and roof
are
> installed. The holes for the windows and door have to be cut. The
> wood shop was building the cabinets. Lots of hand labor. The
> cabinets are not laminate but nore like a Beaver with that high
gloss
> clear coat over wood veneer. I was told that 100 people work in the
> plant but that must include the service people and office staff.
They
> did have the Bus line running and there were 3 units in various
> stages of completion. I think that inter city Bus will be a big
> success. I wish them well with the BB and hope their hard work pays
> off. This is a big undertaking. They had a bunch of the 450's in
the
> service bays. The axle change and moving the gennie is a big job.
It
> is my understanding that Coachworks is only doing the work. The
> responsibility for the repairs lies with the school bus people. I
> would guess that it will cost more than $20,000 to do each BB.
Maybe
> even $30,000: 8 tires, new axle ( and I assume it will be a
complete
> axle with brakes, etc.) and then the gennie work . I think they
have
> 65 to do but some will be done in California.
>
> Bruce
> 1988FC
>
Bruce, great post, thanks, there are actually three units on the
assembly line now, unit one belongs to our great friends George and
Vel Kistler and they honored us by becoming the first to own a 2009
Wanderlodge!!! They selected our newest floor plan, the bath and a
half Nautlis, The second unit belongs to Holland Motor Homes, Holland
Michigan, and will be featured at the FMCA rally in July as you
indicated in your post, assuming some lucky Blue Birder doesn't buy
it first! Holland Motor Homes 616-396-1461. And the third unit
belongs to Parliament out of Florida, they can be contacted at 888-
571-5755.

Ross is correct the new axle is still being developed. The current
fix is new tie rod ends for a 17K upgrade, move the genset, and an
update/upgrade to the Hadley Air Ride system. We at Blue Bird
Coachwork are indeed doing the work and Blue Bird Body Company has
the liabilty and are responsible for the fix and the related expenses.

We do have big plans for the over the road coach as well and are
excited about the future of both Wanderlodge as well as the Express
Coach.

Thanks to each and every one of you for your continued support, and
Travel Safe,
Macy