Wanderlodge and its future

[David Brady]

Erik,

Someday I'll find a snow covered parking lot big
enough to do a few power slides in the bus. I wonder
what the bus feels like as she starts to drift. I assume
it'll initially go into a understeer situation, and I as I
stay on the fuel, she'll shift into an oversteer situation.
Could be fun. I'll bet she doesn't make these transitions
lightning fast, probably a nice slow tail wag. I don't
have any idea how she'll respond to steering corrections.

The handling puzzle is just part of my quest however.
Along with feel, feedback, and response, we all want a
good ride too! This is where the "fun begins", or should I say
"compromise begins". I want to go down the bumpiest
road and not have a plate rattle! Just like that Prevost
I drove! But, of course, I don't want to spend
Prevost dollars!

David Brady,
'02 LXi, Smokey, Va

erj9061 wrote:

>David,I could spend all day discussing the finer points of suspension design,
and at our rallies I tend too, but for now, since this my lunch break, I will be
brief. First point: How does it feel? The overall feel when driving should be
that you are controlling the coach, not the other way around. This is enhanced
by the IFS and the stance of the front air springs. The 450LXi IFS is designed
to respond to very subtle course corrections and provide a proportional level of
steering feedback, meaning that you feel what you are doing. Second point: How
does it talk back? Most coaches tend to feel like you are "driving a
marshmallow". This is caused by the substantial amount of isolation designed in.
You SHOULD receive feedback through your fingers allowing you to judge road
conditions. This stimulus, when interpreted in your brain, will allow you to
avoid certain manuevers such as "oversteer". Again, the confidence
factor...Third point: How does it respond? One reason a lack of confidence
exists is that the driver does not know how the vehicle will react in an
emergency manuever and tends to be cautious to a fault. The 450LXi suspension
has been tested in evasive situations to study reactions. I know that alot of
owners would not risk practicing these manuevers, but I have. And I do know
this: I COULD SCARE YOU and still be in total control.That's the jist of what my
ride and handling perceptions are, I'll elaborate more on technical issues in
the future. Erik JohnsonSenior Product Engineer
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, David Brady wrote:
>
>
>>Welcome aboard Erik. Although I haven't driven one, the
>>word on the street is that the 450LXi is a notch above the
>>older LXi's in terms of handling and ride. Way to go! I'm
>>looking forward to getting some seat time. Suspension systems,
>>ride, and handling quality are the factors that set Prevost
>>apart; glad to see that you're focused on catching up.
>>
>>Of course suspension systems are all about compromise,
>>with the exception of active systems (which might not be
>>a bad idea); notwithstanding this, what characteristics or factors
>>are you looking for in a good ride and handling, and how
>>might you go about achieving them? Feel free to be technical,
>>most people on this list are. We also respect your need to
>>protect Blue Bird proprietary intellectual property.
>>
>>Congratulations to you and Blue Bird for finding each other!
>>
>>
>>David Brady
>>'02 LXi, Smokey, Va
>>
>>erj9061 wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>To All, I'm new to posting, so bear with me... Actually, I am a
"in-the-trenches" Engineer at Coachworks. I am responsible for body & chassis
construction, axles & suspension, and mechanical systems. I tend to be quite
passionate regarding the future of Coachworks, since I have opted to make my
home here. Many folks in this industry tend to move around from company to
company, as have I, but have now chosen to land here. I am glad to here that
everyone seems to like the ride and handling qualities of the 450LXi. At one
point in my career I signed on as a professional driver and logged 800,000 miles
in 5 years, ever since then I have become quite picky about R & H. Bluebird has
allowed me to shape the vehicle characteristics towards what I would consider a
"good" ride. I still have some things in mind, and they will come over time. A
little more insight... I have over 24 years in this industry, mostly with bus
conversions. I know a great deal about most bus models, and conversion
interiors. I am probably one of the few Engineers in this business who have
driven, lived in, worked on, washed, dumped, fueled, etc., R.V's and coaches.
No, I'm not Executive Management, just a "working stiff". Erik JohnsonSenior
Product EngineerBluebird Coachworks, Inc.
>>>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, John Suter john_777fl@y... wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Forgive my ignorance, but is ERJ9061 a member of the
>>>>executive team of Bluebird Coachworks, Inc.? One of
>>>>the group of 6?
>>>>
>>>>Unsigned posts potentially create more questions
>>>>than they provide answers. I would hope Bluebird
>>>>executives would proudly proclaim their name, title
>>>>and association with such a fine organization.
>>>>
>>>>John Suter
>>>>2000LXi and prior
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--- erj9061 erj9061@y... wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>I believe I can offer some insight. At present, the
>>>>>feeling at Coachworks is that the future is ours to
>>>>>shape. We now have a good platform in the 450LXi and
>>>>>will continue to look for improvements. We have a
>>>>>"civilian" commitee that has made several
>>>>>suggestions for future models, some of which will be
>>>>>seen in 2007 and beyond models. All suggestions are
>>>>>highly regarded and carefully looked at, so please
>>>>>feel free.
>>>>>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
>>>>>"ronmarabito2002" remarabito@a... wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>One of the requests on Topics was "Looking for
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>info on the future
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>and survivability of the Blue Bird Coach".
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Lo & behold, we have two good articles in the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>December 2005 issue of
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>FMCA Magazine, we have some insight. Two articles
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>at one time. The
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>first is about the "The Wanderlodge 450 LXi" and
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>the second
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>is "What's New about the New Blue Bird
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>Coachworks?"
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>With those as a starting point, let's here from
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>those who might have
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>additional insight as well as those that like what
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>they read and
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>those that are skeptical.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>If what I read is true, then there is light at the
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>end of the tunnel
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>concerning the future of Wanderlodge Coachworks.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Since there are really two subjects for discussion
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>here, let's try
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>to keep them separate.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>The contributions of Topics are beginning to come
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>in steady now, so
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>we should have a real increase in traffic and
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>information.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks to the contributors.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40
>>>>>>Forum Moderator
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>[Non-text portions of this message have been
>>>>>removed]
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>__________________________________
>>>>Start your day with Yahoo! - Make it your home page!
>>>>http://www.yahoo.com/r/hs
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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>>
>Product Engineer
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