Still need answers: prospective owner

[Jeff Miller]

A mid-'80s FC35 is rated at 34,600 GVWR. Mine always weighed around
32,000 fully loaded with 265gallons of diesel, 110gallons of fuel, a
couple-hundred pounds of tools and spares, and my family of six with
their belongings.

Yes you can overload the front axle, if you have an empty fuel tank,
empty fresh water, full waste tanks, and people/belongings loaded
front-heavy. I believe that the drive-axle (24,000cap) is difficult
to overload, we couldn't do it, even with 27' of enclosed trailer
behind full of car and stuff.

Wheel cut is good for advertising, you need to know turning radius. I
don't have the number, but the FC is pretty good, especially curb-
curb because of the combination of wheel cut and front overhang.
Different years had different geometry. On the disposable-fiberglass
coaches they need as long a wheelbase as possible to handle
crosswinds etc, so they need a sharp wheel cut to make up for it. The
stability of the BlueBird platform didn't need the stretched
wheelbase for crosswind & truck-wake resistance, it is already in
there, so the shorter wheelbase allows shorter turns. Still a big bus
though.

Mileage? I drive with the loud-pedal pretty well floored most of the
time. I've upped horsepower, changed gearing, always run full of
fluids, and am usually trying to make time. In all of my FCs from
210hp to 300hp I got between 7.5 and 8.5mpg.

The allison MT-643 isn't the most refined feeling transmission, but
it is a garbage-truck transmission, a school-bus transmission, dump-
trucks, ... pretty hard to wear it out. Rated for the 3208T's hp and
torque.

Don't knock the electric/motoraid setup, it will hold 12gallons of
very hot water from engine heat, plenty for a shower the next
morning. For extended stays you need electricity once per day anyway,
most of us fire up the genset for coffee and battery charging before
we get into the shower. A gas water heater would be fine, but while
the genset is running it is best to have a load, not just battery
charging. If you're going to dry-camp in this manner, a gas water
heater and pocket-sized portable genset for charging the batteries is
a good setup. A diesel-fired heater is better still, heat the coach,
engine, domestic water, all at the same time with little electric use
and diesel has more BTUs than LP with less possibility of going boom.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> I am still awaiting some answers from the experts. Please I need to
> know!!
>
>
>
> What is the GVWR of a mid 80's FC35? What about CCC? Are there any
> problems with one axle or wheel position being overloaded? What is
the
> empty weight of an FC35 ?
> 2.What about turning radius? I see the newer chassis advertising
wheel
> cuts from 50 to 56. What is the wheel cut of a BB?
> 3.What is the torque rating of the 3208T? Does the Allison 4 spd.
> handle this power well?
> 4.Do all the BB's (FC) have only electric water heaters with motor
aid
> or did they offer a gas heater? If not has anyone retrofitted one?
> 5. Fuel mileage: Most of the posts I read talk about 6 or 7 mpg.
This
> does sound right for a heavy vehicle that is as aerodynamic as a
4x8
> sheet of plywood but I also see some who claim closer to 10. Which
is
> likely? I am aware that mpg varies by driver, conditions and egos.
> 5. I am watching the posts about batteries. I still find it hard to
> believe that BB would not supply a seperate starting battery. The 6
> volts are NOT designed for the heavy instant load of a starter
motor.
> I
> I think the installation of at least a series 31 would be my first
> mod.
> 6. Storage space. I understand this is lacking. Where do you put:
> hoses, cords, tools, boards, jack, spare parts, etc.? I have a
tripod
> satellite internet system and wonder how I could transport the dish.
>
>
> I did get a few good replies via email. Thank you to those kind
> persons.
>
> Thanks : Bruce
> no BB YET!
>