Wanderloge Wannabe

[Craig Schwartz]

After researching RV's for several months I've concluded I want my own
Wanderlodge, both as a vehicle in which to travel, and also to
experiment with living (mostly) off the utility grid. There are a few
obstacles, and quite a few questions. I'd welcome your comments and
advice about the question and concerns I've listed below.
- thank you,
Craig - (early 80's) 31 or 33 FC , or TBD.

p.s. Ideal coach would be early 1981-1985 31, or 33, with a
broken head (I'd replace it with a composting toilet),
and set up for solar panels.

Questions:
* How hard is it to fix a broken waterline behind the shower. How
does one get to it.

* do the people with the non-turbo engines wish they had one ?

* how much difference is there between airbag suspension (1981 ++)
and the older spring models.

* how important (and in what situations) is an aux. brake retarder ?

Obstacles
(the big one!) I have no place to park it, and would be
full-timing. I have thus far found no places near where I live
that
would rent (very few RV parks). I'm not willing to live with the
uncertainty of street parking, having to move every 2 days and
wonder when I went off to work during the day if my home will
be towed. Any ideas about finding a parking place ?

Cost
I'm limited to the ebay price range for early 80's vehicles.
This makes it difficult to assess the condition of the coach,
and of course raises the risk of unafordable repairs. any
ideas on how to find out what I'd be buying, or signs about
what I should avoid ?

[Stephen Birtles]

Ihave a 77 springy thingy non turbo that has had variuos water
leaks
I dont really like the non turbo but since when on vacation you
shouldnyt be russhing aways so the non turbo is good nad what other
vehicle can you climb a hill and watch the grass smell the roses
and drive at the same time
in an older fc side bath I have found that it is extre,ely easy to
work onany of the plumbing (replaced it all with plastic due to
previuos owner let it freeze
Composting toilet yucch an outhouse with a heater nuff said
solar panels lost of roof area and an armoured roof to boot
TRansmission retarder see comment about turbos if you dont rush up
why rush down??
Airbag suspension a matter of choice it is unavoidable in later
model coaches you get it whether or not you want it same with
earlier coaches it was not available.
Storage could be a problem tbut with the right amount of coin you
will find a place to park it. There is always a storage lot
somewhere
Stephen 77fc35 mostly done now


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Craig Schwartz"
wrote:
> After researching RV's for several months I've concluded I want my
own
> Wanderlodge, both as a vehicle in which to travel, and also to
> experiment with living (mostly) off the utility grid. There are a
few
> obstacles, and quite a few questions. I'd welcome your comments and
> advice about the question and concerns I've listed below.
> - thank you,
> Craig - (early 80's) 31 or 33 FC , or TBD.
>
> p.s. Ideal coach would be early 1981-1985 31, or 33, with a
> broken head (I'd replace it with a composting toilet),
> and set up for solar panels.
>
> Questions:
> * How hard is it to fix a broken waterline behind the shower. How
> does one get to it.
>
> * do the people with the non-turbo engines wish they had one ?
>
> * how much difference is there between airbag suspension (1981 ++)
> and the older spring models.
>
> * how important (and in what situations) is an aux. brake
retarder ?
>
> Obstacles
> (the big one!) I have no place to park it, and would be
> full-timing. I have thus far found no places near where I live
> that
> would rent (very few RV parks). I'm not willing to live with the
> uncertainty of street parking, having to move every 2 days and
> wonder when I went off to work during the day if my home will
> be towed. Any ideas about finding a parking place ?
>
> Cost
> I'm limited to the ebay price range for early 80's vehicles.
> This makes it difficult to assess the condition of the coach,
> and of course raises the risk of unafordable repairs. any
> ideas on how to find out what I'd be buying, or signs about
> what I should avoid ?

[Jeff Miller]

I'll happily address your power and spring issues, having owned
several coaches in that year range with turbo and no-turbo, leaf and
air springs.

The leaf srpings (in good shape) ride a little rougher, corner
slightly flatter. They are a little lighter (weight) than the later
air-spring coaches, but that is true mostly of each upgrade/year of
coach as they constantly gained weight and complexity.

The leaf springs don't leak air, but also can't be dumped to lower
the coach and to help level it.

As far as turbo and non-turbo, this too depends. In an early 3208
FC31 you will be close to 24,000lbs fully loaded, in an '82 FC35
roughly another 10,000lbs. If mountain driving is something you'll
frequently encounter, or pulling a large trailer, you'll want to stay
away from the '82 FC35, the worst power-to-weight raito made. I was
able to tackle 14% grades and top 10,000' altitude in the '77 FC31,
so you can still go most places just more slowly.

In '83 they added the turbo, taller gears, and the retarder, all rare
but occasional add-ons to earlier coaches, and much improved the
driveability of the coach even in rolling terrain, and the taller
gearing saves the engine a lot of piston travel/mile (and noise). It
also brought several other changes including better sound insulation
on the engine.

The retarder is the other third of the '83 turbo upgrade, allows you
to descend grades with a great deal more safety and typically at
higher speeds as the retarder will hold your speed in higher gears
than the engine alone and your brakes are ready for any emergency. An
add-on exhaust brake (Pac-Brake et al) have in my experience been
largely ineffective in comparison.

The best way to sum it up however isn't what features you want, but
to decide what you need and your budget. If your needs don't include
a lot of mountains but you want a good low-dollar dependable coach,
giving up a little ride quality and getting a late-'70s diesel with
enough noney left over to maintain and operate the coach would IMO be
the best bet. If flatland travel and slow travel are in your future,
you might be able to get into the larger bathroom of the '82 for a
chunk less money than an '83 turbo.

It has been my experience that even if you have to buy less coach
than you want, buying one in better condition and leaving money on
the table for repairs/upgrades is a much better decision. Most of my
Wanderlodges (all bought used) have consumed between 50% and 100% of
the price I paid for the coach to make it just the way I want
it, "your mileage may vary".

- Jeff Miller
http://www.wanderlodge.net
http://www.millercoachworks.com


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Craig Schwartz"
wrote:
> After researching RV's for several months I've concluded I want my
own
> Wanderlodge, both as a vehicle in which to travel, and also to
> experiment with living (mostly) off the utility grid. There are a
few
> obstacles, and quite a few questions. I'd welcome your comments and
> advice about the question and concerns I've listed below.
> - thank you,
> Craig - (early 80's) 31 or 33 FC , or TBD.
>
> p.s. Ideal coach would be early 1981-1985 31, or 33, with a
> broken head (I'd replace it with a composting toilet),
> and set up for solar panels.
>
> Questions:
> * How hard is it to fix a broken waterline behind the shower. How
> does one get to it.
>
> * do the people with the non-turbo engines wish they had one ?
>
> * how much difference is there between airbag suspension (1981 ++)
> and the older spring models.
>
> * how important (and in what situations) is an aux. brake retarder ?
>
> Obstacles
> (the big one!) I have no place to park it, and would be
> full-timing. I have thus far found no places near where I live
> that
> would rent (very few RV parks). I'm not willing to live with the
> uncertainty of street parking, having to move every 2 days and
> wonder when I went off to work during the day if my home will
> be towed. Any ideas about finding a parking place ?
>
> Cost
> I'm limited to the ebay price range for early 80's vehicles.
> This makes it difficult to assess the condition of the coach,
> and of course raises the risk of unafordable repairs. any
> ideas on how to find out what I'd be buying, or signs about
> what I should avoid ?

[jon lechich]

I kind of wonder what the real difference is in H.P. with turbo driven
Wanderlodge Coach and a non-turbo. When you factor the weight difference of a
1982 and above against and older Wanderlodge is their that much difference? I
read here somewhere a few months ago that it makes sence that simpler is better
or is that right? Well that's my two cents worth and oft to the beach for our
little northwest ralley! Jon PS. 120 Miles to Ocean Shores from Bremerton!!!
Jon Lechich
1978 Wanderlodge
Bremerton Washington

Stephen Birtles wrote:
Ihave a 77 springy thingy non turbo that has had variuos water
leaks
I dont really like the non turbo but since when on vacation you
shouldnyt be russhing aways so the non turbo is good nad what other
vehicle can you climb a hill and watch the grass smell the roses
and drive at the same time
in an older fc side bath I have found that it is extre,ely easy to
work onany of the plumbing (replaced it all with plastic due to
previuos owner let it freeze
Composting toilet yucch an outhouse with a heater nuff said
solar panels lost of roof area and an armoured roof to boot
TRansmission retarder see comment about turbos if you dont rush up
why rush down??
Airbag suspension a matter of choice it is unavoidable in later
model coaches you get it whether or not you want it same with
earlier coaches it was not available.
Storage could be a problem tbut with the right amount of coin you
will find a place to park it. There is always a storage lot
somewhere
Stephen 77fc35 mostly done now


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Craig Schwartz"
wrote:
> After researching RV's for several months I've concluded I want my
own
> Wanderlodge, both as a vehicle in which to travel, and also to
> experiment with living (mostly) off the utility grid. There are a
few
> obstacles, and quite a few questions. I'd welcome your comments and
> advice about the question and concerns I've listed below.
> - thank you,
> Craig - (early 80's) 31 or 33 FC , or TBD.
>
> p.s. Ideal coach would be early 1981-1985 31, or 33, with a
> broken head (I'd replace it with a composting toilet),
> and set up for solar panels.
>
> Questions:
> * How hard is it to fix a broken waterline behind the shower. How
> does one get to it.
>
> * do the people with the non-turbo engines wish they had one ?
>
> * how much difference is there between airbag suspension (1981 ++)
> and the older spring models.
>
> * how important (and in what situations) is an aux. brake
retarder ?
>
> Obstacles
> (the big one!) I have no place to park it, and would be
> full-timing. I have thus far found no places near where I live
> that
> would rent (very few RV parks). I'm not willing to live with the
> uncertainty of street parking, having to move every 2 days and
> wonder when I went off to work during the day if my home will
> be towed. Any ideas about finding a parking place ?
>
> Cost
> I'm limited to the ebay price range for early 80's vehicles.
> This makes it difficult to assess the condition of the coach,
> and of course raises the risk of unafordable repairs. any
> ideas on how to find out what I'd be buying, or signs about
> what I should avoid ?





Yahoo! Groups Links








One of my favorite sayings goes! "You never own anything, everything owns you!"




__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[M.L. Perkinson]

Craig,I am selling my 80 31' fc. It has a1984 turbo 3208 motor. New tires and
batteries. Most BB bells and whistles but with some vintage bird needs for
update.These can be considered in adjusting price of $27,500 Can send pics and
give you info . Prefer you come look and drive cause I think it will sell
itself. Maurice Perkinson 502-222-1165. Just outside Louisville, Ky on I-71
in LaGrange, Ky.


----- Original Message -----
From: Craig Schwartz
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 6/22/2005 11:32:55 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Wanderloge Wannabe


After researching RV's for several months I've concluded I want my own
Wanderlodge, both as a vehicle in which to travel, and also to
experiment with living (mostly) off the utility grid. There are a few
obstacles, and quite a few questions. I'd welcome your comments and
advice about the question and concerns I've listed below.
- thank you,
Craig - (early 80's) 31 or 33 FC , or TBD.

p.s. Ideal coach would be early 1981-1985 31, or 33, with a
broken head (I'd replace it with a composting toilet),
and set up for solar panels.

Questions:
* How hard is it to fix a broken waterline behind the shower. How
does one get to it.

* do the people with the non-turbo engines wish they had one ?

* how much difference is there between airbag suspension (1981 ++)
and the older spring models.

* how important (and in what situations) is an aux. brake retarder ?

Obstacles
(the big one!) I have no place to park it, and would be
full-timing. I have thus far found no places near where I live
that
would rent (very few RV parks). I'm not willing to live with the
uncertainty of street parking, having to move every 2 days and
wonder when I went off to work during the day if my home will
be towed. Any ideas about finding a parking place ?

Cost
I'm limited to the ebay price range for early 80's vehicles.
This makes it difficult to assess the condition of the coach,
and of course raises the risk of unafordable repairs. any
ideas on how to find out what I'd be buying, or signs about
what I should avoid ?







Yahoo! Groups Links

To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum/

To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]