Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

I believe the weight of a 35FC is around 32,000. CCC is not an issue. I have
stored all my stuff, very well, I also had a roof pod. We got around 7-9 mpg
with our coach. If you cruise around 60, that is. Some folks mount their
satellite on the roof ladder. Lots of options. Ernie-83pt40 in louisiana


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

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!

--- 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!

Hi Bruce
On my 86 pt40 my fully loaded wieght is 47,200
yes you can overload the different axles, when you get your coach one of the
first things to
do is weight your coach on a truck scale then you will know each axle load and
rearrange
the load as you need to. all the load ranges are listed on the coach, mine in
the forward
compartment.
Batteries, I installed 6 interstate deep cell batteries with a new smart
charger, no
problems. the gen has its own battery
steering radius who knows? I went to the biggest parking lot I found and just
tested the
radius and found what the limits were.
storage there is never enough, keep it light you'll be surprize what you can do
without.
mpg ha I don't want to know but I found a big different going slower 60-65 mph,
whats
the hurry
go for it I never regretted the purchase

guy smalley
86 pt40
>

I'm with you. I don't like electric hot water heaters. I will
probably install a gas tankless hot water heater in the future. Had
one on a motorhome in Europe and I really liked it. A small Paloma
can be mounted on a wall and vented thru the roof. Unlimited supply
and very efficient. You could leave the existing heater in place.
I have one sitting in my basement waiting to be installed.
Having just moved from a Travco 220 to an FC, I find the amount of
storage huge. No lack of space to carry tools, spare parts, etc.

Kerry

--- 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!
>

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!
>

I guess that before you condemn the 4-GC6 battery setup, try it. Being
series-parallel, there are plenty of cranking amps if the batteries are
good, cables are good, and charging system is working properly. In
short it works, that's why there are still thousands of BB/FC coaches
out there using this system after 15-25years.

Sure the addition of a pair of starting batteries would be optimum, but
most of us don't want to give up the storage for something that the
coach doesn't need.

I've gotten very familiar with Mike H's setup with an additional
battery bank, it works exceptionally well. He has the storage, wants
the inverter bank, it is a great setup also.

- 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!!<<snip>>
> 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.<<snip>>

As usual Jeff is right on with his answers here. I used to dry camp
for two weeks with ours with no problems whatsoever. I would run
the generator a bit each day and didn't have any concern. The only
thing related to batteries in the 1980 (and others) that I would
concern myself with is the chargers. If it still has the old
battery boilers I would consider going to a good microprocessor
controlled charger such as the Truecharge or others. Other than
that upgrade I use Trogan T125's (on my 6th year) and keep check on
the water. As far as planning other mods I would suggest owning the
coach first and get used to it. Its easy to get caught up in the
excitement of buying an older bird and wanting to fix her up but you
may find that some things such as the hot water system are a really
good design for the period and will meet most folks needs more than
adequately. Even though they are now 26 years old, alot of the
systems in the 1980 are still a far cry better (and of higher
quality) than what is in most new fiberglass rv's today. Try it,
use it a while, fix what is broken and then make experience based
decisions later on what you want to modify......

Best of luck,

John Stiles
1980 33FC
"My Navion"
Stockbridge, GA


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff Miller"
wrote:
>
> I guess that before you condemn the 4-GC6 battery setup, try it.
Being
> series-parallel, there are plenty of cranking amps if the
batteries are
> good, cables are good, and charging system is working properly. In
> short it works, that's why there are still thousands of BB/FC
coaches
> out there using this system after 15-25years.
>
> Sure the addition of a pair of starting batteries would be
optimum, but
> most of us don't want to give up the storage for something that
the
> coach doesn't need.
>
> I've gotten very familiar with Mike H's setup with an additional
> battery bank, it works exceptionally well. He has the storage,
wants
> the inverter bank, it is a great setup also.
>
> - 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!!<<snip>>
> > 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.<<snip>>
>

Boy, anyone who has seen the work John and his wife
have personally done on their 1980 model Bluebird, has
to bow in deference to their recommendation to try the
coach out first, and then decide what changes/upgrades
to make.
John, are the pictures posted? If not, it might be
a good excuse for a trip for a prospective purchaser
to see what they have done.

John Suter


--- John Stiles wrote:

> As usual Jeff is right on with his answers here. I
> used to dry camp
> for two weeks with ours with no problems whatsoever.
> I would run
> the generator a bit each day and didn't have any
> concern. The only
> thing related to batteries in the 1980 (and others)
> that I would
> concern myself with is the chargers. If it still
> has the old
> battery boilers I would consider going to a good
> microprocessor
> controlled charger such as the Truecharge or others.
> Other than
> that upgrade I use Trogan T125's (on my 6th year)
> and keep check on
> the water. As far as planning other mods I would
> suggest owning the
> coach first and get used to it. Its easy to get
> caught up in the
> excitement of buying an older bird and wanting to
> fix her up but you
> may find that some things such as the hot water
> system are a really
> good design for the period and will meet most folks
> needs more than
> adequately. Even though they are now 26 years old,
> alot of the
> systems in the 1980 are still a far cry better (and
> of higher
> quality) than what is in most new fiberglass rv's
> today. Try it,
> use it a while, fix what is broken and then make
> experience based
> decisions later on what you want to modify......
>
> Best of luck,
>
> John Stiles
> 1980 33FC
> "My Navion"
> Stockbridge, GA
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jeff
> Miller"
> wrote:
> >
> > I guess that before you condemn the 4-GC6 battery
> setup, try it.
> Being
> > series-parallel, there are plenty of cranking amps
> if the
> batteries are
> > good, cables are good, and charging system is
> working properly. In
> > short it works, that's why there are still
> thousands of BB/FC
> coaches
> > out there using this system after 15-25years.
> >
> > Sure the addition of a pair of starting batteries
> would be
> optimum, but
> > most of us don't want to give up the storage for
> something that
> the
> > coach doesn't need.
> >
> > I've gotten very familiar with Mike H's setup with
> an additional
> > battery bank, it works exceptionally well. He has
> the storage,
> wants
> > the inverter bank, it is a great setup also.
> >
> > - 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!!<<snip>>
> > > 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.<<snip>>
> >
>
>
>
>
>


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