Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

My wife and I took the 'Happinest' (last weeks 'Bird of the week)
for a weekend trip to Saylorsburg PA. and stayed at the Silver
Valley Campground. We had a nice weekend and did some sight seeing
and visited with family. On the way we were stuck in some pretty
slow moving traffic for a while, but it eventualy opened up. That's
when we discovered that the vent on the right front side (in fornt
of the heater element) wasn't staying closed. It was 80 or 90
outside and the right and left heat and defrost registers were
blowing real hot air at us. Naturaly, we were whizzing along a road
that has a two foot sholder, so pulling over was not an option. Once
we got to the campground, I was able to re-attach the control cable
to hold the vent shut!

So over the weekend we began to think about trips we would like to
take after I retire. Alaska was the top choice. Given the little
problems we have each time we venture out, I have been thinking of
what I would need to do to prepare a 1978 coach for a two or three
month trip from New Jersey through Alaska and back! Hoses (power
steering, radiator, heaters, transmition cooler, hot water heater),
belts, idler pulley bearings, tires, brake components, compressor,
just for starters. Spare parts???
Front stone shield, toad stone shield, spare tire?

Maybe I am crazy, but it sure would be a hell of a trip in the
vintage bird.

I figure I have three years to get ready..

Gardner
78FC33

For sure I would carry an unmounted spare as well as belts

On 15/07/07, Gardner Yeaw wrote:
>
> My wife and I took the 'Happinest' (last weeks 'Bird of the week)
> for a weekend trip to Saylorsburg PA. and stayed at the Silver
> Valley Campground. We had a nice weekend and did some sight seeing
> and visited with family. On the way we were stuck in some pretty
> slow moving traffic for a while, but it eventualy opened up. That's
> when we discovered that the vent on the right front side (in fornt
> of the heater element) wasn't staying closed. It was 80 or 90
> outside and the right and left heat and defrost registers were
> blowing real hot air at us. Naturaly, we were whizzing along a road
> that has a two foot sholder, so pulling over was not an option. Once
> we got to the campground, I was able to re-attach the control cable
> to hold the vent shut!
>
> So over the weekend we began to think about trips we would like to
> take after I retire. Alaska was the top choice. Given the little
> problems we have each time we venture out, I have been thinking of
> what I would need to do to prepare a 1978 coach for a two or three
> month trip from New Jersey through Alaska and back! Hoses (power
> steering, radiator, heaters, transmition cooler, hot water heater),
> belts, idler pulley bearings, tires, brake components, compressor,
> just for starters. Spare parts???
> Front stone shield, toad stone shield, spare tire?
>
> Maybe I am crazy, but it sure would be a hell of a trip in the
> vintage bird.
>
> I figure I have three years to get ready..
>
> Gardner
> 78FC33
>
>
>



--
Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
94 WLWB


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

E-me when you go. If you want company, we will be full retired then
and maybe we will join you with our 78 35FC. Brad Bloxham

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Rob Robinson"
wrote:
>
> For sure I would carry an unmounted spare as well as belts
>
> On 15/07/07, Gardner Yeaw wrote:
> >
> > My wife and I took the 'Happinest' (last weeks 'Bird of the
week)
> > for a weekend trip to Saylorsburg PA. and stayed at the Silver
> > Valley Campground. We had a nice weekend and did some sight seeing
> > and visited with family. On the way we were stuck in some pretty
> > slow moving traffic for a while, but it eventualy opened up.
That's
> > when we discovered that the vent on the right front side (in fornt
> > of the heater element) wasn't staying closed. It was 80 or 90
> > outside and the right and left heat and defrost registers were
> > blowing real hot air at us. Naturaly, we were whizzing along a
road
> > that has a two foot sholder, so pulling over was not an option.
Once
> > we got to the campground, I was able to re-attach the control
cable
> > to hold the vent shut!
> >
> > So over the weekend we began to think about trips we would like to
> > take after I retire. Alaska was the top choice. Given the little
> > problems we have each time we venture out, I have been thinking of
> > what I would need to do to prepare a 1978 coach for a two or three
> > month trip from New Jersey through Alaska and back! Hoses (power
> > steering, radiator, heaters, transmition cooler, hot water
heater),
> > belts, idler pulley bearings, tires, brake components, compressor,
> > just for starters. Spare parts???
> > Front stone shield, toad stone shield, spare tire?
> >
> > Maybe I am crazy, but it sure would be a hell of a trip in the
> > vintage bird.
> >
> > I figure I have three years to get ready..
> >
> > Gardner
> > 78FC33
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
> 94 WLWB
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Gardner, if you really do plan to make this trip, and are interested in a
caravan, please keep me in mind via e-mail. We are newly retired as of July 1,
and may be interested in making that trip.

Cathy and Steve Anderson
79 FC 35
Poulsbo, Wa.



In a message dated 7/15/2007 8:25:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
gcyeaw@... writes:




My wife and I took the 'Happinest' (last weeks 'Bird of the week)
for a weekend trip to Saylorsburg PA. and stayed at the Silver
Valley Campground. We had a nice weekend and did some sight seeing
and visited with family. On the way we were stuck in some pretty
slow moving traffic for a while, but it eventualy opened up. That's
when we discovered that the vent on the right front side (in fornt
of the heater element) wasn't staying closed. It was 80 or 90
outside and the right and left heat and defrost registers were
blowing real hot air at us. Naturaly, we were whizzing along a road
that has a two foot sholder, so pulling over was not an option. Once
we got to the campground, I was able to re-attach the control cable
to hold the vent shut!

So over the weekend we began to think about trips we would like to
take after I retire. Alaska was the top choice. Given the little
problems we have each time we venture out, I have been thinking of
what I would need to do to prepare a 1978 coach for a two or three
month trip from New Jersey through Alaska and back! Hoses (power
steering, radiator, heaters, transmition cooler, hot water heater),
belts, idler pulley bearings, tires, brake components, compressor,
just for starters. Spare parts???
Front stone shield, toad stone shield, spare tire?

Maybe I am crazy, but it sure would be a hell of a trip in the
vintage bird.

I figure I have three years to get ready..

Gardner
78FC33









************************************** Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour


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

Yeah, might be a trip from Hell too. Been there and done that. It can happen
to the best of RV's.
Just returned from ID on I-90, saw a new Winnie Vue on a trailer, and nice
looking Ford Dually pulling a big fiver being rigged to a hook. I for one
learned the importance of having ALL the fuel injection line brackets installed
properly. Only broke the # 5 three times before I stumbled onto the problem. I
DO NOT love the smell of diesel fuel in the morning. It smells like WORK.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: Gardner Yeaw
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, July 15, 2007 9:25 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Weekend trip


My wife and I took the 'Happinest' (last weeks 'Bird of the week)
for a weekend trip to Saylorsburg PA. and stayed at the Silver
Valley Campground. We had a nice weekend and did some sight seeing
and visited with family. On the way we were stuck in some pretty
slow moving traffic for a while, but it eventualy opened up. That's
when we discovered that the vent on the right front side (in fornt
of the heater element) wasn't staying closed. It was 80 or 90
outside and the right and left heat and defrost registers were
blowing real hot air at us. Naturaly, we were whizzing along a road
that has a two foot sholder, so pulling over was not an option. Once
we got to the campground, I was able to re-attach the control cable
to hold the vent shut!

So over the weekend we began to think about trips we would like to
take after I retire. Alaska was the top choice. Given the little
problems we have each time we venture out, I have been thinking of
what I would need to do to prepare a 1978 coach for a two or three
month trip from New Jersey through Alaska and back! Hoses (power
steering, radiator, heaters, transmition cooler, hot water heater),
belts, idler pulley bearings, tires, brake components, compressor,
just for starters. Spare parts???
Front stone shield, toad stone shield, spare tire?

Maybe I am crazy, but it sure would be a hell of a trip in the
vintage bird.

I figure I have three years to get ready..

Gardner
78FC33





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

If you are going to do the Alaska trip next year count me in the caravan. I
have plans now to make a trip from Texas to Alaska next year unless something
happens to make me put it off.
Regards,

===========================================================

ebirder2000@... wrote:
Gardner, if you really do plan to make this trip, and are interested in a
caravan, please keep me in mind via e-mail. We are newly retired as of July 1,
and may be interested in making that trip.

Cathy and Steve Anderson
79 FC 35
Poulsbo, Wa.



In a message dated 7/15/2007 8:25:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
gcyeaw@... writes:

My wife and I took the 'Happinest' (last weeks 'Bird of the week)
for a weekend trip to Saylorsburg PA. and stayed at the Silver
Valley Campground. We had a nice weekend and did some sight seeing
and visited with family. On the way we were stuck in some pretty
slow moving traffic for a while, but it eventualy opened up. That's
when we discovered that the vent on the right front side (in fornt
of the heater element) wasn't staying closed. It was 80 or 90
outside and the right and left heat and defrost registers were
blowing real hot air at us. Naturaly, we were whizzing along a road
that has a two foot sholder, so pulling over was not an option. Once
we got to the campground, I was able to re-attach the control cable
to hold the vent shut!

So over the weekend we began to think about trips we would like to
take after I retire. Alaska was the top choice. Given the little
problems we have each time we venture out, I have been thinking of
what I would need to do to prepare a 1978 coach for a two or three
month trip from New Jersey through Alaska and back! Hoses (power
steering, radiator, heaters, transmition cooler, hot water heater),
belts, idler pulley bearings, tires, brake components, compressor,
just for starters. Spare parts???
Front stone shield, toad stone shield, spare tire?

Maybe I am crazy, but it sure would be a hell of a trip in the
vintage bird.

I figure I have three years to get ready..

Gardner
78FC33

************************************** Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

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






Best Regards,
Ron Thompson
Waller, Tx.
1995 WLWB 42'Blue Bird
Body #F112297
(cockyfox@...)

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

I guess I am not the only one who would like to take the trip. As
I mentioned, so far the plan is to retire in June of 2010, but
nothing is cast in stone. As far as taking a trip through Alaska, I
would do it soon after. Too many people I know wait, and then health
issues take over.

It would be great if a few Birds and maybe a few SOBs set up a
caravan to do the trip. The thing is a that 30+ day trip means 30
different ideas of where to go and what to do. It is a pretty
daunting task to plan even for yourself. Arranging campgrounds,
locating fuel stops, service facilities, timing the seasons, etc,
etc. could be a full time job.

The good thing would be a group of people who have working
knowledge of RV systems and a huge list of telephone numbers for
folks willing to help diagnose problems and offer tried and true
solutions.

I have looked at several of the packaged tours and some do offer
some nice perks, (established itenerary that is realistic and tested,
Trained CPR/Defib folks, free rock shields, tail gunner with tools
and stuf to get you to the nearest service facility) but the price
isn't cheap. Pretty close to $5000 give or take. That does include
camping fees and many meals. I will probably spend close to that much
just getting the coach ready.

By the time I am ready to go I will have put quite a few miles on
my coach and hopefully I will have shaken out the weak links.

Gardner
78FC33






--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
wrote:
>
> My wife and I took the 'Happinest' (last weeks 'Bird of the week)
> for a weekend trip to Saylorsburg PA. and stayed at the Silver
> Valley Campground. We had a nice weekend and did some sight seeing
> and visited with family. On the way we were stuck in some pretty
> slow moving traffic for a while, but it eventualy opened up. That's
> when we discovered that the vent on the right front side (in fornt
> of the heater element) wasn't staying closed. It was 80 or 90
> outside and the right and left heat and defrost registers were
> blowing real hot air at us. Naturaly, we were whizzing along a road
> that has a two foot sholder, so pulling over was not an option.
Once
> we got to the campground, I was able to re-attach the control cable
> to hold the vent shut!
>
> So over the weekend we began to think about trips we would like
to
> take after I retire. Alaska was the top choice. Given the little
> problems we have each time we venture out, I have been thinking of
> what I would need to do to prepare a 1978 coach for a two or three
> month trip from New Jersey through Alaska and back! Hoses (power
> steering, radiator, heaters, transmition cooler, hot water heater),
> belts, idler pulley bearings, tires, brake components, compressor,
> just for starters. Spare parts???
> Front stone shield, toad stone shield, spare tire?
>
> Maybe I am crazy, but it sure would be a hell of a trip in the
> vintage bird.
>
> I figure I have three years to get ready..
>
> Gardner
> 78FC33
>