Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG

Dorn Hetzel
77FC35
Hogansville, GA


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

Hi Dorn, Welcome to the owners club. Now the fun begins. You have a
nice place to start and a open canvas to make it yours. Have lots of
fun with it and best of luck. You will find they are rather nice to
work on because of the quality of materials used to build them. Most
things are not too terribly complicated and the fellows in the group
are very helpful. Doesn't look to be a lot needed. Keep us informed.
Its fun to see what others are doing and we (or at least I ) am not
opposed to stealing some ones better idea's.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC




>
> http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG
>
> Dorn Hetzel
> 77FC35
> Hogansville, GA
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Thanks!

Things I know I need to fix:

the propane heaters (3 of them) don't work.
generator needs a new flywheel
the electric jacks haven't worked in a long time but i don't know if i care
too much about those.
front(engine driver) air conditioning has a clogged line or something
engine based heaters have issues (opened manual valves but still no heat
except for the very front of unit by driver and copilot)

also, i can't seem to get the shore power switch to work but maybe I'm
missing something obvious on that one.

But, still, for $18k i'm not complaining.

By the way, Coachcraft in Columbus GA would be convenient for me to take it
for service (my wife works in Columbus).
Does anyone have any experience with them?

Regards,

Dorn Hetzel
77FC35
Hogansville, GA



On Nov 25, 2007 12:12 PM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

> Hi Dorn, Welcome to the owners club. Now the fun begins. You have a
> nice place to start and a open canvas to make it yours. Have lots of
> fun with it and best of luck. You will find they are rather nice to
> work on because of the quality of materials used to build them. Most
> things are not too terribly complicated and the fellows in the group
> are very helpful. Doesn't look to be a lot needed. Keep us informed.
> Its fun to see what others are doing and we (or at least I ) am not
> opposed to stealing some ones better idea's.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
> >
> > http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG
> >
> > Dorn Hetzel
> > 77FC35
> > Hogansville, GA
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>


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

We have used them and their workmanship is outstanding. We used them
right after a RITV and so we had a 3 or 4 week wait. Call ahead and
and make an appointment. They are a bit pricey but I am a firm
believer you pay for what you get. Overall the experience was
outstanding.

Al Johnson
'96 BMC B75 ==> B100
Mandeville, Louisiana

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dorn Hetzel"
wrote:
>
> Thanks!
>
> Things I know I need to fix:
>
> the propane heaters (3 of them) don't work.
> generator needs a new flywheel
> the electric jacks haven't worked in a long time but i don't know
if i care
> too much about those.
> front(engine driver) air conditioning has a clogged line or
something
> engine based heaters have issues (opened manual valves but still no
heat
> except for the very front of unit by driver and copilot)
>
> also, i can't seem to get the shore power switch to work but maybe
I'm
> missing something obvious on that one.
>
> But, still, for $18k i'm not complaining.
>
> By the way, Coachcraft in Columbus GA would be convenient for me to
take it
> for service (my wife works in Columbus).
> Does anyone have any experience with them?
>
> Regards,
>
> Dorn Hetzel
> 77FC35
> Hogansville, GA
>
>
>
> On Nov 25, 2007 12:12 PM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>
> > Hi Dorn, Welcome to the owners club. Now the fun begins. You
have a
> > nice place to start and a open canvas to make it yours. Have lots
of
> > fun with it and best of luck. You will find they are rather nice
to
> > work on because of the quality of materials used to build them.
Most
> > things are not too terribly complicated and the fellows in the
group
> > are very helpful. Doesn't look to be a lot needed. Keep us
informed.
> > Its fun to see what others are doing and we (or at least I ) am
not
> > opposed to stealing some ones better idea's.
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
> >
> > >
> > > http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG
> > >
> > > Dorn Hetzel
> > > 77FC35
> > > Hogansville, GA
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Hi there, McDonalds is probably as good as it gets for Wanderlodge work.
However, you will quickly double your investment.
Mike Hohnstein
Germantown, Wl
83FC35
----- Original Message -----
From: Dorn Hetzel
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 25, 2007 12:05 PM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: picture of our "new" bird


Thanks!

Things I know I need to fix:

the propane heaters (3 of them) don't work.
generator needs a new flywheel
the electric jacks haven't worked in a long time but i don't know if i care
too much about those.
front(engine driver) air conditioning has a clogged line or something
engine based heaters have issues (opened manual valves but still no heat
except for the very front of unit by driver and copilot)

also, i can't seem to get the shore power switch to work but maybe I'm
missing something obvious on that one.

But, still, for $18k i'm not complaining.

By the way, Coachcraft in Columbus GA would be convenient for me to take it
for service (my wife works in Columbus).
Does anyone have any experience with them?

Regards,

Dorn Hetzel
77FC35
Hogansville, GA

On Nov 25, 2007 12:12 PM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

> Hi Dorn, Welcome to the owners club. Now the fun begins. You have a
> nice place to start and a open canvas to make it yours. Have lots of
> fun with it and best of luck. You will find they are rather nice to
> work on because of the quality of materials used to build them. Most
> things are not too terribly complicated and the fellows in the group
> are very helpful. Doesn't look to be a lot needed. Keep us informed.
> Its fun to see what others are doing and we (or at least I ) am not
> opposed to stealing some ones better idea's.
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
> >
> > http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG
> >
> > Dorn Hetzel
> > 77FC35
> > Hogansville, GA
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>
>
>

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





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

Dorn,

Pretty darn good looking 'starter' coach for a 77! How's she run?
Hopefully the rest of that stuff maybe fairly minor stuff for you to
tear into.

I could almost see the grin on your face as you wrote the new
signature line! ;^)

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dorn Hetzel"
wrote:
>
> Thanks!
>
> Things I know I need to fix:
>
> the propane heaters (3 of them) don't work.
> generator needs a new flywheel
> the electric jacks haven't worked in a long time but i don't know if
i care
> too much about those.
> front(engine driver) air conditioning has a clogged line or something
> engine based heaters have issues (opened manual valves but still no heat
> except for the very front of unit by driver and copilot)
>
> also, i can't seem to get the shore power switch to work but maybe I'm
> missing something obvious on that one.
>
> But, still, for $18k i'm not complaining.
>
> By the way, Coachcraft in Columbus GA would be convenient for me to
take it
> for service (my wife works in Columbus).
> Does anyone have any experience with them?
>
> Regards,
>
> Dorn Hetzel
> 77FC35
> Hogansville, GA
>
>
>
> On Nov 25, 2007 12:12 PM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>
> > Hi Dorn, Welcome to the owners club. Now the fun begins. You have a
> > nice place to start and a open canvas to make it yours. Have lots of
> > fun with it and best of luck. You will find they are rather nice to
> > work on because of the quality of materials used to build them. Most
> > things are not too terribly complicated and the fellows in the group
> > are very helpful. Doesn't look to be a lot needed. Keep us informed.
> > Its fun to see what others are doing and we (or at least I ) am not
> > opposed to stealing some ones better idea's.
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
> >
> > >
> > > http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG
> > >
> > > Dorn Hetzel
> > > 77FC35
> > > Hogansville, GA
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Howdy, Dorn.
Congratulations on becoming a Blue Bird owner!! We wish you many
Happy Trails in it.


Jack and Liz Pearce
Fulltiming in a 1993 Wanderlodge




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dorn Hetzel"
wrote:
>
> http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG
>
> Dorn Hetzel
> 77FC35
> Hogansville, GA
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Dorn, Maybe this is obvious but the one thing I wouldn't do at this
point is to drive into the shop with a list of all the things it
needs and tell'm to fix it. I'd drive it a little while and watch
and evaluate it. I would not fix anymore then what you have to for
right now. Certainly don't fool with the air conditioning at this
time. I might get the heaters working and the shore power situation
sorted out and let it go at that until you get some miles on it. The
other fellows on the list here have been wonderfully helpful to me
and perhaps some of these repairs you could tackle with a little help
from your friends. Just a suggestion.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC





>
> Thanks!
>
> Things I know I need to fix:
>
> the propane heaters (3 of them) don't work.
> generator needs a new flywheel
> the electric jacks haven't worked in a long time but i don't know
if i care
> too much about those.
> front(engine driver) air conditioning has a clogged line or
something
> engine based heaters have issues (opened manual valves but still no
heat
> except for the very front of unit by driver and copilot)
>
> also, i can't seem to get the shore power switch to work but maybe
I'm
> missing something obvious on that one.
>
> But, still, for $18k i'm not complaining.
>
> By the way, Coachcraft in Columbus GA would be convenient for me to
take it
> for service (my wife works in Columbus).
> Does anyone have any experience with them?
>
> Regards,
>
> Dorn Hetzel
> 77FC35
> Hogansville, GA
>
>
>
> On Nov 25, 2007 12:12 PM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>
> > Hi Dorn, Welcome to the owners club. Now the fun begins. You
have a
> > nice place to start and a open canvas to make it yours. Have lots
of
> > fun with it and best of luck. You will find they are rather nice
to
> > work on because of the quality of materials used to build them.
Most
> > things are not too terribly complicated and the fellows in the
group
> > are very helpful. Doesn't look to be a lot needed. Keep us
informed.
> > Its fun to see what others are doing and we (or at least I ) am
not
> > opposed to stealing some ones better idea's.
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
> >
> > >
> > > http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG
> > >
> > > Dorn Hetzel
> > > 77FC35
> > > Hogansville, GA
> > >
> > >
> > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

I would like to echo this thought. You need to make "the list".
Figure out everything you think needs attention, the prioritize those
items from 'most important' to 'when I get around to it'. I am on my
second 'Bird and have had "the list" the whole time on both of them.
It will help you keep your sanity and can also be handy in budgeting
time and money.

Scott Forman
86 PT38 with a nice, long list

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> Dorn, Maybe this is obvious but the one thing I wouldn't do at this
> point is to drive into the shop with a list of all the things it
> needs and tell'm to fix it. I'd drive it a little while and watch
> and evaluate it. I would not fix anymore then what you have to for
> right now. Certainly don't fool with the air conditioning at this
> time. I might get the heaters working and the shore power
situation
> sorted out and let it go at that until you get some miles on it.
The
> other fellows on the list here have been wonderfully helpful to me
> and perhaps some of these repairs you could tackle with a little
help
> from your friends. Just a suggestion.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>
>
>
>
>
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> > Things I know I need to fix:
> >
> > the propane heaters (3 of them) don't work.
> > generator needs a new flywheel
> > the electric jacks haven't worked in a long time but i don't know
> if i care
> > too much about those.
> > front(engine driver) air conditioning has a clogged line or
> something
> > engine based heaters have issues (opened manual valves but still
no
> heat
> > except for the very front of unit by driver and copilot)
> >
> > also, i can't seem to get the shore power switch to work but
maybe
> I'm
> > missing something obvious on that one.
> >
> > But, still, for $18k i'm not complaining.
> >
> > By the way, Coachcraft in Columbus GA would be convenient for me
to
> take it
> > for service (my wife works in Columbus).
> > Does anyone have any experience with them?
> >
> > Regards,
> >
> > Dorn Hetzel
> > 77FC35
> > Hogansville, GA
> >
> >
> >
> > On Nov 25, 2007 12:12 PM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Dorn, Welcome to the owners club. Now the fun begins. You
> have a
> > > nice place to start and a open canvas to make it yours. Have
lots
> of
> > > fun with it and best of luck. You will find they are rather
nice
> to
> > > work on because of the quality of materials used to build them.
> Most
> > > things are not too terribly complicated and the fellows in the
> group
> > > are very helpful. Doesn't look to be a lot needed. Keep us
> informed.
> > > Its fun to see what others are doing and we (or at least I ) am
> not
> > > opposed to stealing some ones better idea's.
> > > John Heckman
> > > central Pa
> > > 1973 FC
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > http://www.hetzel.org/77FC35.JPG
> > > >
> > > > Dorn Hetzel
> > > > 77FC35
> > > > Hogansville, GA
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
> >
>

Hello Dorn
One thing you should do before anything is started, is to make up an
accurate record of all work to be done, in progress, or done,no matter
how small or big it is. We like to call this a Maintenance Log book,
(Airlines use them all the time). This book should contain your LIST
of things to do and then the work it took to fix it. Then post it on
this board and I can add your experience to my own coach handbook as a
reference or guide to systems. I done got a lot of info from this site.
Juergen in PA
1991 WLSP 36