Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

Bruce, welcome to our forum. If you don't happen to see an answer to your question, just send us a note. we are all here to help. No question is too insignificant for us.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, Tx

Hello Group!

My name is Bruce McCoy. My partner in the new to us bird is Tom
Meehan. We are kind of accidental newbies to the Wanderlodge
experience. Tom saw his first Wanderlodge about three years ago in a
campground north of Chicago. He has been intrigued by them ever since
but never really thought about buying one. I already have a
motorhome. It's a '95 Safari Trek. Before I bought that one in '03, I
never thought I would be buying it. I was working on it for an estate
sale.

About a week ago, we saw a listing on Craigslist for a '79
Wanderlodge. It looked a little rough but with a little TLC and a few
bucks and a bit of sweat equity, we felt that it could be brought
back up to very good shape. We put a deposit down on it this past
weekend and will pick it up sometime next week. It will be awhile
before it's much to look at. That's not my highest priority.

I will be doing most of the systems repair and troubleshooting on
this rig so I felt that since I will probably have the most
questions, I should open my own discussion board account. I will have
Tom open up one as well if he opts to do so.

It will take me some time to figure out how Yahoo! Groups works. I
want to sift through some of the older posts and see how things work
around here. That also gives me a chance to see who the regulars are.
In time, I hope to be able to contribute as well. There will be a
learning curve that I will be going through with this rig. I'm
looking forward to the challenge.

I still have to learn which model number we have but I can tell you
that it is a '79 33 footer and has been re-engined with a CAT 3208
turbo. There's just over 90,000 miles on the chassis and the motor
swap was done simply because a previous owner (we bought it from the
second owner) wanted a turbo. The tires are just over a year old. So
when looking at an older coach, having to worry about the condition
of the engine, drive train and tires is not as bad an issue with this
one. It does need a new refrigerator and two of three Suburban forced
air furnaces need to be overhauled. The interior is fairly original
and in need of cleaning. We don't plan on gutting it. In fact,
there's something to be said about keeping these things as original
as possible. I kind of like the aircraft style stowbins!

Anyway, I'll be seeing you guys around the board. I'll have much more
to post when I actually get my hands on this thing. In the mean
time, I have lots of reading to do.

Bruce McCoy
'79 33' FC

Welcome aboard Bruce!

Enjoy the site and don't forget to look around in all the Files, Links
and Databases for additional information that should be of use in your
restoration efforts.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX - where it was in the 80s today!


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mccoyb24" <mccoyb24@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Group!
>
> My name is Bruce McCoy. My partner in the new to us bird is Tom
> Meehan. We are kind of accidental newbies to the Wanderlodge
> experience. Tom saw his first Wanderlodge about three years ago in a
> campground north of Chicago. He has been intrigued by them ever since
> but never really thought about buying one. I already have a
> motorhome. It's a '95 Safari Trek. Before I bought that one in '03, I
> never thought I would be buying it. I was working on it for an estate
> sale.
>
> About a week ago, we saw a listing on Craigslist for a '79
> Wanderlodge. It looked a little rough but with a little TLC and a few
> bucks and a bit of sweat equity, we felt that it could be brought
> back up to very good shape. We put a deposit down on it this past
> weekend and will pick it up sometime next week. It will be awhile
> before it's much to look at. That's not my highest priority.
>
> I will be doing most of the systems repair and troubleshooting on
> this rig so I felt that since I will probably have the most
> questions, I should open my own discussion board account. I will have
> Tom open up one as well if he opts to do so.
>
> It will take me some time to figure out how Yahoo! Groups works. I
> want to sift through some of the older posts and see how things work
> around here. That also gives me a chance to see who the regulars are.
> In time, I hope to be able to contribute as well. There will be a
> learning curve that I will be going through with this rig. I'm
> looking forward to the challenge.
>
> I still have to learn which model number we have but I can tell you
> that it is a '79 33 footer and has been re-engined with a CAT 3208
> turbo. There's just over 90,000 miles on the chassis and the motor
> swap was done simply because a previous owner (we bought it from the
> second owner) wanted a turbo. The tires are just over a year old. So
> when looking at an older coach, having to worry about the condition
> of the engine, drive train and tires is not as bad an issue with this
> one. It does need a new refrigerator and two of three Suburban forced
> air furnaces need to be overhauled. The interior is fairly original
> and in need of cleaning. We don't plan on gutting it. In fact,
> there's something to be said about keeping these things as original
> as possible. I kind of like the aircraft style stowbins!
>
> Anyway, I'll be seeing you guys around the board. I'll have much more
> to post when I actually get my hands on this thing. In the mean
> time, I have lots of reading to do.
>
> Bruce McCoy
> '79 33' FC
>

Bruce,
Believe me when I say that the design and quality of the Bird
interior is a wonderful thing. It is very practical and functional.
I have a 1978 which is basicaly the same as yours sans turbo. Those
airline storage cabnets one of the best things going.The big opening
and the vertical door make them indispensable. The interior
materials and design makes it easy to clean and keep clean. When i
first got mine my wife and I did a major interior clean up. As we
progressed through the coach we kept discovering more little
thoughtful things and always were impressed at the built in quality.

When you say you want to 'gut' it rather that 'restore' it, I
fear you may miss out on a lot of what a Bluebird is. Then again, I
don't know the condition of yours, so I may be way off base here.

Gardner
78FC33


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mccoyb24" <mccoyb24@...>
wrote:
>
> Hello Group!
>
> My name is Bruce McCoy. My partner in the new to us bird is Tom
> Meehan. We are kind of accidental newbies to the Wanderlodge
> experience. Tom saw his first Wanderlodge about three years ago in
a
> campground north of Chicago. He has been intrigued by them ever
since
> but never really thought about buying one. I already have a
> motorhome. It's a '95 Safari Trek. Before I bought that one
in '03, I
> never thought I would be buying it. I was working on it for an
estate
> sale.
>
> About a week ago, we saw a listing on Craigslist for a '79
> Wanderlodge. It looked a little rough but with a little TLC and a
few
> bucks and a bit of sweat equity, we felt that it could be brought
> back up to very good shape. We put a deposit down on it this past
> weekend and will pick it up sometime next week. It will be awhile
> before it's much to look at. That's not my highest priority.
>
> I will be doing most of the systems repair and troubleshooting on
> this rig so I felt that since I will probably have the most
> questions, I should open my own discussion board account. I will
have
> Tom open up one as well if he opts to do so.
>
> It will take me some time to figure out how Yahoo! Groups works. I
> want to sift through some of the older posts and see how things
work
> around here. That also gives me a chance to see who the regulars
are.
> In time, I hope to be able to contribute as well. There will be a
> learning curve that I will be going through with this rig. I'm
> looking forward to the challenge.
>
> I still have to learn which model number we have but I can tell
you
> that it is a '79 33 footer and has been re-engined with a CAT 3208
> turbo. There's just over 90,000 miles on the chassis and the motor
> swap was done simply because a previous owner (we bought it from
the
> second owner) wanted a turbo. The tires are just over a year old.
So
> when looking at an older coach, having to worry about the
condition
> of the engine, drive train and tires is not as bad an issue with
this
> one. It does need a new refrigerator and two of three Suburban
forced
> air furnaces need to be overhauled. The interior is fairly
original
> and in need of cleaning. We don't plan on gutting it. In fact,
> there's something to be said about keeping these things as
original
> as possible. I kind of like the aircraft style stowbins!
>
> Anyway, I'll be seeing you guys around the board. I'll have much
more
> to post when I actually get my hands on this thing. In the mean
> time, I have lots of reading to do.
>
> Bruce McCoy
> '79 33' FC
>

--- Bruce:
You are the owner of a "bulletproof" bird; well built and solid.
I know because I owned a 77FC33 and an 80FC31......those are great
years!
Good luck in your new adventure...plenty of help on this Forum..nice
people too......
Regards,
Hank & Naty
90 SP36















In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mccoyb24" <mccoyb24@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Group!
>
> My name is Bruce McCoy. My partner in the new to us bird is Tom
> Meehan. We are kind of accidental newbies to the Wanderlodge
> experience. Tom saw his first Wanderlodge about three years ago in
a
> campground north of Chicago. He has been intrigued by them ever
since
> but never really thought about buying one. I already have a
> motorhome. It's a '95 Safari Trek. Before I bought that one in '03,
I
> never thought I would be buying it. I was working on it for an
estate
> sale.
>
> About a week ago, we saw a listing on Craigslist for a '79
> Wanderlodge. It looked a little rough but with a little TLC and a
few
> bucks and a bit of sweat equity, we felt that it could be brought
> back up to very good shape. We put a deposit down on it this past
> weekend and will pick it up sometime next week. It will be awhile
> before it's much to look at. That's not my highest priority.
>
> I will be doing most of the systems repair and troubleshooting on
> this rig so I felt that since I will probably have the most
> questions, I should open my own discussion board account. I will
have
> Tom open up one as well if he opts to do so.
>
> It will take me some time to figure out how Yahoo! Groups works. I
> want to sift through some of the older posts and see how things
work
> around here. That also gives me a chance to see who the regulars
are.
> In time, I hope to be able to contribute as well. There will be a
> learning curve that I will be going through with this rig. I'm
> looking forward to the challenge.
>
> I still have to learn which model number we have but I can tell you
> that it is a '79 33 footer and has been re-engined with a CAT 3208
> turbo. There's just over 90,000 miles on the chassis and the motor
> swap was done simply because a previous owner (we bought it from
the
> second owner) wanted a turbo. The tires are just over a year old.
So
> when looking at an older coach, having to worry about the condition
> of the engine, drive train and tires is not as bad an issue with
this
> one. It does need a new refrigerator and two of three Suburban
forced
> air furnaces need to be overhauled. The interior is fairly original
> and in need of cleaning. We don't plan on gutting it. In fact,
> there's something to be said about keeping these things as original
> as possible. I kind of like the aircraft style stowbins!
>
> Anyway, I'll be seeing you guys around the board. I'll have much
more
> to post when I actually get my hands on this thing. In the mean
> time, I have lots of reading to do.
>
> Bruce McCoy
> '79 33' FC
>

---Bruce:
When u drive that bird home, make sure your BEST tyres are on the
front with at least 90PSI in front and about 85PSI in all the rear
ones..be careful with tyres until you check out their age for
sidewall cracks etc.
good luck!
Regards,
Hank
90SP36




In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mccoyb24" <mccoyb24@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Group!
>
> My name is Bruce McCoy. My partner in the new to us bird is Tom
> Meehan. We are kind of accidental newbies to the Wanderlodge
> experience. Tom saw his first Wanderlodge about three years ago in
a
> campground north of Chicago. He has been intrigued by them ever
since
> but never really thought about buying one. I already have a
> motorhome. It's a '95 Safari Trek. Before I bought that one in '03,
I
> never thought I would be buying it. I was working on it for an
estate
> sale.
>
> About a week ago, we saw a listing on Craigslist for a '79
> Wanderlodge. It looked a little rough but with a little TLC and a
few
> bucks and a bit of sweat equity, we felt that it could be brought
> back up to very good shape. We put a deposit down on it this past
> weekend and will pick it up sometime next week. It will be awhile
> before it's much to look at. That's not my highest priority.
>
> I will be doing most of the systems repair and troubleshooting on
> this rig so I felt that since I will probably have the most
> questions, I should open my own discussion board account. I will
have
> Tom open up one as well if he opts to do so.
>
> It will take me some time to figure out how Yahoo! Groups works. I
> want to sift through some of the older posts and see how things
work
> around here. That also gives me a chance to see who the regulars
are.
> In time, I hope to be able to contribute as well. There will be a
> learning curve that I will be going through with this rig. I'm
> looking forward to the challenge.
>
> I still have to learn which model number we have but I can tell you
> that it is a '79 33 footer and has been re-engined with a CAT 3208
> turbo. There's just over 90,000 miles on the chassis and the motor
> swap was done simply because a previous owner (we bought it from
the
> second owner) wanted a turbo. The tires are just over a year old.
So
> when looking at an older coach, having to worry about the condition
> of the engine, drive train and tires is not as bad an issue with
this
> one. It does need a new refrigerator and two of three Suburban
forced
> air furnaces need to be overhauled. The interior is fairly original
> and in need of cleaning. We don't plan on gutting it. In fact,
> there's something to be said about keeping these things as original
> as possible. I kind of like the aircraft style stowbins!
>
> Anyway, I'll be seeing you guys around the board. I'll have much
more
> to post when I actually get my hands on this thing. In the mean
> time, I have lots of reading to do.
>
> Bruce McCoy
> '79 33' FC
>

In a message dated 2/6/2008 6:18:52 P.M. Central Standard Time, mccoyb24@... writes:

aircraft style stowbins!"

Where would I keep all my stuff, if I didn't have those??

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, Tx

Gardner:

I want to respond to one particular misquote:

You said,


"When you say you want to 'gut' it rather that 'restore' it, I
fear you may miss out on a lot of what a Bluebird is. Then again, I
don't know the condition of yours, so I may be way off base here."

What I said in my post was:

"The interior is fairly original and in need of cleaning. We don't
plan on gutting it. In fact, there's something to be said about
keeping these things as original as possible. I kind of like the
aircraft style stowbins!"

I hope that clears up any misunderstanding.

Bruce.
'79 33' FC






--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
wrote:
>
> Bruce,
> Believe me when I say that the design and quality of the Bird
> interior is a wonderful thing. It is very practical and
functional.
> I have a 1978 which is basicaly the same as yours sans turbo. Those
> airline storage cabnets one of the best things going.The big
opening
> and the vertical door make them indispensable. The interior
> materials and design makes it easy to clean and keep clean. When i
> first got mine my wife and I did a major interior clean up. As we
> progressed through the coach we kept discovering more little
> thoughtful things and always were impressed at the built in quality.
>
> When you say you want to 'gut' it rather that 'restore' it, I
> fear you may miss out on a lot of what a Bluebird is. Then again, I
> don't know the condition of yours, so I may be way off base here.
>
> Gardner
> 78FC33
>

>

Hank and others,

The tire pressures you indicated in this post: Are these fairly typical
PSIs for the Wanderlodge? I'm asking because the seller aired up the
tires before our test drive but made a point to say that his compressor
got the rig out of the yard but he would top the tires at the nearest
truck stop. I certainly know that tire pressure should be based on the
weights applied to them but not knowing these rigs that well, I do
appreciate hearing what most bird owners are running for proper tire
pressure. That gives me a ball park figure to work with.

Thanks,

Bruce.

'79 FC 33'






--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Henry Jay Hannigan"
wrote:
>
> ---Bruce:
> When u drive that bird home, make sure your BEST tyres are on the
> front with at least 90PSI in front and about 85PSI in all the rear
> ones..be careful with tyres until you check out their age for
> sidewall cracks etc.
> good luck!
> Regards,
> Hank
> 90SP36
>
>
>

Bruce,
It would help if I tried reading a little slower and cleaned my
glasses more often. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

Gardner
78FC33

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "mccoyb24" <mccoyb24@...>
wrote:
>
> Gardner:
>
> I want to respond to one particular misquote:
>
> You said,
>
>
> "When you say you want to 'gut' it rather that 'restore' it, I
> fear you may miss out on a lot of what a Bluebird is. Then again,
I
> don't know the condition of yours, so I may be way off base here."
>
> What I said in my post was:
>
> "The interior is fairly original and in need of cleaning. We don't
> plan on gutting it. In fact, there's something to be said about
> keeping these things as original as possible. I kind of like the
> aircraft style stowbins!"
>
> I hope that clears up any misunderstanding.
>
> Bruce.
> '79 33' FC
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
> wrote:
> >
> > Bruce,
> > Believe me when I say that the design and quality of the Bird
> > interior is a wonderful thing. It is very practical and
> functional.
> > I have a 1978 which is basicaly the same as yours sans turbo.
Those
> > airline storage cabnets one of the best things going.The big
> opening
> > and the vertical door make them indispensable. The interior
> > materials and design makes it easy to clean and keep clean. When
i
> > first got mine my wife and I did a major interior clean up. As
we
> > progressed through the coach we kept discovering more little
> > thoughtful things and always were impressed at the built in
quality.
> >
> > When you say you want to 'gut' it rather that 'restore' it, I
> > fear you may miss out on a lot of what a Bluebird is. Then
again, I
> > don't know the condition of yours, so I may be way off base
here.
> >
> > Gardner
> > 78FC33
> >
>
> >
>