What To Do: To Sell Me Your Bird.

[Pete Masterson]

On May 7, 2008, at 12:17 PM, J R wrote:

<snip>There is also a 12.5KW Cohler generator,

500 gallon fuel tank, 300 gal fresh water tank and a 300 gal gray

water and 200 gal black water tanks. <snip>

Is it possible for an 1981 35' brid to have 500 gallon fuel tank, 300

gal fresh water, 300 gal gray and 200 gal black??? Where would you put

all them big tanks?

Kohler makes generators... not "Cohler."

The 35' bird was originally equipped with a 12.5 KW generator

150 gallon fuel tank

98 gallons fresh water

60 gallons gray water

42 gallons waste water.

(These figures are from the 1980 listing under "history" at

<http://www.vintagebirds.com> 1981 didn't have specs listed.)

I'd be inclined to guess that this advertisement was either converted from liters (but those don't match up either) or someone is completely nuts. Perhaps, there's a tank trailer that comes with the coach...

<snip>

I agree completely with your observations to sellers. I purchased my 'bird from Mr. Olivers (a dealer near Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX) via an eBay auction. If it weren't for a plethora of photos, I would not have been as comfortable with the process as I was. (I also was able to talk with the former owner...)

Although I'm now out of the market, I do tend to look at what's being offered from time to time -- and I continue to be amazed at people who post 3 photos of the out side and 2 photos of the interior and seem to think that's enough. Indeed, in some cases, I've seen a coach on sale for 2 to 3 years --- and the photos are never updated. (Including one that has a wet towel hanging on the shower door -- how nice.)

Mr. Oliver does it right -- and it's educational to visit his web site and view how he has photographed the RVs he has for sale.

Outside: front, back, and both sides with compartment doors open and doors closed.

Close up of each compartment

Close up of generator (extended)

Close up of several of the tires

Entrance with door open

Inside: multiple photos of the interior and each part of it from at least 2 directions

close up of dash including shots so you can read the mileage and hours on the instruments

Multiple close ups in bath, kitchen area, and bedroom. Closets both closed and open.

My coach had more than 40 photos -- and I had a good sense of what I would see when I made my on-the-ground inspection. There were no unpleasant surprises and the vehicle was exactly as represented.

My only other comment regards bus conversions. I was first interested in a bus conversion, but switched to focusing on the Wanderlodge after I realized that there is almost no support for buses. Each conversion is a one-off that may be professionally done or done by a "joe blow" who has no idea how to properly engineer the workings of the house components. If you have a problem with plumbing or some other component, there's no one else who has exactly the same thing. The support on this (and the other) Wanderlodge list is more valuable than you can imagine. That is what ultimately convinced me that a bus conversion was more of a crap shoot that I'd care to undertake. (YMMV)

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"