Post Reply 
 
Thread Rating:
  • 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Serious question
10-28-2008, 03:48
Post: #1
Serious question
As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to
something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and a
very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB
fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell coach ?
And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how serious I am
about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out" or "unwelcome" in
the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group and the friends I
have made in such regard that I would likely factor out the Newell and
not consider it at all if I was to be excommunicated from the BB group
functions. How's this handled and what should I expect? This is a
little premature but I want to know so that I factor it into my
decision making about what I would buy.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC at
Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 04:11
Post: #2
Serious question


John, In my opinion, quite a lot of the items taken to make each coach are the same. Thus the same problems. You are quite welcome to stay with us as we also have a couple Newell owners on board. Good luck in your search.
Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, Texas



Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 04:35
Post: #3
Serious question
John,

Newell is a fine coach, but it's like bringing a Mustang to a
Corvette rally. Not much in common.

If you think working on a bird is tough, don't buy a Newell. You
won't find support like you will here

Stay with us, with a little persistance you can get an awful lot of
Bluebird for the money today.

Kurt Horvath
95 PT 42
10AC


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to
> something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and
a
> very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB
> fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell
coach ?
> And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how serious I am
> about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out" or "unwelcome"
in
> the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group and the friends
I
> have made in such regard that I would likely factor out the Newell
and
> not consider it at all if I was to be excommunicated from the BB
group
> functions. How's this handled and what should I expect? This is a
> little premature but I want to know so that I factor it into my
> decision making about what I would buy.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC at
>
Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 04:41
Post: #4
Serious question
I am just a wannabee but I did read recently an announcement in a trade magazine that last year Newell produced more high end coaches than any other manufacturer and didn't Bluebird produce only one!
Steve
Wannabee

On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 10:35 AM, Kurt Horvath <"kguns@hughes.net"> wrote:

John,

Newell is a fine coach, but it's like bringing a Mustang to a
Corvette rally. Not much in common.


If you think working on a bird is tough, don't buy a Newell. You
won't find support like you will here

Stay with us, with a little persistance you can get an awful lot of
Bluebird for the money today.


Kurt Horvath
95 PT 42
10AC


--- In "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com", "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to

> something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and
a
> very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB
> fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell

coach ?
> And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how serious I am
> about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out" or "unwelcome"
in
> the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group and the friends

I
> have made in such regard that I would likely factor out the Newell
and
> not consider it at all if I was to be excommunicated from the BB
group
> functions. How's this handled and what should I expect? This is a

> little premature but I want to know so that I factor it into my
> decision making about what I would buy.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC at
>



------------------------------------


Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum/

<*> Your email settings:

Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/WanderlodgeForum/join

(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:"WanderlodgeForum-digest@yahoogroups.com"
mailto:"WanderlodgeForum-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com"


<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
"WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com"

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 06:07
Post: #5
Serious question
Of course you'd still be welcome here, John, but I suspect you'll
quickly find that we aren't a lot of help with any problems you might
have. You'd really be staying for the friendship and conversation at
that point, which is wonderful, but the technical advice really is
priceless. My recommendation? Stick with BB. The support is amazing.
Don't get trigger happy and jump into another coach too fast. Take
your time until you find the one you really want. I looked fairly
seriously for over a year. Also, if you know you're going to do this,
get your coach on the market now. Better to sell it and be without a
coach for a period of time while you look for the replacement than
wind up owning multiple coaches and becoming a desperate seller.

Take it slow and you won't have any regrets. Jump into something with
"gotta-have-it-itis" and you'll be kicking yourself a year from now.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 7:48 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
> As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to
> something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and a
> very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB
> fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell coach ?
> And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how serious I am
> about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out" or "unwelcome" in
> the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group and the friends I
> have made in such regard that I would likely factor out the Newell and
> not consider it at all if I was to be excommunicated from the BB group
> functions. How's this handled and what should I expect? This is a
> little premature but I want to know so that I factor it into my
> decision making about what I would buy.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC at
>
>
Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 06:34
Post: #6
Serious question
Thanks Ryan, I have about twenty ducks milling around in my "yard".
I am beginning to get them trained enough to bunch up but need some
help to get them line up. You get the picture. I am going about
this in an organized manor. Trying to accumulate as much information
as possible. I've looked at some GMC conversions which appear
viscerally to me but have ruled them out for practical reasons. The
Newell bus, well I'll take a look. I am thinking it will be PT or SP
and am leaning toward the SP mostly due to the floor plan but I will
be seeing a couple real nice PT's and they may swing me over. I
really do want to say in the BB family so unless the Newell is
something well superior and priced well under the BB it will be the
BB
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 Fc
>
> Of course you'd still be welcome here, John, but I suspect you'll
> quickly find that we aren't a lot of help with any problems you
might
> have. You'd really be staying for the friendship and conversation at
> that point, which is wonderful, but the technical advice really is
> priceless. My recommendation? Stick with BB. The support is amazing.
> Don't get trigger happy and jump into another coach too fast. Take
> your time until you find the one you really want. I looked fairly
> seriously for over a year. Also, if you know you're going to do
this,
> get your coach on the market now. Better to sell it and be without a
> coach for a period of time while you look for the replacement than
> wind up owning multiple coaches and becoming a desperate seller.
>
> Take it slow and you won't have any regrets. Jump into something
with
> "gotta-have-it-itis" and you'll be kicking yourself a year from now.
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
>
> On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 7:48 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
> > As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to
> > something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and a
> > very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB
> > fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell
coach ?
> > And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how serious I
am
> > about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out"
or "unwelcome" in
> > the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group and the friends
I
> > have made in such regard that I would likely factor out the
Newell and
> > not consider it at all if I was to be excommunicated from the BB
group
> > functions. How's this handled and what should I expect? This is a
> > little premature but I want to know so that I factor it into my
> > decision making about what I would buy.
> >
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC at
> >
> >
>
Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 08:33
Post: #7
Serious question
John,

I don't know what your looking for but Parliment has a PT 38 and a ' 90
PT40 for 60-65K the PT 40 has records back to day one. That's the only
reason I've brought this up. My coach didn't have much in the area of
records and I wish it did, would have made life easier. The last owner
8+ years supposedly keep on top of things according to Paul M. @
Parliment. Good hunting.

Kurt Horvath
95 PT 42
10AC





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, erniecarpet@... wrote:
>
> John, In my opinion, quite a lot of the items taken to make each
coach are
> the same. Thus the same problems. You are quite welcome to stay with
us as we
> also have a couple Newell owners on board. Good luck in your search.
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83PT40
> Weatherford, Texas
>
> **************Play online games for FREE at Games.com! All of your
favorites,
> no registration required and great graphics â€" check it out!
> (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100000075x...89022/aol?
redir=
> http://www.games.com?ncid=emlcntusgame00000001)
>
Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 14:51
Post: #8
Serious question
John,

As a former Newell owner, I'll give you a little of my experience. If you have trouble on the road, the easiest, most universal coaches to be fixed on route are Marathon, MCI and Prevost because they have so much in common with trucks and OTR buses. Blue Bird is probably next with identifiable components youcan often replace on the road. Newell is more of a proprietary coach. If you have a mechanic with experience with Newell coaches, you're fine at home. On the road, I learned the hard way that most truck, bus and RV shops are clueless. Just the air-leveling system onthe Newell had three different air tanks, automatic road, automatic park and manual park leveling controls with I don't know how many valves. I got the last Bendix air cruise control sending unit and the last air bags for that model. Air operated doors, different suspension, different water and climate control systems, they're all different from jsut about everyone elses'. They're generally high-quality components, but I think Blue Bird on average has the edge on interior fit, finish, materials and quality.In my opinion, Newell's ease of handling and drivability was superior to bothBlue Birds I have owned.

If you can make a pilgrimage to Miami, Oklahoma once a year for regular maintenance, you could solve a lot of problems before they happen from filters, lubed hidden parts, etc. The guys who remember making your Newell would probably be the ones working on it. They have a nice overnight park. They'll even let you borrow a car to go into town. Last I knew, they were still family-owned and operated, great people, great service, but like Mac users, you have to be a sold-out Newell Kool-aid drinker to get the most out of your coach.

BradBarton00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...






To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: jehdds@...
Date: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:48:27 +0000
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Serious question



As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to
something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and a
very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB
fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell coach ?
And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how serious I am
about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out" or "unwelcome" in
the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group and the friends I
have made in such regard that I would likely factor out the Newell and
not consider it at all if I was to be excommunicated from the BB group
functions. How's this handled and what should I expect? This is a
little premature but I want to know so that I factor it into my
decision making about what I would buy.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC at




You live life beyond your PC. So now Windows goes beyond your PC. See how
Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 15:02
Post: #9
Serious question
Brad, Thanks so much for that heads up which makes a lot of sense. I
will factor that into the equation which is getting very long and
complex :-) The debate continues about the PT vs SP but neither camp
has much in the way of more then anecdotal information. I am going
to drive several of each and pick the one I like the best. I will
look at the Newell but its more money then the others anyways so its
a dark horse in the race. Not say that it's totally a dead horse but
it's fading at the back nine.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC
>
> John,
> As a former Newell owner, I'll give you a little of my experience.
If you have trouble on the road, the easiest, most universal coaches
to be fixed on route are Marathon, MCI and Prevost because they have
so much in common with trucks and OTR buses. Blue Bird is probably
next with identifiable components you can often replace on the road.
Newell is more of a proprietary coach. If you have a mechanic with
experience with Newell coaches, you're fine at home. On the road, I
learned the hard way that most truck, bus and RV shops are clueless.
Just the air-leveling system on the Newell had three different air
tanks, automatic road, automatic park and manual park leveling
controls with I don't know how many valves. I got the last Bendix
air cruise control sending unit and the last air bags for that
model. Air operated doors, different suspension, different water and
climate control systems, they're all different from jsut about
everyone elses'. They're generally high-quality components, but I
think Blue Bird on average has the edge on interior fit, finish,
materials and quality. In my opinion, Newell's ease of handling and
drivability was superior to both Blue Birds I have owned.
> If you can make a pilgrimage to Miami, Oklahoma once a year for
regular maintenance, you could solve a lot of problems before they
happen from filters, lubed hidden parts, etc. The guys who remember
making your Newell would probably be the ones working on it. They
have a nice overnight park. They'll even let you borrow a car to go
into town. Last I knew, they were still family-owned and operated,
great people, great service, but like Mac users, you have to be a
sold-out Newell Kool-aid drinker to get the most out of your
coach. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...
>
>
>
> To: WanderlodgeForum@...: jehdds@...: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:48:27
+0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Serious question
>
>
>
>
> As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to
something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and a
very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB
fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell
coach ? And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how
serious I am about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out"
or "unwelcome" in the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group
and the friends I have made in such regard that I would likely factor
out the Newell and not consider it at all if I was to be
excommunicated from the BB group functions. How's this handled and
what should I expect? This is a little premature but I want to know
so that I factor it into my decision making about what I would buy.
John Heckmancentral Pa 1973 FC at
>
>
>
>
>
> _________________________________________________________________
> You live life beyond your PC. So now Windows goes beyond your PC.
> http://clk.atdmt.com/MRT/go/115298556/direct/01/
>
Quote this message in a reply
10-28-2008, 15:47
Post: #10
Serious question
I don't understand the anecdotal evidence issue. Hearsay or expansion of a tale perhaps.

Differences between a PT and SP are significant in several respects. SP's have a 3208 CAT I believe although I do not own one. A PT generally has an 8v92. SP's have two axle's and PT's three. Most PT's have front entry although there are two or three with side entry. SP's have side entry as far as I know . I like side entry, that is one reason I like a Newell.
One needs to decide what weight and power they desire, how one intends to use it and floor plan. Maintenance cost also enter into the equation. Heat, gas or hydronic. Floor plans cannot be significantly different in 300 sq. ft. although Mike B has a vanity and sink in his center hall isle. Nice bus he has.
Take your time, drive them and decide from there. A full record accounting is quite good.
Leroy
Eckert
1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors
Dahlonega, GA
Royale Conversion

--- On Tue, 10/28/08, bubblerboy64 wrote:
From: bubblerboy64
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Serious question
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 10:02 PM



Brad, Thanks so much for that heads up which makes a lot of sense. I

will factor that into the equation which is getting very long and

complex :-) The debate continues about the PT vs SP but neither camp

has much in the way of more then anecdotal information. I am going

to drive several of each and pick the one I like the best. I will

look at the Newell but its more money then the others anyways so its

a dark horse in the race. Not say that it's totally a dead horse but

it's fading at the back nine.



John Heckman

central Pa

1973 FC

>

> John,

> As a former Newell owner, I'll give you a little of my experience.

If you have trouble on the road, the easiest, most universal coaches

to be fixed on route are Marathon, MCI and Prevost because they have

so much in common with trucks and OTR buses. Blue Bird is probably

next with identifiable components you can often replace on the road.

Newell is more of a proprietary coach. If you have a mechanic with

experience with Newell coaches, you're fine at home. On the road, I

learned the hard way that most truck, bus and RV shops are clueless.

Just the air-leveling system on the Newell had three different air

tanks, automatic road, automatic park and manual park leveling

controls with I don't know how many valves. I got the last Bendix

air cruise control sending unit and the last air bags for that

model. Air operated doors, different suspension, different water and

climate control systems, they're all different from jsut about

everyone elses'. They're generally high-quality components, but I

think Blue Bird on average has the edge on interior fit, finish,

materials and quality. In my opinion, Newell's ease of handling and

drivability was superior to both Blue Birds I have owned.

> If you can make a pilgrimage to Miami, Oklahoma once a year for

regular maintenance, you could solve a lot of problems before they

happen from filters, lubed hidden parts, etc. The guys who remember

making your Newell would probably be the ones working on it. They

have a nice overnight park. They'll even let you borrow a car to go

into town. Last I knew, they were still family-owned and operated,

great people, great service, but like Mac users, you have to be a

sold-out Newell Kool-aid drinker to get the most out of your

coach. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@.. .

>

>

>

> To: WanderlodgeForum@ ...: jehdds@...: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:48:27

+0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Serious question

>

>

>

>

> As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC to

something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and a

very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB

fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell

coach ? And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how

serious I am about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out"

or "unwelcome" in the BB community. I am serious. I hold this group

and the friends I have made in such regard that I would likely factor

out the Newell and not consider it at all if I was to be

excommunicated from the BB group functions. How's this handled and

what should I expect? This is a little premature but I want to know

so that I factor it into my decision making about what I would buy.

John Heckmancentral Pa 1973 FC at

>

>

>

>

>

> ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

> You live life beyond your PC. So now Windows goes beyond your PC.

> http://clk.atdmt. com/MRT/go/ 115298556/ direct/01/

>



Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)