Theron Flatlee

SOLD - One of Two Blue Bird Wanderlodges

2009-10-31T00:54:00.000-07:00

If you have come here looking for our '83, it sold...

and for now, we've taken the '88 off the market. We'll see what happens when Spring rolls 'round; maybe we'll put it up again. You can still look around on the site if you want. There are a bunch of pictures and some information that may help you when looking at other 'Birds for sale.

(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

You can see the classic look of the '83 on the left, and the sleeker look of the '88 on the right. Note that the height difference is because the '83 is not yet aired up; they both sit approximately the same height off the ground. The top of each coach is just over 12 feet from the ground.

These two coaches are beautiful examples of their respective vintage and are similarly equipped. The "FC" in their model name means they are Forward Control coaches (engine in the front), and the "SB" means they have a Side Bath. The '83 is 33 feet long, and the '88 is 35 feet long. They both have turbocharged 3208TA Caterpillar diesel engines; the '83 has the 225hp engine and the '88 has the 300hp engine. You can compare more of the mechanical details on their respective detail pages (use the links at the bottom of this page).

Here you can see the length difference between the two coaches. The two extra feet gives more closet space in the '88 (two closets versus one in the '83). Two less feet in the '83 means it weighs approximately 3800 pounds less than the '88.

Wanderlodges are one of the safest coaches on the road. They are are built by the company that puts out the venerable Blue Bird school bus, and use the same chassis as they do. All steel construction and heavy duty mechanics will help keep them running for another 25 years. Compare them to other, fiberglass-construction coaches on the road and you can see why they are still very desirable...and you will understand why you are drawn back to thinking about your dream 'Bird.

SOLD - 1983 Blue Bird Wanderlodge FC33SB

2009-10-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

If you came looking to buy this coach, it is too late. She was purchased by a fine fellow with a nice family. They have plans to use her well. However, you can still read about this wonderful coach below.
(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

1983 Blue Bird Wanderlodge FC33SB

(See more pictures below...)

- Specifications -

1983 Blue Bird Wanderlodge
33' Forward Control
225hp 3208TA Caterpillar engine
4-speed Allison transmission
Jacobs four-position electromagnetic driveline retarder
7.0kW PowerTech CD7000SI generator with a Kubota D905 diesel engine
side bath
twin beds in rear
interior remodeled in 2003
extra 30 gallon fuel tank for refueling toad/toys

- Details -

128,792 miles (3733 engine hours)
494 generator engine hours
new belts
rebuilt alternator
low mileage (~7000 miles) steer tires (11Rx22.5) with EQUAL balancing compound
four, low mileage (~4000 miles), matched Michelin rear tires (11Rx22.5) with EQUAL balancing compound
leather pilot and copilot seats
built-in vacuum
Zip Dee awnings all around
two, large roof-top storage pods
custom maple hardwood floor in kitchen
new fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen
new ShurFlo 4.0 Extreme water pump
new Culligan whole-house water filter
new hot water heater
new generator starter battery

- New since 2004 -

4 New Michelin tires on drive axle (summer 2004)
new PowerTech diesel generator and battery with Racor 500 fuel filter
new oversized 8 cu ft Norcold refrigerator
new water pump base
upgraded electrical to headlights/tailights/trailer lights for brightness
multiple new marker lights
4 new 6-volt deep cycle batteries
new Iota DLS 45 charger with smart charge circuit
2 new 20,000btu Suburban propane furnaces (of three)
new Fantastic vent in galley
2 new Dupree dump valves (complete assemblies)
new bearings and seals in all engine pulleys
rebuilt engine fan and pulleys
new 195 degree engine fan thermoswitch (replaces 185 degree switch)
new engine belts
new engine coolant hoses
new swing radiator kit (Holland Motor Homes)
new engine mounts
new engine 'dog house' insulation and gasket
fresh fluids in rear end, engine, transmission, and radiator
rebuilt AD-2 air dryer
rebuilt power steering pump
engine valve-lash adjustment
new throttle cable encased in heat shield, new throttle return springs
new Ramco power heated mirrors in body color with BB logo
new VIP burled walnut, black leather and chrome steering wheel
new chrome hub caps with Blue Bird logo

- New since 2002 -

new Bendix engine driven air compressor
new steering box
rebuilt HWH leveling jacks

- More Pictures -

(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

A view of the front shows the classic lines of our 1983 Blue Bird Wanderlodge 33' Forward Control class-A diesel motor coach. You can see that the Imron paint is in great shape after 25 years. The clear indicator light lenses and the body-colored heated/power Ramco mirrors give it a clean look. There is a radiator swing kit and radiator hose extensions installed that allows easy access to the belts and the front of the engine. You can see the largest of the Zip Dee awnings and the sturdy goat rail around the edges of the aluminum diamond-plate covered steel roof.

Now let's walk around the coach. Here is a view of the swing radiator. To open it, the four, stainless bumper bolts are removed, and the bumper is swung down out of the way. After that, a handful of bolts that hold the grill to the front of the coach are removed. A couple of additional bolts holding the radiator closed are removed and the radiator is opened. This allows easy access to the front of the engine and makes it easy for belts to be replaced or adjusted. You can see the extra-length radiator hoses and the insulation in the engine compartment.

Moving around the coach to the roadside, here is a view of the front bin, which holds the battery tray. In the slide out tray, there are four, six-volt golf cart batteries (two sets, each with two batteries connected in series). Golf cart batteries are used because they have thicker plates and so last longer.

Moving toward the rear of the coach, you can see a the left front tire. The Michellin ZXA-1 tires are five-years old and in excellent condition. They are mounted on Firestone aluminium rims with new, Blue Bird logo caps. You can see there are no cracks in the sidewalls. The tires all have EQUAL balancing compound in them, which keeps the ride very smooth and reduces wear on the tires.

Here is the awning over the window located on the roadside, just behind the driver's sliding window and above the front tire. All of the awnings are in the same great condition.

Further toward the rear of the coach, you can see the middle bin. This one contains the smart charger (the one on the left; the unplugged one on the right is a new OEM battery charger, and was left there as a backup charger), the accessory air chuck, which you can use to fill the tires, and the storage spot for the sewer hose. You can also see the engine exhaust pipe, the generator exhaust pipe, and the drain for the black and grey waste tanks. The Dupree dump valves were new in 2004.

The rear tires are in excellent condition as well, and the sparkling Blue Bird caps really finish off the look.

At the rearmost end of the coach is the last of the bins on the roadside. This one is the largest of the basement bins.

From the roadside rear of the coach you can see the Class-IV trailer hitch, the ladder that leads to the roof, the rear-view camera and the two, large storage pods on the roof.

After climbing up the ladder you can see the roof of the coach. The already sturdy steel top is covered with aluminum diamond plating. The roof is an excellent vantage point for airshows or the races. The largest portion of the roof is bounded by the steel goat rail, which has cargo tie down hooks. From here you can see the two, large storage pods, the two roof air conditioners and the numerous roof vents.

After climbing down the ladder and moving to the curb side, you can see the rearmost basement bin. To the right of the bin you can see the fold-down helper step used to reach the large awning's locking hardware.

Moving forward, you can see the generator. The original gasoline-fueled generator has been replaced with a quiet, PowerTech diesel generator. The sliding tray was rebuilt when it was installed, and a new muffler, exhaust pipe and Racor filter were added as well. There is a hush kit lining the generator compartment. The Kubota engine that powers the generator draws fuel from the main tank. The original fuel tank is still in the coach (in the curbside rear corner), and would make a perfect toy/toad refueling station, or could be used to help turn the coach into a waste-vegetable-oil-burning rig.

Now, skipping past the entrance to the coach's interior, you can see the bin that holds the propane storage tank, the Racor filter for the engine, and the bulk oil tank. The propane tank holds 45 gallons (that's right, gallons! Depending on the mix of propane and butane used to fill the tank, this translates to a little over 200 lbs of fuel available to cook, heat and run the fridge. Yes, it will last quite a long time). This bin also contains two 110-volt outlets, and an outdoor faucet. The Racor filters the fuel, will capture water that may be in the fuel and warms the fuel before it gets to the engine. The bulk oil tank can be filled with engine oil, and then pressurized to allow oil to be added using a metered, hand-held delivery device found in the engine compartment.

Moving a bit forward, there is the smallest of the basement bins (two toolboxes fit in it rather nicely) just behind the front tire. You can see the curbside rear "landing light" in this view as well.

This is the last curbside bin. We use this one to hold fluids, tools, jacks, fire extinguishers and other things we want to access quickly.

Now let's go inside. Here is the entrance to the coach. There is a screen door in addition to the main door. Just at the top of the stair is the entrance to the bathroom. This is a great feature of the mid-door floorplan of this coach: kids with dirty feet don't go tracking through the livingroom to get to the bathroom! The carpet and the bathroom floor and fixtures are all barely used. You can see the full-length mirror on the back of the bathroom door and, on the right, the stair cover that can be folded down to keep people from falling down the steps in the middle of the night.

Here is the instrument panel. You can see the new VIP burl and leather steering wheel. If you click on the picture to open the larger view, you will see the small lever between the steering wheel and the gear shift lever--this is the control for the 4-position, electromagnetic driveline retarder. This amazing device is excellent for those long descents in the mountains. It slows the coach without overheating the transmission or making awful noises like the engine compression-release brakes you may have heard on some large trucks on the highway, or the third-party exhaust brakes you may have heard on smaller diesel engines.

By the way, sometimes people call all of these types of brakes "Jake brakes" because the majority were originally made by Jacobs Vehicle Systems. People started calling all of them by this name no matter who made them (sort of like a "Brownie" transmission or a "Kleenex" tissue or a "Band-Aid" bandage). This can be confusing, because some people advertise their Wanderlodge as having a Jake brake, which it technically does, but it is an electromagnetic driveline retarder made by Jacobs, and not an engine compression-release brake.

From this view of the salon, you can see the roadside couch that makes into a double bed. The curbside couch is also a single bed. The removable, collapsable table is custom made, and can be turned to allow usage from either or both sides of the coach.

Here is the salon with the table stowed. You can see the airplane-style overhead storage that lines the coach and the overhead console that holds the monitor for the rear-view camera, the stereo head, the altimeter and one of the generator starter controls.

This is the Corian sink. There is storage underneath, behind the sliding mirrored door.

This is the spacious shower. There is a step down into this one, which means tall people can actually use it comfortably (try that in your average RV) and it can be used as a tub as well.

This is a shot of the new Thetford toilet and the spotless vinyl floor. There is storage behind the sliding mirrored doors and a medicine cabinet above the toilet.

This is the view aft of the kitchen and bedroom. The dinette can be converted into a bed. There is airline-style storage above the dinette, and more storage above the sink. There is also storage and a sturdy safe for your travel cash under the dinette chairs.

Here is a view of the kitchen. You can see the four-burner stove, the below-counter storage, and the door to the icemaker. Just beyond the stove is the door to the bathroom. You can also see the beautiful maple flooring with the custom-curved threshhold.

This is a view forward from the bedroom. You can see the folding door that allows you to close the bedroom off from the rest of the coach. To the right is the door to the closet. The dark doors to the left belong to the refrigerator.

Here is a view of the bedroom. The beds have 3" memory foam additions on top of the mattresses. There are airline-style storage cabinets on the sides and rear, above the beds. There are two large storage drawers under the curbside bed and two drawers in the nightstand between the beds.

Here is the extensive "Blue Box" which contains all of the blueprints, wiring diagrams, owners manuals, parts books, etc., etc. associated with the coach. There is also an extremely detailed maintenance log containing all work that has been done since the coach was restored/refurbished.

1988 Blue Bird Wanderlodge FC35SB

2009-10-28T19:33:00.001-07:00

This coach is currently not for sale. We may reconsider in the Spring, but for now we're just going to enjoy her.

(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

1988 Blue Bird Wanderlodge FC35SB

(See more pictures below...)

- Specifications -

1988 Blue Bird Wanderlodge, Silver Edition
35' Forward Control
300hp 3208TA Caterpillar engine
5-speed ZF transmission
8.0kW Onan diesel generator
Side Bath
Queen-size island bed

- Details -

145,216 miles (3689 engine hours)
2811 generator engine hours
Corian counter tops and dinette table
leather pilot, copilot and dinette seats
skylight/sun roof
Zip Dee awnings all around (large one has Blue Bird logo)
1500W inverter
JVC FM/AM Stereo with 6-disk CD changer
low mileage, matched Michelin XZA steer tires (12Rx22.5)
Four, low mileage, matched Bridgestone rear tires (12Rx22.5)
roof-top storage pod
AFE high-flow air filter
new memory-foam mattress
new refrigerator
new water heater
new smart battery charger
4 new wet-cell house batteries
new generator starter battery
2 newer engine starter batteries
new steel slide-out battery tray for the engine starter batteries
new dash air
new air compressor and governor
new air dryer kit
new belts
freshly insulated dog house
New Thermo-Tec turbo charger heat shield kit
new backup camera and monitor
new grey-water drain line
freshly rebuilt alternator
recent front-end alignment
freshly serviced
maintenance records and manuals in the full "blue box"

If you have any questions, email Jeff at theronflatlee@gmail.com

- More Pictures -

Here is a roadside, front view of the coach. In these later '80 Birds, the grill and lights were changed to give them an updated look. Also, the windows got a black anodized treatment on their frames, which help make them look much more contemporary than the older 'Birds (see pictures of our '83 on this site and you'll see what I mean). Here you can see the heated, electrically adjustable side mirrors, the driving lights, the dual air horns, the two remote controlled search lights, the new dash air conditioner condenser, and that all windows have Zip Dee awnings. You can also see that the paint is in great condition.

From the rear you can see that the rear window is covered with a blank, as were most of the later FCs. I think this was done to make the coaches look less like a school bus, and gives them a much more finished look. You can see the Zip Dee awnings, the new backup camera peeking out from under its cover, the ladder up to the roof (great for air shows!), and the secondary mud and spray flap under the rear bumper.

Here is a close up of the hitch. There is the option of both a receiver and a pin hitch. You can also see the badge that tells you that this coach has the precooler and the turbocharger that helps kick out 300+ horsepower from the 3208 Caterpillar diesel engine.

Here's a shot of the roof taken while standing on the access ladder. You can see the diamond plated roof, the aluminum goat rail around the edges, the two air conditioners and the giant storage pod. The wiring over on the right and the aluminum bars forward of the rear AC unit are apparently from a satellite system the previous owner had installed.

Here is the forward-most roadside basement storage bin. In it are four, brand-new house batteries in a heavy, steel slide-out tray.

Here is the basement storage bin behind the left front wheel. In it, you can see the 1500W inverter. You can also see the lanyard pull that is used to purge any water from the forward air tank...pulling a cord is much easier than crawling underneath to purge the tank!

Here's a closer view of the inverter. The inverter powers the receptacle that the front television plugs into, and also powers the icemaker. This means that you can make ice going down the road without running the generator, or plug in your laptop to use as a GPS while driving.

This is the middle roadside basement storage bin. You can see the smart charger in this view, which was installed to replace the older "battery boiler," and the air chuck, which can be used to fill the tires when the engine is running.

Here is a shot of the 8kW Onan diesel generator. There is a newer starter battery here, and there is a hush kit in the compartment that keeps down the noise.

This is a shot of the rear, roadside basement storage bin, which holds the power cables for the coach. This is the last bin found on this side of the coach.

In the rear-most storage bin on the curbside of the coach is the LPG storage tank. This tank holds 45 gallons of propane (that's right; not lbs, gallons). You can see the valve that is used to hook up a grill (no more little propane bottles!) so that you can barbeque underneath the shade of the big awning. There is also an outdoor faucet, and two 110-volt outlets in this compartment.

Here is the middle, curbside basement storage bin. There are both 12-volt and 110-volt receptacles in this bin, and the lanyard pull for the rear air tank.

This is the curbside basement storage bin just behind the front wheel. The boxes contain oil filters and an extra airbag. The lanyard pull for the middle airtank is located in this bin.

This is the forward-most of the curbside basement storage bins. You can see the starter batteries in their steel slide-out tray, the box with the emergency triangles, and the air filter.

This is the view forward standing at the top of the stair in the entrance. Immediately left, you can see the back of the forward dinette chair. Something you will notice if you have been in older 'Birds is that the floor plan of this vintage feels much more open due to the kitchen being on the curbside, and the bathroom being toward the back, behind the dinette. On the left in the picture is the couch, which has seatbelts for three and folds out to a comfy, queen bed and has some storage underneath.

There are airliner-style storage cabinets above, with plenty of lighting (both incandescent and fluorescent). The drapes throughout the coach are NOT the electric kind (one less thing to wear out and break down). There is a full-length miniblind that can be lowered in front of the windshields for privacy. You can see the full instrumentation and the new backup monitor. Both the pilot and copilot chairs swivel around to add more seating in the salon, and there is a sitting pad on the doghouse. Forward of the swiveling chair (also has a seatbelt), there is a storage cabinet, and another behind. There is more airliner storage above as well.

Here is a better view of the swivel chair and the storage cabinet between it and the door. The storage cabinet has a lighted set of glass shelves and three drawers below. Just above the light switch, to the right of the chair, you can see the thermostat for one of the three propane furnaces in the coach. There are three electric heaters as well, and three "chassis heaters" that pulls heat from heat exchangers hooked to the engine cooling system that runs throughout the coach. This system also heats the water in the hot water tank as you go down the road.

Here is a view of the pilot's chair and the lower instrument panel. Both the pilot's and co-pilot's seats are 6-way air/electric adjustable, covered with high-quality leather, and are very comfortable. They will swivel to the rear to give additional seating in the salon. You can see the new stereo in this view, and, to the right of that, the CB radio and the analog cell phone.

The 6-disk CD changer is located in the overhead storage bin above the pilot's seat.

Here is a shot of the 300+ horsepower 3208 Caterpillar diesel engine. The doghouse has just recently been re-insulated, and the turbocharger has had a heat shield applied. The extra doghouse insulation has made the engine even quieter (you can hear the odometer clicking as it advances), and the turbocharger wrap reduces the ambient temperature around the engine and transmission, and boosts the horsepower.

Here is the copilot's chair. It is a mirror-image twin of the pilot's chair, with 6-way electric/air adjustments, high-quality leather upholstery, arm rests and comfortable padding for stress-free, all-day travel adventures.

Here is a view looking aft, standing in the entrance next to the dinette. You can see the galley to the left, and can see back toward the bedroom. Above the double-bowl, stainless sink, you can see the three-speed Fantastic Fan. Just beneath the convection microwave on the left, there is a cover over the stove. There are overhead cabinets above the sink and more above the dinette.

Here is the two-burner, propane gas stovetop. It self-lighting (no more tiny matches and hairless hands).

Here is a view of the galley. Just next to the hand rail that comes up the stairs is the icemaker (the ice-making apparatus can be turned off so that it can be used for a freezer). There are plenty of drawers and cabinets for storage, as well as overhead storage cabinets. The Corian countertops are in excellent condition. To the right of the convection microwave and stove, there is the refrigerator/freezer.

In this view of the kitchen sink, you can see the InstaHot water dispensor and the NuTone control, which will power a blender (we have one) or a food processor (we don't have one of those).

Just to the right of the refrigerator is a slide-out pantry with adjustable shelves. This will hold everything from soup cans to cereal boxes. Though it can't be seen in this shot, there is a cabinet of the same size just below the pantry that is used to hold the cover of the stove while you are cooking. Just above the refrigerator is another storage cabinet. In this view, you can see the bathroom door to the right of the pantry. The bathroom door can be opened and latched to the opposite wall at the edge of the galley in order to make the bathroom and bedroom a private space.

Here is a shot of the dinette. Folding the Corian tabletop down and rearranging the leather-covered seat cushions makes this into another bed. The seatbelts can be stowed in the cabinets underneath the seat cushions. There is a safe located on the road side under the forward dinette seat that can be used to store your travel cash. There is a storage drawer under this seat as well.

Here is a view of the spacious shower. The hand-held showerhead can be hung on its bracket. The pan is sunk into the floor to make a small tub that is very handy for washing little kids, dirty dogs or for soaking tired feet. There is a high-quality, folding glass door that can be snapped open for travel.

This is the bathroom sink. It is made of Corian, and the sink and counter are one piece. There is a large medicine cabinet to the right of the sink, and a drawer and cabinet storage below.

Here is a view of the dropped shower pan that forms the tub, and the Thetford toilet.

Here is a shot of the bedroom. The bed has a very (very) comfortable island queen-sized memory-foam mattress. There are two storage drawers at the base of the forward end, and two bedside stands at each side of the head of the bed, with storage in them. There is an overhead storage cabinet, and, if you lie on the bed and look up, there is a set of controls that include an alarm clock, and controls used for locking the door, switching on the security lights, and controlling the generator.

In the bedroom, there are two large closets with shelves inside. Here is a view of the curbside closet and shelf. Next to the closet, there are six drawers that go all the way from the floor up to an opening that is used to contain a small television.

Here is the roadside closet. There is a full-length mirror on the door and a shelf inside.

Grey Water Drain Line Protectors

2009-03-02T19:17:00.000-08:00

(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

About half-way between St. Louis and Seattle, I was walking around our 1988 Blue Bird Wanderlodge FC35SB at a rest stop and noticed a little trail of smelly, green fluid coming out from underneath the coach; it was on the curbside from just under the sewer drain. After a quick look underneath I determined it was coming from the grey water drain line, toward the middle of the line. A few days after I got home, I set the coach on some jack stands so I wouldn't get squished and tried to figure out what was causing the problem. The leak turned out to be caused by the clamps holding the pipe. I ended up cutting out the entire length of black PVC pipe and replacing it, but I also added some protection so that the leak wouldn't happen again.

This is a roadside view of the basement container that contains the battery charger. In the bottom right corner of the picture, you can see the location of the drain for both the black and grey tanks. The grey water tank is on the curbside of the coach, so there is a piece of black PVC pipe that leads from the other side of the coach to the drain opening (circled in the picture above).

The grey water drain pipe is held underneath the coach with clamps just like the one shown above. They are actually exhaust pipe clamps. Notice the double edge of the clamp that is on the side opposite of the u-bolt. These edges are ultimately what caused the leak. Apparently, the clamps were loose enough that the movement of the pipe rubbed two grooves in it that eventually turned into elongated holes.

This is an example of what I used to protect the pipe. These are ProFlex couplings...I got them at a local hardware store. I used these because I needed some play in order to manipulate the pipe into place, but, more importantly, because they have a stainless steel sheath around them.

This is the roadside end of the drain pipe. I ended up gluing the curbside end of the pipe and then using a flexible coupling to attach the roadside end. As you can see, the sheath is what now protects the line from the clamp.

This is a view of the forward side of the area where the nut originally rubbed on the pipe. I took the rubber connector out and just used the stainless steel sheath. Even though the pipe is securely clamped, there must still be some flex, as you can see where the nut has rubbed off some of the label.

Here is the aft view of the sheath in the area where the nut rubbed the pipe. So far nothing has leaked. The original pipe held out againt the nut and the clamps for two decades, so I expect that the stainless steel sheath should give me at least another 50 years!

Ramco Mirror Controls

2009-03-02T12:43:00.000-08:00

(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

The previous owner of our 1983 Blue Bird Wanderlodge FC33SB, installed new Ramco heated, powered mirrors on the coach and then painted them the same color as the body. This really improved the look of the coach and made it nice to be able to adjust the mirrors without getting out in the rain. However, he never decided where he wanted to place the controls for the mirrors, so he hung them from the steering column with some wire ties.

Here you can see where the controls were. They were useable, but they were sideways and knocked into the driver's left knee getting in and out of the seat and during travel. This started to bug me, so I planned to move them over to the other side of the dash, next to the parking brake button.

The biggest thing I was worried about when I was marking the area where the hole in the dash was going to be was the nest of wires behind the dash. I certainly didn't want to cause more work than I had already commited myself to. What I ended up doing was to put in a sacrifical board that would reach from the floor most of the way up to the bottom of the horizontal portion of the dash, which held the wires out of the way of any spinning bits.

First I cut the vinyl and then used my RotoZip tool to cut the wood. When I cut the vinyl, I found that the steel bracket for the parking brake button was encroaching on the space in which I needed to cut the hole, so I drilled a bunch of small holes in the metal, worked the piece out with some Vise Grips and then smoothed the edges with a file.

This is what the controls look like in their new home. I ended up rerouting the wires for the controls (and eventually tieing them up under the dash as well, unlike in this view).This makes it so much easier to adjust the mirrors. In the original position on the steering column, left was up and top was right and bottom was left and right was down...too confusing for my brain while driving. Now it's like we have new mirrors!

SOLD - 1984 Airstream International 34'

2007-07-14T19:29:00.000-07:00

We sold our 1984 34-foot Airstream International trailer. Why? We are going to try a Class-A diesel coach.

(Links to pictures of the trailer can be found at the bottom of the page.)

Here are the specs on the Airstream:

Length: 34 feet
Width: 96 inches
Max height: 116 inches
Empty weight: 6250 pounds
Tongue weight: 625 pounds
Loaded weight: up to 9900 pounds
Hitch height: 18 3/4 inches
50 gallon potable water tank
35 gallon grey water tank
30 gallon black water tank
Two 40-lb aluminum propane tanks
Four 12-volt, deep-cycle batteries
Four 37-watt solar panels
Heart 1200 watt inverter
Sony stereo with 5-disk changer
Olympian radiant catalytic auxilary heater in the salon
Suburban Dynatrail gas furnace
Magic Chef 4-burner stove and gas oven
2-way Dometic refrigerator
Rear twin beds
Flexsteel couch and four-place dinette convert to beds
New fixtures in kitchen and bath
Everpure water filter in kitchen
Four Zip Dee Awnings
Coleman air conditioner with heat strips
Michelin tires with approximately 20,000 miles (sidewalls in excellent shape)
New electric power jack
Load-balancing hitch with 2 5/16-inch ball
Original owner's manual, service manual, and manuals for appliances, solar panels, etc.
Rare wrap-around windows in front and rear (plexiglass protectors in front)
Freshly packed wheel bearings
Brand-new factory curtains all around

Here are links to pictures of the exterior and the interior of the trailer.

Exterior - 1984 Airstream International 34'

2007-07-14T17:52:00.000-07:00

(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

This is our 1984 Airstream International while we were boondocking at Takhlakh Lake in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest near the base of Mt. Adams. It is 34-feet long and only weighs about 9900 lbs when fully loaded with equipment and provisions (6250 lbs dry weight, tongue weight 625 lbs). We are the third owners. We bought it from a nice family in McMinnville, Oregon in 2004. They said they had not used it as much as they thought they would, so they wanted to sell it.

The trailer was purchased new by the original owner from Cascade Trailer Sales in Eugene, Oregon. Here you can see the largest of the four Zip Dee awnings, the triple axles, the landing gear, the propane water heater, and one of the doors that open to the trunk space (the one on this side holds the 4-foot lengths of treated 2x4 and 2x6 lumber we sometimes use for leveling).

Here you can see two of the three top vents, the TV antenna (it works, but we are usually out too far for reception, plus we don't even have a TV), and the air conditioner.(Click the link if you would like to see what this view looked like before refinishing.)

Here you can also see the bathroom and kitchen vents, and the four solar panels.(Click the link if you would like to see what this view looked like before refinishing.)

...the Airstream emblem in front. (Click the link if you would like to see what this view looked like before refinishing.)

When we got the trailer, we had a 2001 Chevy Silverado 1500 extended-cab, 6-foot bed pickup with the 5.3 liter gas engine. It had the adjustable suspension and Firestone air-bag overloads. It did a great job towing the Airstream, though it grunted a bit over the taller passes. We usually got about 8 or 9 mpg when towing, depending on the number of hills.

In 2005 we got a Silverado 2500HD with a crew cab, a 6-foot bed, and the Duramax diesel engine. It hardly notices the Airstream back there, and the Allison transmission is great in the mountains. It also has more room for dogs and kids in the cab. When towing, it usually gets 14 mpg in the flats and 11 mpg in the really hilly stuff. Here we are boondocking along the Sound near Port Townsend, Washington.

In this shot, you can see the rare, wrap-around windows in the rear of the trailer. I have only seen a couple of other instances of the wrap-around windows.

The trailer's Michelin tires have plenty of tread and the sidewalls are in excellent shape.

This is a shot of the equalizer hitch. The trailer is exceptionally stable during transit, and we haven't really felt the need for a stabilizing hitch. The stability is due to the triple axles and the inherent straight tracking of the Airstream.

Here you can see one of the battery doors, the tongue of the trailer, the two aluminium, 40-pound propane tanks and the electric power jack.

Click on the links to see pictures of the interior of the trailer, the trailer's specifications and sale information and what the exterior looked like before we refinished it.

Interior - 1984 Airstream International 34'

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(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

At the entrance, there are double, fold-out steps. The door is locked with a deadbolt, and there is a screen door that can be opened separately or attached to the exterior door to make it one unit.

The interior of the trailer is pretty much original. All of the latches are new, and all of the tambour works and is in good shape. We've repaired a few things, but have not refurbished the inside other than giving it a good scrubbing and adding new curtains. That white rectangular shape on the back of the dinette next to the fire extingisher is the auxiliary, catalytic propane-heater

In the front of the trailer, the salon has a couch that folds into a bed with storage under it. The carpets and upholstery are in great condition, and show less wear than one would expect for a 25-year-old trailer. All of the curtains were replaced this year.

Above the couch is a set of storage cabinets, a stereo with 5-disk changer, and the console that monitors the batteries and the water and waste-storage tanks.

There are two tables that fold out on each side of the couch: a large one on the road side, and a smaller one on the curb side.

On the road side, the kitchen has a four-burner stove and oven. There is a double-bowl stainless-steel sink, a new faucet and sprayer, and a tap that pours filtered water. There is storage both above and below the sink and stove, and a storage pantry that extends the full height of the trailer.

Next to the pantry, extending all the way back to the bedroom is a set of large, cedar-lined storage closets.

On the curb side, there is a dinette that has storage under the seats and folds into a bed. Next to the dinette is a refrigerator/freezer that runs on electricity or propane with more storage both above and below.

Further down the hall, across from the closets, is a full bathroom that contains a toilet, sink and shower. There is a full-length mirror, a medicine cabinet with a mirror, a storage cabinet with a mirror above the sink, and storage below the sink. The sit-down shower also has new fixtures.

The bedroom has twin beds with storage above and below. There is a night stand between the beds that has four storage drawers.

The trailer comes with the original owner's manual, the service manual, and manuals that cover all of the appliances, furnace, solar panels, etc..

Click on the links to see pictures of the exterior of the trailer, the trailer's specifications and sale information and what the exterior looked like before we refinished it.

Exterior - Before Refinishing

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(NOTE: click on the images for a larger view.)

The trailer looked pretty awful on the outside when we first saw it. The Plasticote was bubbled up all over the roof and down the sides, and water had pooled under it. The water had gathered dirt and moss, and there was quite a bit of oxidation on the skin.

This was how the top on the right side, from the rear looked when we first saw it. You can see the Plasticote mess and the oxidation on the top and sides.

Here is a shot of the Airstream emblem on the front, above the window. You can see how all of the joints had picked up a lot of dirt, and the crud that gathered under the bubbled, peeling Plasticote.

We spent about 200 hours making the outside presentable: we stripped the Plasticote off using ICI Devoe's Hydrostrip 502, stripped the sealant from around everything that pokes a hole through the skin and resealed using Vulkem 636. After that, we resealed every seam using Alcoa Gutter Seal. (By the way, that Hydrostrip 502 is miracle stuff. Roll it on, then spray the finish off with water. Highly recommended!)

After the seam-sealing job, we used three coats of Liquid Glass to finish the exterior. This stuff works great for painted surfaces too...it's like adding another layer to your clear coat. Follow the link to see what the trailer looks like after refinishing...what a difference!