Wonderlodge for sale!

RoyJ · February 13, 2011, 08:35:52 PM

Quote from: thejumpsuitman on February 13, 2011, 06:58:32 PM
Well, I can certainly speak to this topic.... We own a Wanderlodge just like this one with the 391 Ford and hydraulic brakes. It makes an EXCELLENT motorhome. High clearance, powerful (enough) engine, automatic Allison, extremely sturdy and very well built. Very very heavy! 28,000 lbs at 31 feet long! Super simple to work on and classic looking. That being said, no way you could live in one unless you enjoyed an extremely Spartan existence. If all we wanted was a vacation motorhome, we would not have continued looking for a coach.

Anybody who does not think an Wanderlodge is a true bus/coach has never seen one in the flesh.

28000 lbs??!! That's very heavy indeed. I wonder how they manage to pile on so much weight, because a modern 40' school bus is only 21,000 empty. Does the 391 have a lot of trouble pulling it?

And I though my 35' Prevost is heavy at 24,000 (N70 4V 6V71 has to work hard). This makes the GM 35 footers downright featherweights!

gus · February 13, 2011, 09:49:01 PM

It is worth $15 - $30K in good condition.

He doesn't say how long it has been sitting so $3250 is probably more than it is worth.

Only the longer and heavier ones have air brakes.

They are nice rigs when in good condition.

thejumpsuitman · February 14, 2011, 06:27:26 AM

Quote from: RoyJ on February 13, 2011, 08:35:52 PM
Quote from: thejumpsuitman on February 13, 2011, 06:58:32 PM
Well, I can certainly speak to this topic.... We own a Wanderlodge just like this one with the 391 Ford and hydraulic brakes. It makes an EXCELLENT motorhome. High clearance, powerful (enough) engine, automatic Allison, extremely sturdy and very well built. Very very heavy! 28,000 lbs at 31 feet long! Super simple to work on and classic looking. That being said, no way you could live in one unless you enjoyed an extremely Spartan existence. If all we wanted was a vacation motorhome, we would not have continued looking for a coach.

Anybody who does not think an Wanderlodge is a true bus/coach has never seen one in the flesh.

28000 lbs??!! That's very heavy indeed. I wonder how they manage to pile on so much weight, because a modern 40' school bus is only 21,000 empty. Does the 391 have a lot of trouble pulling it?

And I though my 35' Prevost is heavy at 24,000 (N70 4V 6V71 has to work hard). This makes the GM 35 footers downright featherweights!

Very heavy gage steel is why it is so heavy. Super sturdy steel skeleton and full frame, too. It does pull fine. The 391 is surprisingly strong. The 6 speed Allison is geared very low of course. You are sure screaming at highway speeds, and with the engine up front, you have to speak loudly to say the least. At 45 mph you get 5.5 mpg... At 70 mph, you get exactly the same. 5.5 mpg. Believe it or not.

It is not a super smooth ride with the leaf spring suspension and mine has the old split rims and tube tires. But once you are settled in, it is a very nice coach to camp in.

Rick59-4104 · February 14, 2011, 07:04:03 AM

I had a 22' 1973 Barth, aluminum skin that probably did not weight 1/3 what this Wonderlodge will and I got about 5 to 6 MPG with the Chevy 454 and a Turbo 400, so I think 5.5 MPG is not too bad. For local camping trips in areas where you might not want to take a bus this would be great...I always liked the the look of the early Wonderlodges,

Of course I am not sure of the condition of this one just going by what I see in the pictures.

Rick

gus · February 14, 2011, 02:32:18 PM

I'm amazed that it weighs 2000 lbs more than my 4107even though it appears much smaller!!

The Chevy 454 is a notorious gas gulper even in a light weight pickup.

The Ford 391 is a dedicated truck engine, really a tough one but it does use the gas. It is one of a Super Duty series which includes the 330, 361, 391, 401, 477 and 534 with dual ignition for fire trucks.

wrench · February 14, 2011, 04:08:57 PM

The one you see next to my nick name, I own for 19 years, we lived in it for 15 years. I keep it in running condition in case, storm or

It's a 391 ford, 31' 1972, Allison M40 with retarder, painted in 1995, 22500lbs, 5.5MPG, can get 6 under 60. All wheel cylinder need a modification in order expel all air at bleeding & have a solid pedal & avoid recurring replacement from rusting.
To bring those to later standard, I believe the body need to be lift from the chassis & drop on a later chassis with a Cummins, I would expect 12-15 MPG.
I believe the 534CID came out in 1976 till mid 77& been replace by 3208 natural.
wrench

RoyJ · February 14, 2011, 05:37:15 PM

12 mpg may be possible, but 15 is definitely pushing it.

Remember, aero drag has a much larger effect than weight at highway speeds. The Wanderlodge suffers due to: high ground clearance, non-flat underbody, cluttered roof + railing.

But for my own needs, a Wanderlodge would actually be much more suitable than my own coach. I don't mind doing 55 on the highway, and love to "wander" off the unpaved paths! I'd definitely go diesel though, 5.5 mpg is not my cup of tea.