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Welcome to the Blue Box Wiki!

Dear Wanderlodge Owner:

Congratulations on being the owner of the finest and safest production motor coach in the world - the Blue Bird Wanderlodge.

We work hard to keep our Wanderlodges the best ever built. At the same time, we recognize your need for more and better information so you can enjoy your coach to the fullest. To that end, we have created this "Online Blue Box" to provide encyclopedic information on the history, operation, maintenance, and repair of your coach. We hope you find this helpful as you acquaint yourself with your Bird and then embark on various projects to maintain and upgrade your coach.'

We want to thank you for visiting, and we encourage you to contribute to this wiki. You see, as a community of owners we can make this a better, more information rich, resource for current and future 🐦 owners.

Thank you again, and welcome to our Family of Friends!

- Braden & Rich

Top Resources

Reference Sites:

• Wanderlodge Owners Group (the WOG) - This a very active message board with a dedicated group of experienced owners that can help answer your questions. Quite a bit of the knowledge contained in this site was gained and distilled down from threads on the WOG. This is one of the most valuable resources for any Bird owner.
• Vintage Birds
• Facebook Wanderlodge Owners Group
• Wanderlodge Gurus

Buying and Selling:

• Buy Bye Blue Bird
• Bird Connection

Year and Model Information

1960's

1963 - First unit manufactured

1964 - The first platform was a forward control 31' gas coach. From her until the mid 1970's they came in 31' with a Ford Industrial gas engine factory installed engine.

1965 - First year of official production

1966 - More information needed Models: FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp

1967 Models: FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp

1968 Models: FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp

1969 - In addition to the standard forward control 31' gas coach, Blue Bird produced 9 units that were single axel pushers (SP) 35' in length with a Ford gas engine. 1969 SP 35 are very rare rigs. Models: FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp | SP 35 - Ford 391 xxhp

1970's

1970 - Models: FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp | SP 35 - Ford 391 xxhp

1971 - Models: FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp | SP 35 - Ford 391 xxhp

1972 - Models: FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp | SP 35 - Ford 391 xxhp

1973 - Models: FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp | SP 35 - Ford 391 xxhp

1974 - Added 33 foot unit to product line, both models ran a gas Ford engine. Models: 1974 FC 31 - Ford 391 | 1974 FC 33 - Ford 391

1975 - Added 35 foot unit to product line.  - Gas - 31' -- 33' -- 35'

1976 - Gas - 31' -- 33' -- 35'

1977 - Factory installed engines Caterpillar 3208-NA (Naturally Asperated, meaning "non turbo"). Early 1977 still had gas engines. - Gas & NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'

1978 - Gas & NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'

1979 - - Fifteenth Anniversary unit produced. Forerunner to the pusher. Thirty-five foot with 3208 Caterpillar. Designated the XV. '''NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35' -- 35' XV

1980's

1980 - Added air suspension to standard equipment. Early 1980 units still had spring leaf suspension. - 'NA Diesel' - 31' -- 33' -- 35'

'1981 - 'NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'

1982 - Added the PT 35 and PT 40 to product line.  Added new bathroom and dash to forward control model. Pusher came with new dash. FC - NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35' PT - 35' -- 40' (PT had Detroit V6, 2 cycle Diesel - Designated "6V")

1983 - Forward Control came with factory installed 3208 Caterpillar with 225 HP turbo. Last 12 units of 1983 model year installed with 250 turbo.  Introduced RB (Rear Bath) models.   FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB PT - 35' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V

1983 - Forward Control came with factory installed 3208 Caterpillar with 225 HP turbo. Last 12 units of 1983 model year installed with 250 turbo.  Introduced RB (Rear Bath) models.   FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB PT - 35' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V

1984 - Forward Control installed with 3208- 250 turbo Cat engine. - Changed the floor plan of the PT 35. Became designated as PT-36.   FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V

1985 -   FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB - 35' SB PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V

1986 - Added Detroit Diesel 8V92 (8V) engine to pusher line.   FC - 31' - 33' -- 35' RB -- 35' SB PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 38' 8V -- 40' 6V -- 40' 8V

1987 - Re-designed Forward Control floor plan and added 300 HP Caterpillar Engine. Introduced walk-thru bath floor plan in pushers. FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 38' 8V --40' 6V -- 40' 8V

1988 Introduced 102" Wide Body (WB) in 38' and 40'. Introduced Detroit 8V92TA 475 HP with DDEC in Pusher. They also produced a limited edition XXV model to commomerate their 25th anniversary. Models: 1988 FC35 | 1988 PT36 | 1988 PT38 | 1988 PT40 1988 WB38 8v92 | 1988 WB40 8v92

1989 - Introduced 36' Single Axle Pusher (SP) -300 Cat 3208 - Center Door - 96" width. End of Forward Control. Models: 1989 FC35 | 1989 SP36 Cat 3208 (300hp) | 1989 WB38 8v92 (475hp) | 1989 WB40 8v92 (475hp) Also - Offered conversions by Royale.

1990's

1990 - More Info Needed for this year Models: 1990 SP36 Cat 3208 | 1990 WB40 8v92 (475hp)

1991 Changed exteriors appearance of Wide Body & SP.  Made major equipment changes.   Models: 1991 SP36 | 1991 PT40 | 1991 WB40 | 1991 WBSA40

1992 -  End of SP. Models: 1992 SP36 | 1992 PT40 | 1992 WB40 | 1992 WBSA40

1993 -  More Info Needed for this year 40' WLWB -- 40' WBSA -- 40' WBDA

1994 Introduced BMC (Bluebird Motor Coach).   37' BMC 40' WLWB -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WBSD -- 40' WBDA

1995 Added 42' Wanderlodge with 60 Series Detroit, 6 speed Allison and Aqua Hot heat. Redesigned BMC 37'.   37' BMC 40' -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WBSD -- 40' WBDA42' -- 42' WLWB -- 42' WTOS -- 42' WBSD -- 42' WBDA

1996 Introduced the 40' BMC with m11 Cummins 400 HP, 6 speed Allison, Tag Axle.    37' BMC 40' BMC40' -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WTSD -- 40' WBDA42' WTOS -- 42' WBSD -- 42' WBDA

1997 Lowered engine in Wanderlodge to allow for Walk-in closet.  Redesigned 42' as 43'.  40' became 41' with 60 series, 6 speed and walk-in rear closet.    37' BMC 40' BMC41' WLWB43' WLWB

1998 - Introduction of WB-41 LXi and WB-43 LXi w/500 HP Series 60 and resytled exteriors. Introduction of WB-40 LX w/450 HP M11 Cummins. 40' LX 41' LXi43' LXi

1999 - 40' LX 41' LXi43' LXi

2000's

2000 - 40' LX 40' LXi - Mellennium Limited Edition 43' LXi

2001 thru 2003 - LX-M11 engine went from 450 H.P. to 500 H.P. New body style. Otherwise its the same as 98 - 2000. In 2001,some LX's were non-slide some were single slides. 2002 and 2003 were all slides , either single or double. LXi After about the first 15 units were built, the effort to lighten the units began. Front axle rating went from 14,400 to 15,500 and eventually to 16,000 #'s Fuel capacity went down to 260 from 300 gal. The exterior roof skin was changed to streched aircraft aluminum, bulk oil fill was eliminated as well as tile floors. An optional cummins M11 500 H.P. engine was offered but only a few were built.

2003 thru 2004 - M380 production began. All 2003's were single slide with one exception , it was a double. 2004's were 1 or 2 slide. No non-slide M380's were offered.No other models were built for 2004.

1965-1989

1990-2009

1965 1966 FC 31 - Ford 391 xxhp 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 FC 35 - Cat 3208 250hp 1982 PT 40 - DD 6v92 350hp 1982 PT 36 - DD 6V92 325hp 1983 SP 33 - Cat 3208 250hp 1984 FC 35 - Cat 3208 250hp 1985 PT 40 - DD 6v92 ??hp 1985 FC 31 - Cat 3208 250hp 1985 FC 33 - Cat 3208 250hp 1985 FC 35 - Cat 3208 250hp 1985 FC 31,33,35 - Cat 3208 250hp 1986 FC 35 - Cat 3208 250hp 1987 FC 35 - Cat 3208 300hp 1988 WB 40 - DD 8V92 450hp 1989 SP 36 - Cat 3208 300hp 1989 WB 38 - DD 8v92 475hp 1989 WB 40 - DD 8v92 475hp

1990 WB 40 - DD 8v92 450hp 1991 SP 36 - Cat 3208 300hp 1991 WB 40 - DD 8v92 450hp 1992 WB 40 - DD 8v92 500hp 1993 WB 1994 WB 40 - DD 8v92 500hp 1995 BMC 37 - Cu 8.3 ISC 330hp 1995 WB 42 - DD S60 xxxhp 1996 WB 42 - DD S60 470hp 1997 WB 41 - DD S60 1997 WB 42 - DD S60 470hp 1997 BMC37 - Cu 8.3 325hp 1998 LXI 43 - S60 500hp 1999 LX 40 - Cu ISM 450hp 1999 LXI 41 - DD S60 500hp 1999 LXI 43 - DD S60 500hp 2000 LX 40 - Cu ISM 450hp 2000 LXI 43 - DD S60 500hp 2001 2001 LXI 43 - DD S60 500hp 2002 2002 LX 40 - Cu ISM 500hp 2003 M380 - Cu ISL 400hp 2004 M380 - Cu ISL 400hp 2005 2006 M450 - Cat C13 535hp 2007 2008 M450 LXI - Cat C12 xxxhp 2009 M450 XL - Cu ISX 600hp

Terms & Abbreviations for Blue Bird Motor Homes

• BMC - Blue Bird Motor Coach
• FC - Forward Control which designates the engine is mounted in the front of the unit. All Blue Bird Wanderlodges are rear axle drive.
• 31-FC - Thirty-one foot Forward Control
• 33-FC - Thirty-three foot Forward Control
• 35-FC - Thirty-Five foot Forward Control
• PT - Pusher with a tag axle
• PT-35 - Thirty-Five foot Pusher
• PT-36 - Thirty-six foot Pusher
• PT-38 - Thirty-eight foot Pusher
• PT-40 - Forty foot Pusher
• RB - Rear Bath
• SB - Side Bath
• SP - Single Axle Pusher
• WB - Wide Body
• WL - Wanderlodge
• XV - 15th Anniversary unit built in 1978/1979
• XXV - 25th Anniversary unit built in 1988/1989