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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:

Buying and Selling:

Year and Model Information

 

Model History and Timeline

1960's

  • 1963 - First unit manufactured
  • 1964
  • 1965 - Actual production started.
  • 1966
  • 1967
  • 1968
  • 1969 - Produced 9 units that were a pusher type with a Ford gas engine, thirty-five feet in length.

1970's

1970's Test Format
Year Model(s) Lengths Engine(s) Configurations
1970
1971
1972
1973
1974 Forward Control (FC) 31, 33 Ford 391 (xxxhp) Gas
1975 Forward Control (FC) 31,33 & 35 Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel w/Gas Generator
1976 Forward Control (FC) 31,33 & 35 Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel w/Gas Generator
1977 Forward Control (FC) 31,33 & 35 Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel w/Gas Generator
1978 Forward Control (FC) 31,33 & 35 Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel w/Gas Generator
1979 Forward Control (FC) 31,33 & 35 Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel w/Gas Generator
1979 Note: Blue Bird produced a special edition fifteenth Fifteenth anniversary designated XV. Based on the 35-foot forward-engine configuration, the XV differed in its use of double frame rails and was the predecessor to future pusher models.
  • 1970
  • 1971
  • 1972
  • 1973
  • 1974 - Forward Control (FC) - 31, 33 - Ford 391 (xxxhp) Gas
  • 1975 - Forward Control (FC) - 31, 33 & 35 - Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel / Gas Generator
  • 1976 - Forward Control (FC) - 31, 33 & 35 - Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel / Gas Generator
    • Official model designations were M-31, M-33 and M-35 for the Gas & NA Diesel FC 31, FC 33 and FC 35
  • 1977 - Forward Control (FC) - 31, 33 & 35 - Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel / Gas Generator
  • 1978 - Forward Control (FC) - 31, 33 & 35 - Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel / Gas Generator
  • 1979 - Forward Control (FC) - 31, 33 & 35 - Caterpillar 3208 (xxxhp) Diesel / Gas Generator
    • Blue Bird produced a special edition fifteenth Fifteenth anniversary designated XV. Based on the 35-foot forward-engine configuration, the XV differed in its use of double frame rails and was the predecessor to future pusher models.

1980's

  • 1980 - Added air suspension to standard equipment. arly 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.  
    • 1983 - Forward Control (FC) - 31, 33, 35 - Caterpillar 3208 (225 or 250 hp) - Side Bath & Rear Bath
    • 1983 - Pusher Tag Axel (PT) - 35, 38, 40 -
    • 1983 - FC 33 RB
    • 1983 - FC 33 SB
    • 1983 - FC 35 RB
    • 1983 - FC 35 SB
    • 1983 - PT 35
    • 1983 - PT 38
    • 1983 - PT 40
    • 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.
    • FC - 35' RB -- 35' SB
    • PT - 36' (96") -- 38' (96") -- 38' (WB) -- 40' (96") -- 40' (WB)
    • 40' XXV - Commemorates 25th year of Wanderlodge.
  • 1989 Introduced 36' Single Axle Pusher (SP) -300 Cat 3208 - Center Door - 96" width. End of Forward Control.
    • FC - 35'
    • SP - 36'
    • PT - 38' (WB) -- 40' (WB).
    • Also - Offered conversions by Royale.

1990's

  • 1990 -
    • SP - 36'
    • PT - 40' (WB)
  • 1991 Changed exteriors appearance of Wide Body & SP.  Made major equipment changes.  
    • SP - 36'
    • PT - 40' WB -- 40' WBSA
  • 1992 -  End of SP.
    • SP - 36'
    • PT - 40' WB -- 40' WBSA
  • 1993 -  
    • 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' WBDA
    • 42' -- 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' BMC
    • 40' -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WTSD -- 40' WBDA
    • 42' 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' BMC
    • 41' WLWB
    • 43' WLWB
  • 1998 - Introduction of WB-41 LXi and WB-43 LXi w/500 HP Series 60 and restyled exteriors. Introduction of WB-40 LX w/450 HP M11 Cummins.
    • 40' LX
    • 41' LXi
    • 43' LXi
  • 1999 -
    • 40' LX
    • 41' LXi
    • 43' LXi

2000's

  • 2000
    • 40' LX
    • 40' LXi - Millennium 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 stretched 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.


974 - Added 33 foot unit to product line.  -

Gas - 31' -- 33'

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 - 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.

FC - 35' RB -- 35' SB PT - 36' (96") -- 38' (96") -- 38' (WB) -- 40' (96") -- 40' (WB)40' XXV - Commemorates 25th year of Wanderlodge.

1989 Introduced 36' Single Axle Pusher (SP) -300 Cat 3208 - Center Door - 96" width. End of Forward Control.

FC - 35'

SP - 36'

PT - 38' (WB) -- 40' (WB).

Also - Offered conversions by Royale.

1990 -

SP - 36' PT - 40' (WB)

1991 Changed exteriors appearance of Wide Body & SP.  Made major equipment changes.  

SP - 36' PT - 40' WB -- 40' WBSA

1992 -  End of SP.

SP - 36' PT - 40' WB -- 40' WBSA

1993 -  

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 -

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
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