Take a video tour of the inside of our vintage 1978 Wanderlodge Bus.
1978 Wanderlodge Bus Details:
- 1978 All-American Bluebird 35′ Chassis
- 3208 Cat Turbo Diesel Engine, Forward Control
- Allison 4-Speed Transmission
- Mid-Bath Model
- Onan Gas Generator
- 98 gallon Fresh Water
- 60 gallon Gray/ 42 gallon Black
- 45 gallon LP Gas Tank
- Copper Air & Fuel Lines
- On-demand Hot Water
- Oven & 4 Burner Stove
- 2 A/C units
- 3 Electric Heaters
- 3 LPG Heaters
- CB radio
- Rear Full Size Bed
- Dinette
- Double Couches/Twin Beds
- Shower
- China Toilet
- Refrigerator/Freezer
- Lots of cool vintage bells and whistles
- Air horns
- Door bell
- 3 way intercom phone system
- Central Vac
- In-Counter Blender
- Alarm System
- Vintage Awnings
- 8-Track Stereo, Cassette Tape Player & Surround Sound
- Airplane Style Cabinets
We’re excited to announce our NEW Cheddar Yeti vessel. This beautiful Bluebird bus found us when we least expected it and we couldn’t deny the signs. She came to us from New York and will serve as our sweet little love nest and office space on our continued journey around North America.
Join us anytime. Stop by for a drink, we’d love to have you!
32 responses to “1978 Wanderlodge Bus Interior Tour”
In the spring of 1979 I lived in a 1978 Wanderlodge at the Okeechobee County Airport in Florida that was owned by Doc Williams. I worked for Doc as a charter pilot and flight instructor. He let me live in the coach right at the airport. I was 25 single and loving life and living large. I’m a little older now divorced sad to say but I have two wonderful daughters who are out on there own in there 20’s. I would love to know where that coach is today. Just to see who aged better. I also always wanted to travel the USA in a motor home for a year or so but never could put it all together. I was a Corporate Pilot most my life and was forced into retirement when I had to self report to FAA medical examiner. I had broken my neck while on active duty in the USAF in 1973. A few years back those fractures came back to haunt me when I could not control my right hand properly. That is a disqualification for a pilot medical. I also developed prostate cancer at the same time. A year later my wife divorced me and my mother past away. Was a tuff couple of years for me but I came out it all with a better understanding of myself and what’s really important. If anyone out there happens to know if that coach is still out traveling the roads please send me an email. Also if anyone is selling a coach and could hold the note I would love to talk to you. I would arrange an automatic pay every month. So let me know. Thanks everyone.
[…] two important items that we do not carry in our packs. They are additions we’ve made to the Cheddar Yeti’s Motor Office set […]
[…] at Jeanette’s dad’s lovely hilltop property where their vintage 1978 Wanderlodge bus, the Cheddar Yeti2, is currently camped on a very nice pad with a patio and rose garden. The property has a lovely […]
What is the ceiling clearance in your wanderlodge? Been looking at them online but you can only tell so much from a picture
Our 1978 ceiling is a bit low. If you’re over 6′ your head will mostly likely touch the overhead A/C units. There are low profile A/C units – ours are about 5″ down. The shower in on our mid-bath unit has a short ceiling as well. Where the top of the bus curves – 6′ or 6’2″ inside shower ceiling max. Some newer (80’s) wanderlodges have a “sunk” down shower basin giving you more room. It’s best to go look at them in person because they all very a bit. Our ceiling is about 6’4″ at the highest with no obstructions.
[…] What do you do for a living? I am what they call a Front End Web Developer. I deal mostly in HTML/CSS/JavaScript. Although, I have been known to dabble in some back-end technologies like PHP/mySQL. I do most of work these days working on WordPress powered sites. I do all this from the comfort of my 1978 Blue Bird Wanderlodge motorhome. […]
[…] away and told me to just “come on over”. Within an hour I was sitting in their fabulous 1978 Wanderlodge Bus with a cat purring on my lap and my blog was back on-line. Talk about RV serendipity! If any of […]
Hi Dennis & Jeanette,
Join us over on http://www.wanderlodgegurus.com, WaGu, We’re a casual set running an open forum with few if any rules. I started the forum cause I thought we could all use another wanderlodge channel. I love your energy. Tune-in. David Brady (fellow wanderlodge freak)
Wow, thanks for saying, HI. We’ll check it out. Cheers. PS – loving the wanderlodge!
Your bus is so awesome! Miss you guys a ton!! Hope you make it to the Pac NW on your next summer travels. Sending giant hugs!!
Hey Alisa!! long time for sure. We miss you too and will be in the NW this year. Thanks for the hugs. Cheers ol’ friend.
I take it your vehicle is large enough that your pipes are “inside” and you didn’t have to winterize? I have a much smaller vehicle (by choice) but am disappointed at how poorly it holds the heat. I have nice propane furnace but in reality at freezing temps the temp inside goes up way too high and down way too low (before coming back on). I’m thinking about re-locating out (far) west.
While in use, you shouldn’t have to winterize an RV.
We did winterize our CY1 (the class C Lazy Daze) as we left it in Rhode Island for the winter. It was our first time do a winterization. It was easy actually.
Now the bus, if left to sit for the winter should be bleed of all the sitting water to avoid expanding and breaking pipes/pumps/tanks but as long as we’re plugged-in, the pipe heating system does a nice job of keeping things toasty. Schnazzy!
Looks awesome! I am a tad bit jealous. I have always wanted a vintage bus but Jason always says no. Neither of us are mechanics and our Vanagon broke down so much it ruined him on vintage buses.
We can understand that! We felt this was a fair gamble because it has a CAT 3208, which is common and easily worked on. So we hear that is.
So so happy for you guys! And *squeee* more bus nuts!! 🙂
The new Cheddar Yeti looks awesome, and so looking forward to our next rendezvous.
We’re pretty happy with our new lil’ bus… never ever imagined we’d be traveling in a bigger vessel. It felt like home right away and drives so nice… actually besides the length, it handles much better than the Class C.
Yes, we’re also looking forward to our next rendezvous!
[…] UPDATE: As of 10/6/2012 We have retired our first Cheddar Yeti, the 1988 Lazy Daze and have moved into a bigger, older, 1978 Wanderlodge Bluebird Bus. […]
Fantastic! And the audio track was the best to enhance the experience of seeing your new home! We may be in Sedona area in April; any chance you will be? Otherwise, CA in April?? Jeanette, am almost done with my book and will be in touch about cover, depending on how I decide to publish it. Be safe, and have fun!
I don’t know if we’ll be there in April.. but things are always changing. That’s awesome about your book! We’ll meet up on the road or in this world sometime I’m sure of it. 🙂
You guys are awesome, love to stop by to grab beer if you are within 500 miles radius 🙂
OF COURSE! Miss you guys out there on the West Coast. Don’t worry well be back soon… and we’ll surely get within 500 miles. You two need a family station wagon for a cross country road trip with the kids… right!!?
Wow! Quite the replacement you have here! Nice work. Love the video, thanks for the sneak peak. Now get go asses back on the road so we can play! luv you guys!!
Ahh, we are overwhelmed ourselves. It drives nice and has some pretty sweet awnings to hang out under. Playing IS in order… we’ll catch up to you guys soon. FL here we come! love to our road buddies.
Looks like it has an awning big enough to park our van under. Sweet! I know where we are camping next time we meet up in the desert 😉
You bet!
Excellent! I love that it still has an 8-track player.
It looks cherry.
It’s perfect, Dennis only listens to music that was made in the 8-track era. Let the thrift hunt begin!
PS it came with a Led Zeppelin tape.
Kick ass!!! Is that a tile floor you got going? Any special plans for upgrades/remodeling? Looking forward to seeing the new rig in Cedar Key.
Thanks B!
We have some real wood and then those vinyl tiles too.
As far as upgrades, we’re ready to hit the road and will probably hold off until down the road a bit (make sure it’s running well etc.) then do some bigger things. Right now we’re focused on fixing one leveler and making the gen purr. Then the roof vents need some TLC – we’re experienced with that now!
Down the road we’d like a new paint job on the body, this one is pretty faded and in rough shape. The floor would be nice in ALL wood… but that’s a job for someone else. Then our hot water is a tankless electric. I’d like to switch to LPG but, we’re trying it out. Doesn’t seem dry camp friendly to me?
A dream upgrade would be the roof… a deck and fold up/down railing. SWEET!
For now, we want to travel!
Congrats! Quite an upgrade in space and amenities! Is there a cool story behind the previous owner? When are you headed West?
YES! and yes… there were number, date, names and people parallels all over the place. The old owners treated us like family and will likely be friends for years to come. It was amazing timing. We’ll be west by next spring/summer sometime. Miss you much, James!!