Blue Bird Wanderlodge · Class A
Blue Bird Wanderlodge LXi
The LXi was the longer of the two Wanderlodge lines introduced for 1998. The Vintage Birds owners’ club lists it in 41- and 43-foot lengths with a 500-horsepower Detroit Diesel Series 60 through 2003, plus a 40-foot Millennium Limited Edition for 2000. Wikipedia says the 1998 LXi was among the first motorcoaches with slide-out rooms.
Fact-checked. An independent reviewer checked this page against its cited sources.
All the years
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| Year | Configuration | Length | Chassis | Engine | Price when new |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Model-year overview | — | — | — | — |
| 2002 | Model-year overview | — | — | — | — |
| 2001 | Model-year overview | — | — | — | — |
| 2000 | Model-year overview | — | — | — | — |
| 1999 | Model-year overview | — | — | — | — |
| 1998 | Model-year overview | — | — | Detroit Diesel Series 60 · 500 hp | — |
A dash means that value has not been documented yet. Length, chassis and engine can change by floorplan inside one model year, so open a year for the full detail.
The story of the model
LXi history
For 1998 Blue Bird replaced the Wide Body with a new generation based on its LTC-40 intercity coach. The LXi was the longer of the two new models. Vintage Birds lists it as the WB-41 LXi and WB-43 LXi with a 500-horsepower Series 60 and a restyled exterior; Wikipedia adds projector-beam headlamps and a much larger windshield than before.
For 2000 the club lists a 40-foot LXi Millennium Limited Edition beside the 43-foot coach. For 2001 the exterior was updated for the last time, and Vintage Birds says Blue Bird then worked to make the LXi lighter: the front axle rating rose in steps from 14,400 to 16,000 pounds, fuel capacity fell from 300 to 260 gallons, and the roof skin changed to stretched aircraft aluminum. A 500-horsepower Cummins M11 was offered as an option, but few were built. By 2002 every coach had one or two slide-outs.
The club shows the 41- and 43-foot LXi through 2003 and only the M380 for 2004. The 45-foot coach that followed is recorded as the M450 LXi.
- 1998LXi introduced
WB-41 and WB-43 LXi arrive with a 500-hp Detroit Diesel Series 60 and restyled exteriors. Source ↗
- 2000Millennium Limited Edition
A 40-foot LXi Millennium Limited Edition is listed alongside the 43-foot coach. Source ↗
- 2001Last exterior update
The LX and LXi share a new headlight design and a bumper blended into the body. Source ↗
- 2003Last year of the 41- and 43-foot LXi
Vintage Birds lists only the M380 for 2004. Source ↗
Brochures and sources
- Highlights of all Blue Bird Wanderlodge Model Changes (Vintage Birds Chapter of FMCA) ↗
- Highlights of all Blue Bird Wanderlodge Model Changes (Vintage Birds Chapter of FMCA) ↗ — Owner-club list of model changes by year, 1963–2004.
- 1998 Blue Bird Wanderlodge page (Vintage Birds Chapter of FMCA) ↗ — Photographs of the 1998 LX 40, LXi 41 and LXi 43; no text.
- Blue Bird Wanderlodge (Wikipedia) ↗ — Third-generation section; cites archived 1998 Blue Bird web pages that could not be opened in this session.
Links open the original page. Facts are checked against these sources; tell us if you find one that is out of date.
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