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Old 12-02-2003, 04:10 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
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rub rails

Hi All

im wondering if I could remove the rub rails ...all the blue bird wanderlodge ( similar design) dont use any ...where they just for children safety sake...



personnaly id like to remove these for a more homogene look...



any feedback ?

thanks !

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Old 12-04-2003, 06:11 AM   #2
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Greetings,

Are you talking about the full length rails that run down each side of the bus?

I think you could remove them without a problem, but don't know how much strength you would remove.

I like the extra margin of safety that they provide.

While I don't plan on full timing in my bus, I do like to provide all the protection I can for my family.

Safety was my main concern when I chose my Lifeguard body shell.

I have seen numerous pictures and videos of regular stick and staples motorhomes involved in accidents and there is usually not much left of them after one.

I have also seen quite a few pictures of skoolies that were involved in accidents.

Most of the time the skoolies were simply driven off.......



There are a lot of cars, trucks and heavy trucks driving around the Central Texas area where I live, so I elected to keep them intact.
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Old 01-23-2012, 08:40 PM   #3
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Re: rub rails

It is a major PITA to take them off. So you really have to want them off to go to all that trouble.
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Old 01-23-2012, 08:52 PM   #4
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Re: rub rails

they come right off with a 7" cutting wheel.. just takes a bit of time cutting the rivets.
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Old 01-16-2013, 08:07 AM   #5
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Re: rub rails

On a Blue Bird they add structure to the walls, there isn't really any frame piece running front to back in there. The portion under the windows is just some bent over sheet metal.

This is what it looks like under the top rail.


As you can see there is another rib in the skin under the top rail, also the part between the other two rub rails (the yellow part) is ribs in the skin. So, if you really want to get rid
of the ribs, you would have to completely reskin the whole thing.
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Old 01-16-2013, 09:44 AM   #6
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Re: rub rails

Some things to consider are the fact that the rub rails do add strength to the sides of the bus. If you remove them, you would have to fill in all the holes from where the rivets were.

I have a Blue Bird bus, and I agree with Somewhere in that it would require a lot of work to re-skin the sides of the bus.

After all, it IS a bus. They are built strong.

A creative paint job will render the rub rails unobtrusive. You could even use those portions of the bus to highlight some accent colors. Many people do that.
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Old 01-16-2013, 10:48 AM   #7
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Re: rub rails

Quote:
Originally Posted by bigdan
Hi All

im wondering if I could remove the rub rails ...all the blue bird wanderlodge ( similar design) dont use any ...
And how do you come by that knowledge? The Wanderlodges that are built on the BlueBird All American Chassis does have rub rails. It's the new FAUX Wanderlodges (which are no longer made by Blue Bird) that are nothing more than fiberglass RV look-a-likes that don't have the rub rails.

http://www.vintagebirds.com/

1963 Blue Bird Wanderlodge
We've actually seen inside this one at an RV dealership where it was having a little work done on it. We were living near Perry GA at the time. Note: it has rub rails.



1973 Blue Bird Wanderlodge


1983 Blue Bird Wanderlodge


1996 Blue Bird Wanderlodge This is one of the last images where you can clearly see the rub rails. Not too many years after this, they started making the Wanderlodge look like all the rest of the RVs. Personally I think they stopped looking good around 1986.
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Old 01-17-2013, 08:40 AM   #8
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Re: rub rails

Baack to the ancient post again...

So far, the areas where i have removed the rub rails and screwed the panels back on are doing just fine... no problems whatsoever, and a much cleaner look.
I did not remove the rub rails just below the windows, but the 3 below them.
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Old 01-18-2013, 12:57 PM   #9
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Re: rub rails

just make sure that u put rivit back in the hole,because it hocks to the inter frame,,,i know this because i worked for blue bird from 94 to 2004 .so u can do has u wish but iam tell u this.....
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Old 01-18-2013, 01:42 PM   #10
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Re: rub rails

Quote:
Originally Posted by Accordion
A creative paint job will render the rub rails unobtrusive. You could even use those portions of the bus to highlight some accent colors. Many people do that.
I guess it's a matter of taste as to keeping them or getting rid of them (the rub rails), but as Accordion said, they do sometimes help with a painting scheme...that's what I did and I was happy with the result.
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Old 01-19-2013, 04:54 AM   #11
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Re: rub rails

This question was asked 9 years ago.
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Old 01-19-2013, 09:20 AM   #12
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Re: rub rails

Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal
This question was asked 9 years ago.
How unobservant it was for me to not notice that. I feel silly for posting a response.

Nevertheless, there is some good info that other members can use.

I doubt that the original poster will even see the responses.
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Old 01-19-2013, 09:40 AM   #13
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Re: rub rails

Quote:
Originally Posted by Accordion
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal
This question was asked 9 years ago.
How unobservant it was for me to not notice that. I feel silly for posting a response.
And since when has an old post been a reason for us to not reply? As we gain more knowledge, usually thru actual practice, the responses become all the more relevant. These posts get archived and result in very comprehensive information. I still read the archived forum over on Busnuts. I know the questions have been asked and some of those threads ran for over a year.

Part of asking a question is "Is it doable" and the rest, possibly the most important part, is "what happens if I do it". I'm pretty sure that this will be the only bus we will ever convert and it will need to serve us for the rest of our lives... however long that may be.
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Old 01-19-2013, 12:51 PM   #14
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Re: rub rails

Quote:
Originally Posted by lornaschinske
Quote:
Originally Posted by Accordion
Quote:
Originally Posted by crazycal
This question was asked 9 years ago.
How unobservant it was for me to not notice that. I feel silly for posting a response.
And since when has an old post been a reason for us to not reply? As we gain more knowledge, usually thru actual practice, the responses become all the more relevant. These posts get archived and result in very comprehensive information. I still read the archived forum over on Busnuts. I know the questions have been asked and some of those threads ran for over a year.

Part of asking a question is "Is it doable" and the rest, possibly the most important part, is "what happens if I do it". I'm pretty sure that this will be the only bus we will ever convert and it will need to serve us for the rest of our lives... however long that may be.

Answer all the questions you want. It seemed like some were not aware of the age.
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Old 01-19-2013, 01:26 PM   #15
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Re: rub rails

Perhaps the Post Date needs to be made bigger? My excuse, should I wish to claim it, is that I have "old eyes". What do you younger folks fall back on? Youthful impatience?

It's amazing how often we get wound up posting to an old post that the OP has long abandoned (along with this forum). It seems to happen more often during times of bad weather. A sign of boredom?
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Old 01-19-2013, 05:49 PM   #16
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Re: rub rails

Well,one thing is for sure!
There is now more input to search for in the future...that's a good thing
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Old 02-27-2013, 01:12 PM   #17
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Re: rub rails

Quote:
Originally Posted by bansil
Well,one thing is for sure!
There is now more input to search for in the future...that's a good thing
Exactly! As a newbie around here, I appreciate revisiting what you that have been on awhile consider old news. I learned some good info today.
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