This is a great discussion, thanks all. With my lack of experience and knowledge, I'd be a little nuts to build my own from a cargo hauler. But that would be nice to graduate to. (My son has done incredible things with shipping containers in Alaska.) I can see that whether or not the position of a refrigerator matters a lot, tanks and kitchens must. And come to think of it, it is strange to see so many RVs with both kitchen and bath on same side. Perhaps tanks are on opposite side?
I am looking into custom builders. But I read the average New Horizons 5W is something like $170k -- too much for me.
As for rehabbing, I could use help understanding how RVs differ in their basic structural integrity. The RV Consumer Group pub doesn't get real specific about major systems. I get it that many manufacturers use low grade parts, much of which I'll tear out. But are most built on the same frames (Lippert?)? Do most use similar wall systems? How should I go about deciding which shell is good enough? There are floors plans I really like (as a starting point), but the models are pretty cheaply made and poorly-rated. But if the basic frame and shell are okay, maybe they're a good starting place? How would I know?
