JustinJ wrote:
bobman wrote:
I think there is a market to hunters. I just returned from Montana and would love a no frills, simple to use camper with excellent insulation for late season hunting. Tanks enclosed and large and a good area to mount solar panels for boondocking. man sized bunks not queen beds.
I don't want bling, most RV interiors look like bordellos IMO.
24 feet with good ground clearance is just about right for getting into places hunters need to go.
This is really the market I'm after, and what I would ultimitly like to build.
This most likely will be something with a very limited market, with only a select crowd wanting or needing what I will be able to offer.
As to some of the other comments;
Roof penetrations could all be custom built, aluminum, welded so no issues there.
My plumbing and electrcile skills are up to par for these type of builds. I also pretty skilled in wood working, though my shop is not very well equiped for such, and I might do better subing out on that work.
I never said I will need to be in the 50K price range on a 24, trailer. It's been a long time since I have bought a trailer, and when I did it was a 5k used rig. I have no idea what they go for, and was just currious what real world prices where on new trailers in that size range, on both ends of the spectrum.
As soon as I can ge caught up with the work load I have now I will get started on one. I think I just need to get one out there on the road, and on the web, and if there is a market for it I will see it quick, and if not, I will have a bullet proof custom built trailer the way I want it.
Justin
My "observations"..
RVrs or potential RVrs who specifically state that they are wanting top "quality" in a RV will quickly balk and walk away from any RV which costs more than the other cheaper RVs.. This is especially so in the TT area, you might have a better chance of selling a higher priced RV to the 5vr crowd.
A good case in point is brake controllers.. Not many RVrs ever considered spending an extra $20 over a Prodigy (Inertia controller) for a Jordan Ultima 2020 (100% DIRECT CONNECTION proportional which used a stainless cable which connected directly to your brake pedal).
Jordan was designed, built and sold by a AVID RVr and for those like myself who were WILLING to spend a few more $ the controller is very highly regarded (I have two trucks with them installed).
Those who bought into the Prodigy (P2 and P3) idea ridiculed the mere idea that any controller could be better than the cheaper Prodigy (P2 and P3)..
Jordan eventually sold the business to Camco and they promptly snuffed out the Ultima 2020 and the next generation version which Jordan was designing..
I also can't tell you how many times I have read posts which folks are upset that a dealer will not drop to "their" (the buyer) price from the MSRP..
My suggestion..
If you WANT to build a highly customized TT FOR YOUR OWN PERSONAL USAGE then have at it.
If you really WANT to put your hat into the CUSTOM TT BUILDING ring you WILL have to compete price wise with the lowest high volume TT builders which are already established.
Pretty darn hard to compete against cookie cutter high volume building, those manufacturers get huge volume discounts for all their materials. Everything is done in cookie cutter fashion down to special tables and fixturing which makes assembly a breeze. They save costs in material and labor, you will not be able to match that.
Then there is the matter of "warranties" RVrs are really crazy when it comes to warranty work.. They "obsess" over warranties..
You build it, you better be prepared to BACK your product warranty. It costs companies a lot of money on the after the sales service side of things. It WILL be the same for you, no matter how much time or quality in the materials you invest things break.. And if you warranty it you MUST be prepared to fix it, no matter the cost.
You will not have a "dealer network" nor will you have a warranty service network.. This most likely will cost you a lot of sales right off the bat..
I wish you good luck..
