westend wrote:
Proteus wrote:
Mike Up wrote:
Proteus wrote:
Would be nice to see some of the mainstream brands build something decent. I can't believe in 2013, we're still seeing wood frames, corrugated aluminum, with leaf spring suspensions, OSB and bulky face frame cabinets as the norm! Airstream makes some nice stuff, but their prices are insane (and their smallest bunkhouse is a 30ft).
Those won't be popular because you are in the minority. Most people don't like the tiny European ranges and sinks, and their rounded cabinets, YUK.
Leaf springs work so much better and last better than the lightweight rubber independent springs. I'll agree on OSB but better brands use plywood. Not many like Airstreams because of their closed in interiors brought on by the rounded corners. There are the minority that ilke that European style but not many. I like some of Air Streams trailers bu the smaller rounded interiors do take some getting use to.
Stick and tin are easy to work on, inexpensive to work on, don't chaulk, delaminate, or crack like fiberglass gel coating. Stick and tin also doesn't have the problem of condensation forming in the laminated wall from cold conducting into the metal aluminum framing and being trapped in the laminate, which leads to glue failure and delamination, and possibly mold.
You'll see on the market what's proven to work and what the majority wants. Fly by night company's marketing new unproven build techniques that aren't time tested, will be niche at best. Company's are there to make money and not to be gambling their company on techniques that are questionable at best.
You'll have a few gamblers out there, but bigger company's usually have stock holders to answer to, and most stock holders don't like their money gambled away.
Besides, I've looked at a lot of the European designed caravans and personally do not like them. Their floorplans are small and inefficient, have little seating, most have no bathrooms, and many don't even have a dinette and a sofa. They like to use those L shaped couches as a combo sofa and dinette. These can't be used for additional sleeping unless you're a 4 year old. Some floorplans have bunks but usually at the expensive of a bathroom.
While I love Europes Folding campers, I can't stand their hard side caravans/travel trailers.
I'm in the minority, perhaps, but then so is every luxury car, home builder, and appliance company, along with anyone who owns an Apple product. I'm willing to pay more for a well designed, well engineered product, using premium materials. When we did our kitchen remodel, it was with modern "euro" frameless cabinets and undercount sinks, not that Home Depot raised panel crap. I want the same in my "second home", and I'll be many others do too.
I suspect RV manufacturers haven't caught up to the fact that lots of us yuppies are developing a healthy appreciation for the outdoors. They're still playing to the "Walmart "crowd, but it's now high time someone started making products for us "whole foods", or even "Trader Joes" types :-)
And as for staying with boring "time tested" and "proven" designs? This is why companies like GM and Ford are in decline, while innovators like Tesla are flying.
Sorry you can't find what you want. Maybe a custom build would be the way to go.
OTOH, my restored '72 Starcraft has two adult sized bunks and a queen+ sized bed. It's built with wood and aluminum so would be the Devil's bane to a guy like you but it has better insulation and windows than anything you'll find, even the Euro rigs.
What I continually find interesting is the perception that there is "my good stuff" and then there's the rest of the world. As if there has to be some type of black-white dichotomy between self and others. That must be a miserable outlook. I mean, there's a lot more Walmart out there than Trader Joes and a lot in between.
I seen your camper, pretty impressive. I read one of your posts that you thought it was heavier than it should be. I thought it was light after you build it up so good and sturdy. I was really impressed with your double insulating and the extra wood support you put in. If every camper were built the way you did it, the RV business would be out of business! No one would want or need to get a new camper. ;)
As far as Trade Joes and the like. We always made fun of people who would pay that much when you can get it for the fraction of the price elsewhere. But hey some people think it's cool to waste money so they look good. Others see that and get really mad when some people work their butts off and can barely feed their family. I don't mind buying quaity goods as long as I'm not a fool throwing my money away. In my area, over paying makes you look like a fool, not cool.
My neighbors 4 blocks away have homes in the 4 million dollar price range but it's our area mindset that sees spending foolishly, makes you the fool.
BTW, my Grandfather is a multimillionaire and still shops Costco and Walmart. He doesn't need to impress anyone but himself.
