Update: On my RV Building Plans....
UPDATE: On my RV building plans Well, you spoke..... and I listened. Thank you to all those that provided feedback to me on my RV building plans. Your ideas and suggestions have been very helpf...
Forum Discussion
myrvplans1 writes "- It is true I will spend more in building this travel trailer than I would purchasing one of similar size off a sales lot. (Gee, I sure hope it won't come in at "twice" the cost, but I accept that "custom anything" in life costs.)"
No doubt your custom build will cost considerably more.
But for some of these reasons..
"One Offs" typically are much more expensive, this is due to multiple factors like over all design, materials, special tooling, labor, scale of economy which includes bulk purchasing of materials.
RV manufacturers save considerable cost by designing and building RVs in bulk, pretty much a cookie cutter approach building thousands of the SAME unit on one line.
"- You state that the trailer will be twice as heavy as a factory TT, but you provide no factual data to support that. I've removed so many unneeded factory items (stove, burners, slide outs, dinette, etc.) that I would have to disagree with you."
There is several different approaches when it comes to trailer building..
A cargo trailer design by its very nature results in a considerably heavier trailer, it is designed for hualing cargo so the ALL the strength is in the STEEL FRAME, there is very little structural strength in the side walls and roof. Cargo trailers are desighned to carry extremely heavy loads on the FLOOR of said trailer. This results in a very heavy empty trailer.
Travel trailers on the other hand have light weight steel frames and USE the "box" on top of the steel as part of the overall frame (the side walls and roof create a very strong structural frame system). This allows the travel trailer to have considerably less weight but yet be strong enough to carry same weight as a cargo trailer.
Cargo trailers by themselves are not cheap.
"- You suggest that the trailer will be half as functional as a factory unit, but yet you don't state how so? I could understand your point better if you gave examples."
Your "design" basically is nothing more than a cargo trailer with a cot, desk, cassette toilet.. Pretty much ANYONE could simply buy a cargo trailer and put those things in and call it a day.. There is nothing "Earth shattering" which would entice the average RVr into wanting it.
"- You imply that a trailer of this type would not retain sales value? Again, you don't state why? If I was intent on selling it I believe as a custom unit it would be very appealing to some and would not depreciate any more or less than any others. I also believe that a trailer of this type could be a very marketable item to people traveling solo. (a niche market perhaps, but a growing segment)
Thanks for the feedback. -Darla "
There is not really much of a "market" for an expensive cargo trailer with basically nothing but minimalist shelter. Folks who ARE looking for such a minimalist shelter would most likely BUILD THERE OWN and completely forgo buying yours.
Depreciation on your home built design will be even more extreme due to its very limiting nature of the design. It will appeal to a very small audience IF you are lucky ( but it most likely will be only you)..
Such a highly stripped down and customized cargo trailer is a huge gamble with a very small chance of any profits. You would HAVE to be able to make it LESS expensive than a popup tent trailer if you had any hopes on selling it.. That's not going to happen.
My suggestion is if you "want" this design for yourself only then go ahead and build it since it will fit YOUR "lifestyle". But if your even thinking or planning on attempting to sell it to the public you BETTER get yourself some very good Business 101 courses and then rethink the plan..
Getting into the custom RV business is harder than you think, the folks who are looking for custom RVs are doing so because they can not find quality or a specific feature or layout THAT THEY WANT. Basically not what you the designer "thinks" they want..
Rule 1 of business - You HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.
Rule 2 of business - REREAD RULE 1
Failure to follow rule 1 results in FAILURE of said business.
No doubt your custom build will cost considerably more.
But for some of these reasons..
"One Offs" typically are much more expensive, this is due to multiple factors like over all design, materials, special tooling, labor, scale of economy which includes bulk purchasing of materials.
RV manufacturers save considerable cost by designing and building RVs in bulk, pretty much a cookie cutter approach building thousands of the SAME unit on one line.
"- You state that the trailer will be twice as heavy as a factory TT, but you provide no factual data to support that. I've removed so many unneeded factory items (stove, burners, slide outs, dinette, etc.) that I would have to disagree with you."
There is several different approaches when it comes to trailer building..
A cargo trailer design by its very nature results in a considerably heavier trailer, it is designed for hualing cargo so the ALL the strength is in the STEEL FRAME, there is very little structural strength in the side walls and roof. Cargo trailers are desighned to carry extremely heavy loads on the FLOOR of said trailer. This results in a very heavy empty trailer.
Travel trailers on the other hand have light weight steel frames and USE the "box" on top of the steel as part of the overall frame (the side walls and roof create a very strong structural frame system). This allows the travel trailer to have considerably less weight but yet be strong enough to carry same weight as a cargo trailer.
Cargo trailers by themselves are not cheap.
"- You suggest that the trailer will be half as functional as a factory unit, but yet you don't state how so? I could understand your point better if you gave examples."
Your "design" basically is nothing more than a cargo trailer with a cot, desk, cassette toilet.. Pretty much ANYONE could simply buy a cargo trailer and put those things in and call it a day.. There is nothing "Earth shattering" which would entice the average RVr into wanting it.
"- You imply that a trailer of this type would not retain sales value? Again, you don't state why? If I was intent on selling it I believe as a custom unit it would be very appealing to some and would not depreciate any more or less than any others. I also believe that a trailer of this type could be a very marketable item to people traveling solo. (a niche market perhaps, but a growing segment)
Thanks for the feedback. -Darla "
There is not really much of a "market" for an expensive cargo trailer with basically nothing but minimalist shelter. Folks who ARE looking for such a minimalist shelter would most likely BUILD THERE OWN and completely forgo buying yours.
Depreciation on your home built design will be even more extreme due to its very limiting nature of the design. It will appeal to a very small audience IF you are lucky ( but it most likely will be only you)..
Such a highly stripped down and customized cargo trailer is a huge gamble with a very small chance of any profits. You would HAVE to be able to make it LESS expensive than a popup tent trailer if you had any hopes on selling it.. That's not going to happen.
My suggestion is if you "want" this design for yourself only then go ahead and build it since it will fit YOUR "lifestyle". But if your even thinking or planning on attempting to sell it to the public you BETTER get yourself some very good Business 101 courses and then rethink the plan..
Getting into the custom RV business is harder than you think, the folks who are looking for custom RVs are doing so because they can not find quality or a specific feature or layout THAT THEY WANT. Basically not what you the designer "thinks" they want..
Rule 1 of business - You HAVE TO LISTEN TO YOUR CUSTOMERS.
Rule 2 of business - REREAD RULE 1
Failure to follow rule 1 results in FAILURE of said business.
