Why are Truck Campers so poorly made?
So I bought a new hard side truck camper recently. I'm not going to say which. Before that I had a pop-up, so this is my second camper.
I looked at a half dozen more campers before my purchase, but finally decided to buy new because I didn't want something with an unknown history. So after 2 weeks of camping, my conclusion is that most TCs are just really poorly constructed because the people who make them don't have to be certified or have any skills, other than learning on the job. You see, when you buy a house you know that the framing, plumbing and electrical were done by certified trades people. It is my belief that TC manufacturers aren't a regulated industry and therefore can hire anyone they want and pay them whatever and just teach them on the fly.
The incredible shoddy workmanship in finishing and the poor quality materials used is appalling. Everything from cheap latches to cupboards that don't close properly to loud water pumps to creakiness of the frame after only 2 weeks of use smacks of just plain poor design and workmanship.
And the prices are outrageous! $25,000-$40,000 for a new camper!! And that's for a box, a super cheap water pump and furnace and some plumbing and wires? The only thing of any worth is the actual fridge, but everything else is of the cheapest possible quality. Why I have to wonder do TC manufacturers choose the absolute lowest quality components?
I reckon the materials don't cost more than $3000. And from talking with various people I know it takes about 175 man hours to build a TC. I bet these guys don't get paid more than $20/hr. So that's a total of about $6500 that it costs the manufacturer to build. And that's a stretch. And then they turn around and sell them for ~$30,000, the price of finely engineered automobile?
It's no wonder people are buying Chinese made products. I generally don't like big companies, but this is the one time I wish someone like GM or Mercedes would start manufacturing TCs. The mom and pop operations just don't have the resources or skills to build a quality truck camper.
I looked at a half dozen more campers before my purchase, but finally decided to buy new because I didn't want something with an unknown history. So after 2 weeks of camping, my conclusion is that most TCs are just really poorly constructed because the people who make them don't have to be certified or have any skills, other than learning on the job. You see, when you buy a house you know that the framing, plumbing and electrical were done by certified trades people. It is my belief that TC manufacturers aren't a regulated industry and therefore can hire anyone they want and pay them whatever and just teach them on the fly.
The incredible shoddy workmanship in finishing and the poor quality materials used is appalling. Everything from cheap latches to cupboards that don't close properly to loud water pumps to creakiness of the frame after only 2 weeks of use smacks of just plain poor design and workmanship.
And the prices are outrageous! $25,000-$40,000 for a new camper!! And that's for a box, a super cheap water pump and furnace and some plumbing and wires? The only thing of any worth is the actual fridge, but everything else is of the cheapest possible quality. Why I have to wonder do TC manufacturers choose the absolute lowest quality components?
I reckon the materials don't cost more than $3000. And from talking with various people I know it takes about 175 man hours to build a TC. I bet these guys don't get paid more than $20/hr. So that's a total of about $6500 that it costs the manufacturer to build. And that's a stretch. And then they turn around and sell them for ~$30,000, the price of finely engineered automobile?
It's no wonder people are buying Chinese made products. I generally don't like big companies, but this is the one time I wish someone like GM or Mercedes would start manufacturing TCs. The mom and pop operations just don't have the resources or skills to build a quality truck camper.
