Are budget RVs really possible?

[Jim March]

Jim Owens wrote:

> Jim,
>
> This issue came up a while back on the original wanderlodge.org site.
> Someone had posted images and a description of a late model conversion
> based on one of Blue Bird's commercial chassis. Nicely done but with a
> few concerns about tank capacities, etc.
>
> Consensus at that time was that Blue Bird's business plan is based on
> low volume sales of high-end coaches in the $750K+ range with the
> M380's thrown in to compete with Monaco, et.al. (which some thought
> was a mistake - diluting the brand image, in other words.) Yet some
> thought that BB could earn more revenue in the long-run building
> coaches more in line with the FC's and SP's -> selling lower cost
> coaches in enough volume to actually make money. Manufacturing
> capability and flexibility issues combined with high costs associated
> with manufacturing complexity (too many parts & processes) limit a
> coach builder's response to changing market conditions and demand.
>
> Wanderlodges are great creations with a loyal following. They do
> depreciate in value over time but that offers those of us with a more
> typical net worth to get in on the fun. Another series of posts
> considered to total number of 'Birds built. Seems to me the total is
> about 6,000 coaches total - they really are rare 'Birds. But, happily,
> nearly every coach ever built is still out there (and NOT in a
> junkyard)!
>
> I'll get down off my soapbox now. Thanks for staying around this long.
>
> Jim Owens 77 FC33SB (Gas)
> Lake of the Ozarks, MO


Yeah, I can understand all that.

BUT.

A lot of the marketing behind the current crop of sub-$100k (hell, even
sub-$200k) units is based on people either being idiots or having low
expectations as to serious durability/performance. They've mostly
gotten away from wood frames (not entirely!) but you still see critters
that don't have enough suspension/axle loading for the weight, that
handle like pigs, that are particle board carpentry inside, "battery
charger" with no brains that boils batteries over and on and on and on.
Only a moron would drop $150k into some of this crap.

Right now a lot of the people attracted to used Wanderlodges (esp.
steel-bodied critters) are NOT attracted to "luxury" but to the serious
durability factor...the industrial-grade suspensions, drivetrains and
frames, and so on.

BUT - even if you have an '86 FC35 let's say, and in cherry condition,
you've got two problems: milage (mainly due to the steel body and
inefficient 3208) and the steel body CAN rust if the paint isn't
maintained...something more difficult for a fulltimer or somebody that
has to do outside storage.

Between 1990 and 1994 Safari had a really good idea for a "working man's
ClassA" - the original Trek 28'. This was a puller using an Isuzu four
banger turbodiesel puller. It was basically a small cargo truck frame
turned into an RV. The frame was aluminum, the skin was fiberglas. It
worked VERY well and got 14mpg or better even with an automatic - if
they'd done a manual 6sp overdrive version like many of the small
commercial trucks are they could have hit 17mpg and 20 wouldn't have
been out of the question.

Do something similar but in a ClassC, have an option for a small garage
in back for those who want to do mobile repairs/shop stuff or keep bikes
in, you'd have one HELL of a good rig. NOT a "brothel on wheels" by any
means but a good functional unit under $100k that will LAST and that you
can afford fuel for.

Jim