Homemade RVs: The Future Of RVing?
Every day, the news reiterates a doom and gloom picture of our current (and quite possibly our future) economic situation.
Credit has dried up and Americans have discovered that many of the luxuries and excessive habits they have enjoyed in the past are no longer an option.
Does this bleak forecast indicate the death of the RV lifestyle? Will the recreational vehicle industry disappear? I really don't think so. It may go through some dramatic changes, there may be some downsizing, and quite possibly some manufacturers will fall by the wayside, but if you ask me RVing will survive.
Yes, the drooping economy has already started to take its toll at the RV dealership level. With organizations such as Beaudry RV in Tucson filing for bankruptcy protection, the domino effect may already be in motion.
Let's explore some RV trends, which may give us a glimpse at the future of RVing...
First, let's go back in time.
Homemade RVs
RVing has been around since Henry Ford and his buddies Harvey Firestone and Thomas Edison decided they enjoyed camping out together.
Many people of that era built homemade RVs and hit the road. Some to enjoy the countryside; others to follow the westward migration that continued through the dust bowl years.
Many families in the 50's and 60's enjoyed family camping. My family was among those who spent many weekends at remote campsites roasting marshmallows on a stick over the campfire. Our entertainment budget was pretty meager, so how did this modest family of 7 manage a comfortable motorhome well before Winnebagos were being built by the hundreds? We built our own.
My father purchased a retired '55 Ford school bus, and over a period of a year or so, he converted it into a very comfortable well-appointed motorhome that served the family well for the next 15 years.
The RV Is In The Eye of The Beholder
What it comes down to is this... owning a motorhome doesn't mean you absolutely must spend upwards of $100,000 for an entry-level model.
It doesn't mean you absolutely must mortgage your future for the next 15 to 20 years either.
Nor does it mean you're forced to stay home simply because you're not fortunate enough to have the disposable income required to take up the RV lifestyle.
You have a number of affordable options available to you. Yes, many will look seriously at the used RV market as it's a buyer's market for the foreseeable future. This would definitely be the time to swing a good deal on an RV, that's for sure.
For others, the idea of building their own RV from scratch sounds like an enjoyable project that could provide a cost effective way to get into the RV lifestyle -- while giving them the opportunity to express their artistic and craftsman abilities.
The interesting point is, there is no set standard as to what can be used for the base for your RV project. Large logging trucks, recycled fire trucks, old bread delivery trucks, school buses, even the standard white cargo van -- all have been and will continue to be transformed into rolling homes, cabins, or personal domains.
Anything that can be conceived from the imagination of the owner who wants to create his own abode, can be built to suit one's own desires and serve as shelter from the elements.
Throughout the last century many have constructed their own rolling home; some better than others, but nonetheless they all make a statement about their creator.
With the economy floundering and millions losing their jobs, a mobile lifestyle may enjoy a resurgence in popularity, as many are forced to look elsewhere for work and alternative ways to make a living.
Not all of them will have a huge bank roll to accomplish this lifestyle change. Many will do it the best way they know how. Homegrown RVs are simply an option that may become more popular in the near future.
I'd be interested to hear what you think...
Model T Castle
50's converted school bus
Interior of a converted school bus
Shingle roof on a converted school bus
Chevy Pickup with house built in the box
love the whole concept of giving something old (and forgotten sadly) new life.........was in a band in college and the guitar player built his own RV (mobile home) using a 196? Ford Econoline Van that was once used by Bell Telephone (this should give you an idea how long ago we were speaking)
It had a bed, closets, carpeted floors and walls......crude but comfy.....AND it hauled our equipment from place to place...............
almost bought a 1977 22' dodge Class C but had no place to park the thing.......my wife is not keen on the whole RV thing......but you sure got me tempted to changer her mind.....thanks for a great site......willy
My other half and I have been living in a 1967 converted school bus for many years.
While it seems we are perpetually improving our home it does have most things a house would , less the mortgage and property taxes. Internet,flat gscreen TV, Telephone, kitchen , bathroom etc.
We can park just about anywhere outside the cities and stay at a location for years.
Most things we just built ourselves but some things are worth spending money on. Sunmar makes an excellent composting toilet for RV's that needs no chemicals and only needs emptying once or twice a year , which only involves emptying a small drawer of dried powder.
The Norcold three way fridge (AC/DC/LP) has been great (Once we figured out the reset process for it's computer)
We carry about 1200 Amp Hours of batteries , have some solar , a generator , and shortly a gasifier for making electricity from wood, coal or whatever.
The bus has a lot of insulation. R13 in the walls , R6 on the ceiling , and even some high tech bubble wrap in the floors.
The heater is one of them catalytic models , which is great since it does not fill the air with humidity.
This life is certainly not for everyone , but for those mentally equipped to do so , it is great, and if we can avoid living in some little box and paying some strangers yards of money every month we will.
--Doc
I've been kicking around the idea of building my own RV for a while now. I (usually) enjoy working on my popup, and consider myself very artistic and handy. Most of the time it doesn't even seem like work.
I recently saw a gutted 1973 23 footer for sale- nothing inside but a driver's seat and I got to dreaming. I'm wondering if there would be a market for such DIY creations, or if they might scare off the average consumer. Then again I suppose I wouldn't be after the 'average' consumer.