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 — because 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.

 

Homemade RVs

The interesting point is there is no set standard as to what can be used for the base for your RV project.

Everything from large logging trucks, recycled fire trucks, old bread delivery trucks, school buses — even the standard white cargo van — 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…