I’m sure I’m not the only one to think about this before I bought a TC, but of the different types of RVs available, the truck camper give the least value per dollar. Cost per square foot of a typical motor home is comparable and you receive much more i.e. engine, drivetrain, chassis, finishes, even technology. Same scenario with trailers. No engine, but frame, axles, brakes…
I understand the cost per pound of coffee is less when you buy a five pound can vs a one pound can (which is why I always ask “How much do I have to buy to get it for free”), but even with the large discount I received, I could have bought nearly three times the trailer for the same money.
Obviously, there are reasons I went with a TC, but I’m still scratching my head over the cost relationship with the other RVs. I’m I wrong?
I was told that the truck type campers, require A LOT MORE MAN HOURS in there construction, thus you pay more for these units than another type of RV. Heck in most of these truck campers, it is hard to get more than 2 people in there at the same time.
This question comes up from time to time and if you stop to consider that TCs are not sold in any volume you may have part of the answer. Fewer units sold means profit margins must be higher, which of course translates into higher prices. There were 182,000 travel trailers sold last year as compared to 7,500 TCs. If all things are equal it becomes pretty clear that profit equates to a larger piece of the TC price compared to TTs.
mpfireman wrote: I was told that the truck type campers, require A LOT MORE MAN HOURS in there construction, thus you pay more for these units than another type of RV. Heck in most of these truck campers, it is hard to get more than 2 people in there at the same time.
Spoken like a 5ver owner. I have both, in fact my 33' 5ver is HUGE. But, we almost always take the TC as it's more fun and can go anywhere. I fit 4 adults in my TC with ease.
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As mpfireman pointed out it's labor cost. I wondered this myself until I toured three different RV factories in Jul, 07 (Citation, Okanagan & Bigfoot). It was pointed out to me that labor (not materials) is the primary cost to building an RV, as many RV's are built in union shops (particularly in Canada) or shops that benefit from higher regional skilled production/construction labor rates (think of a desktop vs a laptop). Although smaller, the built-in systems are the same, and the labor/benefit content to build a TC is very comparable to building other types of larger RV's (e.g. equivalent in man hours) except that it ends-up as costlier per square foot. The question then is, is the higher build cost per square foot worth the added convenience? Also to be considered is the cost of a HD truck capable of carrying a TC's weight. Many would argue that it is well worth it!
also consider the materials cost, many of the same features are found in TC's versus TT/5ers. Most have refrigerators, water systems, heating/ac, stove, oven, microwave, generator, slides, bathrooms, holding tanks, etc. So I think from a material perspective, they are similar. Probably more labor intensive to build as you have less space to work with, and also the #'s as TT's/5ers are sold in much higher #'s so they probably get volume discounts on the supplies/materials they purchase as well.
I agree with your replies. Because a trailer is three time the size of a camper doesn’t mean it should cost three times as much. After all, although larger on the trailers, most still have one refrigerator, one bath, one dinette. But most will have two ac units, two beds, a couch, and more of everything else such as windows, lighting, flooring, interior and exterior wall surfaces, electrical and plumbing runs, larger generators…
I have seen new Damian 30’+ motor homes on Workhorse chassis going for $75k. And not stripped down, they have awnings, ac, tv, sound system, generator… Equipped equally, a 9’6” TC will go for around 25k plus. The cost of labor alone couldn’t make up for all the additional systems/equipment on a motor home. Admittedly, I don’t know how the quality of a Damian compares to a Lance, Snowriver, Bigfoot or other quality camper. But it still makes me wonder.
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