Are you planning to travel on RV the next summer but don’t have an appropriate vehicle to use? Depending on your budget you have two options. First, if you are not a DIY type person, you can find a good used RV at ZeRVs, and second, if you know love woodworking and doing other stuff, you can still buy a used RV and do the internal furniture work, or buy a van and turn it into an RV. This article will give you an idea of the things you need to know on how to turn a van into an RV, or how to repair the furniture of a used RV.
If there is a good season for the development of caravanning projects, it is winter. There is not a year when do-it-yourselfers tell me they want to turn a van into a recreational vehicle. Unfortunately, the answer cannot be translated into a simple yes or no, because the question is more complex than it seems.
There are, of course, many advantages to building a van yourself to turn it into a motorhome. However, the list of drawbacks is also very long. Here are some thoughts for those who would be tempted by the adventure.
Of all the advantages, the possibility of having an interior layout exactly matching your tastes and needs comes to the top of the list, on the same footing as the great pride of having built your RV. Because factory vehicles have characteristics designed to accommodate as many people as possible, some of them often do not always meet an individual’s specific needs. Let’s think here about the layout of cabinets, accessories, the size of countertops, or even the choice of fabrics and colors. In the case of a DIY RV, the craftsman builds the interior he wants. On the other hand, one wonders if, at the time of resale, his personal tastes will be universal enough to please a large number of buyers?
Although this is possible, real savings are not always there and their level of importance will be greatly conditioned by the compromises made. I will come back to that a little later.
A third advantage is that the one who has chosen to build his own motorhome can boast of knowing all the secrets. As a result, in the event of any breakage or glitch, he will be able to easily determine its origin and cause and probably carry out the repair itself, in a much less expensive manner than if he had had to resort to a specialized workshop.
Determining which vehicle will serve as the shell for the motorhome is also an advantage, as this step offers more flexibility in choosing the brand, model, and desired features. The handyman tempted by a new vehicle will then be able to give free rein to his tastes and preferences. However, if it opts for a used shell, but in good condition, it will have the effect of greatly lowering the cost of the recreational vehicle once the transformation is completed.
Unfortunately, building your own recreational vehicle also comes with its share of difficulties and disadvantages. Project planning is probably the first major pitfall. Companies specializing in the construction or development of recreational vehicles have all developed expertise involving many professionals in finding solutions to the technical problems inherent in the manufacture of RVs. Alone in his garage, the handyman can only count on himself to carry out all the tasks.
Unlike companies, it does not have a research and development department, a purchasing department, or engineering. The same applies to compliance with safety standards. Its expertise cannot be compared to that existing in the industrial field. He will need to have knowledge in all sectors related to the manufacture of a recreational vehicle: plumbing, cabinetry, electricity, upholstery, interior decoration, not to mention the certificates required to install propane gas appliances. That’s a lot for one person’s shoulders.
In terms of implementation, it can also be expected that it does not have machines and tools comparable to those used by RV professionals. It will therefore be much more difficult for it to build a product without risking errors that might be difficult to hide. Just think about inserting windows. In the factory, workers can count on cutting templates since they have to repeat the same operations on several vehicles. On the other hand, you or your handyman will only make one. It is also impossible to rely on a robotic cutter or a laser device to carve parts with precision. Everything will be done by hand, and the slightest mistake could prove disastrous.
The third pitfall is likely to come from the difficulty in obtaining the required accessories and appliances. Industrial manufacturers have buyers at their service who can count on a vast network of suppliers of all kinds with whom they have negotiated volume agreements resulting in much lower prices. For his part, the handyman will have to buy his accessories on a unit basis, often from a merchant who will sell at the suggested retail price. What he will have to pay will be out of step with the price paid by the industry.
I ignore the difficulties of finding what can be used in the manufacture of a recreational vehicle. This pitfall is important because some accessory manufacturers restrict their products to the industrial sector alone, thus closing the door to the handyman wishing to buy only one.
The issue of septic tanks could also be difficult to resolve. Most industrial VR manufacturers use molded plastic tanks of specific dimensions that match their needs. As they make several, they manage to get an attractive cost price. In the case of a handyman, not only will a volume saving be impossible, but he will have to pay an exorbitant amount to mold a single tank.
The last point I would like to draw attention to is the resale value when it comes to divesting a home-made RV. It is well known that, on the whole, all recreational vehicles experience a depreciation as fast as high. However, a homemade vehicle, because it is out of the norm, can hide an additional obstacle in this regard.
Many people who want to buy a used RV may be hesitant to choose a motorhome of this type. Concerns include the lack of a legal guarantee or support from dealers familiar with RVs in the industry. All these difficulties could result in a sale price disproportionate to the amount invested in the artisanal manufacture of this RV. However, if the engine vehicle used is already a few years old and the handyman intends to take advantage of it for a long time, the depreciation at the time of resale could prove to be negligible or even nil.
It must be recognized that embarking on such an adventure is not for everyone. It takes a good dose of courage and ingenuity. However, I know resourceful and skillful people with their hands who, having built their own RVs, have never regretted their decision.