Building vs. Buying (Re: Savings)

[jerry101jlh]

OK guys I understand the pride and satisfaction of buiding something. But my question was simply about "cost" not anything more.

So if "quality" and "amenities" are equal, is there a savings if you had built the TD vs buying the "same" TD.

I am not looking to find out how much someone spent on their TD, simply what you think the "percentage savings" were, if any.

Chuck

I think in a round about way your questions have been answered. Depending on how crafty you are at building and buying materials the savings can be large. I don't think anybody here can put a percentage number on it. In my opinion if you went out and bought a new Little Guy 5 wide for 6000 and compared it with what you could build the same for yourself most likely would be about half when al is said and done. What you save is labor for the most part. You might save some in material costs, but as someone else pointed out manufacturers buy in bulk at discounted prices most of us can't get. Yes, might save some in what the manufacturers throw in for profit. Personally although others will argue the number I think saving 50% realistic in most cases.

We didn't save a dime, bought ours new and not disappointed. Would like to have built one, but a lack of a place to do that along with not having the proper tools added to our decision to buy.

[GPW]

What does your Labor cost ??? What’s your Time worth ...???

[bobhenry]

50%

[Nobody]

My TD cost approx $2500 in materials in 2006 (including the HF trailer). Took me around 4mos working 20-30hrs per week avg. Of course a lot of that time was sittin' around contemplating my next move (I didn't have any formal plans, just some drawings & ideas ). Also made a couple(?) of mistakes & decided I didn't really want to do it that way so ended up spending more $$ for new material . If ya figure my time at just the rate for manual labor with no 'skilled' cost involved, my TD 'cost' around $6K so there was some saving over purchasing a commercial built unit. Figuring just the 'cash outlay' my TD cost lots less plus I have the personal satisfaction of knowing I built it & it's just the way I wanted it. You can do the math but, yeah, you'll save a good %age over buying a regular commercial unit, & you'll save a 'bunch' over having one custom built to your specs

[jerry101jlh]

the quality and amenities are not likely to be equal from what I saw in my shopping for what to buy or do.
They are built like mobile homes. They use the cheapest plastic parts and such that they can find to save money. It's not a You save money situation at all. Those parts have to be replaced and often if you don't upgrade them.

The quality for workmanship is haphazardly done, it's a produced item. In the US anymore quality is mostly unheard of. *sighs*.

Because of those things you can't exactly figure percentages because of the individuality of the various builds people do.

It's a choice you have to make based upon your ability and will power to get out and get it done.

I would argue the quality point. We own a Little Guy and quality throughout top drawer. I've also heard from Camp Inn owners about how high the quality of their rigs are. I don't think you can lump tear drop manufacturers in with all trailer manufacturers when talking about quality.

I'm not saying that a good percentage of those who build their own don't hold to high quality standards either, but I do find your general opinion of being built like mobile homes somewhat offense, but you do have the right to your opinion and I respect it although strongly disagree.

[3822sean]

50%

sounds about right

[pete42]

Chuck I believe it is like anything else In my case I want to convert a cargo trailer to live in on vacation and to carry my mobility scooter.
I can buy a toy-hauler already built just not one in the size I want plus the cost is just about twice what I can do myself.

now a used tear-drop can be bought used for around $5K check e-bay craigslist and your local paper.

my cousin can't drive a nail so building anything is out for him.
some people can scrounge around and love to build and they build a teardrop for hundreds instead of thousands of dollars.

so the difference between building your own and buying is a personal thing we all encourge you to do what you want and will be happy for you no matter which way you want to go.

good luck on your choice
Pete

[gww25]

I'm only about 50% finished with my current project but based upon my own experiences I have to agree that a 50% cost savings is realistic but more can be realized the larger you build. There is a certain economy to scale factor that needs to be factored as well. Using a typical 4x8 as a baseline it really doesn't cost a whole lot more to build a 5x9 or even a 5x10 or even a 6x10 if looked at from a percentage of volume per unit cost factor. The biggest savings of course is labor. Time is money and vise versa.

[campmaster-k]

Considering that builders are unable to recoup the time it takes to build one and the possible fact that you set a value to your time, it is a way better deal to buy one built. Actual $ will be about the same.

I built mine for @ 2000.00. Just for the un-assembled parts.

It took me 200 hrs. @ $20.00 per hr is $4000.00

If you paid for the same items I used to build mine you would have a pile of wood, paint and glue.

If you buy one built for the same cost you could be sleeping in it tonight.

Its clearly a way better deal to buy it built.

[SonofT@B]

When I bought my TTT last year I had it custom made from a guy in Michigan who was laid off from an RV manufacturer and was building some units to pay the bills. He had access to eight rv surplus materials dealers within 30 miles of his home.

I bought the little trailer new for $2100. I could not have bought the materials in Atlanta for that price and I had a quality build with no down time in labor on my part. Having said that I would still like to build my own.

I made a lot of additional mods to it but I ended up selling it this year as it was just too small for the wife and I AND two puppies. I enjoyed it a lot and miss it. I got what I had in it when I sold it and got to camp in it for almost three months total for free I guess.

Here's the little thing:

[chorizon]

It seems the general consensus believes the reason to "build your own" isn't just about saving money, but to end up with a quality product that you built yourself.

I put a lot of cool stuff in our trailer and we're happy with the result.

I spent as much on materials as I could've bought a Lil Guy for.

If I had to quantify what my free time was worth building this trailer and apply it to a sale value it would be laughable to think that I'd make any sort of profit whatsover.

Instead, when the time comes I'll give my trailer to someone who will appreciate and use it and then do what I really want to do and build "Number Two"!

[Aaron Coffee]

In my opinion a better question is instant gratification(buying)or delayed gratification (building). I started #1 in 2000 and there are still things I haven't finished, #2 is over 2 years in the building. Moneywise I don't keep track, but I would guess I have about half of what it would take to buy one. Quality wise manufactured teardrops are probably better quality than mine, as they know more of what they are doing and have access to better quality materials, but to me the journey is half the fun.

[eamarquardt]

Part of the answer to the question is that you'll pay more for something you plan to install in your trailer than a factory will. They buy in volume or generate enough "repeat business" with their suppliers to get a break even when purchasing a single item. Prices for some items drop dramatically when you're buying in bulk.

For some folks price is the only consideration and they can build some nice trailers for very little if a lot of energy is devoted to scrounging and fabricating things versus buying manufactured items.

Buying ready made provides "instant gratification" and gets you on the road NOW.

Most folks builds are probably somewhere between these two extremes.

I bought a Little Guy this summer (used) and took it to Seattle and back (2500 miles). I'm still working (very slowly due to other distractions) on my build but I'm glad I bought the Little Guy as I've learned a lot about what I like and don't like about it and will factor these thoughts into my build. For example having the head of the bed up against the curved bulkhead is a PITA as I can't sit up against the curved bulkhead. Better, IMHO, to have the head of the bed at the back completely vertical bulkhead. Also the windows on the Little Guy open from the bottom so the fresh cold air is right at your face which I find annoying. I'll make my window openings a bit higher so the cold air isn't "in your face". Storage on the Little Guy is non existent so I'm gonna build in more storage. I don't like the cabinets as they are difficult to get things in and out of so I'm just gonna have shelves where I can put my rubbermaid containers. Having the battery right on the end of the tongue gives a pound for pound increase in tongue weight. (Little Guy's specs for the tongue weight on the Sport model are grossly inaccurate and there is no way to load the trailer to the load they say is possible without, IMHO, exceeding the tongue weight of most hitches. Even getting close would require a weight distributing hitch! Also mounting the spare tire far forward on the trailer causes nearly a pound for pound increase in tongue weight. Better to mount the trailer on the rear of the trailer.

I'm gonna make a few more mods to it and use it as I finish my build. When I'm done I'll sell it or "donate" it to my boys. Suzy can afford it.

So, there you have it, more of "The World According to Gus".

Cheers,

Gus

[eamarquardt]

Part of the answer to the question is that you'll pay more for something you plan to install in your trailer than a factory will. They buy in volume or generate enough "repeat business" with their suppliers to get a break even when purchasing a single item. Prices for some items drop dramatically when you're buying in bulk.

For some folks price is the only consideration and they can build some nice trailers for very little if a lot of energy is devoted to scrounging and fabricating things versus buying manufactured items.

Buying ready made provides "instant gratification" and gets you on the road NOW.

Most folks builds are probably somewhere between these two extremes.

I bought a Little Guy this summer (used) and took it to Seattle and back (2500 miles). I'm still working (very slowly due to other distractions) on my build but I'm glad I bought the Little Guy as I've learned a lot about what I like and don't like about it and will factor these thoughts into my build. For example having the head of the bed up against the curved bulkhead is a PITA as I cant sit up against the curved bulkhead. Better, IMHO, to have the head of the bed at the back completely vertical bulkhead. Also the windows on the Little Guy open from the bottom so the fresh cold air is right at your face which I find annoying. I'll make my window openings a bit higher so the cold air isn't "in your face". Storage on the Little Guy is non existent so I'm gonna build in more storage. I don't like the cabinets as they are difficult to get things in and out of so I'm just gonna have shelves where I can put my rubbermaid containers. Having the battery right on the end of the tongue gives a pound for pound increase in tongue weight. (Little Guy's specs for the tongue weight on the Sport model are grossly inaccurate and there is no way to load the trailer to the load they say is possible without, IMHO, exceeding the tongue weight of most hitches. Even getting close would require a weight distributing hitch! Also mounting the spare tire far forward on the trailer causes nearly a pound for pound increase in tongue weight. Better to mount the trailer on the rear of the trailer.

I'm gonna make a few more mods to it and use it as I finish my build. When I'm done I'll sell it or "donate" it to my boys. Suzy can afford it.

So, there you have it, more of "The World According to Gus".

Cheers,

Gus

[Duane King]

This is a really good conversational thread. The question that started it all must be a good question because so many people have taken the time to give good responses.

The one thing I have not heard mentioned is "profit". In our politically correct world, profit has been made out to be something evil. But it is the accumulation of profit that allows companies to build trailers like "Camp-Inn" and "Little Guy". If those companies only charged enough money for their product to pay for materials and labor, they would go out of business. They also have to pay for their factory buildings, insurance, utilities, shipping, etc. And after all the bills are paid, there has to still be money left over to make it worth the trouble. There has to be enough "profit" to justify the hassle in the first place. It is this profit that is then reinvested back into the company to develop new ideas. . . I have read comments in the past from people slamming companies for charging "too much". But I don't think that is possible. Professionals charge whatever the market will allow. And they are smart to do so. That is how they stay in business.

Anyway, I know the question was about "percentage". I agree with others in saying it is impossible to quantify an answer to this question. But we home builders have one big advantage over professional builders. We are not working for profit. We are working for "love". When you love what you are doing, you tend to ignore the time investment and give yourself a lot of latitude to be creative. It is this creativity that adds an intangible sense of value to the finished product. In my way of thinking, a home built trailer will always have a greater value to the person or persons that built it. You can not put a price on personal satisfaction. Some people will never know what that is, but others do not want to live without it.