Realistic Cost

[doug hodder]

So inexpensive , it was worth saying thrice ...

yeah....I guess it's not worth putting up a pic of it.

[gregp136]

Ours was a more simple 4X8. No air, or heat, and no set up for use of land power. All we have is a few lights drawing power from the battery on the tongue. We spent about $2500, and that included a few really cool tools.


Greg(and Laurie)

[Wolffarmer]

Greg & Laurie

I like your stove. I would like to get a round tank oldie that I trust as much as my 1983 425. then I would take that camping.

I won't say what I think of your lantern.



Of course I have one just like it. Just in case of a power outage, you know.

Randy

[mike93lx]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

As I mentioned, I don't have anything exotic in the price list (other than the aforementioned pre-made doors). No microwave, refrigerator, a/c, heat, etc. I only camp at tent sites, so having power and water hookups won't benefit me, which definitely saves weight, and I already have a lot of the small items that can cost a lot of money.

I have a welder but have no idea how to use it and unfortunately, I don't have any friends to teach me. I will learn, but this isn't the project for that, so it will be a pre-made for me.

The doors and trailer will definitely add cost, but I'm comfortable with that due to how much time they will each save me. Taking those out of the picture, I'd like to have the rest of the parts come in at under $2k, which I think should be a reasonable goal. I was looking to either hear that I am nuts or on track, and I'm glad to hear that I'm not off my rocker

Thanks,

Mike

[Wolffarmer]

I was looking to either hear that I am nuts or on track, and I'm glad to hear that I'm not off my rocker

Thanks,

Mike

You are nuts, and on track



At least you have not started on #2 yet.

If you keep it simple like that I think you can bring it in for $2000 not counting the trailer. I would have saved a bunch if I hadn't used epoxy and just used spar varnish. Which has to be used over epoxy anyway. And I also ended up painting the sides of mine this year. Also I originally used foam for the bed that did not do the job and ended up getting a different foam this summer. If you don't insulate that will help bunches also. Insulating a trailer makes it almost like you are building 2 at the same time. Where/when I camp I needed the insulation. Many people get by with out it. Some only in the ceiling.

Randy

[mike93lx]

I was looking to either hear that I am nuts or on track, and I'm glad to hear that I'm not off my rocker

Thanks,

Mike

You are nuts, and on track



At least you have not started on #2 yet.

If you keep it simple like that I think you can bring it in for $2000 not counting the trailer. I would have saved a bunch if I hadn't used epoxy and just used spar varnish. Which has to be used over epoxy anyway. And I also ended up painting the sides of mine this year. Also I originally used foam for the bed that did not do the job and ended up getting a different foam this summer. If you don't insulate that will help bunches also. Insulating a trailer makes it almost like you are building 2 at the same time. Where/when I camp I needed the insulation. Many people get by with out it. Some only in the ceiling.

Randy

I'm insulating the roof, but the sides are just 3/4" ply and the floor will have a 4-6" mattress on it, which is plenty of insulation. I don't do much winter camping, but even in below freezing temps, this construction will be way more than enough considering I've slept outdoors in Vermont in December with just a couple layers and a 40 degree bag

I'll never camp at temps so low that this won't be sufficient as the rest of the trip would probably be pretty miserable.

[Wolffarmer]

Mine is insulated to about 1.5 inches in the ceiling and 1 inch in the walls. none in the floor as like you I figure the foam bed is plenty. I have been comfortable in a morning when it was 12 F outside. No, heater, just me, a blanket and a comforter for covers. Before I went to bed warmed it up with a Coleman Lantern. Turned off when I went to bed.

You should be fine

Randy

[ukuleleblues]

It's looking like 3K for me. My budget was 2.5K. I'm only 550 left from that and just got started.

[LDK]

I probably spent around $3700 on mine so far and when I'm done I'll have about $4000 in it.

[Oldragbaggers]

I probably spent around $3700 on mine so far and when I'm done I'll have about $4000 in it.

And that's a really cute teardrop too. I think I will be at about that same amount when I am done. Larry, where in KY do you and Becky live? I am from Covington. Have been gone a long time but I go back once or twice a year and I still miss it.

[LDK]

I probably spent around $3700 on mine so far and when I'm done I'll have about $4000 in it.

And that's a really cute teardrop too. I think I will be at about that same amount when I am done. Larry, where in KY do you and Becky live? I am from Covington. Have been gone a long time but I go back once or twice a year and I still miss it.

Hey Becky

We live in owensboro ky. About a couple hundred miles from covington I believe.

[absolutsnwbrdr]

My first convertible (4x9 on a HF frame) had about $1800-2k tied up into it. The initial build only cost about $1500, and then I added to it and modified a couple things.

For my new convertible build (5x10 on HF frame), I made up an excel spreadsheet and priced every single item (even carriage bolts and number of 2x4's). Budget is just under $3k. The only added costs that I didn't account for are the expendables (ie. paint brushes, rollers, paint thinner, etc)

[Lgboro]

I added a bunch of toys to my build so I would say it cost more than it should have and less than it could have. I started out monitoring my spending but quit as it just wasn't worth the trouble. I have built slowly as money and time permits so it really hasn't been and issue to date. The extras are what elevate the cost as well as building light. I'm over budget and over scheduled time but my build is turning out to be exactly what I wanted and still cheaper than a less equipped lesser built commercial built tear.

[Vedette]

Most of the time it is cheaper to buy one than to build one.
But when YOU build it you get all the extras.....Fun of the build, extra features, personalized look, Pride in your finished product, etc. etc.
Good Roads
Brian

[Oldragbaggers]

Most of the time it is cheaper to buy one than to build one.
But when YOU build it you get all the extras.....Fun of the build, extra features, personalized look, Pride in your finished product, etc. etc.
Good Roads
Brian

I agree. I have seen a few come up for sale, pretty nice ones too, that I could have bought cheaper than I will spend building. But when I look at them I don't see "me". And the building is a blast.