Build it Yourself?

craftsman · 08-08-2007, 07:31 AM

This family did.

Fifth Wheelin': Do-it-yourself Fifth Wheel: See how it was done

Alumatube · 08-08-2007, 07:41 AM

Wow! Very impressive, and VERY nice work!

But honestly, I don't see how they did it for under $10k, unless materials were donated or scavenged. You have to factor the cost of every little thing in there, from aluminum/fiberglass sheeting to appliances to mattresses to wiring to the frame, wheels and tires.

Susan

whitelight · 08-08-2007, 08:34 AM

Very impressive - great to see ingenuity & domestic craftmanship is still alive!

Susan is spot on - if you just add up the appliances - i.e. the airconditioner, stove, hot water heater, fridge and that big screen TV, there's about $2-3K there, if purchased new.

All that copper wiring, unless scavenged, is expensive . . . .

A multi-hull enthusiast, Charles Chiodi, wrote a book about building a 30' fiberglass catamaran for $9000 - he detailed how all of the materials for this boat were begged, borrowed, or scavenged!

soldiermedic · 08-08-2007, 08:45 AM

Amazing....simply amazing.

Getting a glimmer in your eye craftsman?

Steve

craftsman · 08-08-2007, 09:07 AM

Not me. While I admire and respect what they,ve done, it's still a big wood framed plastic box. I'd much rather referbish or restore an older Airstream.

crazylev · 08-08-2007, 09:19 AM

The only thing I wonder is if you going to through the trouble of building something like this from scratch, why make it look like any old SOB. Obviously money figures into this, but going smaller, but with a unique design is what I'd like to see.

Great project though. I'm still more impressed what I see here on the forums on renovations though.

Jonatthan

GreatPumpkin · 08-08-2007, 10:56 AM

I suspected the price did NOT include the price of the 5th wheel trailer he started with. If you go to his website, there is a link for an Excel spreadsheet with a breakdown of the costs - no trailer listed (although the total listed there is only $8,059.92 so maybe???) The fridge is not an RV type and I didn't see the stove listed in the materials.

I've never heard of Bontrager's Surplus and Tri-State Surplus but if those prices are accurate, he got some great deals!

Yes it's an SOB - but that's pretty darn cool

The tagline is correct "being able to say you built it yourself - priceless!" Somebody find him a cheap, gutted airstream and lets put that talent to work!

Minnie's Mate · 08-08-2007, 01:07 PM

I can't get the video to load. All I get is an empty box where the movie player should be. I'll have to try on a different computer, but it sounds like he did a great job. I'd like to see it for my self.

Rhonda · 08-08-2007, 03:50 PM

Great work but why? How can they get that done with two small children? It's over-achievers like them that give me a bad name!

Alumatube · 08-08-2007, 04:59 PM

Actually it was a clever hoax. They started with a full fifth-wheel trailer, took it apart, and posted the pictures in reverse order.

Oh, the things people do to get on Jay Leno!

Susan

3Ms75Argosy · 08-08-2007, 06:16 PM

Ahhh... it was a hoax, really? How'd you figure it out?

I did search Tri-state surplus... nothing remotely looking like RV stuff there. The frame looked like it had some dents in the rails... I was wondering if the frame was a salvaged one.
Hmmm...

Bummer if it was a hoax. I've always wondered about making myself a bigger tandem axle trailer looking something like a Basecamp... some of those 'ol 50-60 homebuilts actually looked pretty good.
Marc