Thread: The Bolwell "Edge"

i think i prefer my castle camper, heaps bigger and at only $8k new, cheap but not nasty,
i have seen people set up caravans that take longer than us to set up

Originally Posted by wardy1

I've said sooo many times over the last couple of years "how can all these camper maker guys be making any money?
I mean especially the makers in the $50+k bracket.
Where is the real value? I have an O'briens soft floor atm (worth $6k on the used market) and wish to upgrade to a hard floor, can't find anything under $30k with most well over $45k..... How is this justified? End of the day it's a trailer, it's mass produced albeit with a few optional bits and bobs.
I can buy a Commodore complete with an engine, auto transmission, aircon, abs,esc and all the bull**** for $30-35k.
Why is a travelling bed with a gas stove and water tank $20k+ more expensive than an entire car?

After visiting the Sandown Show again yesterday I also wonder how you get to $50K for a bed and kitchen on wheels? As people have pointed out, a vehicle with engine costs less!

Granted, a car is made with economies of scale, volumes are much higher and assembly processes more automated than in the camper trailer & caravan industries.

One of the cost drivers is the suppliers of things like stoves, fridges and other goodies in these vans. Their products are enormously expensive - look at the prices of portable two and three way fridges - you can buy a household refrigerator with 10 times the capacity for the same or less! Yes, I know the portables are smaller but they cost less to make - som somebody (insert manufacturer here) in the chain is making a lot of money (I know this for a fact).

I guess the answer is - expensive components, manual assembly, low volumes and the more I look at it good margins. At last count, there were over 130 manufacturers of camper trailers in Australia! And, every year, new ones enter the market.

Cheers,

Franz