Price difference.
19 replies
Tinwheeler replied on 21/01/2019 10:58
Posted on 21/01/2019 10:58
Possibly because they cost more new on a like for like on size basis. Conversion is more difficult - they can’t put the furniture in and then plonk the body on top so it’s more labour intensive. The hab bodies can’t be mass produced and it all adds to cost.
PVCs are far less prone to damp problems or damage caused by our Cornish hedges. You pay for that privilege. Less is more.
Look on the bright side, the resale value will also be greater than a coach built.
PS. Another thought - converters buy cab/chassis units by the thousands to built coachbuilt backs on so they’ll get them at a hefty discount. PVCs are converted from vans/minibuses and there’s likely to be less of them bought by converters at less of a discount. It reflects in the selling price to us.
Old Tom Joad replied on 21/01/2019 11:03
Tinwheeler replied on 21/01/2019 11:08
Takethedogalong replied on 21/01/2019 11:15
DavidKlyne replied on 21/01/2019 20:40
Posted on 21/01/2019 20:40
As TW alludes to I suspect it is the initial cost of the bare van that adds to the cost. They still have to be fitted out which is probably not as easy as a coachbuilt where most of the innards are added before the sides and roof. Many builders of coachbuilts will only buy the cab from the manufacturer and add the chassis themselves.
David
Old Tom Joad replied on 21/01/2019 22:42
Tinwheeler replied on 21/01/2019 23:08
BlueVanMan replied on 24/01/2019 07:35
Posted on 24/01/2019 07:35
Van conversions cost more because they are much more labour intensive to build.
Hymer built a complete motorhome on the production line in about 90 minutes (with lots of prefabrication having been done) whereas a Panel Van Conversion takes much longer.
However it is not by chance that self builders call coach built vans "flimsies"
ocsid replied on 24/01/2019 10:54
JVB66 replied on 24/01/2019 11:02
Posted on 24/01/2019 11:02
If ?we ever decided to get another camper it would be an Autosleeper,as they are one of the very few manufacturers that the base vehicle is not just a normal panel van coversion,
They have real hermetic?glass windows and they also have a service centre at their factory
Old Tom Joad
Campervanner