My Homemade 12 foot Travel Trailer (UPDATED - 07/30/2011)

Richard wrote:Aww man, I trhew away a mini fridge that size (25 inches tall) a couple of months ago. I rarely used it, and it stopped working, so I didn't even try to get it fixed. The seal was in great shape. I wish I had a rewind button so I could take the door off and get it to you.

That seems the way things go. You save something that you may use or think someone else may need it, and never do. Then just when you get rid of is, someone is looking for it. Go figure.

well now I am discouraged. For a long time I had thought and thought about building one. I have read where so many people have, but then I see people saying it's cheaper to buy one. If it's cheaper then why are people building one? I guess for fun, which one part of my reasoning plus I could pay as I go and not go in debt and buy one all at once. My husband isn't too thrilled about building one though. We looked at a cute tt called MPG made by heartland but they aren't making them anymore so 2012 is the last of them. I found a 2012 for 11,000. That's the cheapest one and I will have to go to Ohio to get it. On the other hand, locally we found some 2011 Nomads by Skyline. There are just as light weight and are priced at 9,995. I would try to get them down to 8,000.00 first. But what do you all think about those two? Hubby doesn't want to build and I don't want debt.................hmmm what to do? I did check on some prices yesterday. I could skin it for around 1500 with rolled white smooth fiberglass, door off ebay new for 99, windows all 3 for around 150.00 new off ebay, I'm waiting to here back from a fabricator on the price of building the aluminum frame for me. I was expecting to have 5 or 6 thousand in it, but still yet you couldn't buy one new for that price, not even a pop up, and I would have something to be proud of..............I keep trying to weigh the pros and cons and I'm not coming up with the right answer yet.............help.

I bought my 2010 KZ sportsmen classic 14ft travel trailer NEW for 7200 out the door in NC.




sleeps two, shower/toilet combo, microwave,two burner stove, AC, propane/elect fridge, awning,hot water heater, sink.

If you are patient.. you can find a nice used travel trailer for well under $10,000.. but you must be patient. Winter time is a good time to buy.

Also.. look st used TTs at the Ohio dealerships.. the prices are way better than here in the south,, even on used.

SouthWestyKim wrote:I bought my 2010 KZ sportsmen classic 14ft travel trailer NEW for 7200 out the door in NC.




sleeps two, shower/toilet combo, microwave,two burner stove, AC, propane/elect fridge, awning,hot water heater, sink.

Nice looking set up Kim. You should see mine, now that I have some lights.

chuck wrote:If you are patient.. you can find a nice used travel trailer for well under $10,000.. but you must be patient. Winter time is a good time to buy.

Also.. look st used TTs at the Ohio dealerships.. the prices are way better than here in the south,, even on used.

Chuck, is so right. It is all in the timing of getting a good deal. Even buying last yrs model new at a dealer can be a big bargain. You would have the full warranty on it!

The reason I am building is because of weight I could not buy a travel trailer under 2000 pounds that is only costing $2000. The only trailer that fit my bill was $20,000. So I am coming out 18k to the good. If you want to build one that is great. The good people here are just trying to save u some $$. If u decide to build be sure to start a thread and I will follow it

ocb_dave_ocb wrote:The reason I am building is because of weight I could not buy a travel trailer under 2000 pounds that is only costing $2000. The only trailer that fit my bill was $20,000. So I am coming out 18k to the good. If you want to build one that is great. The good people here are just trying to save u some $$. If u decide to build be sure to start a thread and I will follow it

David, is right. We are not trying to discourage you from building,if that is what you want. We are just trying to save you some $$ and time. If you and your better half don't agree on the build, then you might have some headaches between the two of you. Good luck on your decision, and hope to see you camping with us soon.

I thought I saved some money buying my older PUP, but as a look at my posts in the My Popup area shows, I probably could have bought a much better one for what I've put into repairing this one, not to mention the issues of having big problems during the camping trips. So far I've not been able to make the challenge of three trips without a repair or modification. If you have the skills and the burning desire, build just what you want. If you go that route, please let us enjoy pics of the build along the way. I'm loving watching Dave's unit come together.

But Richard if it was not for your pup what would we have to write about. After all we all chime in on new updates on whats next in the coming year. You have to ad MIT you are the talk around the camp fire.

Crawford wrote:But Richard if it was not for your pup what would we have to write about. After all we all chime in on new updates on whats next in the coming year. You have to ad MIT you are the talk around the camp fire.

I'll second that Crawford!

Ha, glad to provide the entertainment. Miss Danger is as full of surprises as I am full of that other stuff.

Richard wrote:Ha, glad to provide the entertainment. Miss Danger is as full of surprises as I am full of that other stuff.

Full of what other stuff? Oh, wait, it's that motel swill.

Well guys I bring you new news. I am going to be dismantaling my hard work I did on the camper. I got another commercial zero turn mower and it won't fit on my small trailer. So I am going to turn it into a flat bed. We are going to buy another pop up with our income tax money. I hate to do it but Jessica is not into my home built anyway. She wants another pop up

ocb_dave_ocb wrote:Well guys I bring you new news. I am going to be dismantaling my hard work I did on the camper. I got another commercial zero turn mower and it won't fit on my small trailer. So I am going to turn it into a flat bed. We are going to buy another pop up with our income tax money. I hate to do it but Jessica is not into my home built anyway. She wants another pop up

Dang, all that work for nothing!

Hey Dave, The PUP will have more room, but the homebuilt was sure going to be cool. Good news on the new mower, though. With your skill set and patience you should be able to find a great deal on a used PUP. You sure seem to have the talent to fix most anything. I have a feeling that you'll have a solution by the time Riley is big enough to join the rest of the Smith's in the campground.

Did you see this post on popupportal about adding safety boards to the bunks in a PUP to keep little kids from rolling out the sides? It's a neat idea. http://www.popupportal.com/index.php?topic=49495.msg378383#msg378383

...........or you could purchase a set of these from Walmart or try to catch them in a yard sale. They fasten underneath the mattress and you can determine the width that way. I just use one on each upper bunk in our TT. Elora hates them, says they make her feel like a baby.............but, she has fallen out and it was not a pretty sight at 3:00 am!!!
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Donna, do they fold flat? Everything in a PUP has to fold flat.

Yep, sure do and the expand from 2 1/2' to about 4' in length. Mine are pink! But they do come in blue, also.

OK, give up the rest of the story. Where does one get them? How much are they? etc.

Almost any community yard sale or consignment sale will have at least one set. That is where we picked ours up for about five bucks. Walmart has them for around 20 - 25 new.

The bunks on my TT are a bit narrow so I had to cut the legs that run under the mattress a bit shorter. Otherwise they are perfect.

I know I gave away a pair to some here