Greetings!
Once upon a time I was convinced by the promoters to buy and build out my own camper van. It was the worst and most expensive mistake Iāve made in my life. None of their BS was true, it was all designed just to make them money.
Building your own turns into a money pit really quick, and no matter how good your build is, without an RVIA certification the resale value is in the toilet unless you can find a sucker.
Over the years Iāve owned many rigs, factory camper vans, and motorhomes, plus I have built for myself, and helped others build or rebuild rigs. Most of my rigs cost under $2500 all in, including any repairs they needed. Factory campers are move in ready, and many of the older ones have very few miles on them, and were barely used. More importantly strict safety standards were followed. Iāve always avoided anything that had owner modifications, because you donāt know the quality of the work done.
For most people, Class C motorhomes are the best bang for your buck. They can be found cheap while still in excellent condition both drivetrain and interior wise. Get one with a generator and air conditioning and skip the cost and headaches of solar. Many of them will still fit in a normal parking spot. If you use them as they were designed, and donāt modify anything, 5 or 10 years from now, theyāll still be worth what you paid for them. Thatās the honest way to save money in this lifestyle, and truly live comfortably.
Before you even get a rig, get your finances sorted out. Unless youāre relying on savings, youāll need a mobile friendly income. This all should be figured out first, with plans and multiple back up plans. You should also have a sizable emergency fund before you ever start, large enough to replace everything, and live on for at least a year.
If weāre smart the risks can be minimal, but if you listen to the wrong people you can wind up broke, homeless, and jobless. Take your time and do it right the first time. I would suggest only considering building your own after many years of experience in this lifestyle, and even then avoid the promoters like the plague.
Cheers!
"A cheap factory camper van or motorhome will save
you money both now and later." ~ TruthMatters