Thinking about my own build?

[John Lynch]

Any suggestions would be helpful. Tossing around the idea of building my own coach to pull our 30 ft. stacker trailer. Probably would like to pick up a 350+ horse version. Any suggestions on truck brands and powerplants? What about auto vs. manual trans? I currently have an older IHC chassis with a 11 ft box. It has a 7000 watt diesel generator and roof mount A/C, Stool in the shower (too small) sink, microwave and rv furnace. It is powered by a 466 turbo and a six speed trans with air brakes. It will sleep for adults with a pull out couch and a bunk over the cab.
My thoughts to upgrade to about a 28 ft with a master bedroom in back, a larger shower with seperate stool, pull out couch etc.
What about construction of the box? Size of tubing, c/c on uprights etc. Is it more feasable to have a box constructed or build you own? Any links to websites that may help?
I know there is a a lot of questions here and there will no doubt be more so any help or input anybody can give me will be appreciated!!!
Thanks in advance
John Lynch

[geofkaye]

....ya got $50k to get started"?......any room inside a large garage for a build? how's your welding skills on 16ga steel tube do you have shear and a brake for the aluminum?....need all the tools for building a house and then some.......large air compressor and welding equipment chop saw to start and of course a supplier for steel......geofkaye

[John Lynch]

Got everything covered but the shear and brake for the alm. I guess my question is pretty broad but just looking for some basic info. Is there anybody out there that makes a box that can be modified? I am in the process of talking to Showhauler right now about a box that is completely done on the exterior.
Thanks
John Lynch

[blizzardND]

You must first answer Geofkaye's 1st question first, Do ya have 50K to get started?

I can tell you that you will have a tough time beating the prices I paid for my materials for a 22' box on a GMC 6500, the big stuff you can budget for, the little crap will double that number. You have no idea 'till you are halfway pregnant, then you are forced to keep spending till its done.

If I could have quit at 50k I'd be a very happy man, but that was many 10k's ago.

Read my build post, then follow the threads on my escapees thread, I can tell you it is way way cheaper to buy someone else's truck in this market than to build one yourself. Racing junk, ebay under toter-homes, some horse websites etc.

Good luck, but please do your homework before you write your first check, 'cuz it will not be your last. I check in here a lot, feel free to ask me about my build.



-blizz

[Doc Weaver]

Good luck, but please do your homework before you write your first check, 'cuz it will not be your last.

No greater truth has ever been spoken on this forum.

The only thing I will add is this: decide before hand on form vs function. I was able to build a truck for less than most of the contributors in this site, BUT my build was focused on functionality. Blizz's truck is gorgeous. He built a truck that passes function and rides nicely into form. Either is fine in my book, but you must make a decision of, do I want to spend 30k and it only be functional. That means no: chrome, fancy seats, multiple windows, custom curtains, dropped frame, etc. You will also have to make a commitment to yourself to put in three times as many hours of sweat as you originally plan for. All your friends that say,"Sounds cool, I'd love to help", will mysteriously become busy hard to reach until you finish. Remember the story of "The Little Red Hen". You will realize the moral one week after you officially start your build. I'm sure that I am not the only one that had that happen. If it were not for this forum (and especially GK)I may have just given up on the whole thing.

Boy, I sound bitter. Sorry about that.

All I am saying is what everyone else did. Planning ahead is key.

Doc Weaver

[blizzardND]

I have been asked several times how the little things add up, I have this spreadsheet that track every penny. (actually the Finance director keeps track for me)

it doesn't work very well on this format but you can get the idea-
note I removed the price of the truck and all the labor.

The 4 RV windows @ 20 each were replaced with 4 @ 350 each, I have a small pile of parts I bought that C & S didn't use maybe 3-400 dollars worth.

Buisness Item Name
Pleasureland RV Fargo
Water Heater 1 $418.09
Shocker Hitch 1 $169.56
Wingaurd RV 3090 Antenna 1 $127.16
Holding Tank 1 $8.48
LendaHand Railing 1 $33.88
Propane Bottle Rack 1 $17.77
Accumlator Tank 1 $38.91
ShuFlo Pump 1 $135.64
12" Pig Tail 2 $22.03
25' power cord 1 $33.88
Table Base Flush mount 2 $11.85
Table Base table 2 $11.85
Sewer Hose 1 $17.77
EZ Strait Hose Adapter 1 $8.47
EZ 90* Hose Adapter 1 $10.98
Shower Head 1 $23.70
3" Double elbow 1 $32.18
Table Leg 31.5" 2 $13.55
Thetford Aqua Magic IV 1 $192.15
Propane Regulator 1 $31.28
Rear Insulated Window 1 $42.40
Polar Cub A/C 1 $508.80
A/C ceiling assy 1 $59.32
$1,969.67
TnT Service and Surplus Elkhart
Atwood Furnace 30,000BTU 1 $374.50
Shower Stall/Door Set 1 $214.00
Microwave Convection Oven 1 $80.25
RV Window 4 $85.60
AC Convertor 1 $160.50
Water heater door 1 $16.05
o/s Shower 1 $21.40
Mo?? Panel 1 $26.75
Water Fill 1 $10.70
LP detector 1 $21.40
Sikaflex Case 6 tubes 3 $64.20
30' Water line 2 $21.40
Plumbing P traps 3 $3.21
12 volt light 4 $12.84
12 volt light 5 $18.73
TV 15" 1 $133.75
Shades Day/Night 5 $26.75
Fantastic Ceiling Fan 4000 1 $53.50
Toung Jack 2000# 4 $64.20
RV Dinette Table 1 $10.70
Battery lug 6 $4.82
30 amp Power Plug 1 $21.40
Flex Fitting 1-1/2" Hldg tnk 3 $14.77
Flex Fitting 3" Hldg tnk 1 $13.38
$1,474.78

Bontragers Surplus Elkhart
Seat Belt 3 $15.90
Covered Outlet 1 $5.30
Outlet 110v 6 $6.36
Switch 110V 6 $6.36
Cup Holder 6 $6.36
Gas Strut 2 $31.80
Captians Chairs 2 $477.00
Dinette Cushion Set 1 $100.70
Exhaust tip 4" 1 $26.50
Ground Fault GFCI 1 $7.42
Sticker Set sheet 1 $5.30
Stainless Steel sink 1 $10.60
Drain assembly 1 $2.12
Battery Isolator 1 $42.40
30 gallon water tank 1 $53.00
Butyl Tape 5 $15.90
Hatch Latch 2 $8.48
Fuel filler set 1 $21.20
Muffler clamp 1 $5.30
Muffler clamp 2 $8.48
Hole saw 4" 1 $5.30
Cable schlepp 1 $5.30
Connector 20 $5.30
Hose Clamp 20 $10.60
Hose Clamp 10 $2.65
Door Catch 1 $2.65
Black tank 2 $106.00
tank warmer 2 $53.00
snap grommets 50 $5.30
Battery Isolator Capacitor 1 $58.30
Large compartment door 4 $67.84
long compartment door 4 $63.60
Small compartment door 2 $21.20
Piano Hinge 1 $5.30
$1,268.82
RV Surplus Inc.
Gasoline tank 20 gallon 1 $160.50
fantastic Fan 5000 1 $155.15
Invertor 1 $481.50
ends 4 $6.42
$803.57
Factory RV Surplus
5500 Onan generator 1 $1,819.00
11' carefree Awning 1 $321.00
Exhaust pipe assy 1 $21.40
Stainless steel sink 1 $24.55
$2,185.95

Sanders Metal Products
Steel for Dropped Frame 1 $4,095.00
Steel Outer Plates 1 $2,185.69
Cross members, Inner fenders 1 $809.72
Hitch Bracket 1 $89.25
$7,179.66

Macs
Nuts Bolts 1 $39.91
Bolts and Drill bits 1 $68.85
Drill Bits 3 $23.96
Bolts and 4 reciever tubes 1 $102.73
Nuts Bolts 1 $26.70
reciever hithc 1 $29.77
pipe and fittings 1 $30.08
Misc small items 1 $9.32
Vinyl/Foam/Glue 1 $425.02
$756.33

MISC Vendors
Butler Cat Fuel Pump 1 $97.55
Napa Watertown Elec. Wire Kit 1 $16.53
Wallwork Truck Marker lights 12 $137.39
Wallwork Truck Muffler exhaust 1 $126.74
FM Brake 4" x 10' alum coated pipe 1 $66.98
FM Brake Labor Patch crossover pipe 1 $30.00
Ace Hardware Misc screws, bolts, nuts 1 $10.79
CATCO Driveshaft parts 1 $284.26
CATCO Driveshaft Labor 1 $288.00
Nelson International Airline and fittings 1 $86.09
Berg Auto Fuel line and Fittings 1 $34.85
Lowes ceiling lights 110V 1 $137.28
Nodak Water transfer pump 1 $97.10
Walmart Home theater 1 $105.39
Adventure RV Black Tank and Fittings 1 $62.81
Peterbuilt of Fargo Marker lights 1 $11.01
Outlet Recreation 30 ext. Cord 1 $84.19
Adventure RV Apapter 30amp 1 $2.81
Wallwork Truck Marker lights 3 $31.95
$1,711.71

Menards Fargo
Misc elec wire supplies 1 $104.65
Roll 18ga Blk wire 1 $9.00
Misc elec wire supplies 1 $13.47
Menards Watertown
48" counter top 2 $79.98
36" counter top returned 1 $(19.96)
casing and flooring 1 $177.83
$364.98

Menards Fargo
Vinyl Flooring 6 $167.84
18" grab bar 1 $14.39
Poly Gloss Varnish 1 $25.69
Fin Cherry Stain 1 $22.24
$230.17
Menards Watertown
Oak Moulding 3 $20.92
8x12 Grill Vents 2 $10.58
Oak cabinet door panels 2 $31.74
Sliding door lokcks 2 $22.13
$85.37
Menards Watertown
staples 4 $11.88
Panel adheisive 16 $22.88
Oak Moulding 13 $85.54
Oak Door Jamb Material 6 $41.88
Oal Moulding 5 $34.45
Oak Bed Board Panel 3 $77.97
Almond FRP panel 6 $161.82
Paper Towels 3 $4.77
4" ctr Lave faucet 1 $44.99
Shower Valve and Head 1 $74.00
6" Kitchen faucet 1 $99.99
Oak Solid core slider doors 2 $119.98
Oak Moulding outer corner 9 $82.08
Counter top 48 1 $19.96
Counter top 72" 1 $39.99
Bathroom Paneling 6 $89.94
$1,012.12


Advanced Auto Parts 1/4" brake line plug 4 $8.01
brake line partrs 1 $11.53
brake line fitting 1 $3.97
brake fluid/lines/gloves/towels 1 $68.84
$92.35

Sams Club 6 Volt Golf Cart Battery 4 $341.99
Fridge 1 $148.94
$490.93
Metz Trailer Repair
Steel & shop supplies 1 $1,166.61
$1,166.61

C & S Conversions

18 aluminum sheet 4X8 1 $1,880.00
2" and 1" sq tube 1 $2,460.00
steel tubing and sheets 1 $1,960.00
1/2" OSB 4x8' 34 $272.00
3/4" TnG Plywood 6 $195.00
2" pink Insulation 7 $164.99
roll R-13 4 $160.00
Staples,caulk urethane 1 $390.01
Clearance light rear lights 1 $560.00
Wires, boxes 12 &110V 1 $720.00
Rv Window 4 $1,760.00
Rubber roof 1 $775.00
Stainless trim SS sheets 1 $1,250.00
Sink Base and Drawer set 1 $209.00
discount for early payment 1 $(756.00)
$1000 down pmt on materials 1 $(1,000.00)
$11,000.00
$31,793.02

[Doc Weaver]

Blizz..............Oh man, let your finance person have that back...realizing actual money spent can make you sick.

Doc Weaver

[blizzardND]

Ha! Finance Director/Wife...
I hate when she asks for receipts, but she learned right after we were married 20 years ago that my idea of balancing a checkbook was to wait for the autotransfer and then deposit more money.

When we first got that IBM 286 computer I said I can play games on it!, She said,"I can set up Quicken on it" Anyone want to know how much lunch at Micky D's was in 1991? She tracks everything, which I guess is a good thing. Its probably the only way we saved enough to pay cash as we go on this project.
-blizz

[geofkaye]

.....MY BOOKKEEPER COSTS ME $28,000 A YEAR....MY TAX WHIZ COSTS ME $600.00 FOR 20 MINUTES WORK AND 10 MINUTES FILING IT ON HIS COMPUTER.....you might be getting off cheap!.....But the thought of marrying to save money just makes me want to overdose on aspirin for a monster headache......enjoy it! Even though you have to look at the bottom line more often than I do. ;&gt geofkaye

[Doc Weaver]

I'm with you Blizz, I married an accountant myself. I never would have started my own business without her. I have to ask you one question about your receipts. Do you get into trouble with your wife every April? I hand her a garbage bag of receipts and start kissin' up for 2 to 3 weeks.

GK.....from what I know of you, your better off paying for the bookkeeper. I can't see you kissing up to anybody.

Doc Weaver

[geofkaye]

....i GET TO KISS UP ON THE SHOW GIRLZ WHENEVER I WANT TO[for free!]...Which has some benefits as i have a big turnover in that category...even the one you met is doing other things lately..she can't keep her mind on business-[talk about ADD!.] anyway the young stuff is keeping me young and busy so I don't get into real trouble with the older professional types that around the boats in Indiana. Hope YOU Are Working on my alarm system idea in your spare time....talk to you soon...geofkaye

[volvoman]

i bought one tractor ($900.00) on ebay just to part out. found 2nd truck ($6100.00)about same year on ebay again. bought a 33 foot motorhome on craigs list for $3000 and plan on using appliances out of it. you can do it cheep if you have room and time.

[Bob86ZZ4]

So the frame rails that you're salvaging are long ones then that will work for a box? Sounds like a good project. It's still going to cost you tons for all the little stuff tho. Are you getting a box built by Showhauler?

[geofkaye]

...Appliances aren't worth the effort IMHO....one is better off with Lowe's home appliances and a little rigging to make them into a better alternatives at about 1/3 the price....and available at any Lowe's in the USA....elsewhere in North America is something I don't know........I have no faith in RV type stuff as it is cheap and not worth repairing- specially on the road....geof kaye and the Rivercity swine.....oops! I forgot it is Christmas and I have to call them "young women"

[volvoman]

john where are you in il. im in rockford. are you making a toter or motorhome? plan on building my own back end. will look in to appliances when the time comes. may end up just selling motorhome when im done building this one. just got started and posted pictures tonight on web site.

[Ran D. St. Clair]

Blizz, That's on heck of a list you published. I can see where you did a much better job of keeping track than I have. I can also see where you did a better job of keeping some of the costs down. I have made my own copy for reference. Thanks for sharing.