Nest Caravans — Building a new FG trailer, step by step

[David B.]

Roger, was the 12 volt ref. You used a "danfoss" style compressor?
Dave & paula

[Robert Johans]

Thanks to all for playing at home! We will do what we can to comply with the general consensus:
1. Max space around the sink.
2. Pre-wire for an optional microwave.
3. Danfloss compressor 12vdc refrigerator. (No LP hassles, or ugly through-shell wall venting required!)
4. Pre-wire for solar power options.
5. Accommodate "light" cooking inside.



Thanks to "mtnwater" for the link to Isotherms.


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[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Robert Johans

Thanks to all for playing at home! We will do what we can to comply with the general consensus:
1. Max space around the sink.
2. Pre-wire for an optional microwave.
3. Danfloss compressor 12vdc refrigerator. (No LP hassles, or ugly through-shell wall venting required!)
4. Pre-wire for solar power options.
5. Accommodate "light" cooking inside.

Robert we should be thanking you for asking for our ideas/comments and you concidering and using some of them. Kind of makes me feel like we have had a small hand in this new design . As the moulded market is a pretty small market, long time moulded owners have a bunch of expirience with them and real world user time of what works and what really doesn't very well. No RV is going to be perfect for everyone but I think by asking for input from this market you're a big leg up with the Nest.

[Roger C H]

1. We have a Cramer stove/sink combo.



Stove cover up.
In the morning, we have our toaster oven on the sink cover while heating water for tea on the far left burner.

Both covers up
When doing dishes, we heat water in our biggest pot over the front burner, pour part into the sink with detergent, wash the dishes in the sink and use the pot for rinsing.

2. We do breakfast, if the park doesn't provide coffee and bakery, which more are doing now.
We will heat soup, and make a meal occasionally.

3. I often thought a microwave would come in handy.

While looking for Cramer, I found this:

Compact Kitchen with Stove, Refrigerator, and Sink

Looks interesting



$823 where the Cramer is $709. But wonder if it could take RV duty

[Jim Bennett]

Originally Posted by Roger C H

1. We have a Cramer stove/sink combo.

We have that same one, put in by Escape, and love it. The sink is just big enough to put our largest plates or pots in, the stove works good, but I will it was only a two burner, and heated water faster. Getting the extra counter space with lids closed is bonus.

I have never heard it called a Cramer though. It was originally a SMEV stove/hob combo, and now mostly referred to as a Dometic, as Dometic bought out SMEV. Maybe it is made by them, but allowed to be resold under another name?

[Robert Johans]

Finally got our first set of molded fiberglass wheel well flares delivered and mounted to the trailer. Very happy with the the fit and finish, as well as the aesthetics. They look very cool!

Also, concurrently hand-fitting the interior with fixture templates. Measurements and calculations from these templates will be "digitized" by the cabinet maker for the programming to run their CNC cutting machine.

[cpaharley2008]

I'm liking this more and more each day.......

[FTTRV]

Anything Robert does is a class act. I have seen two of Roberts trailer rebuilds. The trailers were better than the day they were made.

[carlkeigley]

Those flares give a touch of elegance............

[cpaharley2008]

One more suggestion Robert (as if you need any more) can the Fulton jack be turned 90 degrees, this can allow more room at the tongue for clearance of tailgates.

[brian m.]

WOW!


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[Green Frog]

Originally Posted by Roger C H

1. We have a Cramer stove/sink combo.

Attachment 78743

Stove cover up.
In the morning, we have our toaster oven on the sink cover while heating water for tea on the far left burner.

Both covers up
When doing dishes, we heat water in our biggest pot over the front burner, pour part into the sink with detergent, wash the dishes in the sink and use the pot for rinsing.

2. We do breakfast, if the park doesn't provide coffee and bakery, which more are doing now.
We will heat soup, and make a meal occasionally.

3. I often thought a microwave would come in handy.

While looking for Cramer, I found this:

Compact Kitchen with Stove, Refrigerator, and Sink

Looks interesting

Attachment 78744

$823 where the Cramer is $709. But wonder if it could take RV duty

Does this unit come in a "left handed" version? That is, can you get it with the sink on the left?

Froggie

[SherryNPaul]

There is one on Panther RV products, but the stove is e/w rather than n/s. NO cover:
Panther RV Products

[Robert Johans]

Thanks everybody. Really appreciate the feedback.

Jim, about the Fulton jack: I'll take a look, but because the jack and coupler are "mated" I believe the orientation is set as shown.

About the SMEV (now Dometic) products: Nest Caravans is an authorized Dometic reseller. Consequently, we have discovered that the product line is much more extensive in the international marketplace, but curiously, very limited here in the US.

[Ken C]

With the front windshield being proprietary, it will only be available from that one manufacturer correct?

Second, will it be glass or a polycarb type like some aircraft?

Last, about how much, approx, general ballpark, would a front replacement cost being a one off, if a customer had an angry rock head up that way? Thanks in advance.

[Robert Johans]

Hi Ken, the Nest will come standard with all the latest RV technology, including force field protection from Van Allen Engineering. Unique to the industry, Van Allen Belts thwart incoming projectiles as well as those pesky gamma rays.


Seriously, we can't know what replacement units cost until we get into ordering quantities. Since we are still getting the prototypes together, our initial expenses for the windshields (including necessary tooling) is obviously a lot more than when we're in production and able to order several at a time. I'll have to get back to you on that.


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[Franswa]

given all the different opinions expressed here about what should and shouldn't be IN the trailer....you might think about maybe offering a bare bones model....kinda like a house sold at "lock-up" stage....just doors, windows, roof....obviously our version whould also include exterior cladding....it might be a way of generating some revenue earlier...as well as getting the product "out there" faster

a new owner could park your beautiful trailer in his driveway and spend a year (or two) putting exactly what he wants in it....

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Franswa

given all the different opinions expressed here about what should and shouldn't be IN the trailer....you might think about maybe offering a bare bones model....kinda like a house sold at "lock-up" stage....just doors, windows, roof....obviously our version whould also include exterior cladding....it might be a way of generating some revenue earlier...as well as getting the product "out there" faster

a new owner could park your beautiful trailer in his driveway and spend a year (or two) putting exactly what he wants in it....

That's not a bad idea at all

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by Franswa

given all the different opinions expressed here about what should and shouldn't be IN the trailer....you might think about maybe offering a bare bones model....kinda like a house sold at "lock-up" stage....just doors, windows, roof....obviously our version whould also include exterior cladding....it might be a way of generating some revenue earlier...as well as getting the product "out there" faster

a new owner could park your beautiful trailer in his driveway and spend a year (or two) putting exactly what he wants in it....

I can see where that would be a great idea down the line. We all know everyone has different levels of skills. Some are absolutely stellar.. others more "duct tape." Since Robert will be concerned about the reputation of his trailer manufacturing, it's doubtful he'd be willing to sell blanks right away. No way, he'd want someone to see this fabulous trailer with a Redneck interior and think it came from the factory that way.

[Franswa]

the other side of that coin would be that he completed/sold three or four "perfect, fabulous" trailers and ran out of money.....it's not like THAT has never happened before

finished, this trailer will retail for what??? 30K (?)....a bare bones version would still be a big chunk of change....I doubt that somebody that put out that amount of money could live with a plywood interior and a five gallon bucket for a head.....that might be true of somebody that picks up an old shell for a couple of grand....but hard to imagine in this situation....IMO anyway

one caveat could be "canabalizing" future sales....but given the price differential of fully completed to bare bones version we might be talking about two seperate, different markets entirely (ie the bare bones customer would never have considered buying a fully completed one in the first place...either because of price or equipment/lay-out not to his liking/preferences)