You get what you pay for? Bahn Camper

[Scarab0088]

I ran across a company that touts unique and custom RV's.

The "house" is a one piece reinforced fiberglass box:
https://www.bahncamperworks.com


The whole concept seems pretty attractive...until you see their cost estimates:

There are 3 ways one can purchase a Bahn Camper: 1)Raw Fiberglass Camper Shell at $20,000-$25,000, 2)Finished Shell at $45,000, and 3)Custom Camper at $115,000-$300,000+.
Please note, most estimates for a unique custom camper with a full bathroom are $250,000.

See: https://www.bahncamperworks.com/contact

Price clearly shows they are using YOUR chassis.

These prices seem to be in the quality Class A or the mid-sized Expedition-Vehicle range (chassis included).
But, Meh - what I am seeing is really no more than a good (but not great) Super C.

And...having been an RV'er for many, many years...gotta say that having the camper's primary access thru the rear panel doors is problematic since that is the dirtiest part of any rig after most any travels. Seems like they are just building and converting utility truck bodies.


They make Truck Campers too:



Opinions?

[mlo166]

...these rigs are VERY popular with anglers who want to travel with fishin buddies to remote places. And, the last time I went trout fishin, it costs me about $800 a pound for my trout meal that night. Also, the quality is like the same you get with a yacht boat - all marine quality which is not cheap! So, that is why the owners can float them too? Go figur! But, they are very nice rigs!!!

[Scarab0088]

Huh...Never saw one of these in-person, despite having seen in-person other boutique brands like EarthRoamer and EarthCruiser.




Are you sure these were Bahn brand?

Maybe the title of this thread should be "If you have to ask the price...you can't afford it."

[theroc]

A friend of ours bought a Provan Bengal Tiger in 2012 (not the one in the photo below which is a stock image) and two or three years later, I believe he sold it for a hair more than he paid for it new. The used ones are in extreme demand and the brand has a cult-like following. Theirs was built on a Dodge 3500 chassis with a Cummins and a relative of theirs I think actually had a six-speed manual transmission with one built on a Ram 3500 Cummins. At the time, they could choose the chassis (Chevy/GMC, Ford, or Dodge Ram ...in regular cab or crew --I believe they now only recommend Ford but will build them on a Chevy if desired) and customize both the chassis and the coach with a variety of options and customizations.

I was pretty impressed with it when he showed it to me.

Back then, they started at around 100k depending on the configuration but they are now evidently $90k (base price) for just the coach portion (last year's price list attached) and I'm thinking the truck/chassis is at least $50k (maybe a bit less if not a diesel) depending on the brand and configuration. So I guess you'll have to figure not too much less than $150k as a starting price for a "stripped-down" unit. I hear there is quite a wait to have one made new. They're currently assembled in South Carolina but the company originated in Colorado decades ago.

Tiger Adventure Vehicles (Provan Industries, LLC)








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[Scarab0088]

Thanks for the Tiger details. If I am reading right...that's about $120,000 with every option listed. And you provide a chassis or they obtain it - either way, priced separate.

Surely not cheap, but beats Bahn by a large margin.

Odd they dropped install on the Ram line (Chevy and Ford only). Wonder what is the story there.

BTW...see where the entry door is on the Tiger? These folks understand Expedition-Vehicles.


Thanks again

[theroc]

hmm, yeah, I'm not sure exactly why they no longer want to build them on Ram trucks. I have to believe if a buyer pushed them on it, they'd probably would still do it. Maybe it's just more work somehow ...but a good question.

For awhile, I followed one of their owners' group message boards (there is also a Yahoo group) but haven't logged in for some time now. If anybody is interested, wannabes can sign up for it ...you have to be registered in order to even read the board but it has a quite extensive and comprehensive topic list including a small classified section. Again, it's a rather small group but you can see by their rallies and some of the threads on those "wanting to buy" that the units themselves are quite in demand.

Tigers have/had distinct categories. The earlier ones when the company started in Colorado were built on a Chevy Astro van chassis ...pop-up soft tops and then the traditional hardtop design. Then a few years ago, they introduced several new models distinctive from their traditional design (I believe they called them Malayan and Siberian with the Siberian to compete with the Earthroamer you mentioned previously). Then a year or two ago, they discontinued the Malayan and Siberian to focus their production on the traditional Bengal-design built on a one-ton chassis. I'm sure that's all discussed on their forum somewhere along with why Provan discontinued taking orders using a Dodge Ram heavy-duty chassis.

A Forum for Tiger Adventure Vehicle Owners & Wanna Be Owners - Join the Streak (A Group of Tigers)

...their forum masthead that show the models below:

[paddykern]

Originally Posted by Scarab0088

Thanks for the Tiger details. If I am reading right...that's about $120,000 with every option listed. And you provide a chassis or they obtain it - either way, priced separate.

Surely not cheap, but beats Bahn by a large margin.

Odd they dropped install on the Ram line (Chevy and Ford only). Wonder what is the story there.

BTW...see where the entry door is on the Tiger? These folks understand Expedition-Vehicles.
Attachment 234690

Thanks again

I lusted after a Tiger and was going to go see them to see if in person was the layout I wanted.
Ended up buying a Class C-/B+ on a Sprinter.

The great thing about a Tiger is the heavy duty truck platform, high ground clearance and most important, open to the camper from the driver's seat.
No having to go outside if you need to leave in a hurry.