DaVikes
Adventurer
I've been reading the "Ursa Minor Modern Shell" thread. It seems that many of you would have an interest in a better Flippac. My question is what would you pay for one? Please assume the new product had an improved tent design, an improved spring, ready availability, and good service, and was otherwise similar.
I looked into manufacturing one fairly seriously this past fall. I got stuck on the cost of the fiberglass. My design had a similar amount of fiberglass as the Flippac. I had the fiberglass components quoted by two companies here in Denver. The lower quote had the fiberglass at about $2500, and that was from the larger, much more capable firm. Windows average about $100 each. With miscellaneous hardware and a tent, I was closing in on $4000 cost, before any overhead. That left me thinking that the sale price would have to be about $7000. But I'm not sure how many could be sold annually at that price.
I've thought about how FRP, who makes the Flippac, manages to sell theirs (FOB their shop), for about $4k. One factor is that they are the fiberglass shop, so there is only one layer of profit in the fiberglass. Another is that their molds are most likely fully amortized. Lastly, judging by how they treat the business, I think they may use the product as a "full employment" project. In other words, they use it to provide hours for their employees when other product areas are slow. It might not make money, but the employees are at least kept whole. At least that is my guess.
It's tough to get a handle on how many Flippac's or similar products could be sold annually. A dealer here, who still sells Flippacs, told me that a few years ago they sold between 20 and 25. However, that was pre 2008. Since then, truck sales have dropped, and the overall RV market has shifted from slide in truck campers to trailers.
I appreciate any thoughts you might have. I'm going to attempt to create a poll. Hopefully it works:chef:
I looked into manufacturing one fairly seriously this past fall. I got stuck on the cost of the fiberglass. My design had a similar amount of fiberglass as the Flippac. I had the fiberglass components quoted by two companies here in Denver. The lower quote had the fiberglass at about $2500, and that was from the larger, much more capable firm. Windows average about $100 each. With miscellaneous hardware and a tent, I was closing in on $4000 cost, before any overhead. That left me thinking that the sale price would have to be about $7000. But I'm not sure how many could be sold annually at that price.
I've thought about how FRP, who makes the Flippac, manages to sell theirs (FOB their shop), for about $4k. One factor is that they are the fiberglass shop, so there is only one layer of profit in the fiberglass. Another is that their molds are most likely fully amortized. Lastly, judging by how they treat the business, I think they may use the product as a "full employment" project. In other words, they use it to provide hours for their employees when other product areas are slow. It might not make money, but the employees are at least kept whole. At least that is my guess.
It's tough to get a handle on how many Flippac's or similar products could be sold annually. A dealer here, who still sells Flippacs, told me that a few years ago they sold between 20 and 25. However, that was pre 2008. Since then, truck sales have dropped, and the overall RV market has shifted from slide in truck campers to trailers.
I appreciate any thoughts you might have. I'm going to attempt to create a poll. Hopefully it works:chef:
