Custom Overland Gear for your truck or SUV- Cabinetry/Foldup Kitchen/Etc - What is the market missing?

[MGSlynch]

I'm thinking of starting a business and utilize my father's skillset as the ultimate handyman. He can build a kitchen, bathroom, house from scratch, an electrician, plumber, carpenter. He's semi-retired and bored and what's to build and be creative again.

The way I see it the demand is massive in the Overland market and people are willing to pay for quality custom handwork.

Here's an example of a kitchen he can build for far less than this and likely better.

https://scenicgear.com/product/trail-chef-deluxe/

My question to you all, is what would you like to see or built?

 

[ttengineer]

I’ve been toying around with the idea of essentially a turtle back trailer sans trailer frame that is weather proof and slides into the bed of a pickup for the weekend or longer. You could easily use turnbuckles at the factory tie down locations to keep it seated too.

Basically a kitchen, fridge, pump, power, and some storage in one smaller contained unit. You could even add a rack to it for the tent and really have a nice little toy.


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[MGSlynch]

I’ve been toying around with the idea of essentially a turtle back trailer sans trailer frame that is weather proof and slides into the bed of a pickup for the weekend or longer. You could easily use turnbuckles at the factory tie down locations to keep it seated too.

Basically a kitchen, fridge, pump, power, and some storage in one smaller contained unit. You could even add a rack to it for the tent and really have a nice little toy.


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Wow...I really like that idea! Basically an all in one Decked System just organized in a bigger way to include all your utilities.

 

[Mr.Cade]

I'm designing a system of storage boxes that go over our wheel wells, in the bed. But tbh, if I could just buy them, I would.

I'll post pics here when I get the prototype done.

 

[jacobconroy]

I think that if you can build a product like the one in your link and keep under $1000.00 you would do well. Buying "overland" gear is somewhat like buying anything for a Jeep. Price is automatically doubled due to the name.

I would recommend that you DO NOT do custom orders. Invent a couple of products that will fit in most rigs and keep 1, 2, or 5 of them fully-built and ready to ship at all times. This alone would put you ahead of most small operations.

Custom orders are a trap for both you and the buyer. No matter how savvy the buyer is (or is not), it's unavoidable that some feature he carefully measured, photographed, and described will not be the same feature that you "see in your head" when building. In my experience it always leads to have a pizzed-off customer, longer build times, less profit, etc. Any customer that is savvy enough to actually know what he wants and how it works will buy your product and alter it to suit his needs (and this lets you off the hook if he doesn't understand what will and won't work in any given fab situation).

Just my two cents.

 

[ttengineer]

Wow...I really like that idea! Basically an all in one Decked System just organized in a bigger way to include all your utilities.

Similar, yes, but far easier to install and uninstall.

It would obviously take up the whole bed, at least a short bed. Plus, it would be as tall, if not taller, than the bed side rails.


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[dreadlocks]

if you do a slide out kitchen engineer a way to level the stove, having to get the vehicle nice and level just so your eggs dont spill into the fire is kinda sucky thing about slidout burners.. its easier to level a table and use a portable burner frankly.

 

[MuleShoer]

I would like to see a company take a reasonable priced modular approach. By this I mean a customer can select the pieces they need to build out.
Examples: drawers, 2-3 widths, lengths & heights. make them stackable or side by side, A base plate kit were by the customer buys the basic materials and you provide the vehicle specific plans and detail parts that will work with your modular parts. There are many customers that won't buy a full kitchen do to design or cost etc. I am in the process of building out a Tundra, rear draw availability is a problem. Because I need two 25" X 64" full extension. what is available is small and mid size truck stuff. I'm left with build it myself or have it built $$$$. Another thought is a knockdown kit that the customer can assemble, this would save on shipping and labor plus allow you to stock kits that either you or the customer could assemble.
that's my nickles worth.

 

[MGSlynch]

I think that if you can build a product like the one in your link and keep under $1000.00 you would do well. Buying "overland" gear is somewhat like buying anything for a Jeep. Price is automatically doubled due to the name.

I would recommend that you DO NOT do custom orders. Invent a couple of products that will fit in most rigs and keep 1, 2, or 5 of them fully-built and ready to ship at all times. This alone would put you ahead of most small operations.

Custom orders are a trap for both you and the buyer. No matter how savvy the buyer is (or is not), it's unavoidable that some feature he carefully measured, photographed, and described will not be the same feature that you "see in your head" when building. In my experience it always leads to have a pizzed-off customer, longer build times, less profit, etc. Any customer that is savvy enough to actually know what he wants and how it works will buy your product and alter it to suit his needs (and this lets you off the hook if he doesn't understand what will and won't work in any given fab situation).

Just my two cents.

Appreciate the feedback. I think we'll go with a few items yes

 

[MGSlynch]

if you do a slide out kitchen engineer a way to level the stove, having to get the vehicle nice and level just so your eggs dont spill into the fire is kinda sucky thing about slidout burners.. its easier to level a table and use a portable burner frankly.

What if you had the stove slideout that comes out from the slide as normal but is on a an adjustable hinch that you can set?

 

[MGSlynch]

I would like to see a company take a reasonable priced modular approach. By this I mean a customer can select the pieces they need to build out.
Examples: drawers, 2-3 widths, lengths & heights. make them stackable or side by side, A base plate kit were by the customer buys the basic materials and you provide the vehicle specific plans and detail parts that will work with your modular parts. There are many customers that won't buy a full kitchen do to design or cost etc. I am in the process of building out a Tundra, rear draw availability is a problem. Because I need two 25" X 64" full extension. what is available is small and mid size truck stuff. I'm left with build it myself or have it built $$$$. Another thought is a knockdown kit that the customer can assemble, this would save on shipping and labor plus allow you to stock kits that either you or the customer could assemble.
that's my nickles worth.

Appreciate the feedback. This is actually my main thought yes. A massive baseplate that slides out the size of the bed with individual holes in it spaces every few inches all over the bed. You'll be provided sets of 4 fixed 90 degree angle fixed hinges (3 to 4 inch height) that will hold any size object in place. You can also have fixed tie-down points that can be placed in any hole. Thoughts?

 

[MuleShoer]

A universal base plate? Now make your draw system and slide out system modular. you would also need a top plate over the draws for sleeping or other equipment then add a removable kitchen

 

[s.e.charles]

be reluctant to reduce material quality to hit "price points". offer an "unfinished" option. if you do finish them, do a first class job. realize the "handyman" will quickly tire of production & scheduling and plan your workforce accordingly.

have a solicitor on retainer; you'll need him sooner or later.

watch your advertising hooks: "... that will hold any size object in place." common sense tells us that isn't necessarily true, but try telling that to the jury.

like most hobby related endeavors, you are transitioning from "fun" to "business" and will never return to the former.

good luck!

 

[MGSlynch]

A universal base plate? Now make your draw system and slide out system modular. you would also need a top plate over the draws for sleeping or other equipment then add a removable kitchen

I'm thinking a universal base plate that allows for modular setup. Add as you go items (sink feature plug and play, stove, storage, etc) and a sliding top of the drawer suspended and independent of the bottom one. Removeable kitchen yes.

 

[MuleShoer]

Suggest you benchmark your competition. AT, Goose Gear, etc. Since you will be going toe to toe what will you offer that draws in a customer. Example GG's price for a base plate, two 23" wide 60" deep draws, and top plates is $4600
What would you offer that is equal quality lower price. If you build a model for each current supplier against your offering.
Cheers