Motorhomes

[doppa]

motorhomesworldwide, advertise on their web site they have a depot in chingmai, yes i've already sent them an e mail asking where they are,but you guys are a much better source of info. also is there anything similiar out there, thanks:)

[ThaiPauly]

Not that I know of.

I have never seen a motorhome in Thailand, but I reckon they would prove very popular if they were available

[cardinalblue]

Not that I know of.

I have never seen a motorhome in Thailand, but I reckon they would prove very popular if they were available

I don't think so..There is no infrastructure for them. The roads are narrow and in the raining season potholes everywhere. And if you do make it a final destination, where will you park/tie into? How RV parks have you seen?

It's tough enough driving a SUV out on the road and turning around in their parks as they are designed now. Unless they are going to be built here, Thais could not afford them

anyway. And for the wealthy Thais, you see Thai wealth driving a motorhome to a national park? They will fly if possible and then taken by Mercedes to their five star resort. This ain't Sweden or New Zealand...

Wealthy Thais could care less about seeing the little things of nature...They care more about staying in the most expensive env-damaging resort than the enjoyment of where they are..get in get out is their motto...

CB

[ThaiPauly]

Not that I know of.

I have never seen a motorhome in Thailand, but I reckon they would prove very popular if they were available

I don't think so..There is no infrastructure for them. The roads are narrow and in the raining season potholes everywhere. And if you do make it a final destination, where will you park/tie into? How RV parks have you seen?

It's tough enough driving a SUV out on the road and turning around in their parks as they are designed now. Unless they are going to be built here, Thais could not afford them

anyway. And for the wealthy Thais, you see Thai wealth driving a motorhome to a national park? They will fly if possible and then taken by Mercedes to their five star resort. This ain't Sweden or New Zealand...

Wealthy Thais could care less about seeing the little things of nature...They care more about staying in the most expensive env-damaging resort than the enjoyment of where they are..get in get out is their motto...

CB

Interesting point

[Puwa]

I've seen them, on the road and at motor shows. They are locally outfitted conversions of large vans or pickup trucks, not the all-out Airstream or Winnebago behemoths that we find in other countries. They sleep maybe 4, and don't have kitchens on board if I recall correctly. Sorry I don't remember the name of the company that produces them.

Incidentally, to counter the shockingly ignorant and somewhat hateful comment made above, there are many wealthy Thai people who enjoy nature. Why wouldn't they?

[Greenside]

I've often thought that a motorhome would be fun to have here although limited by some of the terrain and possibly security issues if parking up in isolated spots. Earlier this year we met a German and his wife who were up at Doi Pui in a small motorhome he had bought from a company somewhere in Chonburi. This outfit were building quite nice looking vehicles and I think they were importing some of the interior fittings from Europe - his two berth diesel was about 2m new if I recall and accommodated two adults, a huge dog and three cats...

[jcgodber]

I have seen a motorhome (RV) near my home here in Sa Kaeo.As this was an unusual sighting I did some research and found a company in Bangkok that was (or is) making this. For the life of me I now can't find the company again. Someone else may have better search skills than I.

Edited August 28, 2010 by jcgodber

[Blinky Bill]

I don't think so..There is no infrastructure for them. The roads are narrow and in the raining season potholes everywhere. And if you do make it a final destination, where will you park/tie into? How RV parks have you seen?

It's tough enough driving a SUV out on the road and turning around in their parks as they are designed now. Unless they are going to be built here, Thais could not afford them

anyway. And for the wealthy Thais, you see Thai wealth driving a motorhome to a national park? They will fly if possible and then taken by Mercedes to their five star resort. This ain't Sweden or New Zealand...

Wealthy Thais could care less about seeing the little things of nature...They care more about staying in the most expensive env-damaging resort than the enjoyment of where they are..get in get out is their motto...

CB

What an ignorant, uninformed and prejudiced post.

[gotlost]

I don't think so..There is no infrastructure for them. The roads are narrow and in the raining season potholes everywhere. And if you do make it a final destination, where will you park/tie into? How RV parks have you seen?

It's tough enough driving a SUV out on the road and turning around in their parks as they are designed now. Unless they are going to be built here, Thais could not afford them

anyway. And for the wealthy Thais, you see Thai wealth driving a motorhome to a national park? They will fly if possible and then taken by Mercedes to their five star resort. This ain't Sweden or New Zealand...

Wealthy Thais could care less about seeing the little things of nature...They care more about staying in the most expensive env-damaging resort than the enjoyment of where they are..get in get out is their motto...

CB

What an ignorant, uninformed and prejudiced post.

Totally agree but it takes all kinds unfortunately. I have seen the past few years a few motor homes on the roads. There are not allot and they do catch your eye when noticed. The last time I saw a motor home in Chiang Mai was back about the first of the year in back of Carrefour on the super highway. Got to any national park, forest or park and I guarantee the 90% of the people there will be Thais.

[jayjay0]

Not that I know of.

I have never seen a motorhome in Thailand, but I reckon they would prove very popular if they were available

I don't think so..There is no infrastructure for them. The roads are narrow and in the raining season potholes everywhere. And if you do make it a final destination, where will you park/tie into? How RV parks have you seen?

It's tough enough driving a SUV out on the road and turning around in their parks as they are designed now. Unless they are going to be built here, Thais could not afford them

anyway. And for the wealthy Thais, you see Thai wealth driving a motorhome to a national park? They will fly if possible and then taken by Mercedes to their five star resort. This ain't Sweden or New Zealand...

Wealthy Thais could care less about seeing the little things of nature...They care more about staying in the most expensive env-damaging resort than the enjoyment of where they are..get in get out is their motto...

CB

Interesting point

Actually I thought it was ill thought out sour grapes.

Edited August 28, 2010 by jayjay0

[mackayae]

Carryboy makes one called the Carryboy Caravan. Check their website. Their factory is near Swampy.

[gotlost]

http://caravan.carryboy.com/ Very nice.

[jaideeguy]

http://caravan.carryboy.com/ Very nice.

Great link gotlost. I've been dreaming about one of those rigs for years......wonder what they cost....the cab-over without the truck??

[cardinalblue]

I guess I have to defend myself but I will stand by everything I say in my post.

I was responding to the poster's question "they would be very popular if available?"

I am saying no, there are not and will not be in the near future for these reasons:

1. no infrastructure = actual space in parks, hook-ups, poor road maintenance, etc

2. the narrow road design is for motorcycles and smalll vechicles and that takes a lot cost and space to change

3. the imported cost of them does not fall within the middle class income range especially for recreational activities

4. Thailand is a developing country and leisure activities with expensive toys/per capita is quite low as expected

5. Thai culture and people's attitudes towards nature ot that of any dev country, also as expected

6. economic development/profit continues to rule over environmental protection, open land trust, etc

As to some of the criticism ,fine..though some of you avoid the question i was addressing or misunderstood my comments.

1. To the poster who said I said Thai don't enjoy nature and 90% of the people who go to parks are Thai. Well, I sure hope its closer 98% and did I say Thai don't enjoy nature? Though one could argue that in 1920, 80% of Thailand was covered with forest, I believe the # is less than 20% today. Maybe they enjoy, but they sure don't preserve/respect it.. Bkk is regarded as the gateway for illegal international wildlife trade flowing through. Look at the pollution rate of beaches, the lack of a integrated waste mangement system, weak env reg and made worse by virtually no enforcement, public/ highway litter is not managed, no building permit process, etc. The list goes on and on...

2. How does "seen a few in in a few years travelling about" not equate widely popular? At this time, there is no market for RVs. Look at the big picture and yes, "you have seen a few around or once I saw a foreign couple in a national park" would be an arguement of not supporting the original question.

3. Pricing..just too expensive for the average Thai. If they have the money, they aren't going to spend it on a motorhome as their way to see the country. It is not their style nor their passion. The market of driving their only vehicle/camping in tents is just starting here and there is evidence of gov support for this activity.

4. There is an inverse relationship between wealthy people and the love of nature in this country. One could see this as a controversial statement but I see no evidence supporting otherwise. ex % of monies given to env programs and projects? There is an attitude in this country that is the role of the royal family and not the responsibility of the individual citizen. Yes, there are some env groups but not to the role it could/should be. Do wealthy people buy hybrids, building env-friendly homes, any evidence of sustainable dev programs, etc. The protection of the env is NOT a value in this country AT THIS TIME vs making profit/economic development as an individual nor as a nation. And it is perfectly expected as all or most industrialized countries went through the same process...Maybe their time will come maybe it won't. Asia is the worst for Env programs and protection...

5.Sour grapes of to what? not being able to purchase/rent one? It's a great way to see north america, european countries, AUS/NZ (infrastructure exists) but for SE asian countries much more difficult. Sure, a campervan is much more practical than say the classic RV models for this type of country...Would like you to elaborate more on your comment..

But getting back to the original poster's question, "I think there would be very popular if available?"

I have not seen one poster make any constructive argument that would support that RVs would be very popular with the Thai market be it ownership or rental..In the meantime, I see zero market for this type of vehicle until many conditions, attitudes, programs and values change...That is what I am addressing; not "oh, I saw one last week or I think there is a dealership somewhere but i don't recall"

Or put it another way, who on this board is going to invest in a RV business in Thailand? Start with a business plan and share with us your market research results. What I see in many of these posts is complete naiveness of the country you live in presently or didn't understand the poster's question and failed/didn't want to address it beyond a personal remark..

CB

[Gonzo the Face]

Lets make an analogy here..... now this is directed at the statement that they [motorhomes/campers] would not be popular here....

How about 15 - 20 years ago and the perception that Thais don't/won't eat/like cheese.

Along comes the Minor Group [Thai} and here came Pizza Hut.

and followed a wave of western fast food chains....

Many people would have been saying the exact same as you CB, Pizza won't work here, Thais just don't like that, won't spend money on hundred baht meals when the eat for 20 baht.

Westeners making judgement calls for what the Thai will/Won't like/do.

I would say that if someone introduced the concept; and others would invest in just mini RV parks with the barest of minemums in amenities, it would catch on.....maybe not immediately due to current economics , but once the seed is planted, it will grow.

Back in the old days, many of my friends would say, " you ought to go camping" I poo poo'd the thought, basically because I didn't know what they were talking about.... years later I tripped into it accidently and ended up with a 32 foot motor home that slept 8 and spent 10 straight months touring the US. Really some of my fondest memories of life. .....and I had poo-poo'd it for years.....

Yes you can teach an old dog new tricks..... if you can get their sincere attention.

Cardinalblue, I respectfully disagree with your premise.

Gonzo

[mccw]

Not that I know of.

I have never seen a motorhome in Thailand, but I reckon they would prove very popular if they were available

I don't think so..There is no infrastructure for them. The roads are narrow and in the raining season potholes everywhere. And if you do make it a final destination, where will you park/tie into? How RV parks have you seen?

It's tough enough driving a SUV out on the road and turning around in their parks as they are designed now. Unless they are going to be built here, Thais could not afford them

anyway. And for the wealthy Thais, you see Thai wealth driving a motorhome to a national park? They will fly if possible and then taken by Mercedes to their five star resort. This ain't Sweden or New Zealand...

Wealthy Thais could care less about seeing the little things of nature...They care more about staying in the most expensive env-damaging resort than the enjoyment of where they are..get in get out is their motto...

CB

are u wearing a red shirt perchance?

Edited August 28, 2010 by mccw

[mccw]

I see there are several Thai magazines about pickups and 4wd advatures camping trips upountains and national parks etc, so interest in nature and outdoor must be fairly widespread, also there is a garage on the sankeampeng road specialising in this by the looks of the vehiclesoutside. Some kind of sleeping compartment on the back the trick would be a natural extension of this. I know that the idea of snakes etc puts me off tenting it in Thailand, but with that carryboy be great, still need more space if family.

I agree with gonzo that it could catch on with little ondependant rv parks springing up around the country over the next ten to twenty years; Thsis are actualy quite enterprising people

[cardinalblue]

Lets make an analogy here..... now this is directed at the statement that they [motorhomes/campers] would not be popular here....

How about 15 - 20 years ago and the perception that Thais don't/won't eat/like cheese.

Along comes the Minor Group [Thai} and here came Pizza Hut.

and followed a wave of western fast food chains....

Many people would have been saying the exact same as you CB, Pizza won't work here, Thais just don't like that, won't spend money on hundred baht meals when the eat for 20 baht.

Westeners making judgement calls for what the Thai will/Won't like/do.

I would say that if someone introduced the concept; and others would invest in just mini RV parks with the barest of minemums in amenities, it would catch on.....maybe not immediately due to current economics , but once the seed is planted, it will grow.

Back in the old days, many of my friends would say, " you ought to go camping" I poo poo'd the thought, basically because I didn't know what they were talking about.... years later I tripped into it accidently and ended up with a 32 foot motor home that slept 8 and spent 10 straight months touring the US. Really some of my fondest memories of life. .....and I had poo-poo'd it for years.....

Yes you can teach an old dog new tricks..... if you can get their sincere attention.

Cardinalblue, I respectfully disagree with your premise.

Gonzo

Gonzo,

First of all, thank you for a decent reply and sticking to the issue at hand. Never understood personal attack reponses yet not address the issue under review. I think we can engage and debate. You present a good example and we will work through it. That said, buying/using motorhomes, though, to me is in a different investment category than purchasing a meal. Big ticket leisure item vs a consumable small ticket item w/o the need for infrastructure changes...

Go to run..I want you to think about this question if it was posed to a cross-section of Thais meaning the whole population. What population of Thais have ever ate at a mcDonalds or had pizza? I don't know the answer just raising the question. Though i will tell you, I did ask a class of 111 (no typo) class of first-year nursing students and two said they had ever eaten McDonalds food. Granted this nursing class, obviously, while not as representation of the spectrum of the entire Thai pop, does represent a significant portion of their certain sub-population...

Pizza, fast food,etc has been a hit with a specific market niche of the Thai population, highly successful no doubt, but would raise the qustion, is it mainstream market penetration?

more later..

CB

[WinnieTheKhwai]

Getting back on topic, from the Carryboy PDF borchure it seems they make an actual caravan (trailer) as well. That would probably make more sense; the one that's based on the Toyota Vigo pickup would have the following disadvantages:

- It looks like it's a dedicated vehicle; not something you could take off again.

- It's the single-cab model Vigo, so very limited and somewhat uncomfortable driving position.

And then disadvantages to both caravans as well as the (baby)motorhome: When you use it outside or January in the North, you'll be running the engine all night to power the air conditioner.

[WarpSpeed]

Not that I know of.

I have never seen a motorhome in Thailand, but I reckon they would prove very popular if they were available

I don't think so..There is no infrastructure for them. The roads are narrow and in the raining season potholes everywhere. And if you do make it a final destination, where will you park/tie into? How RV parks have you seen?

It's tough enough driving a SUV out on the road and turning around in their parks as they are designed now. Unless they are going to be built here, Thais could not afford them

anyway. And for the wealthy Thais, you see Thai wealth driving a motorhome to a national park? They will fly if possible and then taken by Mercedes to their five star resort. This ain't Sweden or New Zealand...

Wealthy Thais could care less about seeing the little things of nature...They care more about staying in the most expensive env-damaging resort than the enjoyment of where they are..get in get out is their motto...

CB

I accidentally gave you rep while trying to click the reply function but I completely disagree with your narrow sighted view.. What about all of the tour buses here who go to those same places you mention and manage to work out the roads?? Also with the amount of Farangs and tourists here it most certainly would be a fantastic concept I pitched a couple of years ago and got plenty of shtick for..

Thirdly they are self contained that is one of their most salable assets so pulling over any place is possible and CAMPING out. I'd love to have one and maybe in the future and I was in one down at The Bira karting track that was owned by a farang hotel owner from Samui.. It was small, but very nice and would have little problem going any of those places mentioned...

I also saw the one mentioned by Carry boy at the auto show and it was swamped by interested Thai's so I guess that also shoots down your part about the wealthy Thai's lack of interest too..

Edited August 28, 2010 by WarpSpeed

[WarpSpeed]

And then disadvantages to both caravans as well as the (baby)motorhome: When you use it outside or January in the North, you'll be running the engine all night to power the air conditioner.

Ever heard of a generator?? They can also include those in the package if requested as I recall..

[WarpSpeed]

Lets make an analogy here..... now this is directed at the statement that they [motorhomes/campers] would not be popular here....

How about 15 - 20 years ago and the perception that Thais don't/won't eat/like cheese.

Along comes the Minor Group [Thai} and here came Pizza Hut.

and followed a wave of western fast food chains....

Many people would have been saying the exact same as you CB, Pizza won't work here, Thais just don't like that, won't spend money on hundred baht meals when the eat for 20 baht.

Westeners making judgement calls for what the Thai will/Won't like/do.

I would say that if someone introduced the concept; and others would invest in just mini RV parks with the barest of minemums in amenities, it would catch on.....maybe not immediately due to current economics , but once the seed is planted, it will grow.

Back in the old days, many of my friends would say, " you ought to go camping" I poo poo'd the thought, basically because I didn't know what they were talking about.... years later I tripped into it accidently and ended up with a 32 foot motor home that slept 8 and spent 10 straight months touring the US. Really some of my fondest memories of life. .....and I had poo-poo'd it for years.....

Yes you can teach an old dog new tricks..... if you can get their sincere attention.

Cardinalblue, I respectfully disagree with your premise.

Gonzo

Gonzo,

First of all, thank you for a decent reply and sticking to the issue at hand. Never understood personal attack reponses yet not address the issue under review. I think we can engage and debate. You present a good example and we will work through it. That said, buying/using motorhomes, though, to me is in a different investment category than purchasing a meal. Big ticket leisure item vs a consumable small ticket item w/o the need for infrastructure changes...

Go to run..I want you to think about this question if it was posed to a cross-section of Thais meaning the whole population. What population of Thais have ever ate at a mcDonalds or had pizza? I don't know the answer just raising the question. Though i will tell you, I did ask a class of 111 (no typo) class of first-year nursing students and two said they had ever eaten McDonalds food. Granted this nursing class, obviously, while not as representation of the spectrum of the entire Thai pop, does represent a significant portion of their certain sub-population...

Pizza, fast food,etc has been a hit with a specific market niche of the Thai population, highly successful no doubt, but would raise the qustion, is it mainstream market penetration?

more later..

CB

So pose the same question to any American including me when I was a child back in their origination and McD's and Pizza Hut were new concepts, look where they are now?

Entrepreneur's see a future market and are keen to take advantage all others are just skeptics, spectators and bystanders..

JFI Minor Group is Pizza Company, Yum brands is Pizza Hut..

Edited August 28, 2010 by WarpSpeed

[WinnieTheKhwai]

And then disadvantages to both caravans as well as the (baby)motorhome: When you use it outside or January in the North, you'll be running the engine all night to power the air conditioner.

Ever heard of a generator?? They can also include those in the package if requested as I recall..

Engine, generator.. either way you're burning gas all night. Don't know why that's better than a cheap but decent aircon hotel or resort.

A cheapo option for the winter months would just be having a tent cover and mosquito net over the bed of a pick-up truck, with a mattress in there. That'd be like camping without having to deal with spiders. I hate spiders.

[WarpSpeed]

And then disadvantages to both caravans as well as the (baby)motorhome: When you use it outside or January in the North, you'll be running the engine all night to power the air conditioner.

Ever heard of a generator?? They can also include those in the package if requested as I recall..

Engine, generator.. either way you're burning gas all night. Don't know why that's better than a cheap but decent aircon hotel or resort.

A cheapo option for the winter months would just be having a tent cover and mosquito net over the bed of a pick-up truck, with a mattress in there. That'd be like camping without having to deal with spiders. I hate spiders.

It's a step above a tent and step below a hotel, because YOU choose the location and when YOU choose to park and camp, it's about freedom and don't get caught up in any energy savings with the electric used to run the hotel A/C isn't green either..

You might find a beautiful ridge somewhere that overlooks a valley and some mountains that boasts an memorable, breathtaking sunset or sunrise that no hotel can provide, really are you that sheltered? sometime to you just want to get away from people....

Edited August 28, 2010 by WarpSpeed

[doppa]

jesus aged christ, talk about answers that have gone way off topic, some of you on here need to take a long hard serious look at your life, all i asked was, does anyone know blah blah blah, why all of a sudden does it become a full scale debate, i'm seriously of thinking of jacking this shit in.

thank you for the one who pointed me in the right direction.

[ThaiPauly]

If you want this topic to remain open please keep on topic guys, there are way to many personal isues going on here that have nothing to do with the OP's post.

Thanks

[Gonzo the Face]

jesus aged christ, talk about answers that have gone way off topic, some of you on here need to take a long hard serious look at your life, all i asked was, does anyone know blah blah blah, why all of a sudden does it become a full scale debate, i'm seriously of thinking of jacking this shit in.

thank you for the one who pointed me in the right direction.

...so we do not upset Mr. Doppe and his original postquestion, let me address it clearly and answer his quiery.....

" Yes "

[gotlost]

jesus aged christ, talk about answers that have gone way off topic, some of you on here need to take a long hard serious look at your life, all i asked was, does anyone know blah blah blah, why all of a sudden does it become a full scale debate, i'm seriously of thinking of jacking this shit in.

thank you for the one who pointed me in the right direction.

Yuo have my vote doppa!!!!!

[mccw]

Www.vrcarrent.com

they have English & Thai language.

Motorhome is about 2000 bht per day rent.

[jayinoz]

I think the Mobile Home concept in general is great for all us Farangs whom can never 'legally' own land in this country. As we have very little risk if we can simply move our lot elsewhere is problems existed where we were. I have often wondered why they are not marketed more to the Expat market. As we are in reality only limited to Condos- I do not wish to hear you can do company this\that, gf name, 30 yr lease, blaa, blaa. Fact is we cannot own land, So Mobile homes for those not into Condos is a very good idea.

Yes I know different to motor homes- but just making a broader point for the maketing of these homes or vehicles. I tell you that it is stupid that in Aussie they pay 100K Aussie dollars to retire in some park then another $500 pm. They could have so much more for far less IMO.

Grap a Mobile Home, motorhome or caravan then rent the spot you wish to live in.

In Aussie there are motor homes everywhere- why will retired wealthier Thai's not wish to travel around in a Luxury motorhome. It could catch on when these emerging economies have more middle and upper classes who want some adventure before passing onto the next world. Yet I agree very early days, as you will need a generator in one. As not easy to hook up in every town you pass.

I think it would be a wild and wacky adventure to tour in one all over SE Asia. Yet would want to have the unit fully fuctional and not reliant on electric and water from others.