Long Time Coming

Possible Retirement?

The “Wohni Dream” is but an old one and over the past 20 years usually and frequently failed due to the “Right Place Wrong Time” syndrome (thank you Dr. John, for dedicating a song to that). Career changes, migration and then more life and career altering decisions simply never made the expense possible.

The recent years, however, were rather fruitful and I suppose my Renaissance Soul calmed down somewhat, at least as far as location, career and family planning is concerned. However, being the maximiser and never satisfied with “good enough” hampered and delayed the “Wohni Dream” further, until very recently, when I eventually made a decision and kicked the project into gear.

Why so long? Well, there were considerations and there was research – I research extensively before I buy anything, even if it’s just a cell phone. I suppose my Bookmarks folder contains just about everybody, anywhere in the world, who either owns, drives or builds anything close to a motorhome or camper. For years I considered every option back and forth and even gave some of the ideas and concepts a concerted effort:

The Cat's Hat?

• Expedition trucks the likes of Unicat and Action Mobil … albeit probably the cat’s hat as far as comfort, luxury and self sufficiency is concerned, too big, too clumsy, too slow, too expensive.
• Bus or panel van … would be our preferred live and drive option, but will not get us even close to most of our preferred destinations throughout Southern Africa.
• Cabins with flip-top roofs on the back of a Pick-up the likes of ExKab … I planned, drafted technical drawings and laid the project out to the tiniest detail, tried two so-called handymen here in Namibia, both of which failed miserably. The one did not even start, as we could not agree whether he or I is the client – the other actually came half way, only to realise that he is out of his depth, following which he attempted to handover the skeleton aluminium frame for me to continue from thereon forward.

Ford F250 Doublecab with Flip-Top Cabin

• Then Iglhaut came to South Africa and later Achleitner and recently a guy, who used to work for Iglhaut and now does Oberaigner conversions. Naturally we were very excited about these option and naturally I went on my usual extensive research and planning quest. Our enthusiasm came to a grinding halt soon enough though. First and foremost these vehicles, even without any interior, fittings or equipment are prohibitively expensive. Yet, I pursued the option and would have most probably laid out the bucks just to eventually have my god forsaken 4×4 Camper. It turned out, there are certification problems, vibration and suspension issues and some of them simply would not even remotely do what they are supposed to do, i.e. not even start due to electronics problems.

Following the Iglhaut/Achleitner/Oberaigner ordeal I just about had it and now I was really desperate and frustrated. A combination of emotions that usually triggers extreme resourcefulness and resiliency in me.

Iglhaut Sprinter - Possible Layout for 4

For quite a while and from the corner of my eye, so to say, I had noticed and observed  Schroeder Motorhomes, located in Jeffereys Bay of all places. I knew (or thought I know) from hear-say and from their at that time very bad website, that there was this guy who emigrated from Germany to South Africa’s surfers paradise to build motor homes, for no small budget mind you. Understandably or not, this picture of a long haired hippie, banging and grinding away in his back yard took shape in my mind. Hence, I never took him/them for granted and never made contact – until the above mentioned recent frustration, that is.

I phoned him (Claus Schroeder) and, guess what, he actually made sense. I listened to his advice, bought a brand new Toyota Landcruiser Bakkie (Pick-up) and pursuant to some of the usual planning, research and drafting sessions, was on my way to J-Bay only two weeks later. And a good decision that was.

It turns out there is some serious manufacturing going on down there. With a staff of 25, besides manufacturing some rather interesting high quality furniture under the brand of Home Living Trends, they were busy with the final touches on two MAN trucks, half way with a Landcruiser conversion similar to ours and at the same time prepping a Land Rover 130. Needless to say, I was impressed. Not only by the physical size of the operation, the factory with state-of-the-art machinery and the variety of processes happening at the same time, but also by the (similar to my own) perfectionism and meticulousness of Claus Schroeder.

Total Makeover

We got to know each other well enough in such short time to be able to say that he is probably just about as difficult a customer as I am . Schroeder Motorhomes is by no means cheap and balancing on the absolute limit of our budget, there was obviously some arm twisting and wrestling going on. In fact, the order confirmation is still not finalised, the bank and our accountant slowly but surely getting impatient.

Anywho, according to Claus they have spent over a 1000 man hours on the conversion to date and, as you can see from the picture, I would say they are about half way there.

I will go into more detail about the planning and production stages in other posts to follow.

So long. Take care.

Tommy