The Manufactured Housing Forums

Cavco and Karsten have the same triplewide floorplan. Now we wanted the Cavco UBC for appraisal purposes,until we found the same plan in the Karsten, but the Karsten doesn't have UBC only Hud. The Karsten looks like it has a better floor system, (and fewer sheets of cresdeck flooring) longitudinal w/steel running to the outside ends of the home,rolled insulation w/a R38 in ceiling and w/a belly that doesn't sag, better cabinets and some pretty neat options. The Cavco's base price is $98500 + an extra $10,200 just for it to be UBC. The Karsten model was $131,000. Both would cost the same to set. While some of the cost of the Karsten was cosmetic, (clerestory options, tile, ceiling fans etc.) the Cavco seems still considerably cheaper w/ R42 insulation. The Cavco's dealer is in our state and the Karsten is in NM w/a delivery fee (included in the price given of about $4,000-4500).

Do you think the main price difference is in the flooring and delivery or is it overpriced? I heard Cavco has many complaints. But Karsten says they don't do UBC, because their plumbing and electricians aren't licensed, Karsten teaches them on their own and UBC requires licensed contractors.

So...what's you're opinion on the two? I don't want to overspend on something I don't need.

I am not too familiar with the two brands...but..

you said..

"But Karsten says they don't do UBC, because their plumbing and electricians aren't licensed, Karsten teaches them on their own and UBC requires licensed contractors"

Never heard of such a thing..someone is making up stories here..be careful of other statements..when you catch a salesperson making up stories...how many others have they made up..????

I would suggest that the longitudnal floor system is not better. This is the floor system used in travel traliers. It was used in most manufactured homes back in the 1960's. Everyone except Karsten and Solitaire abandoned it years ago. In theory, it is stong because the floor joists have short spans (4 to 6 feet). The problem is that in todays large manufactured homes the floor does not and cannot carry any structural loads. The frame must carry 100% of the load from the roof and walls. Any diificulty in transit can cause a tremendous amount of structural damage. I have seen homes with type of floor totalled from the loss of a single tire. And if they frame is slightly bent during set up or transit your floors will not be straight and level. When the floor joists run the same direction as your roof trusses (transverse) the floor joists can and do carry structural loads and offer an inherently stronger home.
The unwillingness do build modular probably comes from the fact that the longitudnal floor can't be adapted to meet the code.

hello annaz, I am familiar with both brand of homes. Cavco was a good builder in the manufactured homes industry until the 1980's that's when things started turning for them. They started using cheaper steel frame for their homes, their frames weren't straight, even today I visited their Durango Factory in Phoenix, the frame was twisted and bent oneway. I took the tour and the workmanship is very shoddy. Everything they use to fasten the walls and floors are nothing but staples, and even their shingles are stapled down to a brown felt paper. Now for Karsten they do build a nice home but the longitudinal floor is no good. I saw one of their homes, where the sidwalls and floor were sagging down and the outriggers were bent down. The outriggers can't hold the weight of the floor, sidwall, and the roof. Karsten builds heavy homes and I don't know why they are still using this technique. It was okay when the old mobilehomes were light weight, but now it's heavy and everymaterial they use is sheetrock, and hardboard siding and this adds tremendous weight to the home. The only manufacturer I still really praise is the Solitaire Homes, they have a factory in Deming, N.M. and still use plywood floors, with 16" grids on top of the floor joints and use the same in the roof. Tape and textured sheetrock walls, real black felt paper under the shingles, and their homes are wrap with plywood before the hardboard siding is covered over the studs. The only thing is the home is what you see is what you get. No options at all. But for a good price.