Advice needed on permanent setup
Hello All, I've just bought an 06 Montana with the intention of setting it up permanently for my elderly mother to live in. She has decided she would like a smaller area than her house to live in and ...
Forum Discussion
If the camper is never going to be moved again, and you have no plans to ever sell it, and it will be anchored down on this spot forever, then you really do need to remove the black and grey tank and plumb in permanently. Then install a household toilet with a water tank on the back.
If you do not remove the black tank, you'll need to leave outside valve closed, constantly wait for the tank to fill, then dump it. Otherwise, the black tank will fill up with the famous "poop pyramid" and you'll probably end up removing the tank completely. If you don't mind flushing the black tank every few day for "mom" then keep it. But if you don't, take it out.
You will also need to replace the toilet with a household toilet so there is plenty of water to flush on down the pipes. RV toilets are designed to simply plop into a tank. There's not enough water to flush down a pipe line. In a very short time, you'll have a poop blockage and be replacing the PVC pipes.
You mentioned a freeze free spigot for water. Although you are in SC, you are still subject to freezing. You should replace the grey tank also, otherwise, the water held in the grey tank is subject to freezing also. Dumping a grey tank is not as critical as the black tank, but still, food particles and grease can build up in the grey tank very quick too, making it smell. A direct drain and direct plumbing is much better.
Anchoring down? Visit an RV park or look it up on the Internet how mobile homes are anchored down. Do the same. To do so properly, you should bury foundation blocks of concrete with anchors attached. Then strap to the frame of the trailer. Check it out.
If this is what you really want to do, then you really need to think in therms of 100% permanentacy for the 5er, NEVER to be moved again. Secure it down. Rest the frame on permanent blocks with real footers so it's truly solid.
Now, I've not said anything about the zoning rules where you live, but you really should check and make sure you are clear to do this. If you go this route with your camper, your property is no longer a "single family dwelling". It's now "multiple family", and local zoning may not permit this.
If you are trying to get around this zoning, then keep the 5er truly "mobile", set up like you'd do at any campground, and then Mom can live there in stealth fashion and probably get away with it. Only you know your zoning. But assuming you can do this, make the camper a permanent structure.
You definately don't want this happening with Mom inside. This trailer sat in this spot for over 45 years, and this last December.....
If you do not remove the black tank, you'll need to leave outside valve closed, constantly wait for the tank to fill, then dump it. Otherwise, the black tank will fill up with the famous "poop pyramid" and you'll probably end up removing the tank completely. If you don't mind flushing the black tank every few day for "mom" then keep it. But if you don't, take it out.
You will also need to replace the toilet with a household toilet so there is plenty of water to flush on down the pipes. RV toilets are designed to simply plop into a tank. There's not enough water to flush down a pipe line. In a very short time, you'll have a poop blockage and be replacing the PVC pipes.
You mentioned a freeze free spigot for water. Although you are in SC, you are still subject to freezing. You should replace the grey tank also, otherwise, the water held in the grey tank is subject to freezing also. Dumping a grey tank is not as critical as the black tank, but still, food particles and grease can build up in the grey tank very quick too, making it smell. A direct drain and direct plumbing is much better.
Anchoring down? Visit an RV park or look it up on the Internet how mobile homes are anchored down. Do the same. To do so properly, you should bury foundation blocks of concrete with anchors attached. Then strap to the frame of the trailer. Check it out.
If this is what you really want to do, then you really need to think in therms of 100% permanentacy for the 5er, NEVER to be moved again. Secure it down. Rest the frame on permanent blocks with real footers so it's truly solid.
Now, I've not said anything about the zoning rules where you live, but you really should check and make sure you are clear to do this. If you go this route with your camper, your property is no longer a "single family dwelling". It's now "multiple family", and local zoning may not permit this.
If you are trying to get around this zoning, then keep the 5er truly "mobile", set up like you'd do at any campground, and then Mom can live there in stealth fashion and probably get away with it. Only you know your zoning. But assuming you can do this, make the camper a permanent structure.
You definately don't want this happening with Mom inside. This trailer sat in this spot for over 45 years, and this last December.....
