Hey Everyone,My name is Mary, I am a new member to this forum. Hoping you can help a newbie out here.... Currently I am living in Maryland but am looking to move to Homer, Alaska within the next year or two. My goal is that I buy a used fifth wheel and live in that full time on a 5+ acre piece of property in Homer while I save money to build a log cabin. I am pretty sure I will live in this for 5 or more years so I it will need to be well insulated and roomy. Does anyone have any recommendations on year, make & model? In case you are not familiar with where Homer is, it is approximately 4 hours south of Anchorage. The average winter temperature is around 20 degrees with about 4-5' of snowfall annually. Summertime the average temp is 65 degrees, which means a/c will not be necessary.I am specifically looking for a 34'+ model that has lots of windows and natural light, at least 3 slides but preferably 4 or more, one bedroom, washer / dryer hook up. Any advise y'all can give would help me with my search and budget.Thanks,Mary

Here you go: Redwood 38FL. Bruce

I'd look at Arctic Fox brand, they are heavily winterized. However lots of windows probably does not fit well with winter in Alaska. You might want to ask this over in the Alaska-Canada forum here, they may have some ideas. You would certainly want to install skirting around the bottom of the RV and add heat tape and maybe insulation under it. You have to worry about propane bottles getting too cold as well as the water connections freezing.How many hours of light does Homer get in winter? Not many is my guess. I see the sun rises around 10 AM and sets at 5 PM and the average high is 29 deg with a low of 19 (This for mid January)

Storm windows for sure. Heated tanks, lots of auxillury propane. Generator back up. You can do it!

Homer's weather isn't all that bad (compared to Fairbanks), so an Arctic Fox will probably suit you well. Don't think I'd go with much of any other brand for this. You'll have to skirt it to insulate the bottom, but that's not until you get there and put it where you want. Your water and sewer will have to be heated as well to keep them from freezing. Again, not a really hard thing to do, but you've GOT to have power to your site first. And you really don't want a lot of windows since they let in a lot of cold.This from someone who's spent three years up there.

Look for a Teton Home.In the 40' range with three to four slides. Very well built and insulated. They are heavy so just hire a delivery to get to your lot. Arctic Fox is a poor suggestion for what you are doing.

Recommended 5th Wheel to live in full time in Alaska

MainerBob
Explorer
Sep 19, 2014
I d id it back in the 70's in an Airstream when I worked on the pipeline. Wouldn't do it again, now older and wiser. That being said, I lived in Homer for 3 years and loved it. It was quite the place in the 70's. It really has grown since then. Pioneer Avenue was unpaved and the population was about 1500. Good luck. PM me if you have any questions.
mcrivelli
Explorer
Sep 18, 2014
Thank you everyone for the great advise. I am surprised I got as many responses as I did. You all ROCK!!!
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Sep 18, 2014
.
IMO - it may be time to revert to "Plan B".

Call the building dept (and/or other responsible agency) and "pick their brain" - as well as the (several) *Mobile* home repair outfits in the Homer area.

The *Mobile* home businesses - as they routinely work with the
next step above RVs.

Ask *LOTS* of questions - take notes, make a list.

You sure don't want to arrive -or buy something- with an "un-workable" plan!

Good luck...:)

~
sue_t
Explorer
Sep 18, 2014
Humidity inside the RV may be a problem in winter, especially in a coastal area. Expect your windows to ice up even if they are double-glazed, and expect ice build up inside in various places.

If the lot does not have electric service yet, you may not be able to get it connected/energized until you have a building permit for a house. This is intended to prevent folks from indefinitely 'squatting' on a property in a trailer. Building permit comes before electric permit.

Those who we've seen living full-time in the RVs in RV parks in the Anchorage area have an interesting variety of methods to cope. Saw many who wrapped extra insulation around the outside of their RVs, then held that in place with duct tape.

Covered canopy is a good idea, to protect the roof from the weight of the heavy snow that falls in coastal areas. The snow in our area is very light compared to that slick, wet stuff.
j2catfish
Explorer
Sep 18, 2014
tsetsaf wrote:
Look for a Teton Home.
In the 40' range with three to four slides. Very well built and insulated. They are heavy so just hire a delivery to get to your lot. Arctic Fox is a poor suggestion for what you are doing.

X2

Teton Homes were originally designed for oil pipeline workers use. The ain't cheap nor are they light, but are built to withstand temperatures really well. They are still available on the used RV market with at least one dealer that has a couple "new" unused units left over from before the business collapsed. Good luck in your search.
Catfish
lee_worsdell
Explorer
Sep 18, 2014
I would build a cover over the unit no matter what you buy. the weight of snow load up their is huge. 6 -8 6x6 post with steel roof just to keep it off the roof.
Dave_H_M
Explorer II
Sep 18, 2014
sidney wrote:
Mary,

I live in AK... been here for over 30 years. I have built 3 homes. Traveled from Ketchikan to the North Slope for work and have experienced all the extreme weather and seasons AK can offer.

I own a very nice 2014 Cedar Creek 5th wheel that I keep in Oregon . I would never consider attempting to live in it in Homer or anywhere else in Alaska. The condensation problems alone would be a nightmare. RVs are not designed to withstand the climates of AK for extended annual stays.

Come to AK to build your cabin... but rent a home or apartment while you build and save the money you would have wasted on on an RV.

I think you have some good advice here. I lived up there for 3 years close to Anchorage. I would not even consider it after spending the cold part of winter in "South Carolina" last year.
sidney
Explorer
Sep 18, 2014
Mary,

I live in AK... been here for over 30 years. I have built 3 homes. Traveled from Ketchikan to the North Slope for work and have experienced all the extreme weather and seasons AK can offer.

I own a very nice 2014 Cedar Creek 5th wheel that I keep in Oregon . I would never consider attempting to live in it in Homer or anywhere else in Alaska. The condensation problems alone would be a nightmare. RVs are not designed to withstand the climates of AK for extended annual stays.

Come to AK to build your cabin... but rent a home or apartment while you build and save the money you would have wasted on on an RV.
n7bsn
Explorer
Sep 18, 2014
TXiceman wrote:
Personally, I would not attempt to live in Alaska for the winter in any RV. They are just not designed for the extreme temperatures and snow loads.

Ken

What he said, plus the info on the city council policy referred to above.

The days of "just let them live" in Alaskan (cities at least) is passing.
TXiceman
Explorer II
Sep 18, 2014
Personally, I would not attempt to live in Alaska for the winter in any RV. They are just not designed for the extreme temperatures and snow loads.

Ken

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