Travel Trailer or Fifth Wheel?

JTIII wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
If you keep the rig mobile, you will be going thru the pair of 60lb tanks each week. If you put on skirts and extra protection from the weather, you won't be mobile (you will still go thru a lot of propane and still be uncomfortable). Most people doing this follow the weather but it sounds like your job doesn't allow that.

I understand the feelings but it's just not a great plan...but as long as I don't have to live it, it' not my call.

I won't be mobile during the winter months. I will prep it accordingly. I know it won't necessarily be comfortable, it just has to be functional. I will adapt. Pushing past my thresholds for comfort is my intention. Americans in general have been too comfortable for too long and we have gotten soft. ;) I include myself in that...I am just trying to reverse the trend!

I certainly appreciate any comments challenging my ideas. I prefer to anticipate and plan for worst case scenarios. I know there are some I have yet to see posted in this forum.

Comfortable VS Functional lessons could be a very high $$$$ for the sake of reversing "trends":)

I can't help with the 5er vs TT debate since I own a motorhome. But, living in PA I can offer some winter weather advice. Remember, that you will need to keep the interior of the rig above freezing at all times to protect your water lines. Further, you will need to make sure that all external water lines/hookups don't freeze as well. Will you have electric hookup? If not, your heat source will be all propane and expensive. And, electric power for lights, appliances, will need to come from either a hookup or your generator. How often will you need to buy gas for the generator?

If you buy a full-time set up, and it doesn't work, you can easily set yourself back financially. Good luck.

tinner12002 wrote:
Being a toy hauler person myself, if you have toys and such you could get a toy hauler with a garage and have a place for toys and extra storage. I'd say 5th wheel also in a 4 season but as others have mentioned it will be chilly and expensive during the winter in the north. Try and expand on your income source now, something you can do from anywhere/online and then stay in warmer climates, travel and see the country while working.

I've been contemplating the direction in which I should go to expand my income source, allowing for work in remote locations. Once I figure that out, I can leave RI. I would love a toy hauler with an ATV and/or a Harley in the back but that is a few steps away from where I am at the moment.

valhalla360 wrote:
If you keep the rig mobile, you will be going thru the pair of 60lb tanks each week. If you put on skirts and extra protection from the weather, you won't be mobile (you will still go thru a lot of propane and still be uncomfortable). Most people doing this follow the weather but it sounds like your job doesn't allow that.

I understand the feelings but it's just not a great plan...but as long as I don't have to live it, it' not my call.

I won't be mobile during the winter months. I will prep it accordingly. I know it won't necessarily be comfortable, it just has to be functional. I will adapt. Pushing past my thresholds for comfort is my intention. Americans in general have been too comfortable for too long and we have gotten soft. ;) I include myself in that...I am just trying to reverse the trend!

I certainly appreciate any comments challenging my ideas. I prefer to anticipate and plan for worst case scenarios. I know there are some I have yet to see posted in this forum.

Being a toy hauler person myself, if you have toys and such you could get a toy hauler with a garage and have a place for toys and extra storage. I'd say 5th wheel also in a 4 season but as others have mentioned it will be chilly and expensive during the winter in the north. Try and expand on your income source now, something you can do from anywhere/online and then stay in warmer climates, travel and see the country while working.

JTIII wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
A cheap apartment would make more sense for the situation you describe. Get an RV because you need to be mobile.

In New England, it's possible to stay in an RV over the winter but not fun. You will go thru a lot of propane as even the best are horribly insulated compared to a house. Also what are you going to do for utilities. Sewer being one of the bigger issues in the winter.

If your friends would allow it and zoning laws don't prohibit it, you could consider getting a hold of a small old mobile home but that still comes with complications.

A cheap apartment was only mentioned to gain a couple extra months for research and locating the right unit since I'm out as of August 31st. I do intend to do some traveling 4 weeks of the year and some local camping on weekends. I will be able to hook up to their two 60 gallon propane tanks and am researching generators as well. I am in RI so it doesn't get all that cold here...by my standards anyway. I have subzero backpacking/camping gear if I need it and am always welcome in their home. My only real concern is frozen lines and tanks. Are there additional concerns I have not considered? I have water and septic figured out (I think) as long as things keep flowing.

I am trying to escape the urbanization and head for the rural landscape so renting much longer is not desirable and I refuse to purchase property at the moment because I don't want to be anchored to this horrible state! I have already sold most of my furniture and shedding the extra baggage feels great! I am seeking maximum freedom and that search has led me in this direction...

If you keep the rig mobile, you will be going thru the pair of 60lb tanks each week. If you put on skirts and extra protection from the weather, you won't be mobile (you will still go thru a lot of propane and still be uncomfortable). Most people doing this follow the weather but it sounds like your job doesn't allow that.

I understand the feelings but it's just not a great plan...but as long as I don't have to live it, it' not my call.

I appreciate what you want to do but living in an RV is RI will be difficult. You will want to protect the underbelly with some kind of skirting but that will limit your ability to travel since you have to undo all of that to go anywhere. It would be better to move to somewhere warmer, if you can do it. It will cost you a fortune in propane.

valhalla360 wrote:
A cheap apartment would make more sense for the situation you describe. Get an RV because you need to be mobile.

In New England, it's possible to stay in an RV over the winter but not fun. You will go thru a lot of propane as even the best are horribly insulated compared to a house. Also what are you going to do for utilities. Sewer being one of the bigger issues in the winter.

If your friends would allow it and zoning laws don't prohibit it, you could consider getting a hold of a small old mobile home but that still comes with complications.

A cheap apartment was only mentioned to gain a couple extra months for research and locating the right unit since I'm out as of August 31st. I do intend to do some traveling 4 weeks of the year and some local camping on weekends. I will be able to hook up to their two 60 gallon propane tanks and am researching generators as well. I am in RI so it doesn't get all that cold here...by my standards anyway. I have subzero backpacking/camping gear if I need it and am always welcome in their home. My only real concern is frozen lines and tanks. Are there additional concerns I have not considered? I have water and septic figured out (I think) as long as things keep flowing.

I am trying to escape the urbanization and head for the rural landscape so renting much longer is not desirable and I refuse to purchase property at the moment because I don't want to be anchored to this horrible state! I have already sold most of my furniture and shedding the extra baggage feels great! I am seeking maximum freedom and that search has led me in this direction...

JTIII wrote:
I appreciate all the responses and input! I didn't want to burden you all with details, but I guess I should elaborate:

I will be basing the RV on my close friends' growing homestead where I assist them whenever possible. Until I figure out a more mobile career option, I still have a "regular" job to manage. I am in New England and there are some local camp grounds I can travel to regularly but will only be able to take (4) week-long trips per year. Therefore, minimal travel compared to most full-timers, I assume. My long-term goal is to purchase 20+ acres and build. This will require me to live off-grid in the RV for a time, so I expect to have some boondocking experience by then. Of course, if I enjoy traveling full-time and have an income source that allows me to do so, my plans may change. I figure, since I'm still young, single and without children, now is probably a good time to try this out. I won't be buying anything new. I have a 2013 Jeep Rubicon Unlimited 10th Anniversary Edition which I will trade and clear $15k easily. I would like to use that to buy a used diesel tow vehicle, MAYBE going to $20-25k. I am looking to cap the used RV at $25k (easy for TTs, not 5ers), but most importantly would like to keep both capped at a max of $50k. I think that covers most of the details!

A cheap apartment would make more sense for the situation you describe. Get an RV because you need to be mobile.

In New England, it's possible to stay in an RV over the winter but not fun. You will go thru a lot of propane as even the best are horribly insulated compared to a house. Also what are you going to do for utilities. Sewer being one of the bigger issues in the winter.

If your friends would allow it and zoning laws don't prohibit it, you could consider getting a hold of a small old mobile home but that still comes with complications.

JTill,

Why do you assume it has to be a TT or 5er? About 1/2 of the fulltimers have motorhomes of varying sizes. Give us a little more info and we might be able to help you zero in on a rig that would get you started.