I'm putting my house on the market next month and have begun the process of getting a new custom house built.I estimate I will be homeless for about seven months or so. I am brand new to all things RV. I just bought a new 2020 Ford F-350 with a Northstar 850SC popup camper with the intention of it serving as my "fishin' rig". Take for short trips in my area to hit the fishing spots. I know plenty of people full time in all kinds of RV types and they certainly do in truck campers. But I have a hard time imagining seven months in something that small. I work full time at home and this rig would have to serve as my office too. I am familiar with staying connected to the internet with cellular options, so I'm ok there.Two questions:1) Should I get one of those tents that pop up for a large living area to allow me to get out of the truck camper?2) I joined Boondockers Welcome, but am struggling how to put together a plan as to where to stay for this long of a time. I want to be in the general area to watch the house build, so that limits me a lot. Any sage advice is very welcome. I can always just rent a small house, but if I could pull off the truck camper deal, it may be more fun and I could potentially save a few bucks over a house rental.

Longterm RV stationary living can create problems in your black tank. Not insurmountable but requires attention. Lots of posts on here regarding how to avoid issues.

Are you by yourself?I lived alone in a 22' travel trailer for a couple of months and I was totally comfortable and would do it again. OTOH but I didn't work from it and I think that would depend on how much stuff that involved as to whether it would work or not. If just sitting and working at a laptop, it seems doable as long as you can be comfortable.

When we build a house, we have the electrical meter mounted on a pole part way out the driveway. We then have a temporary panel installed to supply electricity for building the house. You could have a plug installed on the temporary panel for you to plug in to. Have a portable toilet company delivery a jobsite washroom for yourself, and the workers. You could stay on site, provide night security, and watch the house getting built. When the house is completed, you leave the meter on the pole, and run the permanent wire to the house. This way you don't have the meter on the side of your house. If you prefer to have the meter on the house, just leave enough cable to reach the house once completed.

Between marriages, lived alone in a truck camper for three years. Course, I was traveling all over the country at the time. I set up a 6x6 tent for reading, Laptop and other space needs when I was static for a week or two at at time. Otherwise, I worked in the camper for shorter stops.Then a few years later, my wife and I spent five months in our truck camper on our first cross-country trip, and made several two-three month trips as well. We're planning another this fall. Truck Campers to us, are mini-homes, and as long as you can get done what you need done, such as travel OR work -- What's also nice about the truck camper, easy to move and fill water or dump waste - just get a campsite for the night. Otherwise, boon-dock or stay on your property like was suggested above.

I live in part of a 38" Class a all the time (All but about the last six feet which is my "Storage shed"My advice.. Built a large multi-car garage. then have the house built next to it. The garage should be big enough to accept the camper (and in fact an upgrade later) the truck and a fuel efficient run about car.. All indoors (if door closed) so that HOA **** and city ords about parking the RV wont' apply.

Building a house, need long term RV site | Good Sam Community

17 Replies

jdc1
Explorer II
Mar 08, 2020
winniman wrote:
When we build a house, we have the electrical meter mounted on a pole part way out the driveway. We then have a temporary panel installed to supply electricity for building the house. You could have a plug installed on the temporary panel for you to plug in to. Have a portable toilet company delivery a jobsite washroom for yourself, and the workers. You could stay on site, provide night security, and watch the house getting built. When the house is completed, you leave the meter on the pole, and run the permanent wire to the house. This way you don't have the meter on the side of your house. If you prefer to have the meter on the house, just leave enough cable to reach the house once completed.

I agree. Check local codes. The contractor would love a free security guard (if you stay out of his way).
sayoung
Explorer
Mar 07, 2020
Where are you in NW Arkansas ? We have some land south of Berryville. Way back in in our youth my wife I tent camped often up there even in the winter . It can get , to me, pretty cold in the winter. We were in our tent one day it got down to -3 degrees. I have owned a pop up and it was colder than our tent.
If you have the ability to live on site might get one of those rent to own style buildings and make that like an office/living room/laundry ..
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Mar 07, 2020
I live in part of a 38" Class a all the time (All but about the last six feet which is my "Storage shed"

My advice.. Built a large multi-car garage. then have the house built next to it. The garage should be big enough to accept the camper (and in fact an upgrade later) the truck and a fuel efficient run about car.. All indoors (if door closed) so that HOA **** and city ords about parking the RV wont' apply.
monkey44
Nomad II
Mar 07, 2020
Between marriages, lived alone in a truck camper for three years. Course, I was traveling all over the country at the time. I set up a 6x6 tent for reading, Laptop and other space needs when I was static for a week or two at at time. Otherwise, I worked in the camper for shorter stops.

Then a few years later, my wife and I spent five months in our truck camper on our first cross-country trip, and made several two-three month trips as well. We're planning another this fall. Truck Campers to us, are mini-homes, and as long as you can get done what you need done, such as travel OR work --

What's also nice about the truck camper, easy to move and fill water or dump waste - just get a campsite for the night. Otherwise, boon-dock or stay on your property like was suggested above.
winniman
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2020
When we build a house, we have the electrical meter mounted on a pole part way out the driveway. We then have a temporary panel installed to supply electricity for building the house. You could have a plug installed on the temporary panel for you to plug in to. Have a portable toilet company delivery a jobsite washroom for yourself, and the workers. You could stay on site, provide night security, and watch the house getting built. When the house is completed, you leave the meter on the pole, and run the permanent wire to the house. This way you don't have the meter on the side of your house. If you prefer to have the meter on the house, just leave enough cable to reach the house once completed.
ScottG
Nomad
Mar 07, 2020
Are you by yourself?
I lived alone in a 22' travel trailer for a couple of months and I was totally comfortable and would do it again. OTOH but I didn't work from it and I think that would depend on how much stuff that involved as to whether it would work or not. If just sitting and working at a laptop, it seems doable as long as you can be comfortable.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2020
Longterm RV stationary living can create problems in your black tank. Not insurmountable but requires attention. Lots of posts on here regarding how to avoid issues.

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Building a house, need long term RV site

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