Placing a travel trailer on our recreational property?

DW and I just bought a piece of property to go camping on about 15 miles from home. The previous owner sometimes had his TT parked there and already had put in a 30 amp plug so we just had o drive up and level the MH. Beautiful piece of land, only about 2 1/2 acres but all we need. The thing we love is the property is on the river; it is also considered a flood plain. Usually floods at least once a year so cannot build any permanent structures or put in a septic tank. We were told there is a nearby property that has been in the courts for years because the owner decided to build on it.
There is about a ten foot drop from the bank to the sandbar along the river and we need steps to get up and down the bank. I contacted the county and they said we could build steps but not anchor into the bank. When I brought up the adjoining property that has steps anchored into the bank, turns out they were grandfathered in. I ended up building steps that sit on the bank and a big steel cable to anchor them to a big sycamore tree. The river came up to the top of the bank once this fall and they just floated up and a little sideways. The river went back down and the steps went back where they started. Moral of story; you can't rely on what your neighbors have and some of the rules may not be logical but going to court is not a good thing. Jim.

Meg B wrote:
Another couple in our area brought over a travel trailer and seem happy with it so far.

What I'm really hoping for is some thoughts from people who have been in this situation about whether this is a good or bad idea. It is pretty damp around here and does drop below freezing a few times during the winter so I'm not sure how well the travel trailer will hold up, but it does seem appealing nonetheless.

Thank you!

I think your best bet would be to talk to these people. How do they handle the septic/permitting? What is their experience in the cold temps/how much do they spend on propane/deal with condensation etc. etc.

A travel trailer is not the best structure to retain warmth in sub zero temps. Good luck though.

Grit dog wrote:
^ That was a key piece of info that folks spent 4 pages pontificating.
If there are similar setups on this island, that’s the best place to start for info. Not with us nut jobs that can only speculate from afar.

Not necessarily. The place to start is with the authority that rules. Who says the other trailer is legitimate.

I have buildings, decks and driveways around me that are not up to code. A neighbor has a driveway that is too close to the property line but it's grandfather in. Another has a garage built on the property line without the proper set back.

When I was building. I had to maintain 10 ft setbacks on my property lines and figured that into the plan yet forgot about the chimney chase. I had to get approval for it because it put that put of the structure closer than 10 ft. The trailer could be grandfathered or the trailer could possibly even be illegal. In that case op could even be bringing the heat down!!

Crazy things happen when it comes to property, code, ordinance etc. The final word rests with the controlling power. Get it in writing.

^ That was a key piece of info that folks spent 4 pages pontificating.
If there are similar setups on this island, that’s the best place to start for info. Not with us nut jobs that can only speculate from afar.

Thank you so much for the great comments and suggestions. I will absolutely check into regulations, and I will talk with the neighbor who has a trailer on their lot too. You have given me lots to go on and so much to think about. I appreciate it!

free radical wrote:

Urine and human waste is basicaly fertilizer,,maybe they could have a garden and use it there..
After all there are people who build so called Earthships houses off the grid and do the same thing,,reuse all waste water too..
Plenty of videos on YT btw on those if interested..

I'm not saying it's impractical or dangerous (quite the contrary in a rural setting where no one is likely to come into contact with it) but if the issue is regulations, a composting toilet is unlikely to solve the issue.

If the regulators don't care, lots of options open up. A simple dry well 50-100' away with a macerating pump to transport it could work if it's just weekend visits. Pump out at the end of the weekend and by the next weekend, the drywell will be ready for the next deposit. This would be a simpler and cheaper option.

Meg B wrote:
Thanks everyone!
We were thinking we'd build an outhouse and simply not use the toilet inside the travel trailer but I'll definitely check out the composting toilets, as well as the incinerating toilet which I hadn't heard of yet.
And as for regulations, I don't think we're supposed to leave the trailer there for any amount of time, but it wouldn't be visible from the road so I don't think anyone would be bothered by it...plus we could remove it if needed.
I don't see us building for another 10 to 20 years. Could a travel trailer hold up that long? I believe I read something elsewhere on the site about roof maintenance so I'll look that up too.
Thanks again!
Meg

If you couldnt leave a trailer there whats the point of having this property?
Where are you suposed to stay and live while building or just staying there camping hunting fishing etc??
Btw
If you build an outhouse make sure youre at least 100 feet from your water source..


https://youtu.be/hMdao5RB4jQ

valhalla360 wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

coolmom42 wrote:
You have to dump your septic waste somewhere, even if you have a trailer.

Not really with a composting toilet. While not my cup-of-tea, they are many out there that use them.

We had one on our boat but it still doesn't solve the issue if an inspector comes by. You still have to dispose of the urine every couple days and periodically dispose of the solids.

If they allow it getting power/water/septic on the site works but check the rules first. If the OP has to "barge" it over claiming it as a temporary camp site gets a bit questionable.

Urine and human waste is basicaly fertilizer,,maybe they could have a garden and use it there..
After all there are people who build so called Earthships houses off the grid and do the same thing,,reuse all waste water too..
Plenty of videos on YT btw on those if interested..

I will post only this. Laws, ordiances Zoning rules and such vary from place to place even within a single city or township you may have differences.

So you MUST find out if it is legal where you wish to park it. Alas, I can not answer that..

Some places have some Strange... Rules

Our family has a 20ac hideaway in Arkansas at the end of the so called county road. The road is really steep & narrow & our 5er would never get in.
Solution to our problem was to prefab a cabin in our shop . We tied the walls & rafters with screws then dissasembled & hauled to land from Dallas. Assembled, metal roof installed. No plumbing or electricity. We did have a residential propane refrigerato but its died years ago. Outhouse prefab bed also. Cabin been there now 46 years, just some maintenance ever now & then. We get water from a spring comeing out of a cave on property