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apple61275's avatar
apple61275
Explorer
Sep 08, 2014

Becoming a Full Year-round Camper in Upstate NY-need advice?

So I am planning on selling my home and living in a 20-23' camper which I have not yet purchased but looking. I live in Upstate NY where it snows alot and can get below zero in winter. I am currently working on a degree so I have to stay here for another 1-1 1/2 years after which I plan to travel with my camper and hopefully settle in a warmer climate. I am planning on insulating the exterior of the trailer, that is go right over the exterior with foam insulation then cover with metal roofing and install small energy efficient windows and door in place of the typical trailer ones. I also plan to build an angled metal roof. I am considering getting a wood stove installed and using a combination of wood and propane for heat-if thats possible. I am considering a compost or incinerator toilet and getting solar panels on roof, also a tankless water heater. I basically want the trailer to be capable of off grid if needed but also be on grid if electric and water are possible-one big issue is where I will park it. Warmer months-April-Oct. I can use campgrounds but Nov.-March my only options may be to rent an outside lot without any water or electric hook-up or rent a space inside a heated barn or other storage. I am trying to set up the trailer to work for both situations. I also need to buy a tow vehicle that I will also use for basic transportation, wondering if a Jeep Grand Cherokee would work? prefer an SUV over a truck but will consider a small size truck if needed especially since I plan to eventually tow quite frequently. Any advice for this novice would be appreciated

36 Replies

  • HappyKayakers wrote:
    Advice? Rent an apartment or room until you're ready to leave NY, then buy an RV and travel.


    Or sell the home, buy the RV and transfer to a college in a warmer climate where you don't have to spend all those $$ in hopes of being able to get through an upstate NY winter.
  • Wow! It seems like an awful lot of work. I am trying to visualize your project. When you say that you want to cover the TT with spray foam and then siding and new windows....is that directly onto the TT?
    Having owned farms, I really doubt you will be able to rent an indoor space to live, as a barn. Insurance policies would not allow that. We were to remove batteries/gas if we stored anything in the barn, then you have propane also.
    You have a lot to think about. I don't want to spoil your enthusiasm but I would think it might be both financially, physically and emotionally exhausting.
    Good luck with whatever you do.
  • I do not think you can do it. How will you dump the toilet, Bathe etc. It will be to cold to dump the holding tanks and if you leave the valves open then the SH-- will accumulate at the bottom of the tank. The condensation inside the trailer will be a huge iitem.
    Where will you park the thing without running afoul of some ordinance.

    I am in thousand Islands area in the summer and use to live in Syracuse, NY. It cannot be done comfortably.
    Sell the home rent a room and have a comfortable place to study without having to do many things to survive. You grades will be better and you will not have to worry about asphyxiation or pneumonia.
  • Advice? Rent an apartment or room until you're ready to leave NY, then buy an RV and travel.