Hi Everybody,After several awful apartment experiences and $$$ wasted we have finally said goodbye to apartment renting and have decided to buy and live in an RV, more particularly, a travel trailer. (I'm not sure if this is the best sub-forum to ask TT hunting questions so please pardon me if so.)Since we're pretty much jumping in with both feet there's a quite a bit of anxiety as to what to buy, consider, and prepare for involving RV maintenance and security. We've been looking at a number of reviews and I was curious what the census was for brands and quality etc. There's a few sites out there ranting about severe cracks and leaks with their RVs and how they can quickly become a nightmare. Granted, in buying a TT we don't anticipate a whole lot of mechanical issues but these kind of reviews have been on my mind. There are just so many brands available out there. We're not weekend warriors, we're going to be full-timers and was wondering if there's any school of thought as to what we might consider before we buy. Our biggest concern is we want to purchase something that will hold up to constant use. We don't plan on traveling a whole lot but don't want tank issues etc.I've been studying RV this and that since February but this is a big endeavor and was wondering if there are brands that would be worth considering over others for the application of living versus vacationing. That and if there's questions regarding the TT's build that I could ask a dealer to help know if I'm making a sound decision.Kind of a mouthful, but thanks for reading and for any personal experience in regards to shopping for a travel trailer. Any feedback is appreciated. :)

Hi from Dallas. After living thru winter 2013 in our fiver in Troutdale, I have to say unless you plan to move to a warmer climate during the winter, it is a bad idea! Recreational vehicles are not well insulated, generally have inefficient furnaces and generally are are horrible in extremes. Not to mention that most are built for occasional (recreational) use. Very few can withstand full time living without a lot of constant maaintenance. And, living in a full time RV park is not cheap! Park rent alone will cost you 300 to 500 a month, plus electricity and propane. All for roughly 300 to 350 sq ft of living space.As an alternative look at a park model. While not movable per se,it would offer more floor space, storage, better insulation and residential appliances, for overall lower costs.

From my perspective, travel trailers, and most RV's, are not built for full time living. Just not built for quality - often, quality adds weight, and RV's try and stay light.I would look at a "Park Model". They are built for what you are planning to do.

You might want to contact the RV Consumer Group, www.rv.org, for their recommendations what what type of RV is more appropriate for full-timing. As I remember only 5ers and Class A's meet their requirements and not all of them do.Makes for interesting reading even if you don't follow the advice.I wonder if there is a survey of full-timers as to what type of rig they use ie. Class A, 5er, TT, etc.

Without some prior experience with travel trailers, you shouldn't go full time. Do you have a game plan for where you are going to park a trailer for full time living? Have you calculated the costs? Are you prepared to deal with any issues caused by freezing temperatures...especially fresh water lines, etc.? I don't think anyone wants to "rain on your parade", but if you haven't had some experience with RV's, you could be in for a lot of surprises and added costs that you haven't anticipated. And, what do you have for a tow vehicle? That could be a real problem in getting a trailer big enough to live in full time and in cold weather (4 season trailers are heavier).But, to answer your question, you want a 4 season trailer or fifth wheel. You are out west, so Arctic Fox would be a good company to start with.

Just to throw out another thought: renting an apartment and renting a site at an RV Park are probably not that different. If your issues with apartments have been problem neighbors (aka too close for comfort), nitpicky landlords, rates higher than you think it's worth, inability to do what you want, etc., then an RV Park is probably going to be the same.If your issues with apartments have been more on the side of things breaking down, slow reaction time by landlord, etc., then depending on your financial situation, you might find yourself in the same boat. Also, if something goes wrong and you can't fix it yourself, you may have to take the trailer to the shop - and then you lose your home for the duration of the repair.Many people go into the idea of living in an RV as a way to reduce expenses, etc. This is rarely a realistic solution for that.

Buying A New Travel Trailer...Yikes! | Good Sam Community

rbpru
Explorer II
May 19, 2015
Wincrasher,

I agree, the members of the board give their opinions regardless of the motives of the OP; though some OPs seem to be in problems of their own doing. Still it cost nothing to offer an opinion. I do not see anything to be gained by Trolling.

As for trailer size, for the type of travel we do our 25 ft. with slide is perfect. However 4 or 5 weeks are my limit. I have many hobbies to tend to besides RVing. I am still waiting for the 25 footer with a basement for my work shop.
wincrasher65
Explorer
May 19, 2015
Why are people so jaded? Who cares what the OP's motivations are? If you can contribute to the question, then do so. If not, then please just shut up.

I for one, have lived in motorhomes and TT's, and 5th wheels for years. I use one as my lodgings for working at job locations. Sometimes I'm there for years at a time, some times just months. It's very convenient, and if you do it right, you can enjoy the feeling of being on vacation while you are working.

By far, I like the travel trailer the best. It's just easier to keep up with. Less to maintain, less to clean and less room for junk to accumulate. If you need to move often, then it's far easier to deal with on setup, teardown and hauling.

That all said, you need to pay for quality. A cheap trailer is just that, a cheap trailer and can lead to lots of issues of breakages, heating and cooling. I HIGHLY recommend the Oliver for full timing, four season performance. I did an extensive review on my blog that you might like to look at. I'll warn you that it is a trailer that is on the small side. But I find it's comfortable, and built like a tank:

http://wincrasher.blogspot.com/2015/02/my-new-2015-oliver-legacy-elite-ii.html

http://wincrasher.blogspot.com/2015/03/video-review-of-oliver-legacy-elite-ii.html
pappcam
Explorer
May 19, 2015
proxim2020 wrote:
The guy didn't seem like a troll to me. If he had started a gas vs diesel or brand bashing thread that would be different. The OP came here with very basic questions and seemed like he was seeking very basic answers. It appeared that he's in a very complicated stage in his life and wanted to keep it private. It was only after he refused to answer questions about his personal situation did people start accusing him of being a troll.

I realize that but it seemed odd to half explain his current predicament so as to make it sound fishy. If he would have just asked about full timing and not got into his strange explanations as to why he wanted to full time he surely would have had better luck in getting better answers to his questions.

I just found the story odd right away but I guess I should have stuck to the topic at hand.
Community Alumni
May 19, 2015
The guy didn't seem like a troll to me. If he had started a gas vs diesel or brand bashing thread that would be different. The OP came here with very basic questions and seemed like he was seeking very basic answers. It appeared that he's in a very complicated stage in his life and wanted to keep it private. It was only after he refused to answer questions about his personal situation did people start accusing him of being a troll.
Doug33
Explorer
May 18, 2015
I just can't understand why a forum specific to RVing would have trolls. I can see forums for sports or politics, but something as specific as RVs? Who would come on this type of forum to troll?
2012Coleman
Explorer II
May 15, 2015
BubbaChris wrote:
Focus on the problem, not the personality.

If you feel strongly the OP is a troll, the best option is to move along without feeding it.

The other real benefit of that approach is the thread can live on (in Search) as a helpful collection of suggestions for other people who might consider an RV as an alternative to traditional housing.
DOH!
BubbaChris
Explorer
May 14, 2015
Focus on the problem, not the personality.

If you feel strongly the OP is a troll, the best option is to move along without feeding it.

The other real benefit of that approach is the thread can live on (in Search) as a helpful collection of suggestions for other people who might consider an RV as an alternative to traditional housing.
Doug33
Explorer
May 14, 2015
The issue that would be the biggest concern to me if we were to full time it in our TT, is the bathroom. I can deal with it up to a week at a time, but it becomes cramped and inconvenient. There's no room to move around, the cabinets have limited storage space, the mirror is tiny, and getting in and out of a smaller tub enclosure (and turning around in it) are a hassle. And at 6' tall, I basically max out with clearance for my head. And as much as I would get tired of using the bathroom, I can't imagine DW dealing with a small bathroom for months on end.

And my bathroom is bigger than some of the ones I've seen in other models! Certainly bathrooms in 5'ers can be more like a house bathroom.

the other issue may be the bed, depending on its size and mattress. In some TTs you may be able to upgrade, and in others, maybe the size is limited.
pappcam
Explorer
May 13, 2015
captnjack wrote:
AirForceAngler wrote:
I smell a troll. Someone that makes "executive salary", has trouble with EVERY apartment they've had, spent $2400/month in rent and $4000 in hotels and can't buy or rent a decent house, but wants to live in a TT?

Sorry, something's just not adding up.

I'm with you. The whole thing seems ridiculous to me.

The OP has responded a bunch of times and the situation is more confusing than ever.

12 apartments in 12 months? What came up in a month (12 separate times) that couldn't be figured out in advance (at least one of those times)?

Good salary yet no suitable home to buy or rent anywhere in the area? NOT ONE?

And yet somehow living in a trailer is going to be the answer?

No way. I'm sorry, but no way. Unless mental illness is involved. In which case I am sorry for their troubles and apologize.

Yeah, I sensed a troll a while ago.

None of it makes sense.
2012Coleman
Explorer II
May 13, 2015
Oh - he got out of that one!

I know who this guy is! Homer Simpson