Tell me about Park Models

I stayed in a RV park in the Dells wisc. that they were converting to a park model park. they would move the unit in which was basically a small cabin and usually would build an adjacent screened in porch the length of the park model. the porch could NOT be attached in any manner to the trailer. they were very substantial, virtually identical to a lake cabin, and much more desirable than an overgrown TT, but that's Just MHO. came close to buying one but the distance was too far to be able to get adequate use out of them.
bumpy

francheska wrote:
We purchased a Forest River destination trailer. Its called a Sandpiper. Its a 39' foot trailer with a bumper pull. We have a 16' and a 10' sideout. The refrigerator is a 120 volt only. The tanks are 50 gallon. It was
pulled onto our lot with a 1 ton dually. Plus we have a king sized bed. In over one year we have had no
problems or issues with our unit. It was way cheaper then some park models we looked at.

We have a trailer similar to francheska. Ours is a Wildwood Lodge 394FKDS made by Forest River. It is also called a destination trailer. It has an 18 1/2 cu. ft. house type refrigerator with ice maker and an apartment size kitchen range. It also has black & grey tanks just like a regular travel trailer. Ours is 40' 10" long so it is parked on a seasonal site. The owner of the dealership where we bought it towed it to our camp site using a 1 ton dually diesel pickup.

Wrace wrote:

Gdetrailer wrote:

My question is WHY do you want a Park Model?

I'm currently designing the home we will put on our retirement acreage/farm property and was getting depressed with the cost of the thing so far. I got to wondering if a park model would work given it's just my wife and I.

I don't know that I've ever seen an RV park model that was double wide like this claims to be. They claim it's all built to RV industry XYZ specifications. That's why I was asking if park models typically have the RV industry manufacturing serial number plate like the regular TT's do?

Do yourself a huge favor..

Buy regular new or used mobile home and place that on your property (assuming that your property "allows").

Overall it will be a better buy and will have for the most part better plumbing, electrical and for the most important part INSULATION..

Newer mobile homes tend to be insulated at todays higher standards, it will make a huge difference in the cost of heating and A/C.

A mobile home will give you considerably more space, real appliances (real important if you like good cooking) without the need for tipouts.

Cost to haul to your property is a one time cost since you can sell it after your house is built and the buyer pays to have it hauled off your property.

When I was buying my house there was a mobile on the land, bank wanted it off so I paid $200 for a hauler to move it 10 miles to my inlaws property. Eventually gave the mobile to DWs uncle who needed a replacement mobile since his was leaking badly..

Saw one of these "destination" style trailers going down the highway one day. Definitely a different look to it compared to what one commonly sees going down the highway(TT/5TH)

We purchased a Forest River destination trailer. Its called a Sandpiper. Its a 39' foot trailer with a bumper pull. We have a 16' and a 10' sideout. The refrigerator is a 120 volt only. The tanks are 50 gallon. It was
pulled onto our lot with a 1 ton dually. Plus we have a king sized bed. In over one year we have had no
problems or issues with our unit. It was way cheaper then some park models we looked at.

Gdetrailer wrote:

My question is WHY do you want a Park Model?

I'm currently designing the home we will put on our retirement acreage/farm property and was getting depressed with the cost of the thing so far. I got to wondering if a park model would work given it's just my wife and I.

I don't know that I've ever seen an RV park model that was double wide like this claims to be. They claim it's all built to RV industry XYZ specifications. That's why I was asking if park models typically have the RV industry manufacturing serial number plate like the regular TT's do?

We bought a park model when we were seasonal. We had a 12 wide that was 34 feet long. We had double loft for the kids to sleep, plenty of room, my daughter would have sleepovers with six people and the 2 boys had their own area. We had a full queen walk around roomy bedroom. There was a kitchen/dining area with a full fridge, stove and microwave and a living room with a sleep sofa and slider to the outside. It was made by Canterbury. The hitch was removed and put under it, 2 axles stayed on but the third was removed for the black tank, no grey tank, it was set on blocks. This was a great place for the ten years we had it, we got a lot of use out of it.

Other park models that are more camper like are about 104 inches wide and either 40 or 44 feet long. The slides on these generally are pushed out and set on bricks, many leak.

If you are not seasonal or or have property then you would most likely be interested. For the 12 wides you need a semi or large truck and a wide load sign.

I have owned a 40ft and a 44ft park models, 8'6" wide. They can be towed with a heavy duty pick-up, but that is the max width without special permits on the highway. They are generally not towed around, and have house type appliances. Some campgrounds do not allow 12 wides, and require black and gray tanks, which can be added to the park model. PM me if I can help with any questions.

Personally, I see no advantage to them other than them being cute and the residential sized appliances. Unless your a commercial hauler, you will have to hire someone to move it. The interior square footage is still going to be a max of 400 SF as in the largest 5h wheels. A 5th wheel of the same interior size has a lot of built in cabinets and storage underneath the floor of the trailer. It can be moved by anyone with a decent sized truck in any campground.
Be very sure about purchasing one. They're not as easy to resell as a 5th wheel.

Wrace wrote:
I've owned an RV since I was 17 years old (50 now) but I've never really looked into park models and had a few questions.

In looking around the internet it looks like there are two kinds, one that has the traditional RV skin and RV appliances, and one that looks to be built out of wood and other traditional home materials and has residential appliances, yes?

This one caught my eye though it is very expensive.
http://sftimes.co/?id=93&src=share_fb_new_93

http://www.canoebayescape.com/

That one is 14' wide and says it requires mobile home movers (and applicable permits) to have it moved to your site. What about the single wide park models, can they be moved with an appropriate sized pickup?

Do all of these park models have the actual RV manufacture placard on them? What are the typical length and height limits? I notice some of them have lofts and a taller roof line.

Thanks

My question is WHY do you want a Park Model?

If it simply to have more space then I think you are going to find most Park models WILL be way too heavy and or way to wide (exceeding 108" width in most states WILL AUTOMATICALLY REQUIRE PERMITS to move any item on public roads) to be towed via a pickup truck.

If it is to put into a PARK or on your own land then a Park model just might be the ticket.

Granted I do believe that there has been a few people towing SMALLER Park models I can't say that I have ever witnessed one in tow or in a RV park.

My suggestion is to keep your life simple, stick with ordinary RVs and skip the Park models. In the end you most likely will be happier not towing an over weight beast down the road..