winter capable travel trailers, older models
A young relative of my son-in-laws family has asked about a travel trailer he could buy and live in for two years while starting medical school. He has limited funds and has found a park where he can ...
Forum Discussion
i wish i would of done the r.v. experience while going to school. i would of had some funds to socialize...
my cost of an apartment ran over $1200/month by the time the month was over.. this included food... so if i would of bought a r.v. which i later did. comparing my living expenses, i would of saved over $350/month... this is including the cost of payments on the new r.v.
i would recommend double pane windows, a roof strong enough to walk on. (won't need plywood to walk on while doing maintenance and in case of a snow load). heated basement, to keep tanks /water lines from freezing. 50 amp service for electric heaters and dual ac units in the summer, depending on the size of the rv. buy heat tape for water supply, having frozen water lines in the morning is a big pain...
if the rv is large enough, having a washer/dryer is handy, so you don't have to spend your off time at a laundry... a work station to study at... (can get rid of some furniture to make room).... put the silver bubble pack under the bed/mattress. i used the fuzzy blankets glued to 1" foam panels, then glued them to the walls around the bed.... made a large difference in comfort when it got real cold or hot outside..
i had aluminum siding and wall studs, they conduct/transfer heat/cold quickly.. wood construction or laminate would be more resistant to heat/cold transfer... my next rv will be foam laminate construction.. as thick as possible. so i can get away with smaller fuel tanks/ac units...
on the newer rv's consider heat pump hvac units, with resistance heat backup, they are very quiet compared to the furnace systems. also the a/c only/ aka house refrigerators cost less to replace, work better and weigh a whole lot less than the gas/elec absorption refrigerators. get the arctic insulation package.
use these suggestions whether looking for new or used.
always check for mold, soft floors and doors rubbing on frames. smell the unit, for odors... gas, mold, sewer leaks, smokers film or unit not kept clean...
if buying a used rv, toss the mattress, have upholstery cleaned or recovered...
good luck, study well, enjoy.
also mentioned above, leave the grey water drains open. until the day before dumping the black tank. i dumped the black tank every 2-3 weeks, used the grey water to flush the lines of the black water. then added a few gallons of water to the black water tank then poured 1 tablespoon powdered septic tank enzyme in the bowl, for the first flush... never had any odor issues or buildup in the tank.. gauges still worked when i sold the unit 12 years later...
my cost of an apartment ran over $1200/month by the time the month was over.. this included food... so if i would of bought a r.v. which i later did. comparing my living expenses, i would of saved over $350/month... this is including the cost of payments on the new r.v.
i would recommend double pane windows, a roof strong enough to walk on. (won't need plywood to walk on while doing maintenance and in case of a snow load). heated basement, to keep tanks /water lines from freezing. 50 amp service for electric heaters and dual ac units in the summer, depending on the size of the rv. buy heat tape for water supply, having frozen water lines in the morning is a big pain...
if the rv is large enough, having a washer/dryer is handy, so you don't have to spend your off time at a laundry... a work station to study at... (can get rid of some furniture to make room).... put the silver bubble pack under the bed/mattress. i used the fuzzy blankets glued to 1" foam panels, then glued them to the walls around the bed.... made a large difference in comfort when it got real cold or hot outside..
i had aluminum siding and wall studs, they conduct/transfer heat/cold quickly.. wood construction or laminate would be more resistant to heat/cold transfer... my next rv will be foam laminate construction.. as thick as possible. so i can get away with smaller fuel tanks/ac units...
on the newer rv's consider heat pump hvac units, with resistance heat backup, they are very quiet compared to the furnace systems. also the a/c only/ aka house refrigerators cost less to replace, work better and weigh a whole lot less than the gas/elec absorption refrigerators. get the arctic insulation package.
use these suggestions whether looking for new or used.
always check for mold, soft floors and doors rubbing on frames. smell the unit, for odors... gas, mold, sewer leaks, smokers film or unit not kept clean...
if buying a used rv, toss the mattress, have upholstery cleaned or recovered...
good luck, study well, enjoy.
also mentioned above, leave the grey water drains open. until the day before dumping the black tank. i dumped the black tank every 2-3 weeks, used the grey water to flush the lines of the black water. then added a few gallons of water to the black water tank then poured 1 tablespoon powdered septic tank enzyme in the bowl, for the first flush... never had any odor issues or buildup in the tank.. gauges still worked when i sold the unit 12 years later...
