Full-Time Alaska TT Living

[TjMurphy002]

Hi, I'm looking for some advice on getting a rig for up in Alaska. I currently live in the Palmer area, but I'll be moving up to Fairbanks next year abouts. I'm looking at 2 models, the Northwood Nash 22H and the Grand Design Imagine XLS 18RBE, and would like any advice anyone has to offer on whether these are good TTs to look at for full 4-season and extreme winter camping, what I could/should do to beef them up for the -40 temps I will experience in the interior, and any other advice you feel I need. I am a first time buyer. I have RV'd with family for years in Texas and summers in AK, but all of those trailers were fifth-wheels. I don't mind living small, and I'm used to dry cabin life, so going dry isnt an issue. I do plan to full-time for the next 3-4 years while I finish up my degree, but I probably won't be boondocking (moochdocking and rv parks for me).

The biggest questions I have are about insulation, keeping the pipes from freezing, and maintenance.

Thanks in advance!

[Grit_dog]

You sound like you’re putting serious thought into this which is good. But your future story keeps changing to suit what you think you want it to be to convince yourself this is a good idea. Which it still isn’t. Best of luck.
Love AK. Loved camping in AK. Would have hated both if I tried to do both full time in the depths of winter.

[Second_Chance]

TjMurphy002 wrote:

Second Chance wrote:
There is a Facebook page dedicated to this topic. It's called "WINTER RVing - Let's Stay Warm Together!" There are some very knowledgeable people over there. IMO, you will be hard-pressed to find a "normal" RV that can withstand the winter conditions in AK. They're just not designed and built for that. There are a few companies making what are sometimes called "mobile man camp" trailers for the oil field and pipeline workers. They're pretty basic, but have what you would need for a winter in AK.

Rob

Rob

I have seen the man camps made from shipping containers or big rigs. That is a bit out of my price range, but they are very cool. My step dad works up on the slope and some of his coworkers stay in similar setups. I know bigfoot is a beefy enough rv to handle that weather, but getting them in the states, used or otherwise, is more difficult than I'd originally thought these days.

Thanks for the FB link. I'll check that out for sure.

I'm not talking about that type of thing. The units I've seen are built on a regular, towable chassis and can be pulled by a 1-ton pickup without a permit. They just have everything insulated and configured to handle -40F.

Rob

[TjMurphy002]

agwill wrote:
It is nice to dream. But no running water or flushing toilet at 40 below. You can insulate the trailer by using straw bales all around and on top. You have to cover all with plastic also. You need a frame work on top to carry the weight of straw and the snow load. You need fresh air inlet and real heater. Lots to consider.

One of the reasons I'm concidering the Northwood is for the roof build. They can handle more weight because of the 16 inch centers, so I'm told, so I've been looking into that. I would definitely use hay as an insulator and I'd have to worry about voles because of that, which means using mint oil and irish spring soap to keep my hay from getting pests that could eat into my system. There's a ton to consider, I know. I'm not going into this lightly, which is why I appreciate any and all advice.
Are you saying the hay on top and bottom would need plastic lining? What do you suggest for that, a thick plastic or something just to keep water off?
As for the no water thing, I have family who will let me park on their property for extreme cold months (mid dec-feb), so I can use their washroom, and I dont mind living dry.
I want to give this a shot before giving up on it and getting another cabin. I move every year or so and moving expenses really arent much cheaper when they all stack up. I'd rather keep all my stuff with me and just drive when I'm ready to go. When I'm done with my degree, I'll move to warmer climates where the jobs are more available.

[TjMurphy002]

Second Chance wrote:
There is a Facebook page dedicated to this topic. It's called "WINTER RVing - Let's Stay Warm Together!" There are some very knowledgeable people over there. IMO, you will be hard-pressed to find a "normal" RV that can withstand the winter conditions in AK. They're just not designed and built for that. There are a few companies making what are sometimes called "mobile man camp" trailers for the oil field and pipeline workers. They're pretty basic, but have what you would need for a winter in AK.

Rob

Rob

I have seen the man camps made from shipping containers or big rigs. That is a bit out of my price range, but they are very cool. My step dad works up on the slope and some of his coworkers stay in similar setups. I know bigfoot is a beefy enough rv to handle that weather, but getting them in the states, used or otherwise, is more difficult than I'd originally thought these days.

Thanks for the FB link. I'll check that out for sure.

[TjMurphy002]

CA Traveler wrote:
Do a archive search for pianotuna who is knowlegable in this area.

I'm doubtful that you will find any RV suitable for extreme cold temps. You're lilely better off to rent.

I've found pianotuna on here before and have written down a lot of those tips. Pianotuna has/had a nash, which is one of the reasons im concidering that brand. Canada and Alaska have similar cold issues, depending on where you are.

[Grit_dog]

agwill wrote:
It is nice to dream. But no running water or flushing toilet at 40 below. You can insulate the trailer by using straw bales all around and on top. You have to cover all with plastic also. You need a frame work on top to carry the weight of straw and the snow load. You need fresh air inlet and real heater. Lots to consider.

I suppose the local Squarebanks Wally World would have no issue with something parked there that looks like a semi truck full of tarped hay bales for 6 months….lol.

[agwill]

It is nice to dream. But no running water or flushing toilet at 40 below. You can insulate the trailer by using straw bales all around and on top. You have to cover all with plastic also. You need a frame work on top to carry the weight of straw and the snow load. You need fresh air inlet and real heater. Lots to consider.

[Veebyes]

I can't imagine anything with wheels suitable or modifiable for the extremes of a Fairbanks winter. It takes a special breed of people to live in that climate no matter the accommodation.

[Second_Chance]

There is a Facebook page dedicated to this topic. It's called "WINTER RVing - Let's Stay Warm Together!" There are some very knowledgeable people over there. IMO, you will be hard-pressed to find a "normal" RV that can withstand the winter conditions in AK. They're just not designed and built for that. There are a few companies making what are sometimes called "mobile man camp" trailers for the oil field and pipeline workers. They're pretty basic, but have what you would need for a winter in AK.

Rob

Rob

[Grit_dog]

It would be slightly and only ever so slightly different if you were able to park it permanently from about Oct thru April and build a bomber insulated skirt, have full time unlimited shore power and have no desire to have running water or wet tanks, at all.

Wet is not even an option. But even though you say dry is fine you are asking about keeping pipes from freezing.
Move on to your plan B and ditch this one like a chick with herpes…

[Grit_dog]

No offense meant, but what you’re considering is not a sound plan. Period.
Especially if you are planning on moochdocking. RV parks ain’t open in AK in the winter.
After living up there as you have, your consideration for this seems about as big a departure from sound reasoning and judgement that I can think of.

Someone will come by here and tell you (and me) how it actually is possible. Well of course it is. It’s not truly 100% impossible. But it’s a very very poor decision.

PS if you’re asking, open ended, what you would need to do to “beef it up” you’re already starting out way behind the 8 ball with respect to your knowledge and ability to even think about making it as that small fraction of 1% that may actually pull it off (at considerable expense and even more considerable effort).

[CA_Traveler]

Do a archive search for pianotuna who is knowlegable in this area.

I'm doubtful that you will find any RV suitable for extreme cold temps. You're lilely better off to rent.