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]

Juno?
Spell much?

This is just getting dumb now. OP wants to use a travel trailer to winter over in Fairbanks.
Wasn’t a good idea when he first posted it and never will be. End of story.

[JaxDad]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

Grit dog wrote:
No offense meant, but what you’re considering is not a sound plan.

Well, maybe in Juno ! Large city, far south and near the coast.

I think you’d be shocked at how many people in northern Alaska and Canada’s Yukon Territory live year-round in something like this. Smaller footprint, smaller heat requirements.

I know dozens who live in stuff like this in Nome.

[theoldwizard1]

Grit dog wrote:
No offense meant, but what you’re considering is not a sound plan.

Well, maybe in Juno ! Large city, far south and near the coast.

[Grit_dog]

Dang! I need to put up a yurt out in the woods behind the house and put it on Air BnB!

[JaxDad]

Grit dog wrote:
Would be cool to see some pics/details. I’ll never build my own camper from scratch. No interest, but I build about everything else and this is interesting.

I’ll ask for some pics, I just saw them on his phone.

I agree, I’m building a truck conversion (Super C) currently but what he built I would best describe as a homemade park model, not at all intended to be a ‘camper’ in the travelling sense of the term and of zero use or interest to me. Well, not other than what citiots pay for ‘glamping’ rentals that is. A neighbour is getting +$300 / night for a Yurt on his farm…..

[Grit_dog]

Would be cool to see some pics/details. I’ll never build my own camper from scratch. No interest, but I build about everything else and this is interesting.

[JaxDad]

Grit dog wrote:
^Sounds quite optimistic on weight, but idk. I didn’t build it.
Is it fully finished inside or mostly a shell with minimal features/buildout?

I wondered about weight too, but then I looked up a local company that sells ‘Amish built’ sheds known to be sturdily built, they list an 8’ X 12’ (half the size) and with wood siding and shingles not steel as being 1,600 pounds, so that would be 3,200 pounds for 8’ X 24’ leaving about 1,800 pounds for insulation and interior finishing, etc, which seems reasonable.

I’ve not seen it in person, just in pictures, it’s an ‘open concept’ kinda thing, there is a pair of wing walls that divide the bathroom / bedroom from the kitchen / living area but not all the way up to the cathedral ceiling / roof level.

[Grit_dog]

^Sounds quite optimistic on weight, but idk. I didn’t build it.
Is it fully finished inside or mostly a shell with minimal features/buildout?

[JaxDad]

Grit dog wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

TjMurphy002 wrote:
The biggest questions I have are about insulation, keeping the pipes from freezing, and maintenance.

Thanks in advance!

A pilot friend who lives in a very cold area of northern Canada finally gave up on commercially available RV’s and built his own. He says the difference is night & day!!

It is if I recall correctly, 8’ X 24’, built with a 2” X 4” frame with spray foam insulation, residential windows and steel cladding. Heat is from a pair of diesel-fired truck heaters. Plumbing is all PEX tubing designed to be blown clear on a regular basis.

He says from both a quality and efficacy point of view he has a *far* superior product and at a far lower cost to boot.

I’m sure it’s very cozy! And likely very well built.
But that’s a huge undertaking in the context of the OP and something I don’t get the feeling is a reality for him, on multiple fronts.
Big question is what’s your buddy’s camper weigh? I could see maxing out a 14k 24’ flatbed.
He built a tiny home and a good one by the sounds of it.
There are some good suggestions here, contrary to my last tongue in cheek response.
But unlike some who like to just come here to pontificate or think outside the box or not consider the whole picture when making a suggestion, I try to do none of those things as the most helpful response is the most honest thought out one!

It was built on-site by a local carpenter on top of a cut down 8’ park model frame, he said it weighs about half the GVWR of the frame, roughly 5k pounds. He said he was originally go with 8’ X 16’, the largest prebuilt garden shed available, but the carpenter pointed out to him that the over-priced commercial product would actually be more expensive than the 8’ (50%) longer custom built product.

[Grit_dog]

JaxDad wrote:

TjMurphy002 wrote:
The biggest questions I have are about insulation, keeping the pipes from freezing, and maintenance.

Thanks in advance!

A pilot friend who lives in a very cold area of northern Canada finally gave up on commercially available RV’s and built his own. He says the difference is night & day!!

It is if I recall correctly, 8’ X 24’, built with a 2” X 4” frame with spray foam insulation, residential windows and steel cladding. Heat is from a pair of diesel-fired truck heaters. Plumbing is all PEX tubing designed to be blown clear on a regular basis.

He says from both a quality and efficacy point of view he has a *far* superior product and at a far lower cost to boot.

I’m sure it’s very cozy! And likely very well built.
But that’s a huge undertaking in the context of the OP and something I don’t get the feeling is a reality for him, on multiple fronts.
Big question is what’s your buddy’s camper weigh? I could see maxing out a 14k 24’ flatbed.
He built a tiny home and a good one by the sounds of it.
There are some good suggestions here, contrary to my last tongue in cheek response.
But unlike some who like to just come here to pontificate or think outside the box or not consider the whole picture when making a suggestion, I try to do none of those things as the most helpful response is the most honest thought out one!

[wowens79]

I thought the purpose of wheels on an RV was to go south when it turns cold :).

While getting your degree have you thought of a school in a warmer climate? Come down to the south for school 9 months of the year, then head back to AK when it is blazing hot in the south. 🙂

Good luck and be careful, the idea of hay and snow on top of a camper seems like a chance to get crushed.

[JaxDad]

TjMurphy002 wrote:
The biggest questions I have are about insulation, keeping the pipes from freezing, and maintenance.

Thanks in advance!

A pilot friend who lives in a very cold area of northern Canada finally gave up on commercially available RV’s and built his own. He says the difference is night & day!!

It is if I recall correctly, 8’ X 24’, built with a 2” X 4” frame with spray foam insulation, residential windows and steel cladding. Heat is from a pair of diesel-fired truck heaters. Plumbing is all PEX tubing designed to be blown clear on a regular basis.

He says from both a quality and efficacy point of view he has a *far* superior product and at a far lower cost to boot.

[Grit_dog]

liamricci wrote:
Just following. Tons of great tips here

Like “Don’t do it?” Lol

[liamricci]

Just following. Tons of great tips here. If i think about my future, i always imagine myself traveling the world with my kiddos and a newer RV.
I already found a website where they writing papers for money https://paperfellows.com/papers-for-money and my goal would be to join their team. This kinda of job probably doesn't pay a fortune, still i can provide for my family without spending 40 hours a week in a boring office.