Which travel trailer to consider buying

[66newbie]

I am retiring soon and want to buy a travel trailer to park full time in my Phoenix daughter's back yard which already has trailer hookups. I am doing this so we can be snow birds in the winter. Since I will not be traveling with my trailer, just leaving it parked in the hot Phoenix weather, what features should I concentrate on and which ones are OK to largely ignore?

[mileshuff]

ncrowley wrote:
Get double paned windows, the largest air conditioner(s) you can get and insulated shades. External window covers work very well.

OP mentioned winter snow birding. Won't need much A/C from late October thru March. It's the storage in the blazing summer months that need consideration. I keep my 5'er in covered storage.

[Nutinelse2do]

Allworth wrote:
One feature you should check on is ZONING!

It may not be legal to live in a trailer on residential property for extended periods. Some jurisdictions count that as a second house, which is forbidden without the property being rezoned for a duplex.

It's not. It's against Maricopa County, and City of Phoenix regulations. You will get away with it, until someone complains. Depending where she lives in Phoenix, I give it a month at best.

[Allworth]

One feature you should check on is ZONING!

It may not be legal to live in a trailer on residential property for extended periods. Some jurisdictions count that as a second house, which is forbidden without the property being rezoned for a duplex.

[MarkTwain]

wing_zealot wrote:
You're going to live in a trailer in your daughters back yard in the winter? Good Luck with That!

Does the daughter's back yard have sewer dump or are you going to have to hook up and drive to a dump site every 10 days????

[wing_zealot]

You're going to live in a trailer in your daughters back yard in the winter? Good Luck with That!

[BubbaChris]

Most important feature will be insulation, especially the dual-pane windows. I'd also look for a true Queen sized bed, rather than an RV Queen. That way you can use regularly bedding.

Since you'll be living in it for months at a time, I'd also be very interested in the non-dining seating arrangement. Can you put a couple of recliners in it, and will they face the TV?

I have a large rear bath in my TT, and I cannot imagine spending as much time as you plan in an RV with a tiny bathroom. But that's my priority.

Another priority for me would be a stainless steel sink in the kitchen (or anything but basic plastic).

Since it is not moving, having a residential refrigerator would be nice.

Least important feature will be water and holding tank capacity. If you always have hook-ups, you can live with very small tanks. You also don't really have to worry as much about having an "enclosed underbelly." But having one would help a small amount with climate control.

[MarkTwain]

donn0128 wrote:
No matter what you picked, unless it is covered the summer sun and heat will do a number on it really fast. You will want tinted windows for sure.

There are storage facilities that are covered. About $100 per month. Or build or buy a RV shed like facility in your daughter's back yard. 120 deg. heat in Ariz. will do some serious damage to your rig:(

[ncrowley]

Get double paned windows, the largest air conditioner(s) you can get and insulated shades. External window covers work very well.

[Terryallan]

66newbie wrote:
I am retiring soon and want to buy a travel trailer to park full time in my Phoenix daughter's back yard which already has trailer hookups. I am doing this so we can be snow birds in the winter. Since I will not be traveling with my trailer, just leaving it parked in the hot Phoenix weather, what features should I concentrate on and which ones are OK to largely ignore?

You should think about a "Parks Model". They have regular house hold toletes. No holding tanks, no dumping, also have Elec fridg. Or you may just want to think about a mobile home.

at any rate get the largest AC you can.

[donn0128]

No matter what you picked, unless it is covered the summer sun and heat will do a number on it really fast. You will want tinted windows for sure.