work and camping..

Those are pretty nice, but none are sold around here. sigh...

I have a Coachman Catilina TT and went through last winter below zero for all of January and it did ok the water only froze when I left it for the weekend. From the research I've done the Sanibel 5th wheel series has the best insulating package out there they say its tested at -13 and stays about 72 inside. R52 insulation ceiling and subfloor heated tanks, which is why I'm buying one in about two weeks

I lived in a tt for a year in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. temps got down to -30. It just takes a lot of prpane to stay warm.

I camp while working in the sense that I'm a work camper, which isn't quite the same as what you're proposing. I take jobs specifically meant for RVers, where a RV site + utilities are included along with pay for working a seasonal job. I've been doing this for about 2 years now and greatly enjoyed the lifestyle. I set up these jobs in advance through phone interviews so by the time one ends, the next is lined up and ready to go. I'll space the jobs out enough so that I have time to travel and explore between them, like taking multiple "vacations" a year.

Wyoming winters will be tough. When I worked at an Amazon warehouse in Kansas for two of their peak seasons, by the end of the season in December it would be getting below freezing at night regular, and occasionally not get above freezing during the day. My trailer is not a 4 season, and I needed two electric heaters inside to keep the indoor temp 50 degrees warmer than it was outside. That was fine when it was 25 degrees outside, once it got into single digits which happened 3 or so times last year it was pretty miserable and I couldn't keep my plumbing from freezing up. I wrote a post about it on my blog and if you want to message me I'll share the link, I don't think it's allowed on posts like this.

For me, it was worth it for the great pay and I only had to endure those really cold temps for December, but I would think long and hard about doing it for a while winter in a climate where single digit and colder temps are normal. Whatever you decide I wish you the best of luck.

Have you considered a trailer or 5th wheel? We rejected the 5th wheel because we need the cap on the back of our truck and would be putting it on and off from April thru November. If you do not need a cap you could get either.

I am working on my third year living in the RV. Work 6 days a week. Last winter was tough. My RV,s limit was when we had consecutive days with single digit temps. I ended up shutting things down and stayed in a Hotel for 5 weeks. It was actually a nice change. A nice warm room, long showers and actually appreciated cable tv for a while. I did miss the BBQ. I hope this winter is not like the last. Im definitely getting a larger propane tank. $300.00 a week Hotel bill hurt the pocket book a bit, but for only a short time. Amazing, after selling the S&B,s , I still have no urge to buy a home or rent an apartment.

well, we have decided that I'll get an apartment near work. But, we will be getting a 5er in 2016 no matter what because we really want the kids to experience the nation.

we still have to buy a house next year so we gotta finance that more than anything else. THEN, we can work on the camper issue.

Up here it's common amongst construction workers on remote or out of town sites to live in 'bunkies'. They are almost always built on the frame of a junked TT but sometimes on a car trailer or other repurposed trailer.

They are stick built with 2" x 4" lumber (with lots of wind bracing LOL) and plywood with spray foam insulation and residential windows. They are built with all the plumbing on the warm side and ample heating. Some are heated with propane, some with electricity. Usually they are clad with agricultural style metal roofing and siding with extra screws and trim to make them transportable without issue.

Most of them are pretty austere but I know of several with big screen tv's and lots of luxury too. It's really not difficult to fit everything you need into an 8' x 20' or 25' unit if you stick with the basics and pass on space-wasters like dinettes and use an E-W bed or Murphy Bed.

If you're handy they are also a LOT less expensive than a standard RV is.

I know several guys who live in them year-round without any problem or discomfort at all.

2RR2NV wrote:

jesseannie wrote:
I worked out of town on commercial construction jobs for many years. I stayed in my travel trailer that I kept at a long term park full hookups. When it got too cold and things started freezing up I took the trailer home and rented a room at a motel. I would get 8 1/2 to 9 months in the TT. I saved so much money and wear and tear on my car and body that I could afford the room in the winter.
I love being in the TT so much more than a room I could not wait for spring to come so I could get the TT out again.
BTW you can write off the cost of the camping fees and meals on your income tax. NOT the cost of the RV however.
jesseannie

that sounds pretty cool, but then I'd have to pay for both the camper and a room during the winter months. OOOOOWWWW!!

It is not all about economics, although that is a big part of it. I had a job 160 miles from home for many months, my rig got 16 MPG not towing. If I drove everyday that was 20 gallons of gas or $70. per day. That is about $1400.00 per month. I paid 350.00 for the rv space per month and cut my gas bill by 1300 bucks.
Then you have got to consider a long commute in the snowy. crappy winter conditions. My lovely would NOT let me come home everyday because it was so stressful on both of us. AND in addition my productivity was way better with a good nights sleep and breakfast in my "tin house" In the winter my lovely would cook extra meals and freeze them. I would have a weeks worth of meals in the cooler so all I had to do was Microwave them.
In my situation my employer was giving me a small per diem for working out of town so that was pocket money.
For me it was a "no brainer" I hated being away from my lovely four nights a week for 5 years but it was a good job.
jesse

jesseannie wrote:
I worked out of town on commercial construction jobs for many years. I stayed in my travel trailer that I kept at a long term park full hookups. When it got too cold and things started freezing up I took the trailer home and rented a room at a motel. I would get 8 1/2 to 9 months in the TT. I saved so much money and wear and tear on my car and body that I could afford the room in the winter.
I love being in the TT so much more than a room I could not wait for spring to come so I could get the TT out again.
BTW you can write off the cost of the camping fees and meals on your income tax. NOT the cost of the RV however.
jesseannie

that sounds pretty cool, but then I'd have to pay for both the camper and a room during the winter months. OOOOOWWWW!!