Helpful tips to full timing in a camper appreciated

[Bigbobsaget]

So me and my girl friend lost the place we were renting due to the landlord having a financial melt down. It was the cheapest place we could find so now we are staying with my family so we can save money.
I have no debt besides my truck which is nearly paid off. The lady and I both have low end but full time jobs but I see this as the chance we need to move and maybe travel.
I have no idea what kind of camper I need. My family told me we can use it on their land even its just a matter of finding the right one.
So here's a list of what I need. Maybe someone else here full times and can point me in the right direction.
Firstly. I have a 2004 half ton Dodge Ram 2wd with the 4.7. So I need something that's not huge. That being said I intend on getting a 2500 or at least a newer 1500 pickup once we get the trailer paid off and definitely before any long range traveling is done.

Second thing is I need something that can be used during winter since it will be a full time living establishment. Will the water need to be shut off during cold days and nights even in the optimum camper? I need something that can be left unintended during the day.
Thirdly will be price. We will be looking at smaller campers due to weight and price. I'm sure most brand new 13000 dollar 17-20 foot trailers likely are not rated for winter use but I could be wrong.
Anyhow sorry for the novel. Any tips for a new comer is welcomed!

[JAC1982]

Honest question... if 500/month is considered a "fortune" to you, how do you plan on paying for this camper? And not just the initial cost, but the maintenance and licensing costs as well?

I guess I'm just not seeing how renting an apartment that is only 1/4 of your income is considered to be so much of a hardship that you'd rather spend your winters freezing in a travel trailer? People in other parts of the country pay much larger portions of their incomes to rent, and still seem to make it work.

[Bigbobsaget]

Yeah. Can't find anything with utilities for that cheap. Where I was at previously was 300 per month for rent, electric and water I couldn't complain even if the place was caving in.

Anyhow Iv read of people full timing it and it doesn't seem to be the sterotypcial white trash folk that movies depict it to be. I guess mobility and weather resistance doesn't go hand in hand with a budget. Lol

If I end up buying a travel trailer I'll post pictures. I go to save either way.

[boosTT]

Campers are tiny... think 30'x8'... that is 240 square feet that is drafty and the windows will fog up. Plus a lot of up keep. It's not like a solid house frame. It's Styrofoam and glue.

You would be way better off in a $500ish/month apartment.

[TomG2]

The only way that I would live in a travel trailer in the Midwest Winters would be if it was parked in a heated garage. The Summers are not that much better. Figure on the air conditioner roaring every hour the sun is shining.

[Nutinelse2do]

If you can get an apartment for $500 a month, plus utilities, that would be a better option, and much more comfortable.

X2, what 2oldman said.

[Bigbobsaget]

Well ****. Lol apartments are a fortune around here 500 plus for rent then utilities ontop of it. The fiancée and I only have a income of 1800 - 2000 a month. I just want to own something. Perhaps use the travel trailer as a home until money can be saved for a home or a trip to better pastures.
I meant travel trailers and not truck bed campers.
Also I figured I could get propane refilled at the propane place in my town it's only around 150 a gallon or less. I figured a small tank would only hold 5 to 10 gallons which equates to 15 dollars though my math is likely off since since small tanks likely have higher rate.
Thanks piano tuna I'll read up on the thread once I get off work.
I was thinking of a Arctic Fox trailer since they have a goof reputation.
Anyhow maybe I can save up for a house instead I just don't want to be tied down to one area.
Also my father told me I could even get the electric company to install electric out there for it so maybe that would limit my propane needs?

[pianotuna]

Hi,

There is a great thread on winter camping in the full time forum. I suggest you read it carefully.

Winter camping

On October 15, 2015 I used 20 KWH for all my needs. That pretty much maxes out a 15 amp circuit.

In November with a mild winter that had jumped to 80 KWH per day.

My RV is highly modified for cold weather use.

[rockhillmanor]

X2
Full timing in an RV is NOT cheap. Even if you park it.

I would look into a Mobile Home Park and buy a used one or rent one. That would take care of ALL the problems you will have with cold weather in an RV trailer, and all the other expenditures associated with towing, parking, living in an RV.

[beemerphile1]

Find an apartment or continue living with family and friends. While it appears romantic and fascinating, living in an RV is not cheap. Most that fulltime follow the sun and stay in a comfortable climate year round.

Cheap RVs cannot handle fulltime use and virtually no RV does well in cold weather.

[DutchmenSport]

2chiefsRus wrote:
Do not mean to be a downer, but in Missouri, in the winter, it would very likely be cheaper to live in an apartment or a mobile home.

My thoughts exactly. Heating a camper in the cold months will cost a fortune.

We use our camper at home (driveway camp), and in the winter we heat it sometimes with a combination of electric space heaters and propane. When heating like this, it's not uncommon to run through a 30 pound propane tank in 5 days. Just had one filled up last week, it was $29.00 Multiply that for 30 days and that's $174 a month for heat only. Not to mention electric usage to run the space heater too.

[2oldman]

You're not 'fulltiming', you're "living in a trailer."

[DownTheAvenue]

2chiefsRus wrote:
Do not mean to be a downer, but in Missouri, in the winter, it would very likely be cheaper to live in an apartment or a mobile home.

This is very good advice. RV's are not meant to be lived in fulltime and certainly not in extreme climates. Even experienced Rvers have difficulties in extreme climates and managing and maintaining their Rv's for fulltime. It seems like an easy and cheap thing to do but it isn't. Anyone with limited funds, as you seem to have, should not even consider it.

[trail-explorer]

trail-explorer wrote:

Bigbobsaget wrote:
I have no idea what kind of camper I need.

Camper, as in "truck camper" or a travel trailer (since you mention 17-20' range as a size)?

There's a good discussion about small trailers going on over in the truck camper section, where a few people are talking about smaller trailers.

Who all has more than one RV?

Me, I'd go for a bunk house, because you gain a lot more storage space in the bunk section. It's like two gigantic shelves.

Here's another discussion:

BRAND CROSS OVERS ?

[2chiefsRus]

Do not mean to be a downer, but in Missouri, in the winter, it would very likely be cheaper to live in an apartment or a mobile home.

[trail-explorer]

Bigbobsaget wrote:
I have no idea what kind of camper I need.

Camper, as in "truck camper" or a travel trailer (since you mention 17-20' range as a size)?