Picking a TT for live aboard

[rechtien]

Time may be coming to need a small inexpensive place to stay for a year due to military move away from the family. I am considering a TT as opposed to a small apartment. My last and only TT was an 08 Rockwood Roo 233 which i sold a couple years ago.

TV - 2017 Silverado with cargo rated at 1573 per my sticker. 3.42 gears, 5.3L stock. Already have an Airlift ultimate kit to go in, will have a WD hitch although have not purchased yet.

Goals- wife and kids will be living 8 hours away. Will not be towing back and forth. Wouldnt mind enough room for them to stay although i imagine i will do most the driving back on fourth due to school and work for wife and kids. I would like a place with a single queen bed and living room area. 24-27 feet and within the tow rating of my truck and hopefully a slide. No super cold weather or snow areas but it does get hot in central Texas. Looking for used. Budget in the $7500 range although not firm there.

Suggestions? Never looked for a model like this. Any feedback appreciated.

[rechtien]

Ram - thanks for that link. Love the listings with floor plans. Very familiar with the area as I have been stationed at Fort Hood in 2004 and Fort Sam in 97-98 and again in 11-12.

Dennis - I saw the same. Will at least give me a place to get set up, I dont mind moving later. The luxury of being by myself is traveling light. A bit of field gear, clothing but not much else. I can move or they can extend me. I have some friends here at Bliss who mentioned something similar and said essentially if there is someone wanting in and no room, the oldest trailer gets the boot. It rarely happens. Will ask around for Hood.

All - anyone with history on crankyape.com? They have a lot in Georgetown, TX, about 35 minutes from Hood. Auction type site. Guessing it is a crapshoot. Saw some older reviews with hit and miss. Luckily they let you self inspect so when I get to the area I can stop by and take a look.

[Dennis_Smith]

Go to the ft hood web site, 90 day limit they may grant extension. 375 a month for a back in site, I wouldn't want to know I might have to move in 90 days. We have stayed in lots of military rv parks. Great deal but we have not seen any permanent folks in them

[RamRider]

Check out used RV's at http://www.pplmotorhomes.com New Braunfels is not far away from Hood, Also I would look at RV parks in Cove or Belton rather then Killeen.

[rechtien]

I have not called ahead yet as plans are not final. Report date later this year. After 20 years in i asked to be left where i am to retire and was told no. We are still debating moving the family but at this point the kids are moving to highschool and i really do not want to uproot them. Through many deployments and lots of moves from AL, VA, CO, GA, AL, 3 times in TX with this move the 4th i think they deserve to have friends and such and put down roots.

At Bliss we have a long tern rv lot. I will call ahead eventually but i also know there are a few lots off post if it came to that.

Trailer is also not finalized. At this point just looking for model recommendations. I have glanced around craigslist in the area and there is a couple 5ers on lots but my concern is i do not have a ser time to return and want the option to pull it if i need to leave or move it to long term storage if i deploy.

I appreciate the feedback so far.

[SprinklerMan]

At pax river in southern Maryland , guys were living at the campground , but they had to move the camper every 2 or 3 weeks to a different site . One guy made his extra cash by dumping the tanks of other campers .

[DutchmenSport]

rechtien wrote:
... On fort hood is an rv park i would be staying at...

Is this park an RV park for full time residence or designed for transient (vacation) visitors? I do know Fort Hood is a very active military post with a large population. So it's possible they might have created an actual RV park for those assigned there? (there again, private run or military run?)

If the RV park set up for full timing, and more specifically, set up to accommodate military folks, is it possible you may find someone, similar to your situation, where you can purchase their camper, already set up, and work out a deal with the RV park to keep it there?

When I was stationed at Fort Belvoir, VA, we looked into purchasing a mobile home that was already established in a trailer park rather than living in an apartment. The owner of the trailer was also military and being re-asigned to Germany. He had to sell it before he shipped out. But last second financing fell through because it was a "mobile home", we ended up living in an apartment for quite while. Anyway, it's a suggestion. Start with the RV park and see if they have knowledge of anyone wanting to "sell out." That would really be your easiest way to do it.

[Dennis_Smith]

not sure you can stay at the RV park full time. They have started enforcing the stay limits at all military RV parks, They are for folks on vacation NOT people living in the full time.

[rechtien]

As an officer, no luck with billeting. Plenty of places to rent but cheap =/= good in or near killeen texas for those who have been. On fort hood is an rv park i would be staying at.

In addition i would likely consider offloading the trailer when the time comes to return home and recoup some of my out of pocket on the purchase.

It would not suprise me if i only tow it to the lot then again to sell or go home to sell.

[DutchmenSport]

Since your family will not be with you, any chance you can live in military billeting? It might not be ideal living on post. You may have to be on a waiting list to get a house, or town house on post, but there is always the barracks. I know, you'll be subject to inspections and have no privacy, but financially it would be much easier. The military has a responsibility to house you somewhere. It might not be what you like, but you won't have the high cost and over-head of maintaining two living quarters: one for you at your new post, and the other for your family. You are given housing allowance for your family to live somewhere, even if you live in military billeting.

[wing_zealot]

Have you checked a place to park it (campground) while your living in it? You may find it cheaper to rent a small apartment.

[donn0128]

With a 1500 GM product, you really will need to stay under about 7500 pounds gross. And sadly there is not much that will be good in cold weather. Think squad tent with a pot belly stove in it.