vermont_blue
Colorado
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Joined: 04/29/2010
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My youngest brother is going to college at a rual Kansas college. He's had a difficult time finding a place to live. At this point his best option is a hotel that has been essentially turned into small appartment complex. As you can imaging a hotel room doesn't have much room. Enough for a microwave, small fridge, tv. Just not that much room. Plus they're asking $500 per month. I was thinking that for $500 per month I could help get my brother a used 5th wheel! Some 5th wheels look like full on appartments. Plus he'd have some space outside! The money he pays for the next four years is at least going towards owning a 5th wheel. I dunno. He may not want to own a fifth wheel. He might get tiered of living in a fifth wheel. I was just thinking out loud a little bit, trying to think of ideas to help him out. My parents had also looked at some mobile homes as an alternative since options are limited for housing. He's just a young kid trying to go to school. So...
What other costs go into living in a fifth wheel?
Propane
Renting a camp site
Water
Laundry
What should I "look out for" or consider before I pitch this idea to the family? Thanks so much for your thoughts and recommendations.
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path1
seattle
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Joined: 04/19/2012
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Housing is a tough one for people getting out on their own. Going the RV route for housing sounds good, but parking it somewhere that is cost effective is another. That would be the first thing I would check out before putting any money on any RV. Winter time plan on more and more propane.
Side note.. Real funny blog I can't find it anymore. And I think it has been deleted anyway, But this single guy bought a used Uhaul and made it into a place to sleep and he didn't pay any rent. Actually had to re-create the Uhaul paint scheme as they painted over some of it when they sold it to the public. But he parked it around differant places close to his collage and rode his bike. Put in a skylight and parked under a street lights to do his schooling stuff at night. One of his biggest worries was bring a lady friends to his "pad". Some thought he was crazy others thought he was pretty smart.
(To cheap to buy new)
1990 37 ft 5th wheel that hasn't moved since 1996 (our best home)
1997 33 ft trailer (winter home in much warmer climate)
2005 25 ft M/H (our "stand up B" for traveling)
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shakyjay
California
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Joined: 11/10/2006
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We actually had our daughter live in our TT her last year of school. For us it was cheaper than the apartment we had been renting. For her and us it worked out quite nicely. We got her setup in a park that was about half fulltimers. They also had security for the park. Once she was settled in she actually felt safer than she did in the apartment. Had a whole bunch of parents and grandparents looking out for her. Trailer is actually not much smaller than the apartment was. Since it was Southern Cal we really did not have to concern ourselves with weather problems so I'm not sure how it would work in Kansas.
2007 Rockwood 8315SS
2004 GMC 2500HD Crew Cab Duramax Diesel
1999 Dodge 1500 5.9L Gas
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Pepperoni
Ypsilanti, Michigan 48198
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Joined: 05/01/2005
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It gets really cold in Kansas at times.Sometimes it is life-threatening in a mobile rig.
Your best bet is a full timer (year round) rate at a park with dependable electric service and a propane delivery service to provide a large household size tank. Skirting around the rig is a good idea.
In a deep freeze situation I would drain all tanks add antifreeze to tanks and lines (turn off water heater and drain)and tape the toilet shut. Use a casette type toilet and use bottled water for cooking and drinking. Use paper plates.
Use as many electric heaters (with thermostats) as you can run on your electric supply. Electric bed padding and blankets are great. Keep a -30 degree sleeping bag handy.
Heat will go straight through glass. Foam construction foam works well over windows and under your mattress. (the white beadoard is not so good, compresses with weight and sheds from the edges-- messy)
It does not take much calculation to decide that the 500 a month room will probaly be cheaper safer and more comfortable.
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Opie431
Bellevue, MI
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Joined: 06/19/2004
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My husband listens to police calls. Many, many calls are from trailer parks. Be careful where he decides to go.
And my son lived in a trailer park years ago while he was working. It was the kind made up mostly of senior citizens and he was fine. He watched out for them and they watched out for him.
Heat, gas, electric, water and lot rent will really add up.
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naturist
Lynchburg, VA
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Joined: 04/24/2008
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What the OP proposes is doable, but since it does get cold in Kansas in the winter, you'd definitely want a 4-season rig, rather than a standard one. The 4-season rig is built for use in the cold as well as the heat of summer.
Whether such a scheme would work or not is entirely dependent on local circumstances.
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kzspree320
Louisiana
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Joined: 05/17/2010
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Major costs are the cost of the RV, lot rent and utilities. As stated above, it will depend on local circumstances (mostly lot rent rates). All the spaces around here are $350 per month and up. Add in utilities and you are at $500 or more in the summer with AC. That's before cost of RV. If you can find a space to rent for $200 per month then yes, it might work. Just be careful and run the numbers before you buy the RV.Good luck to both you and your brother.
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coolmom42
Middle Tennessee
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Joined: 02/18/2011
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Pepperoni wrote:It gets really cold in Kansas at times.Sometimes it is life-threatening in a mobile rig.
Your best bet is a full timer (year round) rate at a park with dependable electric service and a propane delivery service to provide a large household size tank. Skirting around the rig is a good idea.
In a deep freeze situation I would drain all tanks add antifreeze to tanks and lines (turn off water heater and drain)and tape the toilet shut. Use a casette type toilet and use bottled water for cooking and drinking. Use paper plates.
Use as many electric heaters (with thermostats) as you can run on your electric supply. Electric bed padding and blankets are great. Keep a -30 degree sleeping bag handy.
Heat will go straight through glass. Foam construction foam works well over windows and under your mattress. (the white beadoard is not so good, compresses with weight and sheds from the edges-- messy)
It does not take much calculation to decide that the 500 a month room will probaly be cheaper safer and more comfortable.
I agree.
2006 Toyota Sienna
Single empty-nester in Middle TN
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boosTT
Milwaukee
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Joined: 03/03/2012
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Dorms where i went to school were $850 per month with a roommate and were small and had no ac. This was in 2005.
$500 a month is cheap! Are you going to save $1500 over the one year by living in a camper have need to deal with moving it, maintaining it, etc. Doesn't make sense to me.
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usmc616
Orange County, New York
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Joined: 09/29/2009
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Remember a TT requires some maintenance. Will he have time to properly maintain the TT yearround?
SEMPER FI
Joe,Joyce 4 kids & 3 dogs
2004 Ford Excursion LTD 4x4 V-10 3.73 Gears, Hellwig Swaybar, Bilstein Shocks & Steering Stabilizer, Roadmaster Active Suspension, Super Duty Tow Mirrors
Reese Dual Cam & Prodigy Brake Controller
2010 Jayco G2 32BHDS.
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