mary and bob wrote:look into a work camper situation or camp host. Many campgrounds provide a free campsite in exchange for a set number of hours work. Duties range from grounds maintenance to office duties to cleaning the bath houses. We have a teardrop, a 13 foot Uhaul fiberglass camper and a 17 foot Casita fiberglass camper. I would not want anything smaller than the Casita to full time in. As it is, the most time we have spent in the Casita is 3 months, the majority of that in Florida in the winter. Most every campground we have been in has one or more work campers there helping to run it.
mary and bob wrote:Do a google search for "work camping" or "workamping" and there will be several sites come up for you to check out. While we prefer fiberglass campers, they are generally more expensive and harder to find than a conventional stick built camper. One important issue you'll have to consider is the towing capacity of your vehicle. Not only tow rating, but load capacity which will be affected by the tongue weight of the trailer. Camping while using a small trailer we have found using a screen room greatly increases our living area. We have a 12 X 12 Eureka Northern Breeze that has flaps to close it in like a tent, or roll them up for screen use. You should be able to find a decent used camper for not too much.Although our Casita has a bathroom with shower we always use the campground showers.
S. Heisley wrote:Just a thought, here.... A trailer is nice; however, have you considered getting a cargo van and converting it? Have you googled VanDwellers? (Try both Van Dwellers and VanDwellers, with and without the space between words.) You may find a lot of help there and possibly a better solution. The van dwelling community is truly a growing revolution. In 3 to 5 years, depending on what happens, I may decide on a van myself! Unless you can stand up in your trailer, you are going to have a hard time living in it full time, especially in the winter! So, if you feel that a tiny trailer is your best way to go, try to build one that has an area where you can stand up inside to dress and possibly to cook in.
S. Heisley wrote:Hi, Dudeman:
I don't have a van. I just started researching them this month and will be continuing thus for some time before biting the bullet, so to speak. Meanwhile, my existing Jeep and trailer are still in very good shape and I am hoping to keep them for another 3 to 5 years, God willing....
From what you have written, I gather that you will be purchasing a Harbor Freight trailer 4x8' or something like that. Since your funds, time, and abilities may be limited, you would probably be best off by building a foamie or a hybrid foamie. (A hybrid foamie usually has plywood walls inside but foam walls outside.) Not only are they somewhat build skills and damage forgiving; but also, they are less expensive and would give you extra insulation to keep you warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Also, they seem to hold up well in the elements. If you can build out over the wheels, it would give you a little more storage space and more room to move about. Please consider the Wanderer. Even though it was designed with plywood in mind, I think it could easily be built with foam and I have no doubt that you would get help from the foamie community, here on tnttt. Built on a 4x8' trailer, I think it would best give you what you need to live in, full time.
http://tnttt.com/Design_Library/The%20W ... d%2010.htm
mary and bob wrote:I think the winter camping is going to be a problem. On the fiberglass forum group there was a single guy in New Jersey trying to camp in a 17 foot Casita through the winter. Multiple problems he was trying to overcome and sorta managed to survive the winter. He recently relocated to Texas. Even us spending the winter in the south in our Casita where temperatures occasionally got into the 30's it was hard to maintain an even temperature in the trailer when the temps were low. Rather than building something, I would be looking for a low cost older small travel trailer that I could sit and stand up in. Just be careful of leaks and wood rot in those older trailers.
mary and bob wrote:An electric blanket is nice to have too. We have two different sizes of Vornado heaters that we like. The small one has no thermostat and the large one does. Next problem, find a campground that is open all winter in the Northeast.
Return to Newbies, Introduce yourselves
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests