Does anyone live in a 5th wheel as "permanent residence"?
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 2,563
Likes: 53
Does anyone live in a 5th wheel as "permanent residence"?
Just curious here if anyone has made a home out of a 5th wheel trailer, not necessarily those that are on the road in it more than not, rather a patch of land that is yours somewhere with permanent hook ups? How hard is it to set up like that? Aside from a smaller footprint home, are there any considerations you can think of?
Frame of reference - I'm tossing around some ideas for a change of residence. Modular/manufactured homes (off-site manufactured house, not "mobile homes" as in trailer park) are among my ideas. Though, I do some road trips each year and would like to do more as the years go on. A 5th wheel may be in my future regardless, I just thought I would entertain the idea of it and try to find out from some here that may be doing this or have tried it. I can think of a lot more questions, but I'll leave it at that for now.
Frame of reference - I'm tossing around some ideas for a change of residence. Modular/manufactured homes (off-site manufactured house, not "mobile homes" as in trailer park) are among my ideas. Though, I do some road trips each year and would like to do more as the years go on. A 5th wheel may be in my future regardless, I just thought I would entertain the idea of it and try to find out from some here that may be doing this or have tried it. I can think of a lot more questions, but I'll leave it at that for now.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 633
Likes: 2
From: So. Utah
I don't but plenty of folks do, you also have to remember that some 5th wheel builders claim that their rigs are year round, 4 seasons full time living. These trailers are the better built, more expensive rigs with good insulation, maybe thicker walls and ceilings etc.
I would think that it would also depend on how you lived in it and how many adults and kids were there. If you found a quality maybe older to fit your budget 5th wheel and really treated it well you "shouldn't" have many problems.
I would think that it would also depend on how you lived in it and how many adults and kids were there. If you found a quality maybe older to fit your budget 5th wheel and really treated it well you "shouldn't" have many problems.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
Given our TVA lake campgrounds I work on dozens and dozens of fivers with folks doing that. Not so great in the winter, but otherwise okay. If you buy new be sure to check the warranty as some manufacturers state in their warranty their RV or components in it (read those warranties too), do not cover fill time living.
Steve
Steve
Super Moderator
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37,370
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From: Frederick, MD
My sister lived in one for years. Out in Arizona so no real problems with the cold. But two A/C's is a must.
They got along fine with it. Just had to make perm connections to power/water/elect.
They got along fine with it. Just had to make perm connections to power/water/elect.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2008
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Thanks for the info. Dealing with the cold was one topic I was curious about - insulation. I read the thread about condensation on some inside walls due to warm temps/AC and not much ventilation. One issue I am aware of with houses on stilts is floor insulation and, maybe more so, blocking airflow from under the building. I presume that would still be something to deal with on a 5th wheel.
Appliances are another topic. The AC units seems to be a hot topic. What about dish washers, refrigerators, washer/dryer? Are the grade of appliances usually found on 5th wheels fairly good quality? Easy to repair?
Good information. Are there manufacturers that are higher quality and built to last longer that would be a better investment than others? Jayco and Montana seem to be pretty popular it seems.
Appliances are another topic. The AC units seems to be a hot topic. What about dish washers, refrigerators, washer/dryer? Are the grade of appliances usually found on 5th wheels fairly good quality? Easy to repair?
Good information. Are there manufacturers that are higher quality and built to last longer that would be a better investment than others? Jayco and Montana seem to be pretty popular it seems.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 27,344
Likes: 5,941
From: Lake Hartwell, GA
Look for double pain windows and the differences between one manufacturers "4 seasons package" when comparing to another. They are drastically different at times.
As for appliances, they can be easy to repair depending on the service needed. They can be a nightmare as well. Washing machines are smaller and typically found as one unit that can take 3x longer to complete a load. I always compare the washer to the ones we had in England when I was stationed there.
Dish washers, I have only seen those in really high end 5th wheels and class A models.
Refrigerators, there are a lot of models floating around and really your only choices should be do you want residential or RV style and if you want RV style, do you want a double or single wide?
We don't currently live in our trailer, but we will be living in a 5th wheel in the near future. We plan to use a Montana High Country 313RE that I will customize to be a boondocking king. The trailer fits our personal needs and requirements the best after looking a hundreds of RV's.
As for appliances, they can be easy to repair depending on the service needed. They can be a nightmare as well. Washing machines are smaller and typically found as one unit that can take 3x longer to complete a load. I always compare the washer to the ones we had in England when I was stationed there.
Dish washers, I have only seen those in really high end 5th wheels and class A models.
Refrigerators, there are a lot of models floating around and really your only choices should be do you want residential or RV style and if you want RV style, do you want a double or single wide?
We don't currently live in our trailer, but we will be living in a 5th wheel in the near future. We plan to use a Montana High Country 313RE that I will customize to be a boondocking king. The trailer fits our personal needs and requirements the best after looking a hundreds of RV's.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
If you seriously camp in cold weather, you will need plenty of propane and should count on finding a ducting system that belongs in a comic book in terms of design. As suggested 4-Season or Arctic packaging can have wide variations in meanings.
As a general rule, RVs do not do well in cold weather.
As a general rule, RVs do not do well in cold weather.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 871
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From: Houston TEXAS
How would full time stationary rigs deal with the black tank?
I know you'd have full hook-ups with sewer, but you can't just leave the gate valve open on the black tank or you'll get the dreaded poop pyramid problem.
The gray tanks aren't as bad since they (generally) don't have any solids to pile up in the tank where the drains enters.
Would they just wait til the tank gets full, them dump it like you would when camping? All at once to flush the solids out too.
I know you'd have full hook-ups with sewer, but you can't just leave the gate valve open on the black tank or you'll get the dreaded poop pyramid problem.
The gray tanks aren't as bad since they (generally) don't have any solids to pile up in the tank where the drains enters.
Would they just wait til the tank gets full, them dump it like you would when camping? All at once to flush the solids out too.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,615
Likes: 4,694
From: Itinerant
Something to think about with condensation is that it will build up inside your cupboards/ closets (look in the corners and seems for mold) one way to prevent this is opening the cupboards at night, occasionally wipe the walls down with your choice of cleaning solution.
Also maybe between the bed and slide out wall if there isn't any air circulation.
Just something to think about or look for.
Also maybe between the bed and slide out wall if there isn't any air circulation.
Just something to think about or look for.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
Likes: 491
From: Bristol, TN.
There really is very seldom a problem leaving the black open provided you use enough water when you flush. Countless campers set up permanently here at the lake never close their valves. Not saying that is best practices. Sometimes there is a problem, but it is a not common.
If you go way way back in time, you might recall when this was discussed by one of the columnists writing for Trailer Life.
Steve
If you go way way back in time, you might recall when this was discussed by one of the columnists writing for Trailer Life.
Steve
