How small is too small?

Wingnutz · Apr 18, 2019

Hello all,
I am in an information seeking adventure. We are starting the house building process in September and we are looking for a Heartland Brand 5ver.

We expect to live in it for 3 years and then want to be able to do some camping with it on the weekends afterward.

I'm curious to see if there is anybody in the forum that lives full time in a Big Country 2950 RK.

The kitchen counter space is the main importance.

Thoughts, ideas?

Fox · Apr 18, 2019

Only you two can determine what your (comfortable) minimum living space should be.

While folks can adapt to most anything (I'm thinking multiple astronauts share a 12x12 foot space) I believe for a long term arrangement I would really want a Large 5th wheel; like maybe even double wide type space. Now week long trips would be totally different.

This would be when it's just for me, my bride and several large dogs; adding in young grandkids (to me/ not granny) is stressful. So YMMV.

SNOKING · Apr 18, 2019

You need to find a true 4 season trailer if you are going to live in it year around up North. Western Washington can be cold and rainy, and snow it some places, Eastern Washington can be down right COLD and windy. Rent an apartment and by the trailer of your dreams later.

Wingnutz · Apr 18, 2019

SNOKING said:
You need to find a true 4 season trailer if you are going to live in it year around up North. Western Washington can be cold and rainy, and snow it some places, Eastern Washington can be down right COLD and windy. Rent an apartment and by the trailer of your dreams later.

Thanks for the info. I'm in Pierce County. Finding decent apartments in good neighborhoods is not easy and they generally rent for more than what my mortgage is currently.
Talking with the mrs a few minutes ago she is echoing the advice from the others here.

Fox · Apr 18, 2019

I answered your question as I read it, pertaining to size; I never picked up on your address.

With that address insight I believe SNOWKING has a much better answer than mine. Nothing worse than being cold and miserable - for months on end, combined with frozen water pipes.

SNOKING · Apr 18, 2019

Wingnutz said:
Thanks for the info. I'm in Pierce County. Finding decent apartments in good neighborhoods is not easy and they generally rent for more than what my mortgage is currently.
Talking with the mrs a few minutes ago she is echoing the advice from the others here.

Where do you plan to place the trailer while living in it? My BIL finds it hard to find a summer place for his 5th wheel in the Puyallup area. You said apartments are not in nice area's, go look at the available RV Parks. Maybe you plan to put it on acreage where you are building. Have you checked the zoning on that? You would be better off with an older well made larger used 5th wheel, like a Mobil Suites

BLR · Apr 18, 2019

SNOKING said:
Where do you plan to place the trailer while living in it? My BIL finds it hard to find a summer place for his 5th wheel in the Puuallup area

Where is Puuallup???

Sent from BLR Logistics

SNOKING · Apr 18, 2019

BLR said:
Where is Puuallup???

Sent from BLR Logistics

Fat fingered it. Puyallup! East of Tacoma, Wa.

BLR · Apr 18, 2019

SNOKING said:
Fat fingered it. Puyallup! East of Tacoma, Wa.

Haha..just giving you Crap..I speak NW

Sent from BLR Logistics

Wingnutz · Apr 19, 2019

SNOKING said:
Where do you plan to place the trailer while living in it? My BIL finds it hard to find a summer place for his 5th wheel in the Puyallup area. You said apartments are not in nice area's, go look at the available RV Parks. Maybe you plan to put it on acreage where you are building. Have you checked the zoning on that? You would be better off with an older well made larger used 5th wheel, like a Mobil Suites

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I originally inquired about building an apartment in the shop but the amount of red tape and hoops that have to be jumped through it wasn’t worth the hassle. Heck the fire rep at the county used the phrase “I strongly suggest” that you consider building a smaller shop. She thinks I don’t have a fire hydrant within 250’ of the property.

There are nice Apartments in the Puyallup and surrounding areas but I’m sure they are not cheap. My brother is renting a tiny 2 bdrm duplex in a sketchy neighborhood for 1200.

NP_Chief · Apr 19, 2019

Is the shop going to be big enough to park the rig in? That would probably help with the cold weather. I'm no expert on the snowy weather... I live in South Georgia and can count the number of times it has snowed here, in my 37 years, on one hand.

SNOKING · Apr 19, 2019

Wingnutz said:
  We have 4 acres in Graham and parking the trailer next to the shop. The shop is going up first and with Septic, Power and Water hooked up I can use the trailer as temporary living quarters. We are putting a full bathroom with washer and dryer in the shop but no dwelling spaces ie, bedrooms, kitchens etc. are allowed per code.

I originally inquired about building an apartment in the shop but the amount of red tape and hoops that have to be jumped through it wasn’t worth the hassle. Heck the fire rep at the county used the phrase “I strongly suggest” that you consider building a smaller shop. She thinks I don’t have a fire hydrant within 250’ of the property.

There are nice Apartments in the Puyallup and surrounding areas but I’m sure they are not cheap. My brother is renting a tiny 2 bdrm duplex in a sketchy neighborhood for 1200.

Then, find something like this to put on the lot. It is our son's and in Eastern, Wa. Well made old girl that would be a perfect rig for the three years. It is a Travel Supreme. I towed it from Desert Aire to the top of the mountain above the casino in Manson at Lake Chelan. Problem is one would need a big truck to bring it back down the mountain, as the brakes were not working that well. Chris

mlpeloquin · Apr 19, 2019

Wingnutz said:
  We have 4 acres in Graham and parking the trailer next to the shop. The shop is going up first and with Septic, Power and Water hooked up I can use the trailer as temporary living quarters. We are putting a full bathroom with washer and dryer in the shop but no dwelling spaces ie, bedrooms, kitchens etc. are allowed per code.

I originally inquired about building an apartment in the shop but the amount of red tape and hoops that have to be jumped through it wasn’t worth the hassle. Heck the fire rep at the county used the phrase “I strongly suggest” that you consider building a smaller shop. She thinks I don’t have a fire hydrant within 250’ of the property.

There are nice Apartments in the Puyallup and surrounding areas but I’m sure they are not cheap. My brother is renting a tiny 2 bdrm duplex in a sketchy neighborhood for 1200.

Wow $1200.00/mo. Try a very small three bedroom apartment that should be a large studio for $4700.00 in San Jose, CA.

Wingnutz · Apr 19, 2019

SNOKING said:
Then, find something like this to put on the lot. It is our son's and in Eastern, Wa. Well made old girl that would be a perfect rig for the three years. It is a Travel Supreme. I towed it from Desert Aire to the top of the mountain above the casino in Manson at Lake Chelan. Problem is one would need a big truck to bring it back down the mountain, as the brakes were not working that well. Chris

I will look at them too. Tow rig is not an issue, I have a Freightliner FL70.

- - - Updated - - -

mlpeloquin said:
Wow $1200.00/mo. Try a very small three bedroom apartment that should be a large studio for $4700.00 in San Jose, CA.

I feel your pain. With the all the new taxes that are being passed we are not far being you.

SNOKING · Apr 19, 2019

I will tell that if you are going to live in a 5th wheel for 3 years, build a porch, it makes it so much nicer going in and out of the trailer.

SNOKING · Apr 21, 2019

This would be worth a look, or one of the others they have listed.

https://www.kansasrvcenter.com/product/used-2011-nuwa-hitchhiker-champagne-38-lktg-999632-5

Kansas RV Center is the Hitchhiker guys. They go thru used trailers and freshen them up.

Chris

How small is too small?

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