Who’s lived in their RV?

[Boozer]

The wife and I are in the process of relocating to Northern MN. We haven’t been able to find a lake house that fits our needs so we’ve decided to build one.


We’re very seriously considering buying a 5th wheel and living in it while our house is built.

I’ve had bumper pull TT’s and Toy haulers but never a 5th wheel.

What are the must have features for a live in 5th wheel? What brands are good and what brands should be avoided?

TIA

 

[rivermobster]

@wash11

 

[Dr Rob]

The wife and I are in the process of relocating to Northern MN. We haven’t been able to find a lake house that fits our needs so we’ve decided to build one.


We’re very seriously considering buying a 5th wheel and living in it while our house is built.

I’ve had bumper pull TT’s and Toy haulers but never a 5th wheel.

What are the must have features for a live in 5th wheel? What brands are good and what brands should be avoided?

TIA

We have been living in ours for three seasons now while we are building our house. We are over 6,000 ft near Williams Arizona. You quickly find out which coaches are good in the cold. I highly recommend the hitchhiker champagne by nu wa. We have seen one degree several times during the winter. Not one freeze up and the coach stays nice and warm with out the furnace running 24/7. We have a few other coaches here that do not fare as well. If you can find a 38 ckrd it is an amazing floor plan that is very livable. 4 slides. The coach is built on a 14in c channel frame with triple axles. Definitely the best coach I've ever had.

 

[angiebaby]

We've been living in a 43' Class A for a year now. I can't offer you advice on 5th wheel brands, but I can let you in on features that I think are necessary to live full-time in any RV, at least for us.

Bath and a half. The two separate spaces for bath/cosmetic supplies is one thing I didn't think I would need but now will not live without. At least in a space that small. The two toilets as well. It sounds funny, but there are times we both need to go at the same time. If you will have a port-a-john on the property then perhaps you could get away with only one in the RV.

King bed. Unless you have a queen currently, going from a king to a queen for an extended period would be challenging. Sleep is important, especially in stressful situations in a marriage, like building a home.

If it doesn't have a house-size fridge, I'd suggest getting an auxiliary such as a 12v/110 cooler such as a Dometic or ARB fridge.

Good luck with your move and build!!

 

[snowboat]

In Northern NM, just like in Northern Wyoming, you will need skirting, heat tape on water supply, possibly thermostatically controlled heat for the underbelly, and a way to clean snow off of the roof. The roof of the slides are never well insulated, cut to fit foamboard.

 

[fmo24]

We have been full time in a 40ft motorhome for almost 4 yrs. as Angie said bath and 1/2 and king size bed. A good generator for times you don’t have power. Residential fridge is a must as well.
Edit: we don’t do cold weather so can’t help you there. Our travels are chasing the sun.

 

[Riverryder]

@81Sprint think he is in a 5th now or was?

 

[stephenkatsea]

We lived in our Big Horn 3670 fifth wheel, every other month, for about 4 years. It was my wife, our giant breed Newfoundland dog and myself. We found it very comfortable for the 3 of us. We had cable TVs in the salon, MBR and outside also. We found the salon fireplace to be very effective in the winter. The RV worked out very well for us, year round. A residential fridge would have been a plus.

Just reread the initial post and realized they’re talking Northern MN. We were on the shore of Havasu. Definitely 2 different worlds.

 

[25Elmn8r]

We're full time in a 5th wheel for the last 11 months while we are developing our property. We moved into our shop which is 75% done in the beginning of December. It would have absolutely sucked to be totally exposed to the weather this last winter. It would have been nice to have our doors on so we could close the space in, but they were 7 months backordered. Having the roof over us and skirting underneath was the key to being comfortable, being able to step outside without dredging thru the snow was the best.
My wife's requirements were new, lots of slides, king bed, and mine was a separate area for my office. We ended up with a Keystone Avalanche 365mb. we went this route for a few reasons, 4 seasons rated, king bed, 2nd bedroom I could use for my office as I work from home, and 4 slides to really open it up. We really wanted a 1/2 bath but the office was more important. The layout of the bathroom could be better but isn't much of an issue.
If i were to do it again, I would want a full size stove/oven and maybe a residential fridge. We have the 4 door fridge now, but a bit more space would be nice. Other than that it has worked out really well for us.

You will definitely need heat tape on your water supply, and an electric heater or two underneath with the skirting on will really reduce how much your furnace runs. We used foam board for our skirting.

 

[spectra3279]

I lived for 4 years in mine. Loved it

 

[jeteater1]

We have to live in ours do losing all my shit from a ongoing work injuries case. Just the wife and I and cat and dog.

 

[81Sprint]

@81Sprint think he is in a 5th now or was?

Yes, we have been full time in our 5th wheel since last September. We have an Alliance Paradigm 390MP, which has been incredible on quality. So much so that my father in law sold his AlpenLite 5th wheel and bought one also. We got ours fully loaded, only option I could have done without is slide toppers, those things make a ton of noise on really windy days. You will want a king bed, we replaced the stock one with a Wilderness RV Hybrid, much more comfortable. If you can, get a on board generator, we have only used our once but power went out for 8 hours in our park on a 100 degree day and we stayed cool while others had windows and doors open. I also have a 38' Keystone travel trailer we use for camping. Here are some pics of the inside of the 5th wheel

 

[Roosky01]

In Northern NM, just like in Northern Wyoming, you will need skirting, heat tape on water supply, possibly thermostatically controlled heat for the underbelly, and a way to clean snow off of the roof. The roof of the slides are never well insulated, cut to fit foamboard.

There is absolutely no way I would try to Winter in a 5th wheel (or any travel trailer) in Northern MN!

You crazy, OP!

 

[Boatymcboatface]

I lived in my 30ft class C for a weekend but oh never mind.

 

[ONE-A-DAY]

Yes, we have been full time in our 5th wheel since last September. We have an Alliance Paradigm 390MP, which has been incredible on quality. So much so that my father in law sold his AlpenLite 5th wheel and bought one also. We got ours fully loaded, only option I could have done without is slide toppers, those things make a ton of noise on really windy days. You will want a king bed, we replaced the stock one with a Wilderness RV Hybrid, much more comfortable. If you can, get a on board generator, we have only used our once but power went out for 8 hours in our park on a 100 degree day and we stayed cool while others had windows and doors open. I also have a 38' Keystone travel trailer we use for camping. Here are some pics of the inside of the 5th wheel

That is nice, what do you tow it with? Been thinking of going from a 42 DP to a fifth wheel, we never dry camp and usually spend a 3-5 days at every stop we go to, and no need to tow off road stuff anymore, the only thingf I would need is to bring a harley. What are some of the higher end toyhaulers. On the DP we love it but there is always something to fix like any RV but then you add in the powerplant, transmission, and all of the chassis components and it just adds another level of potential issues.

 

[81Sprint]

That is nice, what do you tow it with? Been thinking of going from a 42 DP to a fifth wheel, we never dry camp and usually spend a 3-5 days at every stop we go to, and no need to tow off road stuff anymore, the only thingf I would need is to bring a harley. What are some of the higher end toyhaulers. On the DP we love it but there is always something to fix like any RV but then you add in the powerplant, transmission, and all of the chassis components and it just adds another level of potential issues.

I have a '21 Ram 3500 Cummins Dually, it handles it easily. Alliance has toy haulers called Valor, which is originally what I wanted but the wife fell in love with the one we have. Grand Designs, Genesis also makes a nice coach, but I am sold on Alliance just with quality and customer service. Now if you step up in the high 100's VanLeigh makes a very very nice 5th wheel

 

[LuckyStrike]

The wife and I are in the process of relocating to Northern MN. We haven’t been able to find a lake house that fits our needs so we’ve decided to build one.


We’re very seriously considering buying a 5th wheel and living in it while our house is built.

I’ve had bumper pull TT’s and Toy haulers but never a 5th wheel.

What are the must have features for a live in 5th wheel? What brands are good and what brands should be avoided?

TIA

Dilligaf....

 

[Long Way Home]

New Horizons trailers
A friend has one and he's very happy with it as he travels the US for work, he said it's a very heavy chassis and moved up to a F450 ,they are out of Junction City, KS

Majestic

horizonsrv.com

 

[4Waters]

There is absolutely no way I would try to Winter in a 5th wheel (or any travel trailer) in Northern MN!

You crazy, OP!

^^^^This^^^^ 100%! Look at average day and night temps in the area you plan on staying and take 8-10° off of that for lows in winter

 

[brgrcru]

Just wait
After another 2 years of this devastation of America
We all will be living in our rvs ….

 

[wash11]

Going off the grid, our family story.

Looking good!!!! Glad to see some more posts in here to follow along.

www.riverdavesplace.com

We lived in ours for 3.5 years. Above is a link to a post I did about prepping it for full time living in a cold winter climate. I agree with everyone, full size fridge would be great.

 

[wash11]

Going off the grid, our family story.

Looking good!!!! Glad to see some more posts in here to follow along.

www.riverdavesplace.com

Here's the post describing how we skirted it. Made ALL the difference in single digit weather.

 

[ka0tyk]

Id have no problem living in our RV. I wish we could spend more time in it.

 

[Roosky01]

Going off the grid, our family story.

Looking good!!!! Glad to see some more posts in here to follow along.

www.riverdavesplace.com

Here's the post describing how we skirted it. Made ALL the difference in single digit weather.

You will encounter way worse than single digit weather in Northern MN. I did a project up there 16 years ago where 1 week it never got above 28 BELOW ZERO! You are going to encounter single digit weather all damn Winter.

Of course, dealing with strife like that will surely bring you and your wife closer together!

 

[Cdog]

I had approximately 3 months in my Genesis last year between a 3 week family trip to glacier & back, racing trips from Willows Ca to Indianapolis & back.

Definitely can be done. We upgraded to a momentum 398m-r last month. The residential fridge was a must upgrade. Get as many AC’s as you can get & do the heat pump upgrade

 

[fmo24]

I had approximately 3 months in my Genesis last year between a 3 week family trip to glacier & back, racing trips from Willows Ca to Indianapolis & back.

Definitely can be done. We upgraded to a momentum 398m-r last month. The residential fridge was a must upgrade. Get as many AC’s as you can get & do the heat pump upgrade

Heat pumps are only good down to about 40degrees. After that they are just blowing cold air. Need a furnace or electric heater to get you thru the really cold period.

 

[HNL2LHC]

My parents traveled full time in there RV for 12 years from 95-07 when my mother retired. They did escape to AZ during the winters though.

 

[Cdog]

Heat pumps are only good down to about 40degrees. After that they are just blowing cold air. Need a furnace or electric heater to get you thru the really cold period.

Yeah but when they do work ur not burning up propane

 

[fmo24]

Yeah but when they do work ur not burning up propane

True. Here in Florida we have a couple of weeks that are below 40 in winter. we have two propane furnaces but god I hate to run them. Lol. Heat pumps take care of most of chill.

 

[HgH Vltg]

Yes, we have been full time in our 5th wheel since last September. We have an Alliance Paradigm 390MP, which has been incredible on quality. So much so that my father in law sold his AlpenLite 5th wheel and bought one also. We got ours fully loaded, only option I could have done without is slide toppers, those things make a ton of noise on really windy days. You will want a king bed, we replaced the stock one with a Wilderness RV Hybrid, much more comfortable. If you can, get a on board generator, we have only used our once but power went out for 8 hours in our park on a 100 degree day and we stayed cool while others had windows and doors open. I also have a 38' Keystone travel trailer we use for camping. Here are some pics of the inside of the 5th wheel

That’s one hell of a rig. Impressive. I think I could make that work haha.

 

[MPHSystems]

Back when we still believed in COVID, my wife and kids had no outside exposure home schooling so every time I had COVID or COVID exposure, I’d live in the trailer for 2-3 weeks. It was awesome!!

Nobody waking me up or drinking my last soda or leaving their shit all over the place. I could even watch pron with the sound on.

 

[4Waters]

Going off the grid, our family story.

Looking good!!!! Glad to see some more posts in here to follow along.

www.riverdavesplace.com

Here's the post describing how we skirted it. Made ALL the difference in single digit weather.

But northern MN goes negative double digits

 

[Singleton]

But northern MN goes negative double digits

I have seen -20 at my parents place in N. WI (it was -65 with wind chill).
No f’n way would I live in a RV in that,

 

[HgH Vltg]

I keep seeing you guys put this symbol (-) before a number…..I’m from SoCal….what does that mean…..

 

[4Waters]

I have seen -20 at my parents place in N. WI (it was -65 with wi d chill).
No f’n way would I live in a RV in that,

That's what I'm talking about, hell no!!

I think it would be best to put an insulated metal building on the property first and put the RV in that to live in, still skirt it and all that but in the building would be better

 

[4Waters]

I keep seeing you guys put this symbol (-) before a number…..I’m from SoCal….what does that mean…..

It means too fukin cold

 

[Singleton]

That's what I'm talking about, hell no!!

I think it would be best to put an insulated metal building on the property first and put the RV in that to live in, still skirt it and all that but in the building would be better

That is how my FIL does it in Clovis NM. RV goes inside the insulated barn for the winter. Still cold as F, but tolerable. He also runs 2 large propane heaters in the barn during the winter 24/7.

 

[Willie B]

… I have never technically lived in my motorhome… But when working in the movie industry I would drive my motorhome to work and sometimes spend the day in it… With a walkie-talkie… at night I sometimes would sleep right at the location… I also had a special spot I would sometimes go to up on Peoria Ave…in Sun Valley… Right across the street from where they are building that new major motion picture studio… got away with that for years… The honey wagon drivers would dump their black water tanks just down the street from where I would stay… Kind of an odd thing but there was a round hole in the center of the manhole cover… Which made it real easy for me to dump my motorhome and for cesspool company trucks to dump their black water tanks …
… Drove by there recently and the manhole cover with the hole in the center has been replaced with a standard cover…

… When we were done shooting whatever film I was working on… It was back down to the LA Harbor… park the motorhome in the parking lot and back down to my version of a yacht… A 1948 hunter 34’ twin screw…some fun times…

… The time. I am referencing was early 80s… There were no people living in motorhomes on the streets of LA except down towards Venice Beach …there were a few people seeming to get away with it…

 

[HBCraig]

I have never done it so I can't offer a first hand opinion. My counterpart at work retired from northern Colorado and he and his wife spent the winter in havasu. He loved it but he did tell me it gets tight in there with normal marital squabbles. Said that to me a few times

Best of luck

 

[Bowtiepower00]

Living in an RV, sure. Living in an RV in northern MN? Not after September. lol. Unless it’s inside a shop. Good luck during winter, hope you’re used to it.

 

[jeteater1]

Best thing I have bought so far . I can pump our shit to our neighbors septic , while we work on our lot

 

[riverroyal]

We have a new Montana 5th. 37’. Must have is 2 bathrooms. 3 ac’s.

 

[Bowtiepower00]

Don’t need the extra AC in MN. Anything to keep it from freezing will be required. If you’re really thinking to live in an RV during winter, as much insulation and heating as possible will be required

 

[TPC]

When my house was under construction I lived in our river trailer.
Brought it home & got a good rate at a since gone RV park, it was awesome.

Some of the best years of my life. Cheap n easy.

 

[Sleek-Jet]

I would find a rental house, even if it isn't exactly close to where you are building. Winters in MN are no joke, weeks below zero and lots of snow (something else to consider in an RV).

That being said, I lived for a couple years in a 5th wheel. It was perfect, but it was also just me.

 

[CarolynandBob]

We lived in our Vilano (Tiffen) for 3 years. Not much to add what others have said, but would skirt the bottom and add insulation under there. Space heaters will be your friend.

 

[angiebaby]

We lived in our Vilano (Tiffen) for 3 years. Not much to add what others have said, but would skirt the bottom and add insulation under there. Space heaters will be your friend.

PSA- Don't run the space heater and a hair dryer at the same time.

 

[Uncle Dave]

For disconnected cold weather Rving a Webasto/ Espar diesel heater or an aqua hot work great as you can refill from a 5 er and run off your diesel

A "Cheap Heat " 30/ 50 amp electrical coil if you are at a campsite works great.

If you have to run off propane a catalytic heater is a lot more thrifty than your standard suburban/attwood.

 

[TPC]

Next door neighbor runs Edison transmission line crews.

Not easy to keep line men. Rare to meet one that’s over the age of 35. They get serious debilitating injuries.

Many linemen travel to where the bigger money is and they also live where they really desire to. So they live in RVs on the road working.

When I retired 14 years ago a beginning apprentice made $48 an hour so it’s way more than that now. Journeyman Linemen considerably more. More than 100’ up its 2X pay.

In order to help accommodate top talent my neighbor built a RV slab with full hookups for visiting linemen. Solar powered too.

Works out good.

 

[farmo83]

When I first got out of college I got a job in Austin and couldn't afford an apartment. As such I lived in my parents RV in an RV park next door to a guy that lived in a horse trailer with a massive amount of duct taped insulation on the sides and and satellite TV. They had a washer and dryer at the park but there was a snake in there so I washed clothes at a friends place. After about 6 weeks of this lovely time I got let go from that job and due to the brilliant part of being in a mobile home I went back to Houston.