Need opinion/thoughts on a park model trailer

Stuff · 07-20-2010, 07:35 PM

Need opinion on a possible place to live. Been looking at park trailers because they are cheaper then a mobile home and have higher re-sale value.

Also there is little to nothing to rent in a 100 mile radius that is under 1500/m + utilities.

So I have a chance to buy either a brand new park model trailer

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/def...ries=VillaEsTT for 33k

Or a 2007 http://regina.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic...dIdZ217690791# for 25k.

I am considering these because quite literally we are running out of a place to live. Landlord giving us the boot, the bus is no where near livable. at this point it would be a glorified tent on wheels. So i was thinking of a park model trailer just for the fact that in a year or so i could still sell it if i want to and it should have good resale value compared to a mobile home etc.

what is your guy's opinions?

Stuff · 07-20-2010, 08:21 PM

i would rent a cheap appartment to but any left start at 1500/month.

raw land. closest is half hour and starts at 75,000

bus-ted · 07-20-2010, 08:25 PM

Are you sure you want my opinion? 3 words- STICKS and STAPLES.

Well, everyone's different and has different standards of living. Personally, I'd rather live out of my teepee, albeit wheel-less. There are less places to set it up than there are places to park one of those, in general.
My teepee has a pretty good resale value, too! In fact, I'm pretty certain that I could get a good bit more for it than I originally paid.
On a more serious note- I hope you manage to find something comfortable and to your liking. Looking houselessness in the eyes is a pretty scary prospect for most.

bus-ted · 07-20-2010, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mightybus

I'd hoof it out of there.

No kidding! What size chunk of land does 75K get you?
In the Rocky Mountain states, you can still find small parcels of land for 10K/acre, and thereabouts.

Stuff · 07-20-2010, 10:11 PM

45k gets you 15 acres,
69k gets you 16 acres,
25k gets you an unserviced lot in a village,
or 65K for a 30~ year old mobile home on a 500/m rented lot

lornaschinske · 07-21-2010, 12:36 AM

My opinion would be to go with what will cost you the least $$. Whether a used RV or used "park model" it will be worth far less than what you are paying for it. Get a decent CHEAP RV and sit in it while you finish the skoolie. Then dump the RV on eBay or whatever. Shoot, you really only need something nice enough to get it into a long term RV park... or mobile home park (they tend to be cheaper).

Locutus · 07-21-2010, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuff

i would rent a cheap appartment to but any left start at 1500/month.

raw land. closest is half hour and starts at 75,000

If you can get an interest-only loan at 6% interest that land would be $375/month, less with any down payment. A bit more if amortized over 30 years like a typical mortgage.

lornaschinske · 07-21-2010, 10:41 AM

Just out of curiosity... what are you planning to do with your bus once it's converted? Are you staying in the area, leaving or what? If you are staying, then it may be to your advantage to find a chunk of land (or one with a trashed out "structure" that you can utilize the sewer/electric hookups). If you are leaving... then limit your cash outlay, finish the bus and leave! I read too many RV forums where folks are saying (been saying)... "can't wait to leave but can't leave until we sell the house... it's only been on the market for 5 years... and we've lower the asking price yet again". Don't put yourself in the position to be stuck someplace waiting for the "house" to sell.

frank-id · 07-21-2010, 12:03 PM

A parcel of land is the best future investment and conservation of money. If ya can find an old house on a an acre or two, you can rent out some space to some other person with your same needs. Frank Yep I live out of town.

Stuff · 07-21-2010, 11:46 PM

well i looked at that land for 69K. has power and a well on site already. guess there was a house there and a yard but they got rid of it and turned it back to field. would be the best i think but once again we (girlfriend and I) do not want to latched down. As to why we dont want to buy a mobile home etc.

as for getting out of here.. I dunno how much of an option that is. family etc.

the bus. I want it to be the travel vehicle and weekend getaway to day at the beach bus. kinda why i want it to have a bathroom, some beds, and yet still have good seating capacity.

as of now it seems i can rent a room from a person for 550/m. then gonna try to get one of these park model trailers. something that is like home yet mobile and will have some decent resale value. Also something the bus can pull

lornaschinske · 07-22-2010, 01:10 PM

Could build yourself a Tumbleweed or similar... Just a few ideas.

http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/
http://www.tinyhousedesign.com/
Here is one built from pallets that you can often find on CraigsList for free...
http://www.tinyfreehouse.com/

lornaschinske · 07-23-2010, 03:12 PM

Basically, your bus is a weekend project to go play in. What you are looking for is primary housing. Just toss the bus out of the equation and you're looking for a place to rent.

Stuff · 07-26-2010, 02:31 PM

ya without bus in equation rent is still too much.

figured out for that trailer my payments would be 259.02 a month for 15 years on it. lot rent is 470/month lol. so it looks like that is what we are going with for now. less then a week left and no where in town to rent for under 1500.. I take the super duty to go get it on Wednesday I guess. its a 40 footer with 2 slide outs. and it is new. not used.

best thing, it can be pulled by the bus

M1031 · 07-26-2010, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuff

ya without bus in equation rent is still too much.

figured out for that trailer my payments would be 259.02 a month for 15 years on it. lot rent is 470/month lol. so it looks like that is what we are going with for now. less then a week left and no where in town to rent for under 1500.. I take the super duty to go get it on Wednesday I guess. its a 40 footer with 2 slide outs. and it is new. not used.

best thing, it can be pulled by the bus

Ah yes, someone else thinking the way I do! We have a 32' travel trailer. Same deal, the bus pulls it. Plus I'm installing a genset, and a few other goodies in the bus to make the roadtrips more comfy....

Stuff · 07-26-2010, 04:09 PM

see and the bus can do that to. I have that large bay in the back to put a genset in there! would be nothing to run a power cable along the trailers frame to the bus for power in middle of no-where lol. Ill see how the super duty with its gutless 5.4 does. bus has the 7.3 international diesel in it

Stuff · 08-01-2010, 01:41 PM

Well this week she came home! drove 8 hours to Prince Albert, Sask to go get her! it was HALF the price of the local dealerships around here. 28k once the smoke cleared.

42' long - 21' main slide out, + bedroom slide out (6'?)
8'6" wide with slides in.
7 foot ceilings
nice stereo
magic chef microwave
4 burner stove + oven - propane
house fridge - bolted to wall!
20 gallon water heater - electric unfortunately...
porcelain RV toilet. - not bad actually!
ceiling fan
patio doors
double sink
hide a inflatable bed couch
2 lazy boy recliners
a real table with 4 chairs for the dinette.
fireplace (electric 110)
and TONS of storage! I am quite impressed.

Also allot of the things in this trailer is 12v and runs off the deep cycle battery. all the lights, the stereo, the ceiling fan, slides, water pump, furnace, are all 12volt. the only 110 things are the fireplace, fridge, AC.

so tempting to just get a 5 ton cab/chassis and put under this thing and call it my skoolie XD

Here she is after BACKING it out of the dealer's setup room. It was too long to pull through like they normally do!

more pictures here - http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a379/ ... cks/Villa/

Redbear · 08-01-2010, 07:54 PM

Well, I'm not a fan of slide-outs for structural reasons, but I looked through the photos in the link and the interior looks first-class and well thought-out. It definitely looks like home. Good luck with it. There are worse choices that could have been made, stick & staples or not.

M1031 · 08-02-2010, 10:04 AM

That's one sweet trailer for an S&S! Best of luck with her!

Stuff · 08-02-2010, 02:27 PM

ty guys

RevBill · 09-03-2010, 09:21 PM

I must say .. I have paid about the same or more renting an apartment or small house and didn't have nearly as nice a place to come home to at the end of the day .. not to mention I usually ended up with the upstairs neighbor with 500lb feet, no matter how petite she was .. or the one that managed to set the building on fire ..

.. congrats on yer new digs, no matter how temporary ..

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