Any Camper Advice?

[skipperbrown]

If you are only 20 miles from your hunting place, I'd tow it back and forth. You can leave it provisioned and ready to go in the safety of your home and keep the battery on a charger. You can dump your nasties in a clean out drain at the house or for $10, use a dump station. If you leave it in a remote area, little rodents and the big ones on 2 legs will likely become a problem. Parked under a shed or in a garage, it will age very slowly.

 

[houstonscott]

I知 thinking about buying a used camper (19, or 20 ft) to place on my farm/hunting property. I壇 like to spend an occasional night there in the fall and winter, but never when it痴 hot. Hopefully talk my wife into joining me. But there痴 no electricity, well, or septic system. It痴 about 20 miles from my home, not too far out of town. My buddy is interested in sharing 1/2 the cost, but he would use it occasionally for taking trips in the nearby mountains, but never too far, within a couple of hundred miles. I have no problem sharing ownership, as we jointly own many farm implements, as well as ownership of the farm.
Not having any experience, are campers self contained enough to leave at the property, spend the occasional night there especially during hunting season, and not be too much trouble? I have a nice quiet Honda generator, and a 300 gallon cistern there.
Would solar help? How about dumping sewage and gray water? How often and where? It痴 a 300 acre rural property if that matters.

Thought about building a rustic cabin, but without electricity or water, just don稚 see that being wise, plus really don稚 want to have to go through the building permit process. I壇 like to keep it under 10 grand, but I see many fairly decent used ones in that range. Would this fly and if so, what should I look for?

Airstream.

 

[shooterdon]

For the price and square feet you are getting with the camper you could easily build a small cabin that would be better in every way.

Have to agree.

I had a 43' 5th wheel toy hauler and it was a royal pain in the ***.

If you get a camper, the first thing is to go through it and seal every hole where pipes, hoses and power comes in. Use steel wool stuffed into the gaps and foam as needed. You can build a small septic system for not a lot of money and it is worth doing that rather than having to haul a camper out when the tank is full. Grey water can be run out a hose to a spot 50' away and allowed to drain.


The varmints are the worst. Both two and four legged.

 

[JJZ 109]

Have to agree.

I had a 43' 5th wheel toy hauler and it was a royal pain in the ***.

One of the happiest days I've had in a long time was 2 weeks ago when I saw that 5th wheel camper being hauled out of my driveway by someone who lives a hundred miles away, knowing I'd never see it again! :cool2:

 

[Gary Fowler]

One of the happiest days I've had in a long time was 2 weeks ago when I saw that 5th wheel camper being hauled out of my driveway by someone who lives a hundred miles away, knowing I'd never see it again! :cool2:

I hope to have the same experience with my Class A motorhome soon.

 

[HCJtractor]

Thank you for all the advice. Yes, I can see how my idea may not be a good one. I appreciate the honesty. Glad I asked!

 

[dragoneggs]

Thank you for all the advice. Yes, I can see how my idea may not be a good one. I appreciate the honesty. Glad I asked!

It really boils down to how you want to get best use out it (being the structure/vehicle). I see the points made by some who say build a fixed structure. Others, say park it, and others that say tow in/out. I think you need to decide whether you want this investment solely for this location, and how often you would use it vs. a portable solution whether it sits there or at home. I think you got some good comments to help you decide what works best for you.

 

[square1]

Before anything else, check local ordinances. Zoning regulations at one of my properties stipulate how many nights per year and the length in duration of any one stay by a recreational vehicle. Those regs also say I must be able to produce on demand reciepts showing the history of grey / black water holding tanks having been properly dumped.

 

[JJZ 109]

Before anything else, check local ordinances. Zoning regulations at one of my properties stipulate how many nights per year and the length in duration of any one stay by a recreational vehicle. Those regs also say I must be able to produce on demand reciepts showing the history of grey / black water holding tanks having been properly dumped.

To add to this, many localities have zoning rules stating that only so many vehicles not currently registered can be on the property. Something for the OP to consider if they weren't going to keep tags on it.

 

[HCJtractor]

Zoning or regulations aren’t problems where I live. There is no supervision of this rural property. But if I want power lines run to a site which would be 1,000 yards, then I would have to obtain a permit for either a structure or mobile home, and that would open me up for permits, taxes, etc. That was what I was trying to avoid. Plus, I may sell this property so don’t want to put much more money in it.

It is a little surprising that campers are so prone to leaks, rodents, etc. You would think they are designed to “live” outside so could withstand the elements, and be sealed effectively. Since I live in the city, I don’t have anywhere else to store it. And I’m sure you get what you pay for, as a cheap camper is built cheaply.