My new home (my folks bought a travel trailer!)
 

As I've mentioned before, I'm disabled with a couple different degenerative disorders. I'm no longer able to work, and while I have been approved for long term disability, I won't be able to make ends meet due to the cost of Cobra and medical care.

I'm moving to my father's place in Arizona's high country. We found a trailer on Thursday and they signed on Friday.

Here's some interior photos from my new home. :-)

https://picasaweb.google.com/1117388...eat=directlink

(The dealer took the photos. I don't have a good one of the exterior yet. It's got fiberglass laminate walls and is Ye Typical 5th Wheel, so use your imagination.)

My folks don't have a truck that can pull it, so the dealer will deliver it in the next few weeks. My dad needs to build a pad for it, and it's snowing right now, so we'll have to wait for the weather to clear and the ground to dry first. (The snow's melting already, but there's about a foot of it, and the mud is impressive!)

It's a 1996 Avion le Grande 5th Wheel, 34 foot, travel trailer. Avion was owned by Fleetwood and was their top-end top-of-the-line trailer. For a variety of reasons, mostly unrelated to the quality or structure of the trailer, this one was a bargain -- way below the listed value. It had been on the market for awhile. ($4.00 a gallon diesel and a trailer that weighs five tons probably had a lot to do with the price ...) But it's got GREAT bones and I'm going to be living in it in one place, not hauling it!

It has all the usual appliances -- fridge, gas stove, nice bathroom, plus quite a few extras. It's got a nice gas generator and a washer/dryer combo unit. It's got air conditioning, a gas furnace, and a hot water heater that can flip between electric and gas (which is nice, because it will be hooked to mains power, and propane is expensive!!!!) It's got TONS of outlets EVERYWHERE. My current house has a shortage of electric outlets! The fridge is a gas/electric combo unit. It's got tank heaters, upgraded winter insulation, and an electric/propane water heater. The option to run everything off a generator or propane is VERY nice given the power can go off for days at a time here.

It has SOLID OAK cabinets and wood trim. All the wood you see is real wood. It's not veneer or particle board. It's the real dang thing. Half the weight of the trailer is probably in oak. (Bonus, it was a very popular color and style in the 90's. I should be able to find a small oak desk and some oak shelves that will match exactly, for cheap, on Craig's List or at a thrift store. It may be a bit dated, but I like the look.)

It also has the world's most comfortable recliner, ever.

Anyway, it's going to be my new home.

Now I have to purge a tremendous amount of stuff, and start packing, and we need to figure out the logistics of moving my animals.

Very nice!

My son just bought a place where he is hoping I will eventually move a home onto and I could see myself being quite comfortable in a place like yours (although I think my son is thinking something more along the lines of a park model).

Good luck with your move.

Sorry that you need to do this, but man - that is really nice looking. I hope the changes go well, and without too much troubles.

Congratulations on your new home.

Really nice, my SIL and BIL lived in a motor home for 12years and loved it. It looks like it is in great shape.

Wow really nice digs you have there! Good for you!

It's really nice! And will be easier for you to live in a small place. I am disabled, and the smaller the house, the better off I am, as long as there's no clutter...

Enjoy your new home. :)

Congrats...It looks really nice.

I love the open floor plan and all of the oak! We've looked at a lot of "fivers" (5th wheels) and this one ranks right up there with the very nicest. Enjoy your new home!

Congratulations! We used to have one much like it. It was quite comfortable and sure had alot of storage.

Congrats, looks very nice.

That's a bad ass trailer! I'd live in that in a heartbeat!

Lookin' good!

Where about on the Rim? I'm in the White Mountains - we might be neighbors...

Congrats! :sing: And enjoy!

Mon

Gorgeous. That looks a lot nicer than my home, lol.

...............It should have '50 Amp' service system for it's 120\240 AC supply ! It will also have a 12v DC electricial system that powers the lights when it is not connected too 'Shore' power . The Avion trailers built during those years were very well made units , probably much better than some are today .
................Be sure and have him check the rubber roof for any potential leaks , esp. around the outer perimeter where the metal meets the rubber roof . You will enjoy that trailer as your new home . , fordy

Looks brand new inside, congrats! Ditto the suggestion to check the roof and recoat/reseal if necessary. Since it is to be a permanent home, suggest putting a roof over it. Like a pole barn without sides or a giant carport. Blocking the sun will keep the AC bill down, make it more comfortable and prolong the life of the roof.

That is exceptional! You should be very happy there. I think it looks quite comfortable and roomy.

i think it is beautiful..i would make sure that the pad for it is directly south of the largest healthliest deciduous tree you can find so that it will shade the ariz sun in the summer but let light in in the winter..a few trees would be even nicer.

also if you are able to ..after it is in a small front and back deck would really add to your usability, by being able to put out a grill and outside table and a few comfy lawn chairs..and maybe a lattice over for some grapes??

another thing to consider is that because you love homesteading you might have any soil that is removed for the pad levelling put into a hugelkulture or raised bed nearby for some veggies.

Congrats! Nice place!
I wish I could find a trailer like that. I've got a bum hip and something like that would be perfect.

I like Az. Took a little while to get used to the summers,now I love em. Can't wait till it starts.

Wow, that IS very nice! I've thought about something like that for when I get older and/or gimpier, lol, but I worry about the bathroom and doorways not being big enough if I need a walker, tub seat, etc. Have you taken that into consideration?

All that woodwork is definitely beautiful, decent sized kitchen, I could definitely work with it otherwise. Y'all did great! And as someone else said, with a nice deck and maybe a trellis or even a retractable awning (which it may already have, a lot do) it would be even better.

Woo hoo, yay for you! That's what I call making the best of a bad situation. :)

That is very nice! I wouldlive in that in a heartbeat. Roomy and nice looking. Can't ask for much more. Good luck with your move and happy trails!

Excellent. Two comments that may help you - first, get rid of the big bed and get something smaller. It'll free up space fro you to move in the bedroom. - There may be storage space under the bed, and you'll need to modify it, but it will be worth it. Second - if the furnace is gas, get two oil-filled electric space heaters. The oil filled are MUCH less dangerous and give an even heat. The downside is that they don't react quickly and the overheat switch keeps them from giving full heat in really cold weather. Oh yeah, build a ramp to the door. Travel trailer steps are not fun if you aren't feeling well. Oh yeah, skirting AND mouse traps. Mice think we make travel trailers for them.

I really like that! We hope to set up something here for my parents to use part of the year and a trailer that that would be perfect!

Very nice, I know I have had times in my life where something like that would have been a real blessing. As has already been said, you could add a porch or deck, some landscaping, maybe have a small shed put up next to it for storage and poof, you have a real nice long term place there.

You'll have to keep us posted and show some pics when you get it set up.

Thanks, guys. I'm really happy with it. It was a real bargain -- my folks got lucky on the price. Now we just need to cross our fingers for dry weather so my dad can build a pad and they can deliver it.

Harry -- I like the big storage under the bed. :-) The furnace is gas, and yeah, we were talking about oil filled heaters as they'll be cheaper than propane. It does have VERY sturdy steps, but a porch is in the plans. And my mouse traps (and bed warmers) have four legs, LOL!

Calliemoonbeam -- I'm not likely to need a walker. If I get to that point, well, we'll deal with it. I do want to add grab bars in a couple of places, though. It has a couple awkward steps. I have a number of health problems, mostly genetic, that don't help, but the primary cause of my disability is dystonia and it currently is worse in my upper body. I can't look down easily (neck is in constant spasm) and my body's twisted in strange directions, but I can walk okay. I look funny when I walk if I'm having a bad day and everything's tight, but I get around okay.

Wolf Mom -- I'll be living about 25 miles east of Payson.

Re: trellis/landscaping/etc -- my dad and stepmom are putting in a HUGE garden. The trailer will be inside the "elk fence" and my cats will have a pen next to it, likely with a walkway between the pen and the trailer. I'm lobbying to grow grapes and climbing roses (I love the heirloom variety Don Juan) on the cat pen. I want to put in some fruit trees, too.

The trees on the lot are ponderosa pines and junipers. No deciduous tree other than an old apple tree.

A porch is a GREAT idea. Will part of it be covered with an awning or something?

...............You will findout soon enough that changing sheets on the queen bed will be an exercise in dexterity and patience ! , fordy

It's lovely! What part is the part above cab?

Very nice

Very nice! I'm happy for you!

It looks great and I am so happy for you! What a blessing to have parents that are willing and able to look out for you!

IF you are thinking about apples, definitely check out www.kuffelcreek.com he writes the book about growing apples in warm - or hot- climates.
I personally would go for a full sized bed. GFB, myself, and the 3 cats fit nicely on a double and I think, after years of making queens and California kings that a double is much easier. But if you like a queen...We tend to have tomorrows clothing nd the night's reading materials stored on the California king and its not so snuggly. Just a thought in passing- I never used electric blankets before this winter and we have both found our health much improved with cold temps- (down to 38 degrees sometimes) and electric blankets. The pain is much improved after a night under the electronic blanket- you might try picking up one and experimenting.
It's a gorgeous house and I hope you'll be very happy in it!!

I'm so happy for you and what a great family you have. Simply speaking from my past experience of living in small spaces, I offer this one word to consider - ventilation. Sorry to say that it's an issue of life within an enclosed space and has to be considered when you're cooking, using the washer/dryer, using the hot water, bathroom experiences :o and all the other life situations that make you want to throw open the windows and get a breath of fresh air.

When having the trailer set up is a good time to recheck the insulation, how all the appliances work/electrical and gas connections, roof connection/leaks, underpinning, and rodent control outside of the premises. I'd put priority on shielding the trailer from the weather such as a metal carport cover or similar. This will add greatly to the comfort level indoors and reduce the strain on the indoor appliances and heating/cooling systems to maintain temperatures. The thermostats will thank you.

Nice! I hope you'll be very happy there, and it sounds as if you will.

You are in pretty country. What's your elevation? Highly recommend a metal roof cover over the 5th wh. The sun is intense at altitude, and really deteriorates plastic.

LOT'S of deer mice & pack rats, they chew up everything.

Grandmotherbear -- thanks for the book. We're up at 6500 feet of elevation in Arizona's Rim country, however. Some of the best apples I've ever tasted come from little orchards around here. It gets about 20-30 inches of precip a year (depending on year) and plenty of freezing in the winter, so apples do REALLY well.

And re: electric blanket -- a toasty electric blanket sounds heavenly. :-)

Soulsurvivor -- I am very, very lucky to have the family I do. I did NOT expect to get this kind of help from them, and wasn't asking for it. It will be a win-win for all of us, however. :-) :-) :-) I'm resolved to make myself useful around here, in any way I can.

Goldencitymuse -- 6500 feet or so. It's in a mixed ponderosa/juniper/scrub oak forest. It is pretty country!!! And yeah, lots of critters. But I'm coming from a rural desert location, so I'm used to them. I'm fortunate enough to have some cats who are awesome mousers, so anything that dares enter the trailer or their pen will be toast. Been there, done that. (In my current mobile home, pre-cats, I had an invasion of mice one year that was like something out of a horror movie. I didn't solve it until I got cats.)

Cygnet, congratulations!!! Wonderful place you go there :) It sounds like a great solution to your challenging situation. The big garden also sounds awesome, too.

it's beautiful! congrats, and I hope your move goes well. I agree that you have wonderful family and support. you are blessed. :)

Congratulations Cygnet. That trailer looks real comfortable.

You're getting some great suggestions here...as is customary on these forums. I would second the idea of setting up a type of carport completely over your trailer. I would even add some flooring all around under that carport for a real nice porch.

One thing we benefitted from when setting up our trailer was placing the water pressure tank "under" the trailer, making sure it had a nice easy-to-get to filter. This has protected it from the weather!

You do have wonderful parents! I'm sure your willingness to help out around that place will be gratifying to both them and yourself. Enjoy!! (Oh, you might want to add some "rugosa roses" to your plans for the large rose hips, which are full of vitamin C.)