Fifth Wheel or Mobile home while building?

KatharoFields · #1 08/07/14, 06:07 AM

What are the pros and cons of living in either a fifth wheel or mobile home while saving to build? If we did a fifth wheel we would have it in a vented pole barn. Trying to figure out which one will be cheaper living cost wise, since we are saving to build. Not sure if heating costs will be a more in one than another during michigan winters. We will be putting in a well and septic either way. Thanks !

haypoint · #2 08/07/14, 06:52 AM

I think you can buy a mobile home about as cheap, if not cheaper, than a camper. Generally, both are poorly insulated. Will cost more to heat a larger area.

ejagno · #3 08/07/14, 07:11 AM

Okay, the thing is that when you have finished building you will have difficulty selling that trailer and it's of no use to you. With the 5th wheel or camper you can actually still use it for vacations, camping trips and family outings. It's far less expensive to operate a 5th wheel than a full mobile home. Our son and his wife and little boy lived in their 5th wheel here on my property while building their house. Just don't do like him and forget to fill your propane tank during the coldest night of the year. LOL

Bellyman · #4 08/07/14, 07:12 AM

Whatever you buy, give a thought to what you want to do with it afterward.

Do you want to use it for occasional travel? Can't do that with a mobile home. They can be moved but it's a hassle and they're not something you take on vacation. They can, however, often be utilized in some fashion after you're done using it for living quarters... they could make a nice workshop (especially having a bathroom and heat/ac), they could make storage space, they could even be used for small animal housing.

If you want a vehicle that you can move easily (assuming you keep it road worthy, that is), a fifth wheel is very livable while still giving you opportunity to move it hundreds or even thousands of miles away for whatever reason, whether it be work, school, recreation, or even "bugging out" as some might call it. Can't really do any of that with a mobile home.

As far as getting through your Michigan winter, it's not gonna be a picnic in either one. There are better built mobile homes as well as better built fifth wheels (as in more insulation). Since you're looking towards letting either sit for at least a while, you can put skirting around either of them and keep a little heat underneath. That would certainly help in both cases. Honestly, I think you'd have just about the same chances of keeping either thawed out but it will take some diligence, fuel and effort regardless of which you choose. Having the pole barn to put it in will indeed provide some protection, especially if you can put up something to block at least some of the prevailing winds. It'll certainly help keep the snow off the roof.

In my case, (we're still looking for a place of our own), we're already fulltime rvers so we have one we are familiar with. We've been through some winters where the temps were below zero. Not fun, but we survived just fine. Kinda have to roll with it and be prepared. But we have different opportunities in different places at different times of the years. Over the summer, there are some agricultural opportunities for us in Pennsylvania. Over the winter, there are some seasonal work opportunities for us in KY or TN where we still live in our rv. So we do move it. It's nice to sleep in our own bed (which is very comfortable, btw) where ever we are. It's nice having "home" with us wherever we go.

If we never moved, I would think differently. We both would like more room, especially in the kitchen. We'd both love more pantry space, a root cellar and much more freezer space. We'd like to develop a much larger solar setup than is practical on the roof of this rv, especially if it's to move several times a year.

Anyway, that's my thoughts. Hope you'll be able to consider a little beyond what the current use might be and use that to help you decide what might ultimately be the better choice. Good luck!

Wolf mom · #5 08/07/14, 07:33 AM

You can gut the trailer and use it for storage.
You can use the trailer as a guest house later. Cutsie the entry with flowering vines etc.
You can use it as a rental (If you have room for a horse, a rental with horse privledges are in demand here.
Since it has plumbing & electricity, you can use it as a small shop.

Lots of things can be done with an old trailer.

BTW: skirt with straw bales if whatever you choose is going to be on the property short term.