Hopefully you've read Part I of this series; it explains how and why we ended up living in a fifth-wheel -- the second Arctic Fox trailer we've owned.
More than two years later, would we do it again?
Yes.
If you figure in typical rent around here ($1000-2000 monthly), we have easily repaid our fifth-wheel's price. Not only that, it's in better condition, thanks to repairs by the Brick, than it was when we first bought it. (Okay, the cabinets are still in banged-up condition from the previous owners. I hope to finish those this summer.)
We could pretty easily rent it out, too, if we were done with it. Or another world cruise came up. Something like that.
PROS FOR LIVING IN A FIFTH-WHEEL:
*Comfortable living. We've had plenty of room for two reclining chairs/stools, a dining room and a kitchen area. (One end of the trailer will eventually become a wide desk I can work at, and we can store the Brick's keyboard underneath.) Our bed is queen-sized and very comfortable. We have a bathroom and shower, as well.
We stay snug, regardless of the weather.
*Many of a traditional home's amenities: microwave, motion-activated outdoor lights, tv and computer hookups...even an electric fireplace. Heating and air conditioning, as well as an overhead fan, help keep us comfortable. (We added a space heater and an additional fan, to help out.)
*Storage space: we have a surprising amount, both upstairs and in the "basement." (A lower level, that lets us stock groceries on one side -- and tools on another.)
*Solar power: Multiple solar panels up on the roof will eventually furnish all the power we need, whether we're hooked up to electricity or not. (I'll explain this in a minute.)
*We can go -- and park -- pretty much anywhere we want. An hour is about what it takes to pull up the 'legs,' wire cupboards shut, and hook up to the truck. There are a lot of spots that don't cost anything to "dry camp" (no hookups), as well as with friends and family.
*We have a permanent spot in Colorado -- thanks to our landlord friends. We pay utilities and act as caretakers when they're out of town; we also help out with chores and maintenance jobs around the place. In return, we have water and electricity, a quiet spot -- and a beautiful view.
*We can spend longer periods at places we want to travel to. A week or two...or even a month. Bringing our home with lets stay as long as we wish.
*We can volunteer, help out family, whatever we like -- where we like. We just need a parking spot.
*We can help with The Mama. This was forcibly brought out last week -- we'd spent a month in Michigan this spring, parked in the farm's barnyard. This let us install railings; cook meals; help The Mama move more easily around the house, etc.
Soon after we left, The Mama started having increasing difficulty getting around. In spite of a newly-started health aide, she ended up in the hospital last week. When we get back to Michigan, we can help again with Mom's care. (And help spell other family members' care of her.)
CONS FOR DOING THIS:
*Yes, we have storage -- but I wish we had a little more. My quilt collection is one problem; we donated more than two dozen bags of tops, quilts, etc. to the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, and I still have dozens of pieces. (Hey, when you're teaching and writing about textiles, as well as appraising them, owning some pieces is of great value.)
I also miss my books. We had in the neighborhood of 4000 books; most of those were sold, given away or donated. Even with our collection cut wayyyy down, there's not enough trailer space to have all of the books I'd like to have close at hand... close at hand.
There is also little room to stock up on food and personal care bargains -- though I do keep some extra items on hand. (More on this in a minute.)
*Space in the bathroom and shower is tight. It's doable -- but there's not a lot of extra room.
*No room for lots of company or dinner guests. We've put up Daughter #2 and Son #1, but they're adaptable and understanding. (They also cheerfully put up with an inflatable air mattress.) We can seat two more for supper -- maybe even four others. But it's definitely more crowded.
*It's easy to be messy. I can no longer leave out jobs that are in progress. If the Brick is working on a project, he has the same struggle. On the occasions that he's repairing something, we have to unload shelves and cupboards -- then step around those piles until they can be replaced. Trash cans have to be emptied regularly -- particularly the bathroom one.
On the plus side, it doesn't take long to tidy up. I can generally clean the entire trailer in less than two hours -- even fifteen minutes' work makes a real difference.
*We need to empty out our tanks -- and refill on occasion. The water tank space is limited. The graywater and blackwater tanks need to be emptied out periodically. When we're not hooked up to water and sewer, we've learned to conserve.
*Problems can be smelly. And complicated. Especially when the blackwater tank pipe clogs up and backflows into the bathroom. (That nasty job was when we were at The Mama's in June. It's happened to others.)
Fortunately, this rarely occurs. But when it does, there's no getting away from it.
*There's no easy way of getting away from each other, either. The Brick and I enjoy spending time together, so it's not a big issue. But once in a while, I'd like to spend an afternoon with Pride & Prejudice, a cup of tea and a handkerchief, without having to arrange it. (P&P makes the Brick want to gag.) I'm sure the Brick would prefer listening to his beloved political commentators the same way. (I can only handle an hour or two, unless it's Mark Levin.)
NEXT: Living in A Fifth-Wheel: What We're Doing to Adapt
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