jeff,

assuming the following:

$16000 financed over 10 years at 6% would run you something arounf
$175 per month.  i know...you can reduce that with a cash down
payment, shorter term, etc.  but what i'm going for here is a total
out-of-pocket cost for this venture.  so assume $175 a month for the
purchase.  

you're going to need a long-term lease in an RV park somewhere near
your job.  that will run the gamut in terms of cost but $350 is
probably not a bad figure to use.  

many rv parks do not include electric with a monthly rate prefering
instead to out those customers on a meter.  i have no idea on how much
electric you'd use so we'll go low and figure $2 a day or $60 a month.

you didn't indicate what type of climate you're in.  if your area has
a traditional, cold winter you should know that a TT or any RV will be
expensive to heat in the winter.  if you have really cold winters you
may not get water during those months.  beyond that you will need
propane from time to time.  your stove/oven will be propane only as
will your water heater unless you can get an electric option.  no way
to know the cost on that.  if you'll need to heat during a northern
winter figure on buying/leasing a much larger LP tank otherwise you'll
be filling the TT tank every week or so...maybe more frequently.

that adds up to $585 per month.  call it $600.  plus insurance.  i'm
not considering groceries since you'll need that no matter what.  

have you checked into the cost of a furnished apartment or maybe the
monthly rate at one of those extended stay motels?  i think i'd do
that before i'd dip my tootsies into buying a TT.  

73,
rich, n9dko

If you decide to do this I would recommend buying a trailer with one "real"
slide.  By real I mean one that extends about 3' and is about 1/3 or more of
the trailer length.  Several smaller and cheaper trailers have very minimial
slides.  The exception is the smaller slides that include all of your galley
or home entertainment equipment.  A good slide adds a lot to the floorspace.
Good slids might allow a little water inside the trailer during heavy wind
or a driving windstorm.  You might also take in a little moisture when you
retract a wet slide.  Both of these are mimimal problems.

For long term parking remember:

- Not all campgrounds allow extended stay.  This is particularly true of
state parks.  Talk to managment first.

- Some commercial campgrounds provide pretty good discounts for extended
stay - negotiate.

- In cool climate, don't underestimate cost of propane.  Generally it gets a
little cheaper as your tank size increases.  This is why a lot of extended
parkers use the bigger tanks (I think they are 50-60 pound vs 20-30).

- Also regarding heating, think about buying one of the quartz cube heaters.
They do a pretty good job of taking the chill out of an RV.  Also, the
campground pays the electric bill and you buy propane.

- Buy a fairly good trailer.  Higher end RVs are made for more extended use.
The small, "lights" will wear more quickly.

- Budget some repair and plan to do maintenance.  Again, cheaper RVs are not
extended-stay machines.  The better the trailer the less maintenance.

- Consider buying a more serious trailer used.  We picked up a two-year-old
31' Cedar Creek 5th wheel three years ago for about $23,0000.  Price new was
about $36k.  It has been nearly flawless.

- In colder climate don't forget about freezing.  Much of the plumbing is in
sidewalls or under the trailer.  This provides another plus for a better,
extended use trailer.  Most of them have enclosed bellys that contain some
of the trailer heat around the tanks and plumbing.  Many of these also have
tank heaters that keep the under-floor area a little warmer.

RonB

Hi,
I would look for something used.  You can get something a lot bigger
with two slide outs used for what you are going to pay for a new one.
More room is always nicer if you are going to be in it all the time.

Slide outs are pretty good anymore.  A lot depends upon the
manufacturer though.  Entry level RV's tend to have slide outs that
don't sit evenly or go in and out smoothly.  You should put them in
every weekend just to exercise the mechanism and use something on the
seals to keep them from getting brittle every couple of months or so.

The tires are going to dry rot from sitting for sure.  Since you are
planning on leaving it in one spot I would jack it up and put it on
supports and either not worry about the tires or take them off and put
something nice and neat over the wheel well.  Don't know if you have
annual inspections or not, but you will need the tires left on if you do
and want to keep the trailer towable.

DO NOT leave your black water tank drain open.  Wait until it gets 3/4
or more full then dump it.  If you leave it open the liquid will drain
out but the solids will remain and eventually cause you problems.  Like
plugged pipes or hoses.

Water hoses can also be a problem is left out all the time in the sun
and heat.  Make sure you get a good water hose.  When you leave on the
weekends make sure the water is turned off.

You should get vent covers that allow the vents to be left open even in
the rain.  Leaving the vents open when you are gone on the weekend will
help keep the humidity down.   Unless you are planning on leaving the AC
on.  Unless there is someone who will check it for you every day you are
not there I wouldn't leave anything on, but that's me :)

Make a list of what you need to do when you first arrive for the week
and what you need to do when you leave to go home for the week end then
follow it exactly every time.  Nothing like being almost home and then
remembering you left something on or open.  A list posted on the door
will help.

Take care and Happy Campin...

Rather than rent a house (The wife is staying put), Ill be a
weekend commuter (Living there and going home on weekends).

The divorce will be much more costly than ANY camper/mobile home.

That would buy a pretty CHEAP trailer.

I speak from experience as my TT was an entry-level, 24-ft with no slide.  It
would probably go for over $16k today.

A NEW, mid-to-high-end travel trailer with one or two slideout rooms, suitable
for full time use, would probably cost in the neighborhood of $25-35k.

I plan to buy a Sunnybrook when I replace my little Skamper.

http://www.sunnybrookrv.com/titan/index.php

Good luck!
                  :)
JR