We are looking for a travel trailer...cheap...that we can live in on our land while we build our house. If you have one for sale cheap or for rent...please email...It is for me and my husband...no children..and it needs to be in North Carolina...preferably close to the Mebane, Burlington, Yanceyville area...or there abouts ! If anyone can help us out with this, we would sure appreciate it. Thanks in advance. Brenda

-- Brenda (CherokeeMaiden2@aol.com), August 08, 2001

Answers

Ann and I have a contract on property in the Charleston West Virginia area with a similar need. We are looking for an inexpensive pop-up that doesn't leak.

Thanks

Rick

-- rick K (rick_122@hotmail.com), August 08, 2001.

Just a suggestion here. Why not pour a slab and put up a "garage" with structural insulated panels now? You can rough frame the opening (s) for OH door(s) for now and use conventional insulation there (and include some windows you can reuse in your permanent home) and live there while building your dream home. That way there's no waste and no money spent on renting a trailer or lost on reselling one. When you move into your permanent home you have something you can use as a garage or even as a heated shop. I just hate to see money wasted on renting a trailer that can be spent on something you'll have forever. I like SIP's because they're super insulated, can be delivered to your site and you can be under roof the same day. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), August 08, 2001.

Rick, my husband says a pop-up would be too small for us as he runs his business out of our home also...There is a place I called today called Americamp RV that has a 1973 pop-up for $495.00 if you are interested. It is a Jayco and has a/c. His name was Paul Jaroc and the company is 8 miles east of Ashboro, NC. Maybe it would be something you could use. Good luck to you.

Gary, I would like to know more about the insulated panels. We had been talking about building a garage apt or something. Thanks for the reply everyone.

-- Brenda (CherokeeMaiden2@aol.com), August 08, 2001.

Brenda,

I sent you an email with some info I hope will help you. If you need anything further, please don't hesitate to ask.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), August 08, 2001.

Rick,

Per your request, I forwarded the same information to you that I sent to Brenda. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), August 09, 2001.

I agree that it would be more efficient to build something, and even thought of a workshop for a starter building that we could live in for a year or so. The pop-up would give us time to learn the lands ways (such as water and wind patterns). We may even make do in a tent for a while, under a lean-to. We would probably start with a 15' by 15', assuming it is feasible. Would a 2" slab be ok? Would you do it with 4 sections dividing it. What do you divide it with? Thanks for the info, I can't wait for the details on the panels.

Brenda thanks for the tip.

-- rick K (rick_122@hotmail.com), August 10, 2001.

Do you really need your trailer to travel - ever again, even? You may find ones traded-in which are no longer fit for long-distance towing, which dealers would be happy to let you have for a low price just to get rid of them. Some people who've posted here have spoken of this, or of paying a low price ($10?) for trailers as salvage, or even of being paid to dispose of them. All you need to find is one trailer, and all it costs is a few phone calls to check it out.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), August 11, 2001.

Rick,

I'd probably go with a 4" slab with full footers all around. If you ever (and 'ever' is a long time) want to put any kind of vehicle in your structure you'll need that. I hope this helps.

-- Gary in Indiana (gk6854@aol.com), August 11, 2001.

Wow... first time I've heard of SIPs. Does anyone know if these can be purchased 'off the shelf' and in what sizes? At first glance, they appear to be a great way to build anything which requires insulation.

cheers and thanks,

-- Max (Maxel@inwindsor.com), August 11, 2001.

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a "SIP"? The idea of living in a future shed/garage is actually very good, although you may still need a place to sleep until it's raised. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. John

-- John D in Pa (zeke!@usachoice.net), August 11, 2001.

John, Gary suggests structural insulated panels. Gary, is a footer like a support for a foundation/slab? (4" keeping vehicles in mind is a helpful tip). Also, I didn't recieve info in SIP's in mail account!

Thanks

-- rick K (rick_122@hotmail.com), August 12, 2001.