Advice Please!

[Ljohn2030]

Hello All,

I am moving from Texas to Oklahoma to start a job on July 2nd. In order to save money, I was planning on living in my Father-in-laws RV (1996 40ft 5ver Hyline Premier). This RV was exposed to a wildfire, and I ended up putting over $4,000 into it to make it "livable". Neither of us has a vehicle to tow it, so I hired someone to pull it from Texas to Oklahoma - that was Friday.

The RV was involved in an accident and is a total loss, and most of my belongings in it were destroyed, broken, etc. I was able to salvage some, but only as much as my car could carry.

I will be in Oklahoma for 12-18 months - potentially two winters, and it will just be me. I found a 2006 Forest Park Wildcat TT with the "arctic package" (heated basement, better wall construction, etc.) for $14,400. It looks great, and definitely could survive (or allow me to survive) the winter. It will be towed to the campground and it is in great shape (saw it yesterday).

Should I look for another model? Is this a good model/brand? Should I try to bring the "totalled" RV back to life (destroyed on the inside, broken windows, structural damage, landing gear broken, pipes broken on inside)?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[Luckiest Dreamer]

Seems to me that you could rent an apt for yourself for $1000 per month and it would be cheaper than buying, paying lot rent, utilities, etc.

[RSchleder]

I definitely would not deal with the "totaled" RV. It'll be nothing but problems with potential system failures, water leaks, etc,etc. If an rv is what you wish to live in, sounds like you've found a decent one to buy. Make sure everything works, get it inspected if possible, be sure the price you pay is fair and a good deal and get on with your life!

PS- I can't comment on the quality/reliability of the unit your looking at as I have no experience with that brand--sorry!

[TXiceman]

Wildcat is an entry level trailer. Even with the "Arctic" package, you will have to be extremely careful with the Oklahoma winters. It can reach 0 degF there and remain below freezing for a week or more. You will need to skirt the RV to help out and only drain the tanks every few days. When extremely cold, plan to fill the water tank and operate off it. To keep the basement from freezing you will need to run the furnace and use some propane. A couple of 1500 Watt heaters will help, but yo must run the furnace.

We lived in our 4 seasons 5er in NW Oklahoma and when the weather is freezing, we would need to refill the 40# tank about every 7 days or so. It would be best if you could rent or buy a 125# tank and have the local propane company come by and fill it.

Where in Oklahoma will you be located.

Ken

[Ljohn2030]

Thank you TXiceman. I will be northeast of Tulsa in a KOA Campground in Claremore, OK. I don't know if they will allow me to have the bigger propane tank, but I will ask. I have a heated water hose that I can plug in. It looks like the water supply next to my space was prepared for winter - wrapped in insulation, and heat tape around it. I will plan to do the same thing.

After researching online, there are many ways to skirt an RV. Any suggestions? Only one RV at the site has skirting now, and it looks like permanent skirting. I guess I could wait and see what everyone else does once winter starts.

Is there another RV model or make I should consider instead of the Wildcat?

Thank you in advance!

[TXiceman]

The easiest way to skirt the RV for the winter is to get several sheets of the blue foam board at Home Depot, Lowe's ot the likes. Tape the seams, and use some wood to anchor it to the on the bottom. It is easy to cut with a knife and fit into place.

We lived in (near) Tulsa twice over the years. The first time was near Broken Arrow and the last time was Chouteau (East and a bit south of Claremore).

I don't remember a KOA in Claremore. It must be new since the one near the casino/truck stop (Catoosa) was closed.

I have seen some of them use hay bails against the RV to skirt them....It is a gret insulator, but it is also a nice food source for all sorts of critters as well as a warm place for the winter.

I just wanted to point out that the Wildcat is an entry level RV and not intended for full time use. To get to a true 4 season trailer for full time use, it will be more costly and much heavier.

Ken

[Gary RVRoamer]

No RV is going to be great in an Oklahoma winter (remember the line from the song "Oklahoma - where the wind comes sweeping down the plain"?), so the one you found is probably going to be as good as any in that price range. A brand such as Teton or a Canadian brand like Okanagan or Golden Falcon would be better in frigid weather, but hard to find and probably more expensive as well.

Be prepared to insulate windows and roof vents as well as adding skirting. You may also have to provide a heat source for your holding tanks and definitely for the exposed dump valve plumbing. You do not want your holding tanks frozen up - it takes a long time to thaw them once they get solid.

[TXiceman]

I believe the Wildcat has exposed waste dump valves. You need to wrap them with heater tape and insulate them. To help the holding tanks, it may be a good idea to put a 60 to 100 Watt light bulb in the compartment with the tanks.

And the wind does blow in Oklahoma, so you will need to skirt it to help keep the belly a bit warmer. NE OK does get some snow and ice. The snow is usually only a day or two, but the ice can be brutal.

Ken

[Ljohn2030]

Thank you everyone for the great suggestions. The process of cutting the foam insulation boards and using them as a skirt does not seem difficult at all. I will definitely "heat-tape" and insulate every water pipe and the waste dump valves. I will also put a 60 watt (at least) bulb in the basement to keep everything warm. I found a great video on youtube that shows how to prepare an RV for winter.

Thank you everyone for all the input!