Community Forums

kaboomski · 10-16-2016, 05:58 PM

Hi All,

So living in SoCal is wonderful and all, but the high price of houses is not, pretty much a half-million to start. The wife and I are moving to her mother's house who is at the age where she could use the help and company, we are in our late 40's. She wants us there but enjoys her house the way it is so this is our plan: We are going to buy a MH and move on to her property but live in the MH. The price of the MH payment will be 1/2 to 1/3 the cost of a house and we get the bonus of being able to pull up at anytime and go on vacation. Eventually we will inherit her house.
We have had a 40 foot pad poured next to her house and I'm going to have a 50 amp power supply installed on the side of her house as well. I'm also going to get a potty-dolly to empty tanks into her sewer access (it's uphill).

Our top 3 RV choices are:

Thor Challenger 37KT (love that the front room closes off from the rest of the RV)
Thor Challenger 37YT
Winnebago Adventurer 38Q

This is our first RV purchase and DP's are a little over our price range. We plan on taking it out once a month/once every 2 months to enjoy SoCal, Arizona,Nevada etc.

I would enjoy any feedback you all may have, being on the set-up or rig choices or anything. Looking forward to enjoying the RV life.

imob · 10-16-2016, 06:05 PM

One thing I would say is that have you checked the local zoning codes to see if that is allowed? One pissed off neighbor and you could get slapped with a fine, looking for another location to put it and having to live in the house.

twogypsies · 10-16-2016, 06:07 PM

I assume everything has been o.k'd by the town rules before living in the RV.

You could get a macerator for your sewage and it will pump uphill. Many do this.

I'd suggest you look for a high quality used RV rather than buying new. You'll save a lot of money and get a better RV. Look for one 2-5 yrs. old.

You didn't say where you will be living but having dual pane windows will help greatly in hot or cold temps. Also a covered underbelly with heat into it will save freezing of pipes in winter. In winter you'll go through a lot of propane for heat so consider a big tank rented from the local propane dealer.

Good luck...hope it works for you.

PJStough · 10-16-2016, 06:08 PM

The floor plan would be the most important factor to me.

kaboomski · 10-16-2016, 06:13 PM

Luckily we live in Souther California so winterizing is not needed and for chilly nights we will probably use small space heaters run off the electricty, propane will only be used for cooking. Most all the houses have gates for RV storage and our neighbor has an RV stored right next to where we will be parked. We've already talked to them and they are fine with it.

HarleyOutlaw · 10-16-2016, 06:17 PM

First consideration is the living area of whatever coach you get. Make sure you and everyone that will be in it can function on those days when you can't go outside for whatever reason.

bluepill · 10-16-2016, 06:43 PM

FYI - Do Not assume that it is legal to LIVE IN an RV just because it may be legal to park/store one there. Our local City Law allows parking, but outlaws living.

imob · 10-16-2016, 06:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluepill

FYI - Do Not assume that it is legal to LIVE IN an RV just because it may be legal to park/store one there. Our local City Law allows parking, but outlaws living.

Sorry if I was not clear, that is what I was referring to... living in it. Neighborhoods with half million dollar starting prices are not often kind to things like this. I am glad the one you spoke to was ok with it. But there is also the roaming code enforcement person that drives by and "notices" things.

**JohnRR** · 10-16-2016, 07:00 PM

I hope it goes well for all of you.

sbranen · 10-16-2016, 07:26 PM

Get a macerator unit with a dump hose from Camping World. You won't need the potty-dolly.

Pickelhead · 10-16-2016, 08:13 PM

I still think you should check on the town ordinances to make sure it is alright to LIVE in the RV first. Almost every neighborhood I've lived in had a self appointed busy body who made it their job to POLICE the neighborhood.

dons2346 · 10-16-2016, 08:19 PM

Southern CA is a big place. I lived in SoCA and in my neighborhood, you couldn't park an rv much less live in it. Best check the local zoning laws. Better safe than sorry

cashmore · 10-16-2016, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pickelhead

I still think you should check on the town ordinances to make sure it is alright to LIVE in the RV first. Almost every neighborhood I've lived in had a self appointed busy body who made it their job to POLICE the neighborhood.

I second that. Better safe than sorry when it comes to things like this

Shaky · 10-17-2016, 05:12 AM

My MH is parked in my driveway, but we do not live in it. I have a 30AMP hookup at the side of the house and in the summer if it gets really warm out we retreat to the MH, run out the slider and turn on the AC. If we loose power we can light off the generator and do the same. Homes here in the PNW generally aren't built with AC. I live in a rural county so nobody says much. There are four more neighbors with either 5th wheelers, or MHs parked in their driveways. We live on a dead end street so not many folks "patrolling" the area. Besides, we are generally out on the road traveling. That's what we bought our MH for in the first place.