Living and surviving in a travel trailer may be appealing to people who have once traveled or had a short time stay in a recreational vehicle. Who wouldn’t anyway? It is typically characterized by a peaceful, liberating feeling, which makes starting our whole lives again possible. Every morning is new and, thus, exciting— it’s like you’re on a never-ending adventure. So, I ask again, who wouldn’t be willing to live in a travel trailer? I know, for sure, the middle age banker frustrated with his boring routine will want to try this out.
However, perhaps, unfortunately, living and surviving in a travel trailer isn’t for everyone. True, more and more folks switch to life in an RV daily, but have you noticed how long before they return to their dull lives? So, it’s not about moving to a trailer vehicle; it’s about surviving in it. But have you wondered why most fail to live long enough in a trailer?
Climate is the commonest culprit. Most people find it too scathing to adapt to the climatic changes that come with their new locations, and thus, it’s an adventure over. In addition to climate, there are other vital considerations to make, all of which we’ll discuss below.
Key Considerations Towards Living And Surviving In A Travel Trailer
Living in a trailer comes with a lot of first-class benefits. Imagine having enough time to focus on family, the ability to work anywhere, flexibility to relocate, not having to pay rents or utilities, and so many more. However, this doesn’t mean you should jump right into it. Sure, it is beneficial, but can you handle it?
I have an old aunt who didn’t think things through before choosing to live and survive in a trailer. Now, she’s living with her son, who has to maintain a $25, 000 trailer which he had no initial interest in and never fails to remind her she could have done something better with the cash.
I’d hate for someone else to be in that position. So, below, here are factors you should consider before making that switch in lifestyle. Here we go.
Coping With Limited Space
Often, one of the foremost turnoffs in this lifestyle is the reduced space that you have to make do with. Many are not ready for the transitioning into a simpler living arrangement, yet they splurge on a trailer. A trailer can contain only a few of your personal belongings, so you either have to sell, store or give away most of your belongings, including home decors, artworks, furniture, and extra clothing.
There just won’t be space. So, if you’re willing to make the climb into a trailer life, you have to minimize and declutter your possessions. Too many items will clutter the trailer, leaving you with insufficient space to live. As such, you may feel restricted, and in bondage, as opposed to the freedom you should be having.
Paying Maintenance Costs
Most preppers make the mistake of overlooking the importance of timely maintenance on their trailer home. Some think buying the trailer is the only thing. How wrong! Remember my aunt, who I mentioned earlier? Her son has to pay hundreds of dollars to keep the vehicle in good condition at least once a month; else, it’d become quickly damaged.
Think about it. If you don’t consider maintenance costs before settling for a trailer home lifestyle, you’ll soon be forking out a lot to maintain a trailer you don’t live in. How wise. I always advise against spending all your cash on buying your trailer. Always keep some cash aside for maintenance and repairs.
If you’d acquire mechanical skills before making the switch, it’d be much better and cheaper for you. So, maybe you should.
Protection From The Climate
In many quarters, the climate is considered the leading cause of returning to a brick and mortar home after making the climb to a trailer home. Why? The answers should be obvious. Adapting to weather conditions is a truly challenging thing to do when living in a trailer. It really isn’t easy to avoid sweltering under hot temperatures or avoid freezing under cold temperatures. So, you should know how to and if you can do what’s necessary before making a decision.
Usually, your traveling plan is your first consideration. You can plan to travel only to regions with ideal temperatures. This can, however, be cost-prohibitive as you will be traveling to a lot of areas just for moderate temperatures.
However, if you would prefer to remain in a particular area for a long while, then you’d have to make necessary provisions. First, you’d have to plan to keep the windows and floors well insulated. Travel skirting, bubble wraps, thermal curtains, and thick rugs are examples of items to have more insulation in your trailer.
Keeping cool in hot temperatures is also necessary. Keep in mind that a trailer is basically metal on wheels. That means it can quickly heat up to a sweltering level on a hot day. Normally, you can make do with traditional electrical appliances to keep heat away. But if you are going for an off-the-grid style, hand fans, and battery-powered fans would be very helpful. Alternatively, you can install a dehumidifier to enable proper ventilation. This will as well prevent the growth of molds.
Parking Spot Legality
It is easy to disregard this until you’re arrested for packing overnight on private property. Perhaps arrest may sound harsh, but it’s possible, especially if prohibited by zoning or other factors. What this is telling you is that you can’t park just anywhere you deem fit. Different rules apply to parking, according to town, county, or state. You should hence conduct adequate research to ensure you can park your trailer in certain places in a locale.
There are, however, common places where you can park your trailer; examples are your private property or driveway, trailer parks, public lands, and campgrounds.
Conclusion On Living And Surviving In A Travel Trailer
There are several considerations towards living and surviving in a travel trailer. True, you have to consider other crucial things, such as your waste disposal system, the mobility when SHTF, power needs, and security. The four above are, however, the key foundations of living in a trailer. Should these conditions be fulfilled, then you can live successfully for a long while in a travel trailer.