Winter camping advice

[Jignjerk]

Well long story short my employer dropped the ball and did not have housing lined up before winning a project in Ellendale. Our current scope is 30 weeks in duration 6 days a week. Having a hard time stomaching the idea of staying in a hotel for that long. (They are pretty hard to come by) AirBNB doesn’t have much for options, so I’m thinking about purchasing a camper to hunker down in. Any advice? Anyone lived in one during the winter and wish they would have done X vs. Z? My old man said it ain’t worth the hassle and to just get a hotel room in Aberdeen. (They want a fairly decent chunk of change /night). Any advice on all season campgrounds anyone has stayed at between Ellendale and Aberdeen? Fifth wheel vs. travel trailer? 99% sure it will be sold when project is finished.

(Company will be reimbursing and paying per diem) (they have a “man camp”set up for the rest of the crew, I did that in my younger days. No thanks)

 

[CatDaddy]

Well long story short my employer dropped the ball and did not have housing lined up before winning a project in Ellendale. Our current scope is 30 weeks in duration 6 days a week. Having a hard time stomaching the idea of staying in a hotel for that long. (They are pretty hard to come by) AirBNB doesn’t have much for options, so I’m thinking about purchasing a camper to hunker down in. Any advice? Anyone lived in one during the winter and wish they would have done X vs. Z? My old man said it ain’t worth the hassle and to just get a hotel room in Aberdeen. (They want a fairly decent chunk of change /night). Any advice on all season campgrounds anyone has stayed at between Ellendale and Aberdeen? Fifth wheel vs. travel trailer? 99% sure it will be sold when project is finished.

(Company will be reimbursing and paying per diem) (they have a “man camp”set up for the rest of the crew, I did that in my younger days. No thanks)

Get an Ice Castle

 

[Kurtr]

Key is putting the skirting around and insulating well. I would get a camper designed for cold weather . Hell look for one of the ice shacks rb edition and would be better than most campers.

 

[Rowdie]

There were some left over FEMA trailers the Tribe had. Might be cheaper finding an old trailer house in Aberdeen area?

 

[1lessdog]

Check the Carroll House in Fullerton. They had good rates last winter.

 

[NG3067]

IMOP, ice house would be better than a camper.

 

[Traxion]

Sewer and water are the tough part. The cities have to be designed to get the camper over them. Even skirted it can be a battle if cold.

 

[NDSportsman]

I wouldn't want to live in a camper in the winter for 2 weeks much less 30. Have you looked at maybe renting a house with some coworkers?

 

[3Roosters]

Well long story short my employer dropped the ball and did not have housing lined up before winning a project in Ellendale. Our current scope is 30 weeks in duration 6 days a week. Having a hard time stomaching the idea of staying in a hotel for that long. (They are pretty hard to come by) AirBNB doesn’t have much for options, so I’m thinking about purchasing a camper to hunker down in. Any advice? Anyone lived in one during the winter and wish they would have done X vs. Z? My old man said it ain’t worth the hassle and to just get a hotel room in Aberdeen. (They want a fairly decent chunk of change /night). Any advice on all season campgrounds anyone has stayed at between Ellendale and Aberdeen? Fifth wheel vs. travel trailer? 99% sure it will be sold when project is finished.

(Company will be reimbursing and paying per diem) (they have a “man camp”set up for the rest of the crew, I did that in my younger days. No thanks)

Any local houses for sale? Buy, rent out rooms to your fellow workers.

 

[Browneye]

We have camped in oct when the temps got down to the 30s. Supposedly our camper even has the winter package. Furnace ran alot and the condensation on the windows was crazy. wouldnt want to do it in zero temps.

 

[guywhofishes]

Find an alternative!

I sense a nasty winter for some reason.

 

[Fester]

Heard stories of the oil patch with campers....in the cold temps you will burn through the propane at insane rates. Have to have the under belly skirted and heat tape on everything....also heard people blew heat down there to try and keep it warmish...mice will love you for it. Condensation will be an issue as others stated. Lots of people did it in the patch..not sure i would ever want to deal/do it. I believe the sites were set up for some of it. Not sure you could find a place where your looking tgat would provide water/sewer year round.

 

[Auggie]

NDSU Extension had a publication on winter campers that came out when the Bakken was going berserk. I can't find it at the moment. I did find this from the State of North Dakota: https://ndresponse.gov/sites/www/files/documents/docs/winterliving-rvs.pdf

 

[7mmMag]

Can you park an ice house next to man camp? Maybe buy an ice house and sleep/eat in that and use the bathroom/showers in the man camp?

 

[Allen]

About 12 years ago a coworker moved here from Michigan, planning on only being here for 2-3 years, so he bought a "4-season" camper and ended up spending 5 years in it at the trailer park best known for its former chiropractor tenant up in Washburn.

He spent over $150k on the camper, had to take it back to the manufacturer in Wisconsin for warranty work on its insulation after the first winter because it had outlets that were a fire hazard from condensation in the winter.

One thing I learned from his experience was that campers are not meant to be lived in full-time. He was constantly working on the damn thing, new fridge, water heater, faucets, AC, etc.

In the end he sold it for around $80k, after living in it for 5 years.

 

[guywhofishes]

Are park models designed to handle our winters decently when properly skirted?

 

[Rowdie]

About 12 years ago a coworker moved here from Michigan, planning on only being here for 2-3 years, so he bought a "4-season" camper and ended up spending 5 years in it at the trailer park best known for its former chiropractor tenant up in Washburn.

He spent over $150k on the camper, had to take it back to the manufacturer in Wisconsin for warranty work on its insulation after the first winter because it had outlets that were a fire hazard from condensation in the winter.

One thing I learned from his experience was that campers are not meant to be lived in full-time. He was constantly working on the damn thing, new fridge, water heater, faucets, AC, etc.

In the end he sold it for around $80k, after living in it for 5 years.

I'd look for an old trailer house and a place to put it. Hell you could build a tiny home cheaper than trying to make a camper work in a ND winter.

 

[Shockwave]

Staying in a camper during the winter months dos not sound like fun to me. I tried it one November for deer hunting and will never do it again.

 

[LBrandt]

Find a fat girl at closing time. LB

 

[tikkalover]

The "polar" package on a camper is SHIT.

Have a 2010 Jayco Eagle 5th wheel, with a polar package and had to open the bottom up to fix a slide out motor.

It was insulated with 3/8" thick foil wrapped insulation, what I call an insulating blanket. JUNK.

Get a fish house, for the bathroom use a 5-gallon bucket with a garbage bag in it and put kitty litter in the bottom.
For water use a 5-gallon water bottle and shower at the nearest truck stop.