For many people, living in your trailer is not only the adventure of a lifetime but can also be an extremely educational experience.
There is an endless list of new and exciting exploits ahead for those who welcome the challenge of living permanently or for extended periods of time in a mobile trailer.
Technology
In our modern day of microwave ovens, induction cooking, satellite television, advanced laptop computers, and 4G cellular service, the idea of living full-time in a mobile trailer is a practical and cost-effective way to live life.
Living a life of daily travel across the country in a mobile trailer fifty years ago was considerably more difficult and definitely an isolated way of life. You were basically cut off from the rest of the world when traveling long distances by automobile.
The good news is that today technology provides the ability to remain reliably connected by text, talk, or video at all times. This is even true while traveling by road from one part of the country to another.
You are never entirely disconnected from the latest news and information. You also have the ability to remain in contact with family, friends, and work at all times.
Employment
Regarding the pros/cons of living in your trailer, employment is definitely a “pro.”
Both the world’s occupation and monetary system have changed tremendously in the last twenty years. Since the implementation of the internet, wireless networks, and 4G high-speed cellular internet, much of our world’s monetary system has become mobile.
This also means more legitimate opportunities for the average person to earn a steady and livable salary online.
It’s possible to make a living online in our modern world while remaining mobile day to day. A good laptop computer, smartphone, and 4G high-speed connection will allow you to take on many “work from home” type jobs available in today’s market.
Some of these online jobs will even pay the average person a salary above the minimum wage in most states.
Economic Future
Each year major marketing news reports that opportunities to make money through things like online jobs and investing are growing at an enormous rate worldwide.
Additionally, most reports state that there are now many new and profitable opportunities for people with an average, ordinary education that have never existed before.
This is mostly thanks to the previously non-existent high-speed internet now available throughout the United States and the rest of the world.
Advantages
There are various advantages to making your mobile trailer a permanent dwelling for you and your family. The most popular advantages are listed below.
- Exciting Expedition
- Thrilling Exploit
- Savings
- Mobility
- Adventure
- Outdoor Recreational Activities
- Lower Utilities
- No Mortgage Payments
- No Real Estate Taxes
- Insurance Savings
- No House Repairs
- No Grass to Cut
- Overall Lower Cost of Living
- Exciting
- Expedition
One of the biggest misconceptions that stop most from embracing a lifestyle like this is fear. Not so much fear of being harmed but fear of change. Many of the simple day-to-day tasks like showering or doing wash become a routine for most people.
A permanent change in that routine can be somewhat frightening. Many have a fear of regret.
Regret about making a decision that will bring a big change in their life. Most people are locked into a routine of living life like an ongoing daily ritual, often doing the same thing at the same time, day after day.
You will indeed have to make some adjustments, not only with “how” but also “how often” and “the time of day” you can still accomplish some of the basic routines in life.
These include tasks like showering, cooking, washing dishes, brushing your teeth, and doing wash, to name a few. It’s a small price to pay compared to the life-changing fun and excitement living on the open road can provide.
Thrilling Exploit
There is nothing quite like experiencing the fresh air and experience of traveling every day of your life.
Having a new destination to call home each and every day, or even every few days, will provide you with a feeling of freedom and adventure unmatched by nearly anything else in this world.
Just imagine the numerous variety of different regions, cities, and towns you will have the opportunity to experience. All the places you have always wanted to go but couldn’t.
Making your mobile trailer your permanent home will give you the opportunity to discover and explore all those exciting places you have always wanted to visit.
Savings
One big advantage of living in your mobile trailer is that it allows you to either keep most of your income as savings, invest it or even use it for a few luxuries in life.
You can even purchase some of those personal items that you and your family have always wanted but could never afford.
Today there are many opportunities to make money online by working remotely online or investing through the internet.
Thanks to high-speed cellular 4G internet, today, there is even the potential for business owners to keep in constant contact with their employees and businesses while traveling from one location to another.
There is even the ability for you to monitor high-resolution audio and video at your business location. This provides the ability to see what is happening currently in real-time while you are out on the open road.
Mobility
A big advantage of living in your mobile trailer is the ability to remain mobile at all times. You can travel from place to place anytime on a moment’s notice without the worry that you have to leave anyone or anything behind.
After all, if you are living long-term in your mobile trailer, you will bring your home and everything you own with you anywhere you go. Once you have lived this type of life, you will understand that relaxed feeling of knowing that your family and everything you own is always within reach.
Adventure
One of the biggest perks of living in your mobile trailer is the thrill of enjoying life on the open road. Living this type of life is an experience like no other.
That feeling of not being tied to one location or set piece of real estate is an enjoyable experience. When living in your mobile trailer, you are truly free to explore and travel where you want.
You can go where and when you want. If you and your family decide to visit a certain location, you can begin your journey to that destination any time you want. As the saying goes, “getting there is half the fun.”
You’ll also have to ask yourself about the best places to store your RV and campers. Remember, there are different rules in different states.
Outdoor Recreational Activities
Living in your mobile trailer also allows you to pursue various recreational activities like jogging, biking, fishing, hiking, camping, hunting, and rock climbing.
These are likely some of the activities you have always wanted to do but never could find the time or place for. When living in your mobile trailer, you will be truly free to enjoy all these activities as often as you like.
Lower Utilities
The people I spoke to about the pros and cons when living in a trailer/camper usually have utilities at the top of the list!
Another advantage of living long-term in your mobile trailer is being out from the stress of paying all those monthly utility bills.
When living in your trailer, you will notice significant monthly savings by not having to pay the cable bill, electric bill, gas bill, water bill, sewer bill, security system bill, and lawn maintenance bill, among others.
These savings can add up over time, allowing you to better secure your financial future.
The savings from heating and cooling alone can amount to a significant amount of money over the years. The cost of heating and cooling your mobile trailer is tiny in comparison to doing the same with even an average size home.
In addition to the cost savings, you can feel good that you are also doing your part to better preserve our environment by greatly reducing your electricity, gas, and water usage.
No Mortgage Payments
Being free from the stress of paying a monthly mortgage on a home is a big plus of living in your mobile trailer. For many Americans, the hassle of keeping up with the monthly mortgage on a home is a big problem.
Often this is a significant amount of money subtracted from your monthly income. Seeing how many foreclosures take place is a perfect example of what a struggle having a mortgage can become.
Living in your mobile trailer frees you from the financial struggle of keeping up with a monthly mortgage. This alone can get rid of a lot of stress, allowing you to relax and enjoy life more each and every day.
No Real Estate Taxes
This is a financial pro/con to living in your trailer, and that’s no real estate taxes!!
It’s a fact that taxes are increasing everywhere, and real estate is no exception. Everywhere real estate taxes are increasing at an alarming rate.
You may find that paying the taxes on your home is becoming a huge burden. Paying the mortgage, insurance, utilities, and even the real estate taxes at the end of the year is often too much, even for many seemingly financially secure people these days.
Getting out from under such a burden will once again put even more money in your pocket that can be saved or invested where you choose.
Insurance Savings
Anyone who has recently owned a home knows the skyrocketing cost of insurance these days. Obtaining homeowner’s insurance can take a big part of your monthly income.
For a mortgaged home, insurance is not only mandatory but also required to be maintained at a certain level. Needless to say, the combination of a mortgage and required homeowner’s insurance can be quite difficult for many average people to sustain.
No House Repairs
Living in your mobile trailer also frees you from the burden of house repairs. Anyone who has ever owned a house understands how often repairs are necessary for a house.
It seems like you barely complete the repair of one problem, and another pops up.
Whether you are doing these repairs yourself or hiring a company to tackle the problem, it’s really great to be free from the stress of taking care of the seemingly endless list of problems that can arise.
The effort needed to keep a mobile trailer in decent condition is tiny compared to the frequency and cost of maintaining a home.
Explore the Great Outdoors with Us!
No Grass to Cut
Another big plus when making your mobile trailer your homestead is the benefit of being free from the constant need to mow the lawn.
For warmer areas, mowing will typically continue all year long. Areas that receive significant rainfall often have lawns that need mowing more than once a week.
Living long-term in your mobile trailer guarantees that a lawnmower is one item you will likely never need to purchase.
Overall Lower Cost of Living
Living in your mobile trailer long-term will allow you to obtain a noticeably lower cost of living in nearly every area of life. The overall monthly savings can add up to a significant amount over the years.
Disadvantages
While there is a long list of clear advantages to living long-term in your mobile trailer, it would unrealistic if the disadvantages were not mentioned.
After all, this also gives you an opportunity to not only be prepared for some of these problems but you can also avoid them altogether.
Listed below are some of the disadvantages of making a mobile trailer your permanent home.
- Paying more for gasoline
- Parking fees
- Restrictions when visiting friends and relatives
- Locating trash and waste facilities
- Difficulty staying connected to the web
Paying More for Gasoline
This is a common sense pro/con to living in your trailer, and that’s gas!
Living in your mobile trailer as your permanent dwelling will typically create a higher cost for fuel each month.
While you will still see significant overall savings by making your mobile trailer your home, you may see a noticeable increase in fuel usage day to day.
Parking Fees
Locating and securing an adequate location for parking your mobile trailer can occasionally become a problem.
Most of the time, there are plenty of RV and trailer parks located along major highways everywhere in the United States. When traveling, you will typically pass three or four of these locations every day.
There is also the issue of paying to park your trailer at one of these locations. While this is an unwanted expense, by comparison, it’s still significantly less than the cost of financing a home with similar conveniences and utilities.
This is even true on a day-to-day basis. Your daily fee for parking in most RV parks includes things like electricity, clean water, and wifi.
Often there are also other more luxurious services like cable television or laundry service that you can obtain at extra cost. If you plan to stay for an extended period, some of these RV parks offer pre-paid or extended stay packages with considerable overall cost savings.
Visiting Friends and Relatives
Another pro/con of living long-term in your mobile trailer is the burden of being restricted from parking overnight in certain locations or areas.
Many who choose this lifestyle of living in a mobile trailer do so because it gives them the ability to stay mobile at all times. Often you may find you and your family visiting out-of-town friends or relatives for an extended stay.
You, like many others, will likely enjoy the idea of visiting family or friends for an extended stay without being a burdensome “in-house” guest during your visit. You and your family can simply stay in your mobile trailer on the same property.
This may occasionally become a problem if your relatives live in an incorporated area. Many of these developed cities, towns and subdivisions have restrictions on mobile trailers being parked within or nearby.
This is really something that must be checked on an individual basis.
Mainly because some towns have restrictions for parking beyond a set number of days or only have a restriction if the mobile trailer is visible from the front of the property or adjacent properties.
Some entirely restrict parking a mobile trailer anywhere within the city or subdivision borders for any amount of time.
The law does vary from one place to another, and it all depends on the location. If you do plan to travel and visit with friends or relatives, be sure you or the person you are visiting inquire ahead of time.
This will allow you to arrange sufficient accommodations at the nearest alternative location. Visiting friends or relatives who live in non-incorporated areas will make everything much easier.
As long as there is no illegal activity taking place, most non-incorporated or rural areas have no restrictions against parking your mobile trailer long-term in one location.
Locating Trash and Waste Disposal Facilities
One drawback to living in your mobile trailer is waste disposal. It can become difficult to find a location simply for disposing of garbage or sewage waste.
Some locations will allow the disposal of these collections for a fee. They are often referred to as RV or mobile trailer dump stations.
Difficulty Staying Connected to the Web
Just my opinion here, but not having access to the website is a big pro/con you can face when living in your trailer.
Another drawback with making your mobile trailer your permanent home is staying connected to the internet. It’s not always available in some areas. It may be due to service outages, damaged equipment, or simply being in an area not yet covered by cellular internet service.
Historically, cellular internet service is less reliable than traditional forms of internet. This is further compounded by the fact that 4G high-speed internet is still lacking in many remote areas. On an aside, this may explain why cybercriminals aren’t big camping enthusiasts.
Most of these non-covered areas are very tiny and in rural areas in the western portion of the United States.
Unfortunately, most of the areas without coverage are located close to some popular camping sites.
Not to worry, though, the amount of land not yet covered by 4G amounts to less than five percent of the land area of the United States.
Living in your mobile trailer is an experience like no other. It truly is the best of both worlds, like being on an exciting long-term vacation while having all the comforts of home with you at all times.
And don’t forget about the benefit of achieving a lower cost of living in the process.
It’s also good knowing that you still have your own vehicle that can be unhitched for any necessary trips to places like the grocery store, pharmacy, doctor, and gatherings.
As we see, living in your trailer/camper has its pros and cons. Be prepared to join a growing number of others out there just like you who yearn to live a life of fun, exploration, excitement, and adventure each and every day.
Woman’s Low-Cost Living in a Renovated Camper Trailer (Video)
Related Questions
- Considering the Technological Advancements: How has technology made living in a trailer more feasible and comfortable in recent years?
Advancements in technology have made living in a trailer more feasible and comfortable by enabling compact and efficient solutions for power, heating, cooling, and connectivity.
Innovations like solar panels and battery storage provide off-grid power, smart appliances optimize space usage, and high-speed mobile internet ensures connectivity, enhancing the overall living experience in trailers.
- Economic Implications: How does living in a trailer impact your financial situation, considering the potential for remote work and reduced living costs?
Living in a trailer can positively impact your financial situation as it typically involves lower upfront costs, reduced monthly expenses such as utilities and maintenance, and the potential for no mortgage, freeing up income for savings or other expenditures.
Coupled with the flexibility of remote work, which eliminates commuting costs and allows you to live in areas with lower cost of living, this lifestyle can significantly enhance your financial health.
- Lifestyle Changes: What are some of the lifestyle changes one might need to adapt to when transitioning from a traditional home to living in a trailer?
Transitioning from a traditional home to living in a trailer often requires adapting to a smaller living space, which may involve downsizing possessions and optimizing storage.
Additionally, one might need to adjust to increased mobility, potentially frequent location changes, and possibly a greater dependence on public facilities for amenities like laundry or larger cooking tasks.
- Potential Challenges: What are some of the potential challenges or disadvantages one might face when living in a trailer?
Living in a trailer can present challenges such as limited space, which can restrict storage and personal comfort, and potential issues with insulation, leading to difficulties maintaining temperature control.
Additionally, there may be societal stigma associated with trailer living, and finding a suitable and legal place to park can also be a challenge.
- Impact on Social Relationships: How might living in a trailer affect your relationships with friends and family, especially considering the mobility and potential restrictions on where you can park your home?
Living in a trailer can impact your relationships with friends and family by potentially creating physical distance due to the mobility of your home, which might limit regular face-to-face interactions.
Additionally, restrictions on where you can park your home might lead to a sense of instability or unpredictability, which could strain relationships if not managed effectively.
"Of all the paths you take in life, make sure a few of them are dirt."
-- John Muir
