HELP!! Need advice for fire victims who lost their home
Disaster Case Manager said
10:03 PM Aug 13, 2015
Hello friends and far flung neighbors!
I am writing you to request help for my clients. They are a vulnerable older couple who lost the home they were renting to the Carlton Complex fire in 2014. Tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM I will be trying to pursued a "round table" of funders to purchase a "carriage" 5th wheel for them. The unit is listed here: https://wenatchee.craigslist.org/rvs/5102348606.html
Unfortunately the group of funders I will be asking for assistance carry very traditional perspectives on living, so if you can help with the questions below it might help create a more compelling case for my clients.
The couple plans to park the unit near Twisp, WA and live in it full time for the next 5+ years. Is this a realistic plan? (they did live in an RV last winter) We get quite a bit of snow in the Methow Valley.
Is there a way to identify and obtain specifications on this model of Carriage home from the photos listed on Craigslist?
Or maybe someone can help me understand how this unit is more suitable for full time living than an RV? I am thinking about insulation R-values, windows etc.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
Hayley
Disaster Case Manager said
05:26 AM Aug 14, 2015
Thanks Brian!! That is very helpful.
BiggarView said
06:03 AM Aug 14, 2015
oops, sorry I was in the middle of editing my comments...
Can't offer any concrete thoughts on a 19-20 year old fifth wheel RV, except some observations... On the pro side, Carriage had a good reputation, on the negative...if it hasn't been maintained well (and the CL ad's lack of mention of maintenance verbiage suggests that maybe it hasn't) all six tires will likely have to be replaced due to dry rot, if it must be moved to a new site. It may be clean, odor free and not leaking but tires are not cheap you have six of them. RV tires typically "age out" before they wear out.
Try Googling Carriage owners forum for more info on specs. There are several Carriage owners on this forum, they may be able to point you to the needed info.
Brian
PD CFK said
09:49 AM Aug 14, 2015
Google, Lifestyle Owners forum. They and Carriage owners are combined together. Pat k
Second Chance said
08:28 AM Aug 15, 2015
Hayley,
If your clients plan on leaving the unit in one place for 5+ years, they might do better looking at "park model" trailers. They are built more like a mobile home: meant to move less often, not self-contained (no holding tanks to worry about), etc. On the positive side for your clients, they feel more like a home than an RV, have space for a full-size washer and dryer, and are often insulated better. You can see a wide variety by searching on "park model" on rvtrader.com .
Hello friends and far flung neighbors!
I am writing you to request help for my clients. They are a vulnerable older couple who lost the home they were renting to the Carlton Complex fire in 2014. Tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM I will be trying to pursued a "round table" of funders to purchase a "carriage" 5th wheel for them. The unit is listed here: https://wenatchee.craigslist.org/rvs/5102348606.html
Unfortunately the group of funders I will be asking for assistance carry very traditional perspectives on living, so if you can help with the questions below it might help create a more compelling case for my clients.
The couple plans to park the unit near Twisp, WA and live in it full time for the next 5+ years. Is this a realistic plan? (they did live in an RV last winter) We get quite a bit of snow in the Methow Valley.
Is there a way to identify and obtain specifications on this model of Carriage home from the photos listed on Craigslist?
Or maybe someone can help me understand how this unit is more suitable for full time living than an RV? I am thinking about insulation R-values, windows etc.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post.
Hayley
oops, sorry I was in the middle of editing my comments...
Can't offer any concrete thoughts on a 19-20 year old fifth wheel RV, except some observations... On the pro side, Carriage had a good reputation, on the negative...if it hasn't been maintained well (and the CL ad's lack of mention of maintenance verbiage suggests that maybe it hasn't) all six tires will likely have to be replaced due to dry rot, if it must be moved to a new site. It may be clean, odor free and not leaking but tires are not cheap you have six of them. RV tires typically "age out" before they wear out.
A quick glance on NADA ( http://www.nadaguides.com/RVs/1996/Carriage ) for a similar Carriage suggests the 26K price is too high.
Try Googling Carriage owners forum for more info on specs. There are several Carriage owners on this forum, they may be able to point you to the needed info.
Brian
If your clients plan on leaving the unit in one place for 5+ years, they might do better looking at "park model" trailers. They are built more like a mobile home: meant to move less often, not self-contained (no holding tanks to worry about), etc. On the positive side for your clients, they feel more like a home than an RV, have space for a full-size washer and dryer, and are often insulated better. You can see a wide variety by searching on "park model" on rvtrader.com .
Rob