Mobile Home Living and Maine (depreciation, contractor, living in)

[Slingshot GiantKiller]

Hi all...

Curious to see if anyone has opinions on living in a mobile home in Maine and especially over the winter months. Does a mobile home provide enough comfort and warmth for the winter months? Do you find that you have to provide any additional insulation or measures because its a mobile home?

Ive looked (via the net) at some mobile homes in northern Maine that seem a good deal with a bit of land. Rather attractive.

So if anyone can shed a light on how it is to live in a mobile home over the winter months, Id love to hear.

Thanks so much for any information.

[Maineah]

Tens of thousands of Mainers live in mobile homes all year long with no problems. You have to run a mixture of K-1 and #2 heating oils to keep the fuel from jelling in the cold as the oil tank is outdoors and be sure your water pipes and septic lines are insulated or heat taped.That's about it.

[fxtrader]

I have never lived in one myself, but have had numerous friends and relatives that have. I have slept in them and spent a lot of time in them and they where very comfortable in the winter. It helps a lot to have some kind of trim along the entire bottom edge of the trailer to the ground to keep out the wind. The best thing is if you run out of room you can always add one on or more.

[dmyankee]

If anything, they are too hot in the summer months.

[forest beekeeper]

All good points

I see many of them, everywhere.

It is my understanding [no doubt someone will correct me if I am in error] that in the 60s and 70s mobilehomes, RVs, and such were made with little or no insulation.

However somewhere in the 90s it all changed, so now they tend to be very well insulated.

I have seen units where the plumbing was all ran underneath, and exposed to the cold. So the pipes freeze routinely.

I have also seen units that have all plumbing inside, so it is not an issue.

Mixing kerosene and fuel oil is common and most likely your oil provider is already doing it with all of his product.

[starwalker]

We bought property with one on last year. My first time living in one... it sits on a rise in a very open area... lots of wind, and no tree protection.

It is an 80s model, skirted (badly.. drafts under) and in one place we discovered the under side is NOT insulated (yes, we had a couple incidents of pipe freeze last winter, none major). Our temporary solution to those issues were to wrap the windward end of the trailer skirting in plastic (we planned to do the whole thing but the lateness in the year, and the bitter wind convinced us to just do the "worst part) and to put a high wattage shop light under the mobile home, just under where the uninsulated spot was. It was a pain to plug and unplug so we just left it on through the winter and had no more freezing.

Our oil tank was in a protected structure, somewhat insulated, and we got the mix of oil and kero but it still thickened up once. There is "stuff" you can get to add, too... and the oil co. guy that came out cleaned places in the line (it had not been done) and added some of the extra stuff and got it going again.

This year we expect to re-run the water pipes, add insulation underneath, re-do and complete the plastic on the skirting (later we will rework the skirting) and I will attack the entire exterior with a contractor pack of clear silicon seal... there are lots of little gaps and when the wind blows outside, we feel it in inside.

In defense of mobile homes, let me say that the stick built homes we looked at in the same price range would have made great settings for Stephen King novels... here we have a relatively solid structure and no basement full of mold, rotting timbers and Gods only know what else that might attack us in our sleep...

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by starwalker

We bought property with one on last year. My first time living in one... it sits on a rise in a very open area... lots of wind, and no tree protection.

It is an 80s model, skirted (badly.. drafts under) and in one place we discovered the under side is NOT insulated (yes, we had a couple incidents of pipe freeze last winter, none major). Our temporary solution to those issues were to wrap the windward end of the trailer skirting in plastic (we planned to do the whole thing but the lateness in the year, and the bitter wind convinced us to just do the "worst part) and to put a high wattage shop light under the mobile home, just under where the uninsulated spot was. It was a pain to plug and unplug so we just left it on through the winter and had no more freezing.

Our oil tank was in a protected structure, somewhat insulated, and we got the mix of oil and kero but it still thickened up once. There is "stuff" you can get to add, too... and the oil co. guy that came out cleaned places in the line (it had not been done) and added some of the extra stuff and got it going again.

This year we expect to re-run the water pipes, add insulation underneath, re-do and complete the plastic on the skirting (later we will rework the skirting) and I will attack the entire exterior with a contractor pack of clear silicon seal... there are lots of little gaps and when the wind blows outside, we feel it in inside.

In defense of mobile homes, let me say that the stick built homes we looked at in the same price range would have made great settings for Stephen King novels... here we have a relatively solid structure and no basement full of mold, rotting timbers and Gods only know what else that might attack us in our sleep...

More good points, yet a trailer is a trailer and a house is a house.....don't believe me ask any relator. My Mom lived in a trailer and liked it just fine. I'd live in one if I had to, though it would not be a first choice. They are considerably less expensive than a house and in this State that is a big consideration for many.

[Slingshot GiantKiller]

thanks everyone for many good thoughts...

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Maineah

More good points, yet a trailer is a trailer and a house is a house.....don't believe me ask any relator. My Mom lived in a trailer and liked it just fine. I'd live in one if I had to, though it would not be a first choice. They are considerably less expensive than a house and in this State that is a big consideration for many.

yes you are right. However when looking at the lower end of the price range, as we were, I think we made the right choice. Depreciation, all those "investment" and money words that folks use, were not part of the equation for me. What I wanted was a few acres on which to live out my life in peace, and a home that would not fall apart around me nor pitch me into the dungeon; something that would keep me warm and dry and allow me space to do my art and grow my gardens. That is what I got.

Your mileage will likely vary.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by starwalker

yes you are right. However when looking at the lower end of the price range, as we were, I think we made the right choice. Depreciation, all those "investment" and money words that folks use, were not part of the equation for me. What I wanted was a few acres on which to live out my life in peace, and a home that would not fall apart around me nor pitch me into the dungeon; something that would keep me warm and dry and allow me space to do my art and grow my gardens. That is what I got.

Your mileage will likely vary.

Your home is wonderful.