Skirting? Underpinning for permanent site?

We are setting our WC up on our property in Banner Elk, NC @ ~4,000ft. We will have permanent power (30 AMP). I have been reading a lot about how much skirting or other barriers help with the temperature regulation. Any thoughts or ideas on which is the best way to proceed? From haybales to mobile home skirts.

I have seen several ideas on how to keep things from freezing up from tank heaters to 60W lightbulbs in the basement.

Thanks in advance!

Sean

Far from being an expert on the subject...I would stay away from the hay bales. I would think that mice would love to spend their winter in them.
The mobile home skirting seems like the best idea. Just make it tight enough to keep critters out.

Don't think a light bulb in the basement will help the holding tanks. A tank heater might be best.

John

engine810 wrote:We are setting our WC up on our property in Banner Elk, NC @ ~4,000ft. We will have permanent power (30 AMP). I have been reading a lot about how much skirting or other barriers help with the temperature regulation. Any thoughts or ideas on which is the best way to proceed? From haybales to mobile home skirts.

I have seen several ideas on how to keep things from freezing up from tank heaters to 60W lightbulbs in the basement.

Thanks in advance!

Sean

Sean,

How about mobile home skirting (cut to fit) backed by a couple of layers of the 2" foam insulating board. I think that one 2" thickness would be R-4 and two would be R-8. It would probably hold whatever high temp occured during the day.

BTW, the Banner Elk area is really pretty. Passed through one time and gotta get back up there.

Luck

Sean,

I had another thought. If the trailer is going to be long-term permanent, you might want to thing about creating a solid foundation for it and removing the tires & wheels. I'm thinking of at least concrete blocks about every 6' along the frame. Should be enough to give you a firm footing where ever you park it.

If you want to get fancy with it ,,, check out

http://fauxpanels.com


They have some cool stuff.

Interesting topic.

We recently bought a used 5th wheel more or less permanently parked for winter use. The frame is tied to stakes driven into the ground using cable and it has a wooden structure built along side. We got "mobile home" insurance on it since it's tied down which is cheaper than covering it under our auto insurance.

We've only been here a month but the wife and I started kicking skirting around. The neighbor has a quasi park model/travel trailer that is skirted. She said this was the first year they nailed her for property tax, even though we're in a RV park. Another negative was, since we're in Arizona, I didn't want to create a nice place for unpleasant critters to winter under us.

The camper will be there until we build our house.....so likely ~3 years. I like the idea of placing on blocks from two standpoints - 1) ability to remove tires and 2) to provide greater stability.

As far as the under-pinning, I have also considered a treated base framing with 4x4s, 2x4s and 3/4" treated plywood and just attaching the mobile home skirting directly to the playwood for decor only. The true under-pinng would be the stronger treated wood. This will probably cost a little more and take a little more time but may be worth it in the end.

I was told that the wind is likely too strong to just put the skirting with the styrofoam behind. They thought the wind would just push right through that. That, and the fact that I am probably looking at a perm site for 3 years...I should/could justify the added effort and money. My DW better appreciate all of this! She considers it just a weekend get away but after seeing all of things that you guys have done to yours, I want to try it all.