New owner, looking for MN metro full-timing spot

[TheArgonaut]

Greetings!

I recently bought a 1986 Argosy "squarestream" (32') that is in good condition, with the intention of solo living in it until 2008, perhaps beyond. The trouble is, I am a student (one semester left) and after investing in this I have found the wallet a little thin. Renting a hookup site is expensive (500/mo for a slab of concrete??), and purchasing an RV slot is prohibitive as well.

I need to get to class in downtown Minneapolis, and would like a place that isn't too much of a commute. While hookups would be ideal they aren't a necessity (except for winter heating) and so I am simply looking for a 8x32 patch of land to call home.

I would be willing to work a fair amount as an exchange for using your property. If there are farm owners close enough to a metro transit station, I don't mind rural =)

Any suggestions/offers/haiku?

Many thanks - I am proud to finally own an airstream. I'm sure to post more as questions and problems arise.

[CanoeStream]

Hello Ryan -- and welcome to the Forums!

You raise a topic that may be difficult to resolve in the format here. We have some Twin Cities members, none of whom are sitting on a large chunk of land as I know it. Without many responses, this thread will rotate off the bottom of the airforums.com portal page pretty quickly. You'll probably do better searching locally -- eg, try putting an ad in suburban advertising papers (do they have those any more?). The country is a long way from downtown Minneapolis.

Your proposal also might face a variety of zoning difficulties. Let's leapfrog a few outer ring entities -- Lakeville, Shakopee, Corcoran, Medina, Rogers, Coon Rapids, etc are probably all heavily into such restrictions -- and most are beyond metro transit? You ask about hookups. A large stationary LP tank will be your best bet for wintering. Converting any RV to natural gas would take changing the orifices on your water heater and furnace -- a lot of sugar for a dime. Search the forums on 'wintering' -- there should be some good threads in this Full-Timing and Winter Living subforum. Those threads will tell you the best way to protect the pipes is using your furnace forced air and not a space heater. We haven't had a blue howler of a winter in 10 years. Hope like heck that trend sticks!

Best wishes!

[SilverToy]

Firstly, WELCOME!!!!

This is the 1st, last, and best location for info relating to your "new to you" SquareStream/ AirStream.... There is no equal! Camper or community!

2ndly, since you had the foresight to purchase the best there is, I would (humbly) suggest that you get a month-to-month space at the CG that closest meets your needs (distance, cost, amenities ie laundry, security, etc....) and then take things from there....

Looking merely at your 'lowest cost' may not serve you in the short, medium and long term.... There are LOADS of intangibles.... Do you feel SAFE???? Can you forget to lock a door with little or NO worrries? Neighbors? What about your 'stuff' outside the TT...? There is a list as long as with a house if you pick a more than overnight location.....

You really are picking a neighborhood.... albeit one that you CAN move out of on a moments notice.... Due diligence is required.... If you value that SS/AS investment, your stuff, vehicle(s).... not to mention your own hide.

Now, I am NOT implying that MN or anywhere else is safe/ unsafe.... just DO your homework.... something you are intimately familiar with!!!

Send some photos when you have time and opportunity....

We'll help you any way we can....

ASForums ROCK!!!!

Axel
SilveToy

[TheArgonaut]

Thank you for your warm welcomes, and for the suggestions. I half expected no reply - I always like to be pleasantly surprised.

I began calling around, trying to find an RV park that was low enough in cost and close enough to the TC metro area. I had heard that RV parks near casinos might be priced right, as an enticement to get you to play away your money, but Mystic Lake Casino was 550/mo. I also looked into KOA's, but those were similar. After a few hours, I finally found a site that was much more reasonable: Shakopee Valley RV Park, 275/mo.
I chose the least hookups possible (water + 20A electricity, no sewer). Other than the obvious difficulties lacking sewer presents, I'm wondering if this seems sufficient? 20 Amps doesn't seem like much, but for just one person...? Is there a minimum amperage requirement for this squarestream to function properly?
This won't be a permanent fix, ofc, because they close in october. In the meantime it appears to be the local optimum, though. In the interrim I'll try to find another place to call home for the snow season.

Thoughts? Haiku?

[TheArgonaut]

Something I completely overlooked until I read another thread - Insurance.

I'm assuming this is recommended, but is it a different type of insurance, and roughly how expensive would it be? I'm not sure I would feel safe leaving a completely uninsured airstream in an RV park...ever.