Camping on your land ?

[Naomi W]

I understand many things have to do with if your neighbors care or not. With that in mind came you legally camping on you own land? I was just think about saving on rent during the long permitting process.
Thank you for all the great answers to my many questions.
Naomi

[Lucy]

First thing to do Naomi,
Is check with the neighborhood association if there is one. I have read about people doing it, but I think if you go by the county, it is NOT approved. In some places though they are very lax and unless someone turned you in you might get away with it.
Frances who had a travel trailer was allowed to, I forget which subdivision they were in, around Puna. People do it also to protect their building supplies from making tracks.
Lucy

Having another Great day in Paradise, Wherever that Maybe!
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheLanai

[mella l]

Hi Girlies! We plan on using a fifth wheel while we build in Eden Roc. As long as the neighbors don't mind it will be ok as there are no CC&R's. We will place it so that it isn't apparent from the street.

Our reasoning is primarily to protect our building supplies, use the fifth wheel for friends as a guest cottage, or sell it to others planning to do the same as we have done when our home is complete.

As far as building permits go I understand from another post that it is currently taking much less time. That is good news. Where are you going to build Naomi? Mella L

mella l

[adias]

Aloha Mella,

Since you've probably done the research what are the fifth wheel options? What would you recommend? Bring it from the mainland or buy it locally?

Also, if the fifth wheel is hidden from view and inside your property, what could the neighbors complain about? Or what legal actions would one have to worry about?

Do you need a permit or something for the fifth wheel?

Ajit

[Naomi W]

Mella, Me and mom haven't bought any land yet. We are hopefully going to get to come over to the island this next year(2006). To stay at least 2-4 week. Look at different areas of the puna district.
I just like to ask silly questions before I am the crazy lady on the island everyone is going "You can't do that. What were you thinking". ha ha

[leilaniguy]

Aloha everyone, occasionally there is an ad in the Tribune-Herald for travel trailers for rent by the month just for owner-builders. There were ads in todays issue for a newer model 5th wheel for sale for $60K, a 1985 model for $18K. There are other options, one neighbor on my street has lived in a converted schoolbus for several years and another is living in a Matson box with widows and doors cut into it. Since both are out of sight of the road there have never been any complaints from anyone. Naomi, please don't worry about any questions you might have, everyone who comes here is Malahini in the beginning, about the only really silly question I've seen lately was the one asking how far a drive it was from Waikiki to Kona



Edited by - leilaniguy on 12/20/2005 17:16:43

[G. Leis]

quote:

---

Aloha Mella,

Since you've probably done the research what are the fifth wheel options? What would you recommend? Bring it from the mainland or buy it locally?

Also, if the fifth wheel is hidden from view and inside your property, what could the neighbors complain about? Or what legal actions would one have to worry about?

Do you need a permit or something for the fifth wheel?

Ajit

---

Hi Ajit,

I take this question since I've been researching the scenario for about a month now.

As leilaniguy indicates, the pickin's are indeed slim in Hawaii for not only 5th wheels, but travel trailers or RVs of any kind. There are no dealers, so what few you do find for sale are from private parties. Depending on the specs, $60K for a newish 5er isn't too outlandish (3 years or newer, over 30', 2 or more slide-outs, e.g.); whereas $18K for ANY 20 yr. old rig is WAAAAAY too much IMHO.

We're looking at something on the order of a 26-30' unit and are currently leaning toward a conventional tow-behind travel trailer since we only have a 1/2 ton truck and the 5th wheel choices are relatively limited for tow vehicles of this size - the average 5W is significantly heavier than a trailer of equivalent length, and they have a higher percentage of their weight (20-25% vs. 10-15%) on the hitch which generally means a 3/4 or 1 ton truck is needed.

Price-wise, new vehicles large enough to use as temporary housing (which to me is at least 25') are going to run from about $12K-30K for trailers and $20K to infinity for 5th wheels.

Both types depreciate fairly quickly so I feel 1 or 2 year old used models offer the best value provided you can find one with the features you want.

As for shipping costs from the mainland I received 2 quotes a few weeks ago based on 27'L x 8'W x 11.5'H dimensions: $6307 from Pasha (San Diego-Hilo), and $7738 from Matson (Oakland-Hilo). Roll on/roll off ships in both cases.

Permits are not needed, but some subdivisions may have CCR issues.

aloha,
Gene (a.k.a. Mr. mella l)





Edited by - G. Leis on 12/20/2005 18:44:54

[HADave]

Interestingly I saw some some cute sheds built on utility trailers a while back. I'm still entertaining the thought of building one myself as I have a 6x16 ft trailer for my tractor that I don't use it since I can't drive any longer. And what a good idea to have a mini mobile home for guests, or to lend out, or rent out, or vacation in at a park for like holidays or special events. Maybe I just found my second calling.... See what a great place the forum is.

[Naomi W]

HADave, I have seen some very cute little trailers. Like you were describing on the mainland.

[adias]

Gene,
Thanks for the detailed and informative post.

Dave, is the mini mobile home going to have a toilet and shower? What about electrical hook up? What would it cost to build? Will it be single wall or double wall construction ;-).

Given the cost of trailers, shipping and the need for owner builder to protect their stuff while building, seems like we’ve bumped into a Niche market need.


Ajit



Edited by - adias on 12/21/2005 01:45:54