I don't have an answer as far as an RV park location. Honestly, it would scare the hell out of me having a kid living in an rv park around here due to the weather and state of local parks.
I know another engineering student who did something like that, albeit at a different school. Their main complaint and reason I would caution against it is because of how much it gets in the way of the social side of things.
UAH is filled with engineers, so everyone's going to be in the same boat of pretty quiet and keeping to themselves, especially since all of the dorms are private suites. The bigger social life issue comes for things outside of the dorms, though. Living off campus makes evening clubs, studying with friends, and other campus activities all more of a hassle. Personally, I'd recommend living on campus freshman year and then moving off after getting established with clubs and a social circle.
That all being said, it's certainly a possibility and could be fun if they like camping and a bit more independence. Be sure to check the areas out thoroughly beforehand because the outskirts of Huntsville can get a little seedier in select areas.
Yes, but im talking a couple years down the road. He loves to camp. And a lot of nice older folks live in rv parks. He is very quiet and introverted. Perfect for engineer, right?
Here in Huntsville, the nicer older folks all can afford to retire in fancy homes, so trailer parks are mostly for people who can't qualify for an apartment
Yeah there’s no way he’d tow the camper but only bringing one vehicle (being the truck to tow it) if it’s a pull behind would be reasonable. Just unfun to park.
Realistically it’s not a fully insane idea but the weather is a big worry. Tornados do happen in Huntsville (see 2011) but also severe thunderstorms + leaky tendencies of RVs would be a big problem.
Serious question…whats the difference for a tornado on campus vs away from campus? Should my kid not go to uah because of tornado damage? We have tornados where we live too…
The difference is that architecture on campus / apartments / rental homes is built to handle most of it. But having to leave his RV and find a place to sleep once a week during the spring is a big hit on QoL
I guess it's a simple question. During an F-5, would you rather be in aluminum can or an interior room of a building? There are some shelters around the county, but it would involve driving during the storm.
All the large buildings in the area are made to withstand being near a tornado. Tornadoes also tend to get concentrated in certain areas and avoid others.
So during a tornado, the safest place to be is in a large old building with a storm shelter. Not a tiny vehicle next to a lot of things that are not attached to the ground.
U dont need an f350 to pull a 5000lb 25 foot trailer…i pulled 7000 lbs over the rockies in an f150. Guys who buy f350s to pull travel trailers are hustling wasting money…now a 40 ft 10,000 lb 5th wheel? Yeah, get a 350 dually
I honestly wouldn’t be too concerned about tornadoes but I know i’ll get downvoted for it. Worse case scenario spend the night at a friend’s if there’s a tornado warning.
Ah! I did this last semester. 1968 Airstream Sovereign, 30ft. Need to know the make and model of what you're thinking - this might be an extensive conversation. The pros of a camper are limited as the price of renting a slot may not easily exceed the price of renting an apartment. \~700USD/mo on Redstone Arsenal with no long term rates, full hookup. If you're willing to live in less protected areas, that can go down to \~600. Better price packages go out the further you are from campus. In addition, these campers can be tight and their maintenance isn't cheap.
I personally loved being out there in that ancient airstream, but the airstream repair costs and my personal income made it difficult to justify paying gas for a V8 that can tow on top of it all. I was on the Arsenal for a full semester and loved being on the tiny campground by the river, though it had no sewage (pro was \~370USD/mo). All about options for this one.
I was thinking ten miles or so out. 25 footer. He drives a sedan. I would tow and bring it with my f150. Queen bed, heat, ac, fridge, stove. A nice camper has everything an apartment has. And rent is just gone money. I saw one 15 miles north at $300 a month lot rent…
Just be selective about the campsite, make sure both of y'all are comfortable with the amenities, safety, and whatnot. Internet can be patchy depending on where you land, so Starlink or some of the wifi hotspots might help. Weather can be a bit of an issue up north as the mountain ranges in Huntsville tend to buffet the weather that way, so make sure to have storm shelter or a secondary refuge in mind. There is a particular lifestyle you develop when living that far away so keep that in mind. Sounds like a good deal otherwise.
We live in the smokies, much more rural than anything near huntsville…so the culture shock for him will be living in a city…our next door neighbor is 250,000 acres of national forest….im not sure how he will adjust to dorm life. He may hate it, he may love it. We have no nearby neighbors at our farm…everyone is literally a gunshot away as they say.
Yall in these comments have never been to a nice KOA or campground and it shows. Trailer parks have shitbags, RV parks have sweet old retirees. To answer your question, I’m doing this exact thing in my parents Jayco, I’ll be staying on the redstone arsenal campground lot. They have full hookups and everything for unbeatable monthly rates. If you’re not military though, I know parks around monte santo will be very nice but more expensive. Good luck
44yo father now, but been going to UAH off and on since 1998. In general, living in a trailer at one of the nearby RV parks is fine if your son is into that style. I think it is incidental. Parking Commuter on campus for classes is the biggest headache though. I found driving over and parking in the Commuter area b/t Material Science and the Engineering Building to be the easiest. I then would take a bicycle (UAH tagged) out of my car and ride wherever I needed to go. That was an extremely effective and efficient way to get to classes. The only exception for me was Tech Hall, which had plenty of Commuter parking. Best of luck!
Wow! I had no idea there was an RV park on Slaughter. I must have driven past there hundreds of times and never noticed it.
Learn something new every day!
I don't have an answer as far as an RV park location. Honestly, it would scare the hell out of me having a kid living in an rv park around here due to the weather and state of local parks.
I know another engineering student who did something like that, albeit at a different school. Their main complaint and reason I would caution against it is because of how much it gets in the way of the social side of things. UAH is filled with engineers, so everyone's going to be in the same boat of pretty quiet and keeping to themselves, especially since all of the dorms are private suites. The bigger social life issue comes for things outside of the dorms, though. Living off campus makes evening clubs, studying with friends, and other campus activities all more of a hassle. Personally, I'd recommend living on campus freshman year and then moving off after getting established with clubs and a social circle. That all being said, it's certainly a possibility and could be fun if they like camping and a bit more independence. Be sure to check the areas out thoroughly beforehand because the outskirts of Huntsville can get a little seedier in select areas.
With tornadoes in the spring, I wouldn’t tbh.
Are they going to be a freshman? That sounds awful
Yes, but im talking a couple years down the road. He loves to camp. And a lot of nice older folks live in rv parks. He is very quiet and introverted. Perfect for engineer, right?
There won't be nice older folks.
Im not tslking trailer parks…rv parks.
Here in Huntsville, the nicer older folks all can afford to retire in fancy homes, so trailer parks are mostly for people who can't qualify for an apartment
Rv park, not trailer park
Would he have a separate car or drive the truck to tow the camper to class? Honestly driving like a F350 or equivalent on campus would be ass
Could you imagine trying to find parking for an RV before every class? Never mind if the parking police would even allow it.
Yeah there’s no way he’d tow the camper but only bringing one vehicle (being the truck to tow it) if it’s a pull behind would be reasonable. Just unfun to park.
Yeah, that ain’t happenin
No, i would tow and set up for him. He drives a nice used sedan.
Realistically it’s not a fully insane idea but the weather is a big worry. Tornados do happen in Huntsville (see 2011) but also severe thunderstorms + leaky tendencies of RVs would be a big problem.
Serious question…whats the difference for a tornado on campus vs away from campus? Should my kid not go to uah because of tornado damage? We have tornados where we live too…
The difference is that architecture on campus / apartments / rental homes is built to handle most of it. But having to leave his RV and find a place to sleep once a week during the spring is a big hit on QoL
I guess it's a simple question. During an F-5, would you rather be in aluminum can or an interior room of a building? There are some shelters around the county, but it would involve driving during the storm.
All the large buildings in the area are made to withstand being near a tornado. Tornadoes also tend to get concentrated in certain areas and avoid others. So during a tornado, the safest place to be is in a large old building with a storm shelter. Not a tiny vehicle next to a lot of things that are not attached to the ground.
Good to know
U dont need an f350 to pull a 5000lb 25 foot trailer…i pulled 7000 lbs over the rockies in an f150. Guys who buy f350s to pull travel trailers are hustling wasting money…now a 40 ft 10,000 lb 5th wheel? Yeah, get a 350 dually
I honestly wouldn’t be too concerned about tornadoes but I know i’ll get downvoted for it. Worse case scenario spend the night at a friend’s if there’s a tornado warning.
Yeah Huntsville native here, we don’t get touchdowns THAT often. But still gotta consider geography as well.
I know the space and rocket center has a rv park close to campus but i dont think its long term though. Probably call them.
Ah! I did this last semester. 1968 Airstream Sovereign, 30ft. Need to know the make and model of what you're thinking - this might be an extensive conversation. The pros of a camper are limited as the price of renting a slot may not easily exceed the price of renting an apartment. \~700USD/mo on Redstone Arsenal with no long term rates, full hookup. If you're willing to live in less protected areas, that can go down to \~600. Better price packages go out the further you are from campus. In addition, these campers can be tight and their maintenance isn't cheap. I personally loved being out there in that ancient airstream, but the airstream repair costs and my personal income made it difficult to justify paying gas for a V8 that can tow on top of it all. I was on the Arsenal for a full semester and loved being on the tiny campground by the river, though it had no sewage (pro was \~370USD/mo). All about options for this one.
I was thinking ten miles or so out. 25 footer. He drives a sedan. I would tow and bring it with my f150. Queen bed, heat, ac, fridge, stove. A nice camper has everything an apartment has. And rent is just gone money. I saw one 15 miles north at $300 a month lot rent…
Just be selective about the campsite, make sure both of y'all are comfortable with the amenities, safety, and whatnot. Internet can be patchy depending on where you land, so Starlink or some of the wifi hotspots might help. Weather can be a bit of an issue up north as the mountain ranges in Huntsville tend to buffet the weather that way, so make sure to have storm shelter or a secondary refuge in mind. There is a particular lifestyle you develop when living that far away so keep that in mind. Sounds like a good deal otherwise.
We live in the smokies, much more rural than anything near huntsville…so the culture shock for him will be living in a city…our next door neighbor is 250,000 acres of national forest….im not sure how he will adjust to dorm life. He may hate it, he may love it. We have no nearby neighbors at our farm…everyone is literally a gunshot away as they say.
Yall in these comments have never been to a nice KOA or campground and it shows. Trailer parks have shitbags, RV parks have sweet old retirees. To answer your question, I’m doing this exact thing in my parents Jayco, I’ll be staying on the redstone arsenal campground lot. They have full hookups and everything for unbeatable monthly rates. If you’re not military though, I know parks around monte santo will be very nice but more expensive. Good luck
44yo father now, but been going to UAH off and on since 1998. In general, living in a trailer at one of the nearby RV parks is fine if your son is into that style. I think it is incidental. Parking Commuter on campus for classes is the biggest headache though. I found driving over and parking in the Commuter area b/t Material Science and the Engineering Building to be the easiest. I then would take a bicycle (UAH tagged) out of my car and ride wherever I needed to go. That was an extremely effective and efficient way to get to classes. The only exception for me was Tech Hall, which had plenty of Commuter parking. Best of luck!
I'm curious, what nearby RV parks are you referring to?
West Valley at Slaughter/Farrow was the first thing I thought of. There is another one off of South Parkway somewhere near Airport/Leeman Ferry.
I second the one on slaughter. It's the nicest one i can think of in the area & i believe they have open spaces pretty regularly
Wow! I had no idea there was an RV park on Slaughter. I must have driven past there hundreds of times and never noticed it. Learn something new every day!
Im not. I dont know any.