Getting Ready for Winter | Video

Jessica Roose | 11/13/2012

While it`s nice to have a heated house or apartment to live in, many people who are gainfully employed don`t have that luxury. They`re making do in campers or trailers, which are fine when it`s warm out, and as we all know, it`s not warm any more.

Last weekend`s winter storm was a reminder of how fast winter is approaching. One newcomer was out working on getting his trailer ready to handle the cold.

He`s been in Dickinson about a week and a half helping his son move in but Gene McCabe already knows that getting ready for the winter is a top priority.

"The furnace had gone out for a night and we found out how cold it gets real quick," he said.

While his son is working on the oil fields, he`s working on insulating the trailer.

"Air tight is what we`re trying to make it," he said.

McCabe said his son tried to find housing but quickly realized investing in a fifth wheel was a better plan.

"It was just nuts. It was very expensive and as a matter of fact the three we called they just got out that morning and they were already filled."

Chap Shong came from Washington to help build more housing in the area. While he`s here he also finds himself staying in a travel trailer.

"I just purchased it about a month and a half ago. It`s got a good furnace in it. Propane, it goes through a lot of propane. I`ve got a couple electric heaters in there but all in all it`s not bad," he said.

Shong says he gets by just fine in the colder weather and doesn`t plan to do anything extra to his trailer this winter.

"It is what it is. It`s going to be cold so just try to stay warm."

He plans on staying in Dickinson while the work is available and thinks he`ll be heading home to Washington by the end of January.

With rent continuing to rise it seems that more and more people are turning to trailers. Both Shong and McCabe said they would rather put their money into a trailer they can own, than pay high rent on an apartment.

COMMENT ON THIS STORY

BACK TO NEWS | BACK TO BISMARCK STORIES