Yurt vs Travel Trailer - Cost & Comfort Considerations

[kayman]

Hey Folks, I am getting closer to the full-time RV lifestyle. I am leaning towards buying a travel trailer, but a yurt sounds appealing in its own regard. 

Yurt Pros 

No towing
More MPG with your tow vehicle (i.e. 20' yurt is about 70 pounds)
More square feet per dollar (i.e. 20' yurt can cost as little as $1,100 for 314 sqft)
More flexibility with the interior design
Better temperature control
______________
______________

Travel Trailer Pros

No setup (do not even need to unhitch if that is one's preference)
More secure (almost all travel trailers are lockable)
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_______________

Do you see those blanks? That's where you come in! What are some more advantages of the yurt and/or travel trailer?

 

[closeanuf]

Better temperature control?  I've just gone thru single digit temperatures in my TT and my furnace sure came in handy.  I don't understand how that would work in a yurt.  I have looked at yurts, but they don't seem practical for me.

 

[John61CT]

Yes I see a yurt as something for extended boondocking in a remote place. Definitely not a quick setup / packup.

Can't see any temperature advantage when heating is required, but maybe it would be cooler without aircon.

And yes please link to the commercially sold one.

 

[bullfrog]

Some of the foam yurts like at burning man are probably the fastest set up but some rv's can be set up and leveled with the push of a button. I've got a nice tent but I really like being able to just climb in my truck topper in windy or bad weather. The tent is great if you get a two week window of good weather, but moving every few days would be a pain, the bigger the tent the bigger the pain.

 

[Blanch]

Where can you get a 20 foot yurt for $1100? Link please.


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[Wanderer]

Now I have seen such at the local state campground. Nice looking, but it might be something I'd consider building in AZ. If everything goes as I wish, yeah, might happen...

 

[GypsySpirit]

I love Yurts. Very warm in the wet/cold weather. Their shape deflects the wind well and they are cool in the heat. However, the setup is a pain, and you sure better have friends around when you do it. Definitely not a one-man operation.

 

[jimindenver]

I think yurts are like the big canvas army tents. Roomy with wood stoves, almost a cabin but a lot of effort raising and packing away all the time. They are not much good for the overnight at Walmart if you know what I mean.

I have a travel trailer and while yes it is big and heavy, a pain to tow, etc. It is also a rolling house with everything except a dishwasher and washer/dryer. I do not have to provide a bed, stove, fridge or bathroom like I would in a yurt, it's all there and is usable on the road. I think a empty cargo trailer might be a better comparison to a yurt than a full blown travel trailer. You might need one to hold the yurts and all the rest of the gear you will need day to day.

 

[cyndi]

The yurt might be fun for awhile. Sooner or later a simple set up and breakdown will be a priority. I'm betting sooner rather than later

 

[kayman]

I'm getting a picture in my mind of getting to my destination about 1AM after driving all day, it's raining and I'm saying to myself "I can't wait to hit the sack,,, all I have to do is set up my yurt in the rain on this soggy ground".

Can the yurt be set up by one person? Does it have a floor? Posting a link to the type of commercial yurt you are considering will help with the discussion.

Guy

Guy, you have made a good point. So, in that case, a yurt would be inconvenient. Regarding your questions, yes, a 20 ft yurt can be set up by one person. Probably 1 hour initially including the learning curve. After the first build, then it is usually 30 minutes. A floor can be bought as an accessory.

 

[kayman]

I think yurts are like the big canvas army tents. Roomy with wood stoves, almost a cabin but a lot of effort raising and packing away all the time. They are not much good for the overnight at Walmart if you know what I mean.

I have a travel trailer and while yes it is big and heavy, a pain to tow, etc. It is also a rolling house with everything except a dishwasher and washer/dryer. I do not have to provide a bed, stove, fridge or bathroom like I would in a yurt, it's all there and is usable on the road. I think a empty cargo trailer might be a better comparison to a yurt than a full blown travel trailer. You might need one to hold the yurts and all the rest of the gear you will need day to day.

Jimi, that's a great point about travel trailers already being furnished. I have added it to update the pros of a yurt vs travel trailer.  

Yurt Pros

No towing
More MPG with your tow vehicle (i.e. 20' yurt is about 70 pounds)
More square feet per dollar (i.e. 20' yurt can cost as little as $1,100 for 314 sqft)
More flexibility with the interior design
Better temperature control
______________
______________

Travel Trailer Pros

No setup (do not even need to unhitch if that is one's preference)
More secure (almost all travel trailers are lockable)
*Furnished (ready to live in)
_______________
_______________

* = added, thanks to one of you helpful people

 

[tx2sturgis]

Just what us van-dwellers need is a good push-button automatic Yurt with 800 watts of solar and a composting toilet. 

Oh, and a built-in Truck-Fridge. 

 

[kayman]

Yes I see a yurt as something for extended boondocking in a remote place. Definitely not a quick setup / packup.

Can't see any temperature advantage when heating is required, but maybe it would be cooler without aircon.

And yes please link to the commercially sold one.

Yurts encourage heating and cooling as their round shape naturally promotes circulation. Compared to square and rectangular buildings, round structures more effectively distribute light, heat, and cooled air. The difference of temperature control may not be significant, but the temperature is better managed in a yurt than a trailer.

 

[John61CT]

That's a pretty insignificant factor compared to having active heating and ventilation sources built in available at the flick of a switch, and being tightly sealed and well-insulated.

Especially in extreme cold conditions.

 

[DLTooley]

That's a pretty insignificant factor compared to having active heating and ventilation sources built in available at the flick of a switch, and being tightly sealed and well-insulated.

Especially in extreme cold conditions.

I definitely agree with your general point, but modern shelters are also filled with toxic materials, including those used for sealing and insulation.

The idea of portability means that hopefully you aren't camping in extreme conditions.  Personally I'm quite comfortable with low temps down to 25 and have no problem going much lower, though only for shorter periods.

A yurt isn't for me at this time, mostly because I don't usually stay at a single place longer than 4 or 5 days.  They are on my list of options.

 

[Ken in Anaheim]

I'm in the ,"Kodiak-lust" mind set, so everything I see that's not vehicle-based I compare to a Kodiak Flex bow (http://www.kodiakcanvas.com/flex-bow-tents/) and considering, set-up time, packed size, price, etc I still lean towards ye ole Kodiak......................IMHO.
KinA
P.S. I'm still hoping to get some first-hand reports of a TailVeil and a Prius ( https://tailveil.com/ ).

 

[bullfrog]

If you are coming to the RTR I should be there towards the end with a 10x14 Kodiak and an old blue truck, stop on by and lust. I'll even let you put it up and take it down!

 

[tripper]

Yurts are awesome, I am very familiar with them as I check them out and help assemble some at Burning Man every year. A yurt is way more efficient than any trailer as far as staying cool or warming, but a Yurt is going to fall apart if it is taken down and reassembled every two weeks. They are truly a engineering marvel, but really only good for occasional setups/teardowns or more permanent use, not constant nomadic traveling. A real pain in the ass to set up and tape.

 

[kayman]

Where can you get a 20 foot yurt for $1100? Link please.


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http://www.shelter-systems.com/solor-dome.html

I love Yurts. Very warm in the wet/cold weather. Their shape deflects the wind well and they are cool in the heat. However, the setup is a pain, and you sure better have friends around when you do it. Definitely not a one-man operation.

According to the Shelter Systems site (link above), one man can set up a 20' yurt in 30 minutes. I will beg to say 1 hour when including the learning curve. However, they concur that any size bigger will require two people to set it up.

 

[Motrukdriver]

Love yurts but if I was gonna use a heavy tent type structure I had to set up and take down every couple of weeks I'd go with a teepee.