Maintaining a Trailer in Yellowknife: Part 1 – What is a Trailer?

So you have bought yourself a trailer. Or a modular home. Or a manufactured home. Whichever you’d like to call it. It is going to be great. You’re a first-time homeowner. Or maybe you are upgrading from a condo or townhouse.

Wait! What is a trailer?

Manufactured homes are modular houses, or trailers, that are constructed in a controlled environment, south of Yellowknife. They are inspected and CSA approved. They are then trucked up to the city and installed into development lots. Yellowknife does not have Trailer Parks, although some consider Northlands one. Yellowknife does have entire subdivisions of trailers. The cost of making an entire subdivision is often cheaper than building a house one at a time.

Take a look at these streets:

Trails End
49A Ave
Forest Drive
Forest Drive Park
Con Road and Con Place
Demelt Crescent and Area
Horton Crescent
Hordal Drive and Area
Borden Drive and Area
Magnum and Area
Hall Crescent and Area
Haener Drive

To a Yellowknifer, they are as much a home as a stick-built.

They are generally long and narrow. Living in one2 is like living in a train car suggested by some people, but I like them.

Now, back to you.

You probably bought your house in the spring, summer or fall. The weather was probably above freezing. You’re feeling good about it. Carefree and excited about this new adventure. I know. I was there once too.

My first winter in my trailer was not awful. I definitely learned about maintaining a trailer in a city of extremes, though. Thing is, I didn’t have someone telling me what was happening. The previous owners left no manual. Friends could only help me in the moment, which I am grateful, so I don’t want anyone in my position again.

So, for you, I’m going to list everything I know about maintaining my trailer. I’m going to do it in a series of posts here on Yellowknife Online. This is the first one.

Luckily, I now know a few people educated on the subject of Yellowknife homes. One of these people is Didier Bourgois of Housecheck Yellowknife. He has been kind enough to review these articles for me and ensure I’m providing the best information possible. For that I recommend everyone check out his services at housecheckyellowknife.ca.

If you yourself have any experience living in a trailer you’d like to share. Please leave us a comment or send us an email.

Let’s go.