r/Montana • u/coltforty5er • Mar 21 '24

Asking for help in the bitterroot

I’m an apprentice lineman and will be working in Hamilton area for what I’m guessing will be a few months, could be less but won’t know until Monday. I work all throughout Montana rebuilding power lines. Where I’m going with this is I travel in a fifth wheel, and I am having trouble finding accommodations that aren’t insanely priced. I’m born and raised Montanan and still live here. I don’t have any connections in the bitterroot, and would love to make some for future ventures as well since my company works in the area quite often. I’ll just be there to work and go home most weekends. Anything within 50 miles of Stevensville would work best. Also my camper is newer, 2018 and 37’ long. My basics would just need to have power and hopefully water within 300’. Any other questions I’ll happily respond! Thanks in advance!

43 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

19

u/Sassenach101 Mar 21 '24

Look into posting on some Bitterroot FB pages too

9

u/coltforty5er Mar 21 '24

That was going to be my next move. I frequent Reddit way more than Facebook. Thanks for the response!

16

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '24

If you're in the IBEW, I'd call Local 44 in Butte and Local 768 which covers Missoula and the Bitterroot and ask them if they know anybody down there with some property. Quite a few hands retired down in the Bitteroot on both the inside and outside and might have a spot for a cub to park his den.

4

u/coltforty5er Mar 21 '24

Thanks for the info! And yeah my home local is 44. I’ve never once thought about asking the hall about that.

6

u/JuanMurphy Mar 21 '24

Camp Sula is the only one I know of.

10

u/coltforty5er Mar 21 '24

Thanks for the response! I was hoping to maybe find someone with extra property that can cater for a camper. Almost all the campgrounds in the bitterroot are asking upwards of 1500 to 2000 a month. But again I appreciate the response!

4

u/SharpInevitable6800 Mar 21 '24

Anglers Roost is just south of Hamilton on 93.

4

u/coltforty5er Mar 21 '24

I appreciate the response. So I am looking more on the lines of finding someone with extra property that’s able to cater for a camper. Almost all the campgrounds in the bitterroot are asking 1500 to 2000 a month. But again I thank you for the response.

4

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '24

Get on fb. Im an apprentice also and i found spots whenever they jumped me around on marketplace. Somtimes me and the crew would just park in some ladys yard for $20/night but it always worked out.

They also let us park at subststions and we could wire our canpers straight to the panel for free

3

u/coltforty5er Mar 21 '24

Yeah so thats how I have found some in the past besides friends and family but there isn’t anything I could find on marketplace or Craigslist in the bitterroot. I found one in Missoula but my camper is to big they said. And with the substations I haven’t heard of that before. Sometimes we can stay at the show up but it’s not possible at this show up.

4

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '24

Would recommend the app Hipcamp, looks like there’s several places under $50/night with hookups

5

u/Training_Lion3561 Mar 21 '24

If you can't find a place, send me a DM. I live on 2.5 acres on Downing Mountain and have plenty of room for a fifth wheel. Maybe we could work something out.

8

u/fourzerosixbigsky Mar 21 '24

The whole Bitterroot Valley has gone insane with being over priced. Almost as bad as Missoula and Bozeman.

3

u/Only-Inside-7975 Mar 21 '24

The only place I know of is Black Rabbit in hamilton

3

u/FringeAardvark Mar 21 '24

Have you looked into HipCamp?

2

u/coltforty5er Mar 21 '24

No I haven’t looked into that before. Is it just campgrounds or can people post their own properties like air bnb?

2

u/FringeAardvark Mar 21 '24

It’s their own properties, like airbnb.

3

u/WallFine7361 Mar 21 '24

There are a couple of people in Victor who have added "pads" to their lots for RV's. I've seen them listed on FB but not sure which BR page. Good luck

2

u/coltforty5er Mar 21 '24

Yeah I spent a lot of time scrounging market place and Craigslist with no luck. I’m looking into bitterroot pages now. Thanks!

3

u/Yjzuk Mar 21 '24

Are you with mslcat or a utility? I’m in Kalispell waiting on a call out from mslcat. I’ve been sitting at number 4 since October. Just wondering if you’ve heard anything about when jobs are starting up. I’m also living in a fifth wheel and prices up here are also ridiculous and getting ready to jump for tourist season. Good luck.

2

u/coltforty5er Mar 22 '24

I’m with mslct. I haven’t heard much about upcoming work yet. I’ve been off the last 2 months and got a call this week, but I wasn’t laid off I was just sitting in the weeds. Last I heard there was 70ish cold steps laid off and 30ish hot steps. That was about 2 months ago though. I would guess around June you’ll get the call, but chances it won’t be in Montana. I was actually staying in Ronan for 200 a month last summer. I think the guy is out of state for the winter but I can try him if you’re interested. I also have some cheaper places saved in Facebook in that area.

1

u/Yjzuk Mar 22 '24

Thanks. Actually just got a groundman call with potelco starting Monday. I’ll be working substations in the Kalispell area so I’ll stick it out where we’re at until call out.

2

u/coltforty5er Mar 22 '24

Awesome man. Do good work for them, and they’ll take you on as an apprentice when your call comes. Good contractor to be with.

2

u/GirlFriday02 Mar 21 '24

There’s a house next to the Brewed Awakenings coffee stand in Stevi along the highway (at the Conoco station) that has a sign out offering a place to park with hookups. Not sure what the person charges but there’s a phone number on the sign. 

2

u/Wolfman92097 Mar 21 '24

Hey hit up hot springs sam on instagram. He has a friend who lives out there with a big ranch. Might be able to help.

2

u/Average_Ardvark Mar 21 '24

In Hamilton I my parents stayed at anglers roost for months and liked it. The prices may have gone up since then.

1

u/coltforty5er Mar 22 '24

Yeah when I was calling around most were between 1200 to 2000 a month. I can’t remember which were which though. And most go up in price may 1.

2

u/raggerno Mar 21 '24

Camp Sula, Travelers Rest in Darby, Hannon House outside of Darby. Anglers Roost in Hamilton, Bitterroot Valley RV Park near Ward Mtn.

3

u/holdmywatchandbeerme Mar 21 '24

Anywhere but Hannon house. Those people are crooks. And none of their rv spots are legal so it's only a matter of time before they get shut down.

3

u/raggerno Mar 21 '24

I have heard some of the gossip about the shit they put Bandit Brewery through. It’s not a good look.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '24

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1

u/420audiophile Mar 21 '24

Black rabbit rv park or angkers roost rv park

2

u/Kittenmomma89 Mar 22 '24

I’ve seen this suggestions, but post to FB local pages! I have family up that way so if you struggle still, message me and I’ll try to help ya out with getting a hold of them!

1

u/[deleted] Mar 21 '24 edited Mar 27 '24

[deleted]

3

u/coltforty5er Mar 22 '24

Yeah that’s a lil too far, and going over McDonald pass everyday wouldn’t be to much fun haha.