Wood siding as skirting on my trailer?

Hello! First off I hope this is the right forum or I'm sorry! Ok, I'm so, so tired of my crappy vinyl skirting! It buckles, bows, and get holes in it way too easy! I hate it! Stray cats living under my trailer,etc. Then in the winter my pipes freeze! Until I got some heat tape anyway. Ok, my idea is to cut some wood siding and make skirting. I really don't know much about doing this but a friend and I may tackle it. I don't have gutters on the trailer so I'm thinking that may be a problem? I saw some nice looking 4x8 sheets of 30 year wood siding at Lowes the other day I'd like to use. I'd have to paint it as it is just primed. Hoping I wouldn't have to paint it all the time. Anyone have any ideas how I could anchor the bottom? Treated 2x4s or something? I'm assuming I'd have to have a few vents. Anyone have any idea how many I should have? I'll also need to make an entrance under the trailer. Just looking for ideas as I know their are some good ideas out there I might not even know about! I don't really know much so pardon my ignorance! Any advice, opinions, etc. are always appreciated! Thanks!! Jack

 

IMO the best underpinning is masonary but that isn't the best idea if your renting the lot

My oldest son used to have a small MH in a park. The wind really did a number on the vinyl underpinning in the back so we built a wood frame to help support it - it stayed put after that.

They have some fairly nice fiberglass [?] underpinning that looks like brick or rock. They can still be damaged by a weedeater but it does take longer to chew them up.

I'd be leery of using wood siding next to the ground. You say it's 30 yr siding, what's it made of? I'd bet ground contact voids the warranty

 

Thanks, Mark. If I'm understanding your answer about the masonary, I actually had a contractor come out last year and when I mentioned cinderblocks he said he would be scared to try it as the ground heaves a lot. I think he did say it could be done but he would have to dig down below the frost line to keep it from moving around. So, I imagine that would cost a lot of money. My trailer is on a concrete slab but the slab doesn't extend out to the edge of the house. I do own it the land it is on. Thanks, Jack

 

Ya I suppose the ground freezing would be a bigger problem up north. Here you don't have to go as deep, a shallow footer works well especially since the block wall isn't load bearing.
Sometimes I forget what works here won't necessarily work further north

The brick and stone panels do look nice. The first time I saw the brick, I thought it was real from the road. The rock panels [not the gaudy plastic ones that a lot of people use] also look fairly realistic. Using flowers and mulch along the perimeter would prevent the weedeater from eating at the panels.

 

Properly installed vinyl skirting is what I prefer. It shouldn't buckle, bow or blow out. It will not stand up to a weed eater. That's where round up comes in handy or planting beds around the perimeter. You can gain access anywhere under the house not just where the access door is. It doesn't require any built framework. You never need to paint it. It has no water or ground contact issues. Damaged panels can easily be replaced. I've been installing skirting for over 30 yrs.