DevilsBrew
Minister of Fire
- Apr 21, 2013
- 687
A camper modified for off grid and 4 seasons in the way to go
Im very interested in all the options here as im in the planning stages of replacing a crumbling cabin in the woods.
My dilemma is i need to keep it designated as a campsite NOT a residence. Othwerwise all the nasty sewer requirement regulations come into play.
The lot is in a low lying area so even if i wanted to put in a huge costly septic system(WHich i dont) it probably would not be permitted.
I want a small off grid cabin with possibly a composting or camper toilet and the ability to have all systems work likewater,heat,light,bathroom regardless of available electricity. I will still have electricity but not really have to use it.
Yea thats what im looking at. THe outfit around here is quite a bit cheaper for the shell. IOll do the inside myself ,just need the shell with those exterior log boards they sell at Home Depot down south. THey use them all over the southern states ,basically a 2x8 shaved round with a tab at the top and a notch at the bottom/ Put em up like siding. Very nice
If you have a WET area the whole thing ,that even if you can get the permit has to go on top the ground, a giant sand mound,with tanks and manhole covers and pumps and switches,and of course most people cant do it themselves.I don't know about no 20k septic! I just built a house last year 1250 sq ft, 2 bedroom 2 bath full basement. I installed the aerator system myself after a simple test along with 400 ft of leach field and had right around 3k in it! The whole system only took my father in law and myself two days to install. That's a far cry from 20k, I would love to be a installer in your area!
Get an estimate for the work you did yourself. Dont be surprised if it double or triple what you spent.. I installed the aerator system myself after a simple test along with 400 ft of leach field and had right around 3k in it! The whole system only took my father in law and myself two days to install. That's a far cry from 20k,
Get an estimate for the work you did yourself. Dont be surprised if it double or triple what you spent.
My take on this whole scheme is a house boat/shanty boat for further combined function. Both my properties have sizable ponds. by the time the local officials figure out how to harass you, you'll be long gone. Park it on dry land, cruise the canals, pull into your bunker in cold weather, if the SHTF, or motor/sail out to the middle of the lake if the hills are ablaze. Build it yourself on pontoons instead of skids and you're good to go. Ahoy, matey!!
I can smell the poo from the poo-ntoon going right into the lake. People tend to get lazy and think public waters are waste disposal sites.
Seems to me that if a person genuinely is interested in an off-grid tiny house that is energy self-sufficient, most of the ideas offered realistically will not work. "Extreme" travel trailers will not work in a cold environment without lots of btu's provided by a fuel source; ditto pontoons, log-style tiny homes, etc. Assume 240 sq ft, 12 x 20 x 8, R40 walls and floors and R80 ceiling, 60 sq ft of windows and door at R4, 2 residents, very tight construction: at -10F, still need about 3000 btuH; at 0F need about 2500 btuH. Many of the ideas presented are tiny houses, but I don't think any even begin to approach a workable energy self-sufficient solution.
Nothing wrong to dream about a tiny house, on a trailer or not: that is achievable. To make it energy self-sufficient also is achievable, but a lot more is involved than just a tiny house dream.
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