Want to build "drop out" cabin. Advice? - Page 3

 


Hmm.... you've got me "thinking" guys!  Thanks

The above is a good idea

Tell me more abt small travel trailer idea tho. What do
you mean?

 

In article
me@privacy.net says...

Very simple.  Just get the smallest travel trailer
(caravan) that I can, and park it on some bare land.  
This might have inside a bed, a sink (with small fresh
and grey water tanks), and a propane stove.  A
Volkswagon Camper-Van would also work.

Just minimal shelter for nights and rainy days.  
Although, depending upon climate/weather (my starting
point would be in spring/summer), a metal garden shed
or even a tent could serve as your first house.

Initial water supply could be from a portable tank,
which would be hauled into the nearest town (e.g. in
the back of a ute or pickup truck.  Bathing would be
outdoors, with a camping shower bag, or perhaps a pump
that attaches to a camping stove for hot water.

A bucket-and-sawdust toilet, plus Humanure compost bin
can be set up in one day.

Phone would be wireless.

Electricity would start out as an external generator,
with a couple of golf-cart batteries for night
lighting.  Also cheap solar radio, torch and AA battery
chargers.

Then, from there, just build up, with perhaps a garden
shed or two, a concrete-block garage-type house, etc.  
Long term water would be rainwater catchment and larger
tank.  Long-term power would be a modest PV system.


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But you are suggesting to park it on land that you have
bought, right?

In other words..... get the land "bought" as the first
step...... then park the small RV on it and go from
there, right?

Just trying to make sure Im "getting" what you are
suggesting so please bear with me

You may actually have the answer for me!

 


Well, you could not park it anywhere else and expect it to stay there
could you?

Seriously, if you are happy living a simple life, then buy the large
piece of land you can, then plonking a mobile habitation you can afford
on it is definitely one way to go. Especially if you are not sure of the
weather.


I think the OP was talking about going to work each day, which becomes a
very serious bummer when you have to drive for an hour to and from work
twice a day. Plus, if you are going to work, you may have to have a
certain level of energy consumption to make yourself "presentable" for
work. Of course, if you are a tradesperson with showers at work,
probably a whole new ball game.

But if you do not require TV, the internet, etc, and have an interest in
nature, it certainly is worthwhile for getting away from things.

 



On 2005-03-24 terryc@woa.com.au said:
   >Newsgroups: alt.energy.homepower
   >Seriously, if you are happy living a simple life, then buy the large
   >piece of land you can, then plonking a mobile habitation you can
   >afford on it is definitely one way to go. Especially if you are not
   >sure of the weather.
A comment on living in a travel trailer:  most are poorly insulated,
therefore cold and expensive to heat in winter.  I've been in a Nu-Wa
Hitchhiker 32 ft. for more years than I like, while getting my
housebuilding under way.  This has been the coldest winter yet, and
I've used 200 gal. of propane for heat and hot water so far.  And the
trailer design and orientation gives all solar heating on sunny
(most) days.

I've found the trailer to be adequate instant infrastructure, but I
eagerly look forward to moving into my house this year and selling
the trailer.  Good riddance!


Tom Willmon
near Mountainair, (mid) New Mexico, USA

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