Off the grid livig in a micro-home (trailer)

[Kaleva]

If one wants micro-home that is relatively easily road transportable and doesn't require special permits to move, then in most states one is limited to about 340 square feet with a maximum height of 13'6" (the height includes the wheels).

I think I could live in such a place if I am alone and maybe have a small pet. There is property over at the old family farm where I could park the micro-home and thus not have to pay property tax in exchange for work done at the farm.

The stove, refrigerator and lighting would have to be propane and the toilet a composting one or an incinerator type. Firewood for heat is plentiful and there's enough small stuff where I'd just need a good handsaw and an axe. It might be a good idea to have a 10k btuh propane space heater to use as a backup for the wood stove.

I could build a root cellar to store garden produce and it'd be useful to have one of those small storage buildings on site to store tools, my moped and to have an indoor work area.

Waste would be taken care of in burn barrel, compost bin or the composting toilet. Non glossy paper products and cardboard can be cut up and put in the compost bin. Glossy paper and some plastics can be burned in the burn barrel and metal can be cleaned and set aside to be pick up for recycling along with many plastic containers.

I could capture much of the water I'd need from the rain that runs off the roofs and it'd be just drinking water I'd need to bring in or have a system to purify rainwater or melted snow. Laundry would be hand washed or washed in a portable hand cranked washer and then hung to dry on a clothes line.

The hardest adjustment I'd have to make is to go without the internet. I can go without tv but I get so much entertainment and news from the web that it'd be a big adjustment for me to go without. It's also the main way I keep in touch with friends and family via e-mail and facebook. Something like the K-TOR pedal generator in conjunction with a portable solar array along with 12 volt batteries and an inverter could provide the power. Might have to downsize from a laptop to a tablet though. Looking at various satellite provider plans, internet access could cost me close to $150 a month with tax and leasing fees included. It'd be less then $100 if I cut my internet time down. I think that would be worth the price. I have what many refer to as an Obama phone which costs me nothing as I get 125 free minutes a month with roll over of any unused minutes.

However, I'd be giving up a lot of convenience and comfort for little gain. As it is, the small house costs me about $355 a month on average and this covers gas, water, electricity, tv, internet, phone, garbage pickup, taxes, and fire insurance.

[Starboard Tack]

1. Why no internet?

Is the farm too distant for cable or DSL?

[Kaleva]

3. There is no cable where the farm is located.

But the local phone company does offer internet. I could pay to have a phone line with DSL run to where ever the micro-home would be parked. A corded phone doesn't require external power to operate although some models require batteries.

[Starboard Tack]

5. That could be a way to go.

First, you need to check with phone company to see if DSL would work in that location. Distance from closest switching station is crucial.
If it does offer a good DSL connection, then you can get everything else through the internet. TV, phone (VOIP), music, Netflix.

Then, all you need is a couple of solar panels and deep cycle batteries. Inverter is optional, but a small one should suffice. 12 volt flat screen TV's are pretty cheap. You can also run a router on 12 volt, to create your own wifi hotspot for tablet and laptop, Roku box etc..

I only use my laptop when I need the extra computing power for certain applications. The rest of the time I use my Iphone or Samsung Galaxy tablet.

Right now, I'm actually running an 8,000 btu A/C unit off my inverter for about 5/6 hours a day, 'cos it's 100+ degrees outside. I have 10x 6volt Trojan 125 golf cart batteries and 4 solar panels (2x130watt and 2x135watt, all Kyocera).

[cbayer]

2. I could do it, but, like you, I would need internet access.

Would you have cell phone access? There are a growing number of options for internet plans, but you could not stream audio or video.

But if you are happy where you are and the costs are really that low, I'm not sure why you would even consider this. What is the upside for you?

[Kaleva]

4. In my case, I don't see an upside to it.

I was just free thinking and at the end, I realized I'd be giving up a lot for very little gain. The small house is about 900 sq. ft. with a full basement and there is a good sized unattached garage.

[IrishAyes]

8. Unless the house places you too close to bad company for comfort, or there's some compelling

reason to move, it sounds like you have the best setup already in the house.

[kg4jxt]

6. propane lighting

although a propane lantern gives a lot of light, it also gives a lot of heat. You would want to have electric light, LEDs are super efficient and you can charge a small battery with solar panels. Even if you only had an LED head-lamp and some AAA batteries, you could get a small charger for that. And although propane operated refrigeration is pretty nifty, such units are not common and not easily repaired when they leak. An electric refrigerator is more practical in many respects - but has its own attendant power needs. You can buy small chest-type freezers and simply change the thermostat for a refrigerator thermostat and have a well-insulated and efficient unit - but it will use much of the output of 300 or 600 Watts of solar panels (an investment of somewhat over a thousand US$ considering panels, wiring, and controller). Of course that would easily cover the power for lighting too. And even some power to run a fan now and then.

[cbayer]

7. I just watched the movie "Tiny", which is all about this.

It was really fun and informative and I highly recommend it.

[IrishAyes]

9. I've got a big old Vic but not enough insurance to replace it if disaster strikes;

so I feel better knowing what I could do with insurance $ if that happened. I've found an excellent dome home kit that 3 people can assemble on a foundation in 4 or 5 hours (get Amish for that). 2 different sizes available, one's 20' wide with 12' ceilings and even the biggest I seem to recall is no more than $20K. If anyone wants the url, I have it bookmarked.

[Kaleva]

10. Yes, I'd like to look at that site.

I wouldn't build anything like that or anything at all but I am interested in reading about different home construction methods.

[IrishAyes]

12. Please take a look at my new OP today.

[SammyWinstonJack]

11. I would like the url, please and TIA.

[IrishAyes]

13. I just posted an OP with 4 of the urls; have many more in waiting

if you don't find what you want or like.