living in a shed???

[workharder]

i am currently crashing in my trailblazer with my dog on a horse ranch.. i landed a job where they let me stay here and use their electricity if i take care of the horses one day a week.. the room they have for me wont work cause i has black mold in the walls.. i dont think they will fix it but they said i can put a trailer on the property... so i was at home depot today and saw their shed because i have been having trouble finding a cheap camper.. im a very simple guy.. i just need a square box that wont leak and room to work on my laptop and a bed.. i did it in a hotel for a very long time so it wont be that much different.... is it possible to live in one of these sheds they have there at home depot.. they go for only about 1000 or so.. plenty of room and storage.<div><br></div><div>i have portable AC unit and they have vents on the floor where i have have the hot air blow out.. i am in austin texas so its pretty damn hot right now.. and winters dont get that bad.. i have been reading and i read that i may need to get it insulated... just looking for some help on this... they have a bathroom for me too.. so this place would just be a home to sleep... i usually shower and everything at my gym.</div><div><br></div><div>thanks for the help.. this site has worked wonders for me and i have never felt so alive since i have given up everything and started living life on the road..etc.</div><div><br></div><div>my next goal is to try to live without banks.. still working on that</div>

 

[workharder]

awesome thanks.. i think this is the best bet for me.. but wont insulating it and putting up walls cut some space out of it.. its small as it is<div><br></div>

 

[4x4tour]

I gotta think there's a bunch of older small RV trailers in the 500/1000 range on craigslist in your (any)&nbsp;area, which you could tow with the trailblazer and take with you...&nbsp; If they are providing electric, the RV AC wouldnt need to be all that efficient, Id think. <br><br>IMHO<br><br>AJ<br><br><br><br>

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Listen to 4X4tour, I'm of the same mindset too. Get an older travel trailer.&nbsp; If you decided to move on, your boss may decide to buy your structure from you or maybe not and people do get fired sometimes <IMG border=0 align=absMiddle src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif">.&nbsp; <BR>Diane<BR>

 

[workharder]

yeah your right.. i have been looking for a trailer recently but these trailers are not insulated either right? ...im doing research on it now and trying to find a cheap one that me and my 100 pound dog would fit in.<div><br></div><div>thanks <font class="Apple-style-span" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 12px; white-space: nowrap;">everyone.. this site has such a great help with getting me on my little adventure</span></font><br><div><br></div></div>

 

[sl1966]

<div>Trailers are insulated, but it's never gonna be like a home is. You can deal with this by investing in a good space heater. I'm not sure which kind is best, but there is a thread here about which ones are.</div><div><br></div>You can make it work with a 100pd dog easily enough. I read a blog where woman was living with 3 dogs (2 large, 1 small) in a 24ft trailer. Her largest was a golden retreiver and the other two were mutts.&nbsp;

 

[Wild_E]

Hi there,<div>PEOPLE are fickle, what works for them today will not work for them in the future and then you get your marching papers, or they just take your shed etc etc.</div><div><br></div><div>I say go with a 4 season canvas tent or get a trailer. Even a simple work trailer and you can do what you want with it to customize it. In Ontario even used stuff is expensive compared to some of you US guys, but i can get a used trailer here, camper for $300 to $2500 and anything in between.</div><div>Portable, yours, movable quickly etc etc.</div>

 

[vonu]

Have you heard of "small houses?"<div>Startpage.com is your friend.</div>

 

[4x4tour]

Wilderness, <br><br>I was going to mention a military Incident command type tent, but it's still a tent in Texas... <br><br>With a cheap trailer, even if it doesnt have AC, he can easily install a 5000 BTU house&nbsp;AC in a side window, or just cut a hole in the rear and permanently mount it. <br><br>A 1-minute search for a roof mounted RV AC unit in my area, yielded this, along with these:<br><br><A href="http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/2462026025.html" target=_blank>http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/2462026025.html</A><br><br>Or buy this larger version of a tear drop trailer, and stick an AC in the right window <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br><br><A href="http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/2430150997.html" target=_blank>http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/2430150997.html</A><br><br>Here's a&nbsp;beaver:<br><br><A href="http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/2409173894.html" target=_blank>http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/2409173894.html</A><br><br><br>Now, THIS one is nice (ac on top)<br><br><A href="http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/2379153205.html" target=_blank>http://redding.craigslist.org/rvs/2379153205.html</A><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>

 

[stude53]

<FONT size=3>Hey workharder,<BR></FONT><P></P><FONT size=3>Welcome to the forum.<BR></FONT><br><FONT size=3>I would vote for a enclosed trailer, larger than akrvbob's, but fixed up like his, with the addition of a low cost window-type air conditioner installed through the wall.<BR></FONT><br><FONT size=3>With a free electric hookup, and the close availability of a bathroom there at the ranch (which state are you in?), you and your furry friend should be very comfortable.<BR></FONT><br><FONT size=3>When it's time to move on, just hitch up your home and go down the road. <BR><BR>Good luck,<BR>Bob (aka stude53)<BR></FONT><br>

 

[stude53]

Hello, workharder<br><br>FYI, Here is the link that will go to akrvbob's trailer conversion:<br><br><A href="http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/Converted_Cargo_Trailer.html" target=_blank>http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/Converted_Cargo_Trailer.html</A><br>

 

[4x4tour]

<P><FONT face="times new roman, times, serif" size=3>I remember reading that one awhile ago... It got me motivated to build my own box on wheels... <IMG src="https://vanlivingforum.com/images/boards/smilies/idea.gif" align=absMiddle border=0></FONT></P>

 

[workharder]

bob i am located in austin right now.. and its over 100 at the moment.. right now i have the LG portable AC unit from home depot 700 BTU&nbsp;in my 05 trailblazer.. me and the pup sleep well at night.. during the day i keep it running on him and it seems to be keeping him cool.. not seeing any signs of heat stroke.. but im probably burning the thing out cause the compressor never shuts off.... i set it at the highest so the heat does not trip the cut off switch....<div><br></div><div>the enclosed trailers for 6x12 have been going for about 2000 or more.. which is not that much but im trying to pick up the pieces from my business falling apart.. i am working all the time but it will take me some time to get there... im looking for used ones but they are still going for 2000 ... but your all right i think i will get the trailer in case something happens at this ranch.. which i hope it does not.. its a&nbsp;paradise&nbsp;for me.. during the night no one is there and i have all the land to hang out on.. clear skies and bright stars.. and with all the horses its like i have 10 new pets.. im loving it.</div><div><br></div><div>but back to the trailer.. will i be able to use my portable ac unit in there if i cut a hole out for it to vent? &nbsp;or do you think it will be to hot like my truck and keep kicking the compressor off?</div>

 

[4x4tour]

Why you havent traded that&nbsp;portable AC unit for a cheaper/better window unit is beyond me... <br><br><br><br><br><br>

 

[stude53]

Here's one in your area. Worth a look.<br><br><A href="http://austin.craigslist.org/bfs/2433210079.html" target=_blank>http://austin.craigslist.org/bfs/2433210079.html</A><br>

 

[Butternut]

I'm with Stude53 and all for the mobile option. It blows to insulate or fix something up and then leave it behind later. Put that time and energy into something you can take with you!<br><br>-The Tuckerbag<br><br>

 

[Wild_E]

I am thinking that you insulate a house and you Flectasize a Vehicle..&nbsp;<div>as in you can never really insulate it due to the fact it is portable,&nbsp;surrounded&nbsp;by Steel and&nbsp;Fibreglass.&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>In a vehicle or a Tent you create&nbsp;reflectance&nbsp;that keeps the heat in or out depending on the season. With a tent you put a tarp over it, and then add an additional layer called a thermal layer, that gives the hot air or cold air a place to go. With a Tent you want walls that can be lifted and bug screen put in its place and a vent in the top, to allow the hot air to escape, like a Yurt/Ger or like a Prospectors Tent or Military Command tent&nbsp;etc..</div><div><br></div><div>I say go mobile, do not build a static shed, and then have the fickle land owners steal it away from you when they have the slightest&nbsp;hiccup&nbsp;with you or they think you did not follow their many rules to the letter..&nbsp;cough,, happened to me.</div>

 

[4x4tour]

Your "flectasize" comment reminded me, to remind him, of using REFLECTEX (at home depot) on his windows.&nbsp; I use it on my windows and makes a HUGE difference. <br><br>Actually, prior to completing the side walls, I used reflectex, then the 1/2 inch R-Tech styrofoam panels, and then expanding foam in those hard to get places.&nbsp; Works great.<br><br><br><br>

 

[Wild_E]

Thanks, I laughed when I typed the word, then decided to keep it!<div>I hope your Home Depot was cheaper than mine is. $150 for 50' of the 5ft high stuff. Need to find a cheaper solution, then you add on the Styrofoam and it is very costly.</div><div>Thanks hope you smiled with the word, "<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; ">Flectasize a Vehicle.</span>"</div>

 

[4x4tour]

<P><FONT face="times new roman, times, serif" size=3>Lowes and HD sell the 3 foot wide versions as well, which I just cut into sizes.&nbsp; In 105 degree heat a couple days ago, with everything closed and windows up, it read 110 inside on Morningstar solar control meter (measures inside temp and house battery temps (mounted outside on frame rail).&nbsp;&nbsp;I guess there's a reason most people&nbsp;use white vans in the desert...lol </FONT></P>