Using a Slide in Camper as offgrid Cabin

[mr_elijah_gardner]

My wife and I came across a super great deal for a lease for a spot in the woods. We were originally thinking we could take the Motorhome up there but after looking at it we decided there is no way our 26 foot RV was NOT going to make it back there. We wont be living there but it will be nice to have a place we can go to 3-4 times a month when where not out in the Motorhome.

About the same time we found the spot I found a nice little slide in camper. I decided to set it up in the woods and turn it into a cabin.

I figure I'll bring in drinking water. I'll be able to fill the holding tank for sink water. We have permission to dump the grey water in the woods. It has a portable toilet and there is a restroom fairly close by that I can dump it in at the end of our stay.

I'm not going to go crazy with Solar probably just some harbor freight stuff. I don't want to go super expensive just in-case of theft/damage whatever. Not that its a super big concern but I just don't see the need in an expensive setup. It will be fine if it takes a few days to recharge the battery as it will have plenty of recovery time between visits.

I purchased the slide in a month or so ago and just finally got it dropped off last week. I hoping to make my first stay this weekend.

Attached are some pics of the setup.



This is a video link of a video I made today. Its not the best quality as I had camera issues. I almost didn't make a video but decided I had enough footage I might as well.

 

[mr_elijah_gardner]

 

[highdesertranger]

Cool, that thing looks in really good shape. One thing I would not leave the floor unsupported. maybe set it on pallets.

Highdesertranger

 

[mr_elijah_gardner]

Pallets are a good idea. Right now it has 4x4's about 18-24 inches apart.

 

[bullfrog]

If you can get a hold of some of the modern plastic pallets like I used under mine they won't rot and will last a lot longer. I got mine at a local warehouse. I think I would just build a shed roof over it and not worry about the leaks, but eliminating the front window and resealing the clearance lights along with some roof coat should fix your leaks. Looks like fun!

 

[RoamerRV428]

Cool little video and nice secluded spot. Great off grid 'cabin' you got there

 

[mr_elijah_gardner]

I just got back from spending 3 days at the slide in. It was a very enjoyable trip.

I accomplished a few goals on this trip and have made a few more goals for next trip.

Solar: I installed the cheapest solar setup I could come up with. I purchased Harbor Freight stuff. I installed a 25watt solar panel. Used a 100 watt charge controller and an old car battery. I did not have super high hopes for this setup.

The battery is probably about 3 years old. It worked fine as a starter battery in the truck it was in before it went to the junkyard. The inverter is a 200Watt (on clearance for$16). I ran the inverter straight to the breaker box so all the 110 works but only off the inverter. I used the 25 watt solar panel. I figured the battery alone would be able to power a couple of the 12 volt interior lights and charge cell phones just fine for a couple days. My intention for the solar was to charge and maintain the battery during its vacancy probably a week or two on average. I could only test for voltage, but voltage wise the battery was replenished from its night use after 5-6 hours of day lights. The last day I used the most daytime power and it was closer to 9 hours before its was recharged.

I used outdoor solar lights for a rear porch light and walkway lights. They worked very well for illumination and were able to stay on for the duration of our time outside. I did turn them off when we went in for the night to give the batteries the best chance for a charge before we used them again.

I had hopped to have water running from the sink faucet but was unable too. The plastic hoses are broken and there are wiring issues to the pump. Using water jugs at the sink worked for this trip. Running water is still on the project list. The grey water had been re routed and no longer runs to the grey tank. Instead it goes out the side of the camper to a garden hose fitting. I used some old garden hose. Buried it and ran it away from the camper draining into the woods.

We trimmed up a bunch of brush and tress. Used fallen logs to create borders on the pathways.

Attached are some pictures. It still has a ways to go but it is a really awesome little place in the woods.

 

[RVTravel]

Super cool. Thanks for sharing.

 

[kklowell]

Looks like a great little camp to me.

 

[MGfromBC]

On one of the routes I frequently travel there is a spot with a truck camper and picnic table on the far side of a small lake.  There is no sign of a road of any kind leading around the lake from either side and I have always assumed it was moved there in the winter across the ice.  It peeks my curiosity and imagination every time I see it.
MG