Tiny Homes

[carhugger_prep]

I was not sure where to post this topic and thought this would be a safe place to post it.

I was looking at tiny home designs and it made me think what could you do to make it a place to shelter in place or a BOH "Bug Out Home." There is the normal solar panels, larger tanks for water (if built on a trailer), wood burning furnace or fireplace for heat. But I wanted to get other people's thoughts on it.

 

[jimLE]

i've thought of that to..theres a place in the town where we do our grocery shoping.they sell difrrent size stoarge/workroom buildings.i've often though how nice itd be to buy the largest one they have and put it on a piece of property.which includes wireing it for electric.plumbing.then insulate it..

 

[Gettingreadymama]

I was not sure where to post this topic and thought this would be a safe place to post it.

I was looking at tiny home designs and it made me think what could you do to make it a place to shelter in place or a BOH "Bug Out Home." There is the normal solar panels, larger tanks for water (if built on a trailer), wood burning furnace or fireplace for heat. But I wanted to get other people's thoughts on it.

That sounds like a great idea! Good luck and post pic if you can!

 

[carhugger_prep]

This is actually the tiny house I want to build sense I am a single guy I think it would fit me.

 

[DrHenley]

We'll all probably have think seriously about downsizing in the SHTF.

We've drawn up the floorplan for a 4 family dwelling that we want to build at the family
BOL. It is smaller than the average single family home.

 

[Dani]

This is actually the tiny house I want to build sense I am a single guy I think it would fit me.

The house itself look like a good set up as it will be very economical and wont take much to clean, cool, heat, ect, but I am wondering about storage, especially food. Are you thinking about adding an out building for the additional storage you may want/need?

 

[carhugger_prep]

The house itself look like a good set up as it will be very economical and wont take much to clean, cool, heat, ect, but I am wondering about storage, especially food. Are you thinking about adding an out building for the additional storage you may want/need?

I plan to add some extra storage inside the actual house and add a “shed” on the trailer hitch area.

 

[carhugger_prep]

I will post a list of mods I will do to the tiny house so you can take copy ideas or everything.

 

[eireguy]

Great idea . I know there is a big tinyhouse movment going on with tons of plans on the internet . Its mind blowing what some have managed to accomplish . Good luck with your build

 

[Dani]

I plan to add some extra storage inside the actual house and add a “shed” on the trailer hitch area.

Is it possible to make a root cellar underneath? That would make your extra storage unseen

 

[carhugger_prep]

Is it possible to make a root cellar underneath? That would make your extra storage unseen

If I made the tiny house on a regular concrete foundation instead of a trailer I believe so.

 

[alabaster]

I'm not sure if I understand the question right, but I was thinking of a sod home. Quite a bit like adobe, and many are VERY durable. Some have wood or metal lined walls and roofs and for the $, they can't be beat. The issue it seems is the labor. I'm not sure how many people know how to build them anymore or how many can put in the time and physical work that it would demand.

 

[Brent S]

This is actually the tiny house I want to build sense I am a single guy I think it would fit me.

I think it's brilliant to build something like that. It may not be the perfect home, or big enough when you meet a young lady for the two of you, but just think, you can build this a little at a time, with no loans. If you aren't paying the interest on a traditional mortgage, you can take that money and improve your home instead of making the banks richer, which makes you richer. I moved into my place with no mortgage, I also had only plywood on the floors, a bare lightbulb in each room, no mouldings, I didn't even have the doors or drawers made for any of the cabinets yet. I then used the money I saved each month and used it to fix up the house a little at a time. Yes I've been working on it for about 8 years, but it's all mine, and is really nice now, far richer than I could have ever qualified for a loan for. I'm really proud of you for thinking of starting small, most young people want it all right now. If you live within your means and buy what you can afford vs taking loans for instant gratification, you will have so much more in the long run.

 

[carhugger_prep]

I think it's brilliant to build something like that. It may not be the perfect home, or big enough when you meet a young lady for the two of you, but just think, you can build this a little at a time, with no loans. If you aren't paying the interest on a traditional mortgage, you can take that money and improve your home instead of making the banks richer, which makes you richer. I moved into my place with no mortgage, I also had only plywood on the floors, a bare lightbulb in each room, no mouldings, I didn't even have the doors or drawers made for any of the cabinets yet. I then used the money I saved each month and used it to fix up the house a little at a time. Yes I've been working on it for about 8 years, but it's all mine, and is really nice now, far richer than I could have ever qualified for a loan for. I'm really proud of you for thinking of starting small, most young people want it all right now. If you live within your means and buy what you can afford vs taking loans for instant gratification, you will have so much more in the long run.

That is what I was exactly thinking. A tiny house will work for when I meet my significant other. Besides spending money on propane/wood and place to empty the waste water tank I will be saving a load of money. I would just have to pay for a spot to park the tiny house, like a parking lot or empty lot, and water for the tanks.

 

[carhugger_prep]

I meant to say in the second sentence is that a tiny house is good until I meet my significate other because of the size.

 

[Dani]

I would think it would be fine for a significant other, but I would try to make it on your own land if possible

 

[Gazrok]

If space-saving, and power saving, there are two things to look at....mobile homes, and boats. Both of these have been solving these problems for decades, so no need to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Brent S]

I would think it would be fine for a significant other, but I would try to make it on your own land if possible

I kind of agree that buying a piece of property first would be wise. I really, I mean really, really don't like to borrow money, but financing a piece of land, especially if your patient and find a good deal on it is the one exception I would consider. I saw a one acre lot with a home on it not long ago in an ad locally. It was 30 ,000. , had a well, septic and fenced in. I'm sure the house was a piece of crap, but it could always be fixed up or set your tiny house behind it and use it as a shed. I'm not sure what a loan for 30k would be, but I'm betting it's a lot less than rent. After a few years of fixing and improving, you could sell it and use the profit for a better piece of property with water on it or whatever else you like. My first place was a camper, really small, basically 1 room with a bathroom and a sink. I had to hand dig my own septic (illegally), and ran an extension cord from a neighbor for a little money each month. It was old and really ugly, but I cleaned it up a little and when I sold it for a little profit, I bought something a little better. Multiple times later, several years and some wear and tear on my body, I'm living in a place that I'm really happy with. When I started I had no real skills in carpentry or any building trades, but through trial and error, talking with people and reading I learned to build just about anything. I'm talking before internet here, with you tube you can learn about just about anything! I'm putting crown mouldings in my master bedroom right now, with cathedral ceilings with multiple angle changes on the slope, needless to say, not for the faint of heart! If I can teach myself to do that, you can too, and anything else you'll ever need to accomplish what you want.

 

[Brent S]

If space-saving, and power saving, there are two things to look at....mobile homes, and boats. Both of these have been solving these problems for decades, so no need to reinvent the wheel.

Great idea on m/h's and boats. Try going to some lots that have them and tour just to get ideas before you even design what you want to build.

 

[jimLE]

knew of a guy once..he had bought a 4 door pick up with a longer then full size truck bed to match.he built a camper onto it.he had title n all to it.but didnt buy it to drive.he parked it on a 5 achre lot he had bought.lived out of it untill he got his home built.had septic electric n running water to camper..

 

[carhugger_prep]

Like I promised here is the list of mods I will do to the Tumbleweed Mica tiny house.
· Solar panels for power source.
· A custom box that looks like a double or triple stacked triangle trailer box. The box will be for storage.
· There will be various hidden storage places in the tiny house.
· A 10 ft by 8 ft deck that folds up and down.
· Have a Murphy bed to save space and remove the independent wall between and bedroom. This will give me 28 sq. ft. more to the 62.22 sq. ft. giving me 90.22 sq. ft. of living space.
· Have “dresser” in closest next to front door. “Dresser” is 42 inches tall, 17 inches deep, 32 inches wide, and has 5 drawers.
· Install a Tactical Wall 1440 Insert hidden in the closet that can be pulled up.
· Have a RV style slide-out in the living room
· LED lighted entry steps

 

[carhugger_prep]

I also plan to have a real shed now where I can hold prepping gear and other things.

 

[Dani]

I think that your little house is a great start and you can build from there. It sounds like you have thought this out and have a good head on your shoulders. Start out small and you can always build on it. I would strongly suggest you try to locate a plot of land to buy and the further away from a town/city, the better. I had a friend whose parents started out with a small trailer and then they had three girls. When the girls got nearing their teen years is when they expanded their home.

 

[carhugger_prep]

I actually had another idea for the tiny house. As I build it I can keep notes on good storage spots and also write a article explaining why it could be a good Bug Out Home.

 

[PrairieWife]

Not trying to step on toes. But, there is no comparison between mobile homes and a tiny home! NONE!

Mobile homes are not even cheap any more. And are a LOT harder to move if you want to move it. IE you have to get a rig to move one you usually can't just hitch it to your truck, many tiny homes you can move even with a average car!

Also mobile homes are notorious for not being built with very good materials-lots of particle board and such. People building their own tiny homes often use salvaged GOOD materials, real hard wood flooring from another home that was being torn down or renovated. Nice solid cabinets that either you custom make, or again can salvage vintage awesome quality ones that used to be made, and so on.

It is far different then reinventing the wheel, it's like comparing apples and oranges. These are two VERY different animals.

 

[Gazrok]

I'm talking more about how other small quarters living spaces utilize space. Can look to those for ideas...such as how a bed flips to become a table, or the use of lots and lots of cabinets, bathroom solutions, kitchen solutions, power solutions, etc.

 

[Silent Earth]

Converted Iso shipping containers converted into residences are becoming popular in the UK / EU. Some are single container conversions others two or three to create one home. But in some cities dozens are assembled to make container apartment blocks. Plus quite a few old school survivalists are still burying containers as underground retreats.

 

[PrairieWife]

oh yes that is very very true! You can get a lot of ideas, especially off our campers! lol

I thought you meant why not just buy a trailer home instead of making a tiny home. I gotchya now!

 

[bubbadreier]

I would love to build a tiny home! I have been looking at this one for quite awhile now... mind you not so nice looking.

 

[carhugger_prep]

I would love to build a tiny home! I have been looking at this one for quite awhile now... mind you not so nice looking.

That is a cool design but not for me the bed area is to claustrophobia for me and the bathroom are is weird to me.