I lived on an old wooden boat, a 1955 35' Owens, in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle for over ten years. When the marina got sold I got rid of my boat and bought a 17' UHaul for $5,000 with the intention of turning it into a tiny home. That was about two years ago. I've since put at least another $10,000 into it, not counting my labor.
A UHaul turns out to be a great platform for what I'm now calling a Portable Cabin. I've called it everything from a house truck to a tiny house but I've settled on Portable Cabin because it's ended up looking pretty rustic and calling it a cabin lowers the expectations on the bathroom.
A UHaul turns out to be a great platform for what I'm now calling a Portable Cabin. I've called it everything from a house truck to a tiny house but I've settled on Portable Cabin because it's ended up looking pretty rustic and calling it a cabin lowers the expectations on the bathroom.
My Off Grid Portable Cabin
I've got a rain collection system to collect water for my shower and a composting toilet that doesn't require a urine tank.
I removed the roll up door, added a couple feet to the length and mounted a solid mahogany door I got from the ReUse store for $100.
I put up 3/4" foam insulation on the outside and covered it with clapboard which I then painted with white oil based paint.
I had a ton of old, weathered 2x4s and 2x6s which contrast nicely with the painted wood, and I got a lot of cheap cedar fencing planks from Home Depot that I either burned with a torch or stained dark gray.
I've got a rain collection system to collect water for my shower and a composting toilet that doesn't require a urine tank.
I removed the roll up door, added a couple feet to the length and mounted a solid mahogany door I got from the ReUse store for $100.
I put up 3/4" foam insulation on the outside and covered it with clapboard which I then painted with white oil based paint.
I had a ton of old, weathered 2x4s and 2x6s which contrast nicely with the painted wood, and I got a lot of cheap cedar fencing planks from Home Depot that I either burned with a torch or stained dark gray.
The Bathroom
The first and most important project to me was the bathroom. I wanted to be completely off grid, so no matter where I was, I didn't have to rely on anybody else for a hot shower or to use the toilet.
So I made a shower that collects rain water and uses both solar and propane. And a composting toilet that both doesn't smell and is easy to maintain.
I got the shower stall, on demand propane fired hot water heater, 12V water pump, solar system with two 12V deep cycle batteries, and all the lumber and materials for the shower and composting toilet for about $3,000.
The first and most important project to me was the bathroom. I wanted to be completely off grid, so no matter where I was, I didn't have to rely on anybody else for a hot shower or to use the toilet.
So I made a shower that collects rain water and uses both solar and propane. And a composting toilet that both doesn't smell and is easy to maintain.
I got the shower stall, on demand propane fired hot water heater, 12V water pump, solar system with two 12V deep cycle batteries, and all the lumber and materials for the shower and composting toilet for about $3,000.
|
|
Rain lands on the 8'x10' rain collector, goes into the downspout, through a filter and into the water tank. When I want a shower, I just hit a switch at the shower which turns on the electric pump and activates the propane fired hot water heater.
The 12V pump is powered by batteries that are charged by solar panels and the on demand hot water heater uses only about one five gallon tank of propane a year.
The 12V pump is powered by batteries that are charged by solar panels and the on demand hot water heater uses only about one five gallon tank of propane a year.
It took me over a year to perfect my composting toilet. For the first year I had to deal with a urine tank and that's where most of the smell came from.
Then I read that urine has nitrates that are nutrients and if diluted, can be used to grow plants.
My composting toilet uses a urine diverter from Johnny Compost. You sit on it just like a regular toilet. The solids drop down into a compostable bag and the fluids are diverted outside into a flower box. I keep a jug of water for flushing and every time it rains it the urine is diluted even more. I have succulents that are over a year old and they're huge.
I use sawdust and coffee grounds to cover the poo and toilet paper but also swap out bags regularly so there is no odor. The bags can go into a barrel and become compost in 6-12 months or can be put in a double paper bag and thrown in the garbage to become just neutral waste.
Then I read that urine has nitrates that are nutrients and if diluted, can be used to grow plants.
My composting toilet uses a urine diverter from Johnny Compost. You sit on it just like a regular toilet. The solids drop down into a compostable bag and the fluids are diverted outside into a flower box. I keep a jug of water for flushing and every time it rains it the urine is diluted even more. I have succulents that are over a year old and they're huge.
I use sawdust and coffee grounds to cover the poo and toilet paper but also swap out bags regularly so there is no odor. The bags can go into a barrel and become compost in 6-12 months or can be put in a double paper bag and thrown in the garbage to become just neutral waste.
I have more usable living space than I had on my 35' boat. I built a bump out for my sleeping area with a skylight which, along with the two windows, adds a lot of natural light. In the bathroom I have an old style deck prism mounted in the ceiling which not only gives me all the light I need in the day, it also acts like a nightlight.
To the left is the bump out for the bed with skylight. This addition not only allows me to have a full size bed but it gives me a surprising amount of natural light.
The window is 4'x4' and the door has leaded glass.
The window is 4'x4' and the door has leaded glass.