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This Cargo Trailer Converted to Homey, Cozy, Off-Grid RV is a guest post by Elizabeth Kelch
One trend in the tiny living movement is converted cargo trailers. The advantages to this are;
- they’re lighter weight,
- more easily mobile,
- and can often be used for free by ‘stealth camping’.
I recently got the guts to take the leap and I bought a 7×12 insulated cargo trailer and converted it to an off-grid micro RV. My tiny RV is designed for one person, maybe a couple, because I wanted to keep it very simple and lightweight but there’s no reason I couldn’t apply the same principles to an 8×20 trailer.
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Woman Converts Cargo Trailer into Off-Grid RV for $7k
I encourage you to read the rest of my story (including how much this cost me) and tour the rest of my DIY cargo trailer micro camper below:
My dream started years ago when my kids were little and I wanted to take them traveling. I wanted plenty of outdoor living and the convenience of an RV to be able to head out on the spur of the moment.
Back then my idea was a campground and lots of outdoor living but now I want to travel to urban and rural environments. As time went on I wondered why I had to pay for a campground. If I’m respectful and polite and don’t infringe on the rights of those around me, why can’t I live wherever and however I want?
My 7’x12′ Insulated Cargo Trailer ‘Before’ Shot
One of my problems with traditional RVs is the dark, closed in space. What I like about my cargo trailer is that it has a large ramp door on the back which, in this case, becomes opening a wall of your home and invites the outdoors in.
I open my ramp door and prop the end on my jacks so that it becomes level and I enjoy the slightly elevated patio. It’s one of my favorite features.
The ‘After’ Shot of my Cargo Trailer After Converting it to Home
The process took $7,000 and about a month of time. I parked my trailer in the driveway and- with the help of my very supportive fella- worked on it out of the garage. We kept it very simple starting with painting the plywood walls and insulating the underside. Next, we added the kitchen. It’s a used countertop and sink on two stock cabinets. And I use an RV pump handle faucet to maintain mindfulness of my water usage. The bed is a mattress on plywood with storage in milk crates underneath. This system offers tons of storage space.
The Micro Kitchen
Simple Gravity Plumbing and Water Storage w/ Hand Pump
How some of my other daily living needs are met:
- Plumbing – I have a 5-gallon tank/bucket and a 5-gallon gray water tank/bucket under my sink (you can see it above). At the moment I have to obviously fill my 5 gallon supply bucket by hand but an addition I’d like for the future is a rainwater catchment system and a Berkey Gravity Water Filter.
- Cooking – I have a solar oven and propane stove.
- Electricity – I have Goal Zero’s Yeti 1250 Kit with panels mounted on the roof.
- Toilet – For now I have a chemical port-a-potty. Soon I’ll have a composting toilet with a sawdust bucket under a wooden box disguised as a seat.
- Shower – Yet to be added, I’ll have a solar shower bag hanging outside with brackets for a privacy curtain mounted on the outside of the trailer. Or I may just use a commercially available shower tent. This will be great in a warm rural environment but I happen to be retired military and will want to use the gym anyway so I’ll shower at the nearest military base.
- Heating – Propane fueled space heater.
- Cooling – Fans.
Life is a Journey Not a Destination
The saying, “life is a journey not a destination,” certainly applies to this adventure for me. I even like to think about how this might be useful for people with unstable housing situations. There’s a whole community of people who could be served by off-grid living. This RV and the journey that it is are new to me. I continue to have ideas and read articles about ideas for improvements. I have lots of big plans, like the water catchment system I mentioned above, in my head for continued improvements and look forward to the journey.
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Elizabeth, thank you so much for sharing your story with us! If you have your own story to share submit it here.
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Alex
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