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This is the story of Eric Muss-Barnes and his off-grid Mojave Desert Tiny House on Wheels in Luthorville, California.
Witness the crazy story of how Eric Muss-Barnes, an unemployed computer geek (formerly with Walt Disney Studios) and struggling novelist, risks homelessness by spending most of his life savings to build an off-grid dreamhouse in the middle of nowhere. Having purchased vast acres of the Old West, can Eric find a stable job and create his home, before his money runs out? 2
He built a custom tiny house on a fifth wheel trailer with a unique entryway where Eric can easily mount and tow his motorcycle.
Eric’s Mojave Desert Tiny House on Wheels
Eric’s tiny house is built for the open desert. Here is a look inside, starting with the long, bright main room.
Images © Eric Muss-Barnes via YouTube
The bed sits right beside a large window, so the sleeping area gets a view of the desert hills instead of a blank wall. In a house this narrow, borrowing the outdoors this way makes the room feel bigger.
Across from the bed, a wall-mounted TV sits above rolling fabric drawer towers. Stacked drawers like these are an inexpensive, flexible way to store clothes in a small space without building cabinets.
The kitchen sink sits under a window with a wide desert view, so even washing dishes comes with scenery. A window over the sink also brings in plenty of natural light, which matters when you are living off the grid.
Small details give the plywood cabinetry some character, like these brass lion-head ring pulls. Little touches like this keep a budget-friendly interior from feeling plain.
Up above the window, wire baskets hold pantry goods in plain view. Using the wall and ceiling edge for storage keeps the counters clear in a kitchen with very little floor space.
Riding jackets hang from a simple rail beside a bookshelf, a practical way to give everyday gear a home without taking up floor space. It also shows how closely the house was built around Eric’s motorcycle life.
At the back of the house is a full bathroom with a tub and sink, a real comfort when your nearest neighbor is miles away. Light-colored walls and a window help keep a narrow room from feeling closed in.
A closer look at the bathroom shows the toilet tucked beside a white vanity cabinet and another window for light and ventilation.
Back outside, the front porch is a covered, open-air space built right onto the trailer deck. This is the entryway where Eric can mount and tow his motorcycle, so the porch does double duty as a garage.
The wood-clad entry has a solid door and a small step up from the trailer deck. In the desert, a covered doorway like this gives some welcome shade at the threshold.
Parked on a dirt road at golden hour, the house looks small against the mountains, which gives a sense of just how remote the setting is. Land like this is what makes off-grid living in the Mojave possible.
From the back you can see the ramp and the open, wide-ranging desert around the house. With nothing but scrub and sky nearby, privacy is not a concern.
The white metal siding on one side contrasts with the warm wood of the porch. Light exteriors help reflect the desert sun.
Parked beside a large boulder, the whole rig looks right at home in the landscape. Because it is on wheels, it can be towed to a new spot whenever Eric wants a change of scenery.
To finish, here is the whole house hitched up and ready to roll, with the motorcycle loaded in the front entryway.
Images © Eric Muss-Barnes via YouTube
Video: Tiny House Tour in the Mojave Desert
Eric’s Show: Luthorville
Witness the crazy story of how Eric Muss-Barnes, an unemployed computer geek (formerly with Walt Disney Studios) and struggling novelist, risks homelessness by spending most of his life savings to build an off-grid dreamhouse in the middle of nowhere. Having purchased vast acres of the Old West, can Eric find a stable job and create his home, before his money runs out?
Learn more: http://www.luthorville.com/
Sources
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ov3rswwP0so
- http://www.luthorville.com/
- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOiSu2kWxbG2AZ8lOjGZXPQ
- https://www.youtube.com/user/LuthorvilleCA/videos?sort=dd&view=0&shelf_id=1
Our big thanks to Eric Muss-Barnes for sharing!
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Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alex
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