This is a guest post by Michael Scheer about his two off-grid cabins in Northern Arizona.
My name is Michael and about 5 years ago I wanted an off grid place for vacation and retirement. Like many others I am tired of bills, bills, bills and knew I would never have enough money to retire on unless I became debt free and my home was paid off.
A couple years passed and as things happened I had a friend who went through a divorce (I recently moved out of my ex-girlfriends home 8 months prior) and he needed help monetarily in order to buy a home and asked me to move in. The move cut my rent in half and enabled me along with my bonus check to purchase some land I found in northern Arizona at about 6500 ft elevation. Summers are mild with highs in the low 90’s high 80’s and winters are in the 40’s and 50’s with light snow. I picked up 6 acres for less than $4k.
Months later I decided to put in my first cabin. I bought a 10′ x 18′ cabin shell from Weather King Portable Cabins for approximately $4,200. I put in paneling, bed, couch, small coleman table/sink combo and shelving. I also purchased some solar panels and four 35amp hour batteries for power. I camped out until the cabin was delivered, this was in late May.
I had everything unpacked and was getting ready to work on the cabin when long behold a blizzard hit, my paneling was flying across the land, stuff was getting wet and the temperature went from 75 degrees to 30 degrees in a matter of minutes. Luckily, I have one neighbor (only one) who lives about 100 yards away who came to help, we got everything inside and covered and the learning experience began. Please enjoy, learn more and re-share below. Thank you!
Man Builds Two Off-Grid Cabins in Northern Arizona
Images © Michael Scheer
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This is the story of a young couple who bought a 1993 Ford School Bus and turned it into their rolling tiny home. And for the last 5+ years, they have been living and traveling out of it!
During the conversion, they decided to keep all the windows to have the maximum amount of sunlight in the bus. There are wood floors and wainscoting throughout the bus giving it a bright and open feel. So in the living area, there is plenty of lounging space and white Christmas lights for evening lighting. Very cool! The kitchenette has a stove, microwave, and small refrigerator plus plenty of cabinets. In the bathroom, there is an RV size shower and toilet. I love the pebble stone floor in the bathroom. The bedroom is at the rear of the bus. They left the exit door functioning so they can open it up during the day to enjoy nature wherever they may be at the time. Pretty cool, right? Take a look below and let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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Couple Converts 1993 School Bus into their Makeshift Tiny Home!
Images © On the Road: The REAL American Dream – is alive.
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Here is a guest post by Steve Whelan on his DIY Teardrop Trailer.
It took $2,000 and about 5 months to build part-time. Why build it? I was bored and needed a project! I am an artist as well, “targeting” my work as “Urban Art” with a twist. The military aspects of my work bring on a different feeling of peace. It’s 4′ wide, 8′ long, based on “Big Woody” plans with my customization. It features all the basics to survive. Gas, propane, water
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He Built A Military Style Teardrop Trailer For Only $2,000 USD
Images © Steve Whalen
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This tiny studio cabin is submitted by Dr. Rodney Pygoya Chang – share yours!
This cute studio was just completed (July 2015). It’s designed to be both an art studio as well as guest room detached from the existing residence.
Hopefully the bright colors will stimulate the occupant’s creative juices. The main house has about 2500 sq feet under roof whereas the studio offers just 144 sq. ft. of interior space with an 8’x12′ covered deck. It overlooks the natural rain forest up here at Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The owner actually resides in Honolulu on the main island of Oahu.
The playful bungalow serves as a relaxing alternative to crowded urban living and the hustle and bustle of Honolulu, recently ranked 3rd for the worst traffic in a major American city. Volcano Village itself is nestled in a rain forest that is perched on the slope, close to the top, of active Kilauea Volcano. A devastating eruption is predicted to happen every 500 years. It’s being about 500 years since the last lava spill… So, considering the impending risk, small with its cost containment is good!
144 Sq. Ft. Colorful Studio Cabin in Hawaii
Images © Dr. Rodney Pygoya Chang
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This Triple Axle Trailer For Sale is a guest post by Joe March – submit yours!
NEW: 3 Axle Trailer For Sale
Built by a local welding shop for a tiny house. Wife threatened bodily injury if I built one. It’s 20’ 8” long 8’ wide flat deck.
3’ – Extended pole (for generator, LP tanks, etc)
3 – 3500lb. axles (brakes on all axles) 205-75-r15 radial tires
Pintle hitch (Adj. for height) (Bolt on change to ball if desired)
Frame is 2”x6” Structural tubing, 1/4” wall thickness
Painted black frame – white wheels
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Triple Axle Trailer for Tiny House Construction For Sale
Images © Joe March
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This story is a guest post by Janet Caldwell
Well, have I got a story for you -Rev. Jeff Obafemi Carr, once homeless himself, is living in Nashville’s FIRST micro model home until enough money is raised to build a village of micro-homes for the homeless.
Through the efforts Infinity Fellowship where he is the Lead Minister, Jeff is living in a 60 square foot micro-home and will continue to live there until enough funds are raised to build a “micro-village” for homeless to live in for FREE. This is a crowd-funded GoFundMe page initiative that has raised more than half of the $50,000 needed so far. Jeff has been living there for 26 days now while his wife and five children continue to live in their residence.
Please see media release below, as well as photos attached for more information.
Reverend Living in Micro House to Raise Money for Homeless
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This is a guest post by Trevor Gay @heartofitallhouse – share your tiny house!
Much like everyone else who’s built their own home or Tiny House, it’s a bittersweet feeling to see the project come to completion. So many long nights and weekends of pouring your family, your friends, and your own blood, sweat, and tears into a project– that it finally comes to life.
After nearly 5 years of contemplation between layouts, designs, and even if the lifestyle was right…. We finally found hOMe. I had stumbled across the Morrison’s house and without a doubt, knew immediately that their house was the closest thing to what I had been searching for.
We literally counted down the seconds for the plans to be released on the TinyHouseBuild.com website. My girlfriend at the time (now fiancé) Mary and I sat a table in our local EarthFare to buy the plans. We bought our trailer from the kind family at Tennessee Tiny Homes in October, and started the build 1 week before Christmas 2014.
Heart of It All House: 224 Sq. Ft. Tiny hOMe
Images © HeartofitAllHouse
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This is the story of how a couple took a box truck and turned it into their very own DIY tiny house. I guess you can also just call it a house truck, right?
In the video tour and interview below you’ll get to not only see their entire tiny home but you’ll also get a peek into what it’s like to live simply in a custom built house truck.
When this video was made they’d been living in it for about six months while traveling on the road. Would you ever live tiny in a house truck? Let us know in the comments. And either way please enjoy, learn more, and re-share below. Thank you!
Couple Living Simply in DIY Box Truck Tiny House
Images © LivingBiginaTinyHome
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This 1984 Motorhome to DIY Tiny Ski Chalet is a guest post by Mason Basten – share yours here
I started a project back in Nov 2014. I pulled it out of the shop and unveiled it to the world on Jan 2, 2015. My wife and four children, and myself have been following the tiny house movement for several years now. We purchased a 1984 Toyota Camper with a 22 R cylinder back in 2006.
After, what I thought at the time were some serious renovations, we hit the road, traveling all over the east coast, primarily in the mountains year round. As the years past, our family grew from the two of us to the six of us. In 2013 my wife and I decided it was time to upgrade. So, we purchased a small early 70s pull behind camper trailer. I paid $50 for this trailer and upon returning home my wife referred to it as an Appalachian mobile meth lab (a man of questionable status had been living in it for some years). I immediately went to work tearing it down to the shell, I then framed up four individual bunk cots with custom portholes and dry erase boards, 2 secret storage compartments, ample 12 volt and 1-10 power, ample hanging storage, a large table.
Man Turns 1984 Toyota Motorhome into DIY Tiny Ski Chalet
Images © Mason Basten
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