 Today's RV's (Recreational Vehicles) offer their occupants all the amenities of home, but on a reduced mobile scale. Choosing to live off-grid in an RV requires winterizing procedures, unless your land is located in the far southern portion of the United States where the temperature does not drop below freezing. With the correct supplies and a basic knowledge of carpentry, you can turn your RV into an off-grid home and live without using public utilities.
Check with the county where your lot or land is located. Unfortunately, even in some rural areas, you may not be able to live in a non-traditional mobile home. In addition, some counties will allow you to live in a mobile vehicle for only a short period while you are constructing a permanent home. In most counties, permits are required before installing sewer systems.
Establish your ongoing power, water and sewer needs. Unlike camping, living off-grid in an RV requires the occupants to make arrangements without tying into public utilities. In the north, exterior water storage tanks need the protection of a weatherproof shed. Insulate waterlines that feed the RV's water tank and install heat tape to reduce the chance of freezing.
Generate your own power with solar, wind, propane or by use of a portable generator. RV's consume less power than traditional mobile homes or site-built homes. If your RV uses propane, consider purchasing a large tank to hold enough gas for months of warmth. You must haul fuel to a generator, but you can purchase and store the fuel in smaller quantities.
Winterize your RV. Perhaps the biggest drawback to living off-grid in your RV is the susceptibility of freezing from exposed water and sewer lines. Typically, an RV owner will bleed off water and gas lines before the RV is stored for the winter. However, when you're living in the RV, you must take special precautions to protect yourself from the elements.
Jack up your RV in the desired spot and block it up with concrete or cinder blocks. This reduces the pressure on the tires, protecting them, and it stabilizes the RV, which is necessary when tying into gas and water lines. Jack it up only enough to lift the tires a couple of inches off the ground.
Frame around the bottom of your RV on all sides with treated dimensional lumber and install Styrofoam insulation sheeting, cutting it to fit without spaces. It's imperative to eliminate cold air drafts if you're living where the temperature dips below freezing for any length of time.
Install siding over the sheeting with any type of vinyl or sheet metal to provide an exterior layer of water resistance and increase the insulation factor. Leave one removable panel in your framing in order to access the space beneath the RV.
Plan to haul and dump your sewage or install a septic system in accordance with the county regulations. Since constant dumping requires a nearby dump station, it's usually better to install a septic system that the RV's sewage will drain into with lateral under-surface drains for gray water.
If you're able to do this on your own that's great, but if you're not quite the handy type EnviroCitizen.org suggests you consult a friend or professional that knows their way around this kind of project. |
