So I have been very busy remodeling my RV to live in as I build my log cabin. I have redone the floors, walls and fixed up a lot of broken stuff (it is a 1975 dodge) including some engine work. I wound up ripping out quite a bit of the old fixtures and machinisms that no longer worked, including the fridge, water pump, generator, and many other things.
I did all the labor myself and so far the cost of flooring, et al has been very low. I've spent 700 bucks and that includes a solar panel array/battery/inverter hook up that will provide me with energy and I won't have to use a noisy, ineffecient generator or pay for gas. My next project is hooking up a water tank system. I found something really neat I thought I would pass on. I have a suction bit that hooks on to the end of a drill and conects to two water hoses and can pump water from one tank to the other end. It is simple and so far works well.
My issues will be composting on site (my land is off the grid and I want it that way) and collecting rainwater to purify and use as fresh water (but not for drinking, just to wash and shower in). I have not purchased the land yet or moved but I am only a couple of months away from doing so. I want my RV to be 100% ready before I move onto the land but there is some land clearance/slight grading to be done as well before I can do it.
Anyone have any experience with these two issues? Composting/water collection? I live in Southern California and solar is awesome but rain is so-so where I have found land. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Will
Comments
Rainwater collection
I saw a program on tv a few months ago that illustrated a rainwater collection system built onto the house. The owner of an old suburban house had a new copper gutter system installed and piped the runoff to a cistern. Basically, his roof was his water collector. The cistern was covered and vented for expansion and the input was fitted with a filter and a valve system to prevent backflow. It was also piped for overflow, in this case, if I remember correctly, to the sewer. It was simple but elegant.
I'm not sure but I think it was "This Old House". Maybe you can find it in their programming.
Sounds a lot like the same
Sounds a lot like the same road I'm about to head down. I too plan on rainwater catchment for the off-grid home. Unfortunately, I don't have much roof area on the RV, so a new plan is required. What's the plan? Well, beyond having water brought in (as necessary) I thought about hanging a large tarp to gather water. (a 30'x30' tarp catching just one inch of rain equals 560 gallons. A 40x40 is 1000 gallons per inch!!!) The only other alternative for off-grid is a low volume, solar well pump. As far as filtering, a three stage UV filter is my plan. This will provide clean drinking water.
Septic: What's your plan for the home's septic? I'm considering this to be the first project on my future land. I'm planning a gravity feed drainfield system. This can be used directly with the RV, then later connected to the home. There's also other more exotic systems mentioned on some threads here.
Got no idea about the septic
Got no idea about the septic for watse water. The gravity feed sounds promising, I will have to look into it. There is gonna be a lot of experimenting going on in the meantime. I just have to make sure I have all my ducks in a row to keep the yahoos off my back who will question everything like, What will you do for energy? Watse? Garbage removal? Septic? Water?, etc. I want to have all the knowledge I can at my disposal so I can shut down their gripes in a second.
RE: water in southern California
Hi, Will--
We rebuilt our 1970 motorhome years ago, so we empathize with and applaud you on your adventure with yours.
In reading your post, it sounds like you ought to be able to come up with good solutions to most of your issues... however, water seems like it is going to be problematic. Unless you're going to be living in a part of far-southern Cal which is prone to monsoonal moisture during the summer months, or perhaps if you are in a "June gloom" area which gets a coastal influence, even collecting dew as Rod suggested (Hi, Rod) isn't likely to get you much in the way of usable water, I wouldn't think. Sure, when there IS water, the key is to catch it and preserve it from evaporation, etc. And a good heavy summer storm WILL bring quite a bit of water in a short time, but catching a lot takes planning, and those storms are often few and far between from about April to November most years (unless you're in the monsoonal path.)
I don't have any suggestions, unfortunately, but having some experience with dry-camping (and being VERY water-frugal) in our motorhome and living through southern California summers, I'd guess that this issue is likely to be your most difficult to overcome. So when you're getting those ducks in a row, make sure the "water" duck is at the forefront. It's probably going to take some real ingenuity and frugality to make that one work out. Best of luck on all your plans!
Sara : )
Thanks for the inspiration,
Thanks for the inspiration, Sara. (= It will be tough but I will figure something out. I plan on getting water delivered through Arrowhead/Sparkling/whatever at first or from time to time when I need it. It is actaully pretty cheap as I used to get it delivered to my apt.; like 3 bucks for 5 gallons, not bad really. So I can use that to suppliment. That is all far away from now as I am still looking at land, getting it surveyed, thinking about an offer, etc. Even if I get this parcel it won't be easy to clear the land and do a tiny bit of grading. I plan on doing it all with hand tools, just a weed whacker and a shovel. Not a joke. (;
The RV remodel was tough. That generator must have weighed seven thousand pounds and almost killed me when I ripped it out, rusty bolts and all. Everyting from back in the 70's and before was made of solid steel and iron, jut really heavy and tough to deal with. But I worked that out so it has prepared me for tougher times ahead. Ah, such is life!
Will
Old RVs and handtools
Hello, again, Will--
Yes, the old motorhomes definitely were heavy-duty! I can just imagine you trying to wrangle that old generator out by yourself. The day Jeff and I put on an entire new 25-foot side wall in one piece was an experience, I can tell you! At one point ours had basically no side walls, no rear wall, no roof, and the fiberglass front off, as well. But it WAS one of the projects that did prepare us for building our home a few years later.
As for handtools for your grading, we know you're not kidding. : ) We cleared our building site and dug about 3/4 of our foundation by hand, because we had more time and muscle than money (or sense, some people said!) We only hired the last part dug because we ended up with a time deadline to meet for forming up and pouring the concrete. It was a good workout for us, our kids, and a few intrepid family members! (We did have the grading in-between done professionally, however, because it was a pretty large area.)
Good luck to you. It ought to be quite an adventure! : )
Sara : )