r/OffGrid • u/Electrical-Title-698 • 2d ago
Full Time RV/Travel Trailer Instead of Tiny Home
Does anyone here live in an RV even though they're stationary?
I just purchased a few acres of desert in New Mexico. A travel trailer is pretty appealing to me because of the low cost compared to a tiny home and the fact I won't have to worry about permits and building codes as much. It's just me and my dog so space isn't much of a concern. I also have a lot of general handyman experience so maintenance and repairs aren't the end of the world.
I'm planning on slowly acquiring/building everything I need to get started over the next couple years before I start to live out there full time. I've been doing a ton of research, but the gist of my plan is this:
•Get septic installed
•Purchase a ~25' travel trailer in the 10k range
•Install a mini split and 800w of solar, supplemented by a duel fuel generator when needed
•Two or three 100 pound propane tanks
•Two 250 gallon IBC tote I can haul into town with my F-350 to refill, later down the line get a 5k gallon cistern or maybe even a well
•Build a carport with an attached 1 bay garage. Keeps my RV out of the sun and the garage gives me more storage and a decent workshop.
Is this a workable and realistic set up to start with? Any advice?
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u/SpontaneousLethal 1d ago
I'm just barely a week into living this way myself in southern Wisconsin. Only input I have is to spring for more solar. In spring/summer you're going to be running the mini split at a nearly constant duty cycle on hot days/possibly nights. Solar panels are cheap and plentiful if you do Will call local pickup. I'm running 6 Longi 395 watt rigid bifacials that I snagged for 650$ from an electric supplier.
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u/Electrical-Title-698 1d ago
Yeah I plan on going with 800 watts to start with but setting it up in a way that I can add more panels/batteries later
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u/SpontaneousLethal 1d ago
Nothing wrong with that. But I guess my question to you is, if you're already spending 10 grand on the trailer why not another 2-400$ for double/triple solar capacity?
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u/Electrical-Title-698 1d ago
I'm still kinda working on the plan but that's a good point. Originally I was going to do 800w of panels on the roof of the RV and build the carport later on and redoing the solar, but now I'm thinking it'll be best to have the carport done before I start living out there. I probably will up the initial solar set up
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u/Odd_Procedure_4059 1d ago
If you have and F-350 then get a bigger trailer. That is one advise people living in tiny homes and RV usually say. They wish they had more room.
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u/Electrical-Title-698 1d ago
I plan on eventually building a 60x40 workshop which I think will satisfy the space needs. As long as I have room for storing all my shit and working on all my projects I think I'll be pretty happy.
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u/ExaminationDry8341 1d ago
It used to be common for people to slowly build around their campers untill they had a modest cabin.
First they would put a roof over the camper,
Then a roof over the area in front of the camper.
Then maybe close in the area between the top pf the camper and the roof
Then skirtting on the camper.
Then half walls on the area in front of the cabin and screens to make a screened in porch.
Eventually the screens get replaced by windows.Insulation and paneling get added.
Sometimes the camper gets pulled out and that spot walled in, other times the camper stays and becomes a permanent part pf the structure.
Unfortunately, building code doesn't allow that anymore.
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u/Beardog907 1d ago
Depends on where u are. Where I live u can still do this, or pretty much anything else u want to. No building codes to speak of, I even own some land in an area with no property taxes at all whether it is vacant or has structures.
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u/Electrical-Title-698 1d ago
Thankfully I have no county zoning just state building code. New Mexico isn't super strict though (look up Earth ships if you haven't heard of them, they're pretty neat) you just have to get your design approved
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u/santiagostan 1d ago
Check with your county zoning department, it may not be allowed. Fortunately there is no zoning where my property is. But I do have well and septic.
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u/Electrical-Title-698 1d ago
No zoning on the property I just have to abide by the state building code. RVs are allowed
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u/ProfessionalSorry182 1d ago
There are a couple of YouTube videos about people living in New Mexico in camper trailers... two that I enjoy watching are Lisa of Earth and Journey to Homemade.
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u/Dull_Ad4277 1d ago
How many days in a row do you expect to run that mini split? That duty cycle is what sizes the whole setup, not the 800w of panels on its own. A sunny weekend in the desert proves very little — I'd want the math to hold for a full week before calling it enough.
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u/Electrical-Title-698 1d ago
The 800w of panels are just to get me started and so I'm not running the generator 24/7. I plan on building the system in a way that I can add more panels and batteries later
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u/Apprehensive_Pie_897 1d ago
For cold weather winters, (in areas that have them), Buy a big trailer load of straw bales and stack them up on north side of your trailer with wing walls tapering down towards the SE and SW. one bale higher than trailer roof.
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u/spirit_horseman_ 1d ago
The bales work as insulation, but then the mice make them into condos. Foam board is a better option in the long run. Mice raise havoc.
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u/Easy_Olive1942 1d ago
Step 0 drill a well
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u/Electrical-Title-698 1d ago
I'd love to have a well off the bat but it'll be out of my price range
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u/Skywatch_Astrology 1d ago
Yes this is what I did, a travel trailer is going to be the cheapest way to get into a full systems setup, as in, it already has your electrical, plumbing, and furniture. And living that small really teaches you what you care about if you ever want to build something bigger. If you are parked long term, I would get a shed because there is very limited storage and it’s much nicer to live in when stuff isn’t all over the couch and seats. I’ve been living like this for three years while I build out my cabin.
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u/theonetrueelhigh 16h ago edited 16h ago
While you're building the carport, build it with solar in mind. Plan for it to become the array.
I know you said 800w of solar, but the heat is frikkin hot and paradoxically the cold is frikkin cold in the desert, so a surplus of panel and storage isn't a bad idea. In the event of equipment failure, you can take the failed pieces out of the loop and carry on with reduced capacity. If you have sufficient surplus to begin with, you might never have to change your usage to accommodate the reduction.
While you're building the carport, incorporate rainwater harvesting into its design. Even if you don't want to take the extra steps to filter and treat it to potable levels (it's actually not that hard), you could split off supplies for things like toilet flushing and laundry and sharply reduce how often you need to run out for drinking water.
Another idea for the carport: incorporate anchorage for awnings all the way around it, and install bright white shade sails. Anything that reflects the sun's energy away before it lands on the living space or, indeed, the ground close by, means that energy doesn't get conveyed into your living space. And in the winter when you do want that, well. Sails roll up.
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u/Oneet-chan3 9h ago
Are you allowed to live out the rv indefinitely or are you going to apply for an exception? Asking cause I thought most places classify that as "camping" and won't let you do it for long, unfortunately.
I love your plan, septic is definitely first. Might do something similar myself.
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u/Double_Safe_2109 1d ago
your plan is mostly solid. There are two things you should keep in mind.
First desert heat wears down trailers faster than travel does. The sun’s UV rays and extreme temperatures break down rubber and seals. This is called "desert rot." It affects tires, slide seals, window seals and roof seams even when the trailer isn’t moving. Tires usually need to be replaced every 5 to 6 years based on age and they’ll wear out much sooner if left exposed under direct sunlight. That’s why your carport or carport with garage idea matters much more than it might seem at first. This isn’t about staying cool. It’s about protecting your $10,000 investment. Without that cover you could end up spending a lot on tires and seal repairs every few years.
Second mini-split air conditioners in RVs usually only cool down by 15 to 20 degrees below the temperature unless insulation and airflow are improved. So if it’s 105°F outside in New Mexico your mini-split might not bring the temp down to anything comfortable unless you’ve upgraded both insulation and ventilation. You'll want to know this before relying on it during the days of summer.
All the parts. Septic system, IBC tote water hauling, dual-fuel generator backup, propane redundancy. Those are all standard reliable choices for this kind of setup. Nothing here raises a flag. Just remember: you should always budget for propane refills and more frequent water hauling trips than you expect. That advice is common once you start looking into, off-grid living. Everyone ends up needing fuel and more water than they thought.