Good News And Bad News For The Off Grid Camper 

Thank you for the prayer. Yes, I think it was meant to be. I never finished moving my stuff from the last place. All my bigger things are still there. Rain water collection system, water tanks, generators, bike generator, camper skirting and other things. I was paying to store it there until spring. Now I am going back to it all.

Yeah, me too. I think that my old place was nice. I was still paying a storage fee there for all my big stuff, so I will just go back to it. I just pray the move goes well. It is sloppy and muddy this time of year for moving a 32 foot camper through the forest.

Thank you. Happy to hear you enjoy my videos. Yes, things will be fine. I am talking to a wrecker service today to plan my move. It must be asap and early in the morning when the ground is frozen. Maybe even Monday already. I hope it goes well. That chimney and fireplace will be the worst of it all. It all needs to come out for the move.

Thank you. My cat and I are fine. She is inside with me all the time. I hand raised her from 3 weeks, so I am over protective of her.

Thank you for the prayers. That is the best you can do and what I need. I will be reunited with all my camper skirting and rain water collection, bike genny, gas genny and more. I was paying storage fees over there due to the winter months making it hard to move it all out. Guess I wasnt meant to move out of the old place, huh.

Thank you. Yes, it is a small change. It will cost me to move the camper, and that hurts, but my old place will be better for this.

Thank you very much for your words. Yes, life is an adventure and I am also very thankful I have full health and strength. I take each day as it comes and try to make things a little bit better than the day before.

This is a standard 32 foot camper with factory insulation. Some parts are actually showing bare sheet metal from the siding because I am still repairing bad water damage. Thats why the camper was free. A cabin would be more insulated. But a cabin costs way more and has requirements and permits from the gov before you can build. A camper can go anywhere.

I have often thought about that, but they require more paperwork, plates, insurance an maintenance to keep up. A camper I can just pull around.

Yes, I have been thinking about that a lot. The problem is I would need to figure out where to put the hoses. Right now they pass conveniently under the living room door, under the dining area (where the original heater ducts were) and into the original heater area. Its perfect how it currently is. I want to do as you say, but the hoses would be in the way, so I need to rethink it all.

Nice info. Thanks. I have a friend who has owned 5 acres for about 15 years now and has still not started his dream cottage. He keeps running into blocks with the permits and local gov. He keeps starting and then is told its not legal. Starts again and hits a brick wall. I keep telling him to just get a camper and live in it. Move it sometimes and be done with the mess.

Hey there my fellow DIYer. I lived this way for four months on 20 acres. I personally loved it. My partner not so much, so ending up back in civilization. Anyway, I wanted to suggest something I did. See if any builders in the area are getting rid of old insulation. I was gifted with enough to skirt two campers. I stapled the insulation to wood I cut to size with the generator, wood stakes or rot iron to stake them in place (found in scrap piles). This kept the heat inside! Hugs & Blessings.

Thank you for the confirmation. Just when you think you know it all, you learn something new, hehe. I will be using a knife switch, I think to go between the battery banks. Later when I have time, I can design some automatic electronic controls

Thank you for the prayers. If you ever need help on your way, contact me.

Yes, actually I have been thinking about getting some heavy duty truck batteries. They have about 200 AH capacity and are rugged. With my Bedini motor I should be able to keep them going indefinitely. A few years back I had some I got for $15 each as scrap. I was restoring them, but my landlady tossed them during a move. Always thought about getting more.

Thank you very much. My biggest concern is the muddy ground. Otherwise, it will be all for the best.

Yes, I do not like moving. Even a camper requires some packing. Especially with all my gear hooked up to it. Things are getting better though, yes.

I asked around until I found an older couple with some land that needed some extra cash. I have 90 acres now for my play ground.

some rigid foam insulation, covered with fabric, covering the windows would warm the place up a lot.

Now that is a great idea. Thank you. I got what I needed for now, but for future use, that will come in handy.

Thank you. Yes, each day I learn something new. And I hope to help others who want to follow this path. Yes, God is providing for me every day. I can see the way things are moving, little blessings here and there. It will all turn out well in the end.

I am fascinated by your videos.You have a very engaging narration style. I think you should have a reality show. I mean it! It's like a saga and I can't wait to see what happens next. Keep up the faith and the good work! Kevin Missouri

That is something I have been thinking about recently. Just that you actually do not get much power out of the peltier generators in real life. The motors they use on the fans are super low power models.

Thank you. Yes, it will be a better place. And I have the freedom there to do what I want unhindered.

Some one may have mentioned this, but I didn't want to search through all the old posts to find out. Have you thought of trying to set your wood fired boiler for thermal circulation? It is possible that if the heater coil and fans were place higher than the boiler, you would not need to run an electric circulating pump, creating a more efficient system.

Thank you. I wonder if a station will ever pick me up. Guess we will see.

also you can use the thermostat out of a old window ac unit to control your fans and pump just put the probe on the top water line at the stove when it gets hot the contacts close and when it cools off the contacts open and you can adjust it :)

Yes, I think that is the way I want to be going with this. When my system expands to more power, I can run parallel relays. The only problem with that (why I have not done it yet) is I am running heavy ga wire through the system but cannot find crimp on connectors large enough to fit the relays and my huge fat wire. I am thinking now about a high amp knife switch instead.

Yes, wood gas is the answer to all our fuel problems. I will be making a wood gas generator soon. Imagine a wood gas quad or motorcycle. Put a trailer behind it and have the pipes run to the carb. I saw a wood gas car once that had a trailer behind it with the wood stove on that. Gave me ideas for mobile wood gas transportation.

Yes, very true. And much more than that. Peace, which I need now during the move.

I do not want stress, so I will move. My old place was nice and I can go back. No problem. I need to drive about 20 miles on roads, but about 1/4 mile or so on forest meadows. If I get it out of here, worst case situation, I park outside the old place until I can get into the forest later, I just hope I can get it out of this place. Its bad out there.

I do not have a working generator, just one I will be using to experiment with later. I will make one with a car alternator. But I also have no gas. That would cost too much to keep going long term The idea here is to live with as little outside connections and fuel as possible. That is why solar power.

Your are in my prayers. I am also on a new journey and living in faith. You might want to consider an 12V auto/truck relay with N/O N/C contacts. A simple toggle switch would be used to energize the coil on the relay,

Thank you. Yes, I agree. I am contacting companies to see if anyone wants to sponsor me and give me a controller. Lets see.

Thank you. I know generally what I want, but thank you for telling me exactly what its called. I will get one.

Thank you. Yeah, me too, I was starting to like this property. I guess it was meant to be.

while you got me on a random thinking spree you can probably find some peltier units at the landfill or junkyard out of old tiny fridges and coolers and run your pump and fans off the heat of the stove

I didn't want to come off as negative- just realistic. You're very resourceful from watching your other video's and I applaud your ingenuity. Keep it up!

Yes, thank you. He is doing so already. I see it every day.

Thank you. Hope you enjoy all the videos.

Yes, it is hard to trust Him always, but that is our flesh. I will keep you in prayer.

wish you good luck on all you do to live off grid. my wife and I are planning to live in a 5th wheel soon and travel, so I'm learning all I can from you and other before we start again good luck.

Thank you for the kind words. I got a laugh out of you saying I am becoming you TV. Well, at least its clean entertainment. hehe. I believe things will be better after the move.

You are looking at it. I decided to do this full time. Live inexpensively and live off the ad income from my websites and videos.

I think that you may benefit from a solar charge controller. I know that you are operating on a budget, but I am as well/ the charge controller preserves batteries by deep pulse charging and shutting down when charged, not overcharging. I am setting up a system too. I will be using 6 volt golf cart batteries, they seem to be beefier. I will be using 24 volts to keep the wires smaller. I really look forward to your videos. Thank you. -Neil

Yes it is. Thank you. I would not want to go back to the city again. It was horrible. And stank.

My family are far away in MIchigan. My friends are not rich theselves. I want to complete the off grid experiments this summer and write a book about it, plus a DVD. I will never again go on grid. Once you switch and have the freedom, why go back?

I would love to but I have six 80 pound batteries. Too much work.

I have the 12s in parallel to increase amps. The 6s are in series to increase volts. They will remain separate battery banks. I want to move, its ok. I will be back with all the rest of my gear I left back there. My life will be easier then.

Yeah, I dont like to use red on +, but I use what I have. Why not use one bank while charging the other? Sounds like the best way to go for me. And I only have two terminals, + and - Where should I make my connections?

Thank you very much. Yes, the Lord is my strength and my source of peace.

Watch my videos. I now have 600 watts of solar and 6 golf cart batteries plus an MPPT solar charge controller. What you see in this video was a start. I lost my job and had to live in the camper. I am still in the camper but doing much better. Yes, it was survival and nothing more. Now I have relative comfort. But it is living, in my book.

Well, it is cold, dirty, hard work - fun. Actually it is an adventure every day. It feels good to be free of the utilities and the money. It is basically freedom and peace.

I appreciate your heart and attitude, you are in my prayers.

You have my prayers my friend, and I ask the same from you... I wish I had a camper or motorhome, I would find some place high in the mountains and disappear until the 2nd Coming! Just a rough day! I will be better tomorrow! God is good,, I just have to trust him!

Straw, lots&lots of straw!Sometimes farmers are kind enough to help others in need.That would help w/ the muddy ground.That&a good freeze. hehe but then you'd be cold.How is your kitty doing?I'm sure he/she is doing fine.I am caregiver to 7+feral cats that stay outside all winter/summer.I do provide warm dry shelter for them by using litter boxes that I cover with comforters, fill w/ sheets,blankets,towels, whatever I can find.I;m on SSDI,but they are God's creatures.I will pray for you&kitty.

if you drive at all I would make a hook up in the truck bed to charge batteries while you drive that's what I do every now and then when there is no sun I just used some old welding cables with a 100 amp fuse and a dead man switch

What's going on Troy? Your in my prayers and sending blessings. Will do what I can to help ~S~

Thank you. I am looking for some. Hope I get lucky.

Thank you. Well, at least life is not boring for me.

Happy to be of help. Thanks.

Nothing I am aware of. Wish I had never left in the first place. But things happen.

Yes, I would like to get some.

Thank you, I have been looking for a good switch.

Thank you very much. I will.

It stinks to move. It's hard to find a place to stay these days. At least you finally have a decent battery bank and a little more solar power. Keep pounding those rocks together. Somethings gotta spark.

I joined your channel some time ago. I have been following your progress. I think you are doing great. You have learned so much, and also have been sharing with your youtube family your exsperience. Please keep your faith that the father sees your hard work and will take care of you and provide . Stay positive.the father is as always in control of his children. Take care

Thank you. I will be happy when its over.

save your pro pain for later you don't need those fans the heat from the stove will circulate the air .put your solar panels on hinges along the top of the outside wall at night then in the day you put them out flat dumping snow is easy then .cook on your heat stove and hook you water system to your hot water heater

Our prayers for another move and not to worry because there's a light at the end of the tunnel. Stay warm, full of faith and the Lord will guide you.

Yes, it does. thank you.

Yes, thank you. I will

Agreed techman 2015. This may sound odd, but check with farmers (that is how I got mine) or isulation companies, window/door companies & Remodeling companies. All good sources. Best Wishes

im gonna watch all your vids, im very creative type also, gotta get one of them wood stoves with the water hookup, keep up the good work and good luck!

listening now. Thank you.

All those things you mention are nice. But I have none of those and have to make due with what I have. And as long as I have peace and feel free from the stress of the world, then thats all that matters, I think.

Keeping you in prayer. Take care of yourself. While the move is daunting, it is probably for he best.

Be comforted that God works all things together for good. I will pray for strength both emotional and physical as you go through with the move. You will have the victory. Keep your videos coming so that we can see how God has worked it out for you.

Thank you.

Yes, very good.

Thanks

Thank you

Yes it is.

well new place is onlz a small change :) I'm glas you got new bateries. That is the best news :) I wish you luck ..You have really high spirit.. I admire you for that

Thank you. I think my trials are about to end. I liked the old place and it will be ok there. I have more freedom there to do anything I want. Its 90 acres of playground all mine because the owners are too old to use it. I try to not be disturbed by all the craziness on the gov. Could make one insane. It seems they say one thing but do the other. I will leave them to their manipulations and improve my own life. Hopefully teaching others as I go. Pls just pray my move goes well.

thanks

Yes, CL

Just found your channel, and your website. Great information! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience. You have probably already covered this in another video, but how did you find the land on which to park your camper?

Troy can you hook up the new batteries with the old ones.?

Yes, true

No, it is not a good idea. They would not perform well together. They will be separate and switched back and forth from charging and running.

have you tried looking for a place to stay at a boarding place , they would have a room for you for free just to clean horse stalls in evening this way not your expense and free living , i give you a lot of credit for living off the grid and the Lord was supplying your needs , praying for you

Hope all goes well. Sorry about your run of bad luck.

Good luck man !!

Thanks for sharing. Love the videos. God Bless

Yep, I was going to say the same thing about the Cabin. I Guess I will look for a Camper. I do like what you are doing. How did you get it free? CL? Going to the other comment.....

I forgot to tell you the other video, if you go the route of normal car batteries do not buy the smaller ones, the 75AH. Buy the _Truck_ batteries the _big ones_ with 110AH+. They are Heavy Duty batteries and they can be deeper discharged up to 65% of their power with no problems to the batteries. The car batteries can not do that deep discharge, it will kill the life time of the battery. Also they obviously are stronger built and will last longer and will make much more recharge cycles.

ill be praying for you man.

I'm glad you have a pet cat his cute.

Have you heard of the fueless generator that is solar charged?I seen it on the Jim Bakker show,its 2,000.oo dollars but is really awesome.Prayers for you brother,wish I had some land you could move on.Blessings!