Navigating County Codes Van Life Land Buying Tips 

I love having my home base in the Ozark Mountains in south MO. Maximum freedom here, no codes or permits for anything. Great gun laws, cheap land, low taxes (12.5 acres 40% timber 60% pasture one pond, taxes cost $10.90 per year) and do what I want how I want anytime without asking anyone's permission.

Medical is a big consideration. Before 50, I was very healthy. 18 years later I have had 3 heart procedures and now I have cancer. If your health turns for the worst, being hours away from a hospital can kill you.

I have 2.3 acres in Northern AZ Coconino County. I just put a septic system, very pricy but worth it. No wells here, have to haul water. It's nice to have a place to just sit.

found some cheap acres in a rare southwestern-style 'subdivision' way out in the high desert that has $100/year fee for a community well and gravel road maintenance, all just off a paved road. grid electric is optional but available and no regulations. bought it with and for my kid to live on, and as my summer camp, and as the place i'll end up some day when i'm forced to give up my beloved vanlife, to be close to my kid, when i'll probably build a tiny house. a huge win-win for my kid and for me.

Maybe not black mold, but the fungus Valley Fever is an issue in the deserts of the Southwest. The solution is plant yourself a Desert Willow, Chilopsis linearis, which is a lovely small flowering tree and medicinal anti-fungal herbal plant that is a treatment for Valley Fever. Dogs also get Valley Fever.

Great video guys.. Brian hit on a point that is near & dear to my heart... the importance of having a HOME BASE... so that IF you ever lose your health, or you just get worn out... you can STOP and take a break. It's easy to kid ourselves into thinking that only old people get sick... but I broke my back.. twice. Once at 16 and once at 38. Had I been.. on tbe road.. It would have been a disaster. I was bed ridden for quite a while... numerous times. So I learned early on that for peace of mind alone ...having a home base... no matter how simple... can be a godsend.

Seven years in my trailer and I have to remember to start my generator once a month 900 watts of solar and 3 lithium batteries works great

Wow, 50 gallon septic solution & community well. Terrific!

I did the exact opposite of Brian, in 1980 I turned a raw acre of lava on the Big Island of Hawaii into an off grid organic selfsufficent Paradise, I built house, shop, the whole nine yards. I did lived there for 40 years, then one day, hot, sweaty, mosquito, and fire ant bitten from chain sawing the encroaching thick jungle back, I took a break, eating lunch I come upon Bob's web site and said to my self that's it! screw all this consent maintenance, I'm gonna sell the whole shebang get a truck camper rig, reinvent myself, and call the whole World my front/backyard that I don't have to mow or cut the jungle back yeeehaww! So now @ 82 and have been six years on the road solo full time boon docking only in my endless front and backyards always having an awesome view....Mahalo! Bob mah-man for all your jump start to freedom information.

Just got and installed 10 235watt panels from SanTan Solar for $26 each and $300 shipping. $560 for 2.35kw of power is amazing and they put out 85% of the rated wattage. To find them that cheap I had to watch the site for a few months, but they always have some for $50 a piece.

This was super super informative. Thank you so much for sharing. This was an hour-long and I didn't even notice the time go by it was so fascinating and you both are so enjoyable to listen to. And of course you talked about everything that I exactly want to learn about. Thank you so much for sharing your real world experience.

Regarding septic: Outhouses, including unlined pit latrines, are legal in New Mexico. The state considers outhouses to be a “conventional treatment system”.

When Bob mentioned the Opt Out permits in Cochise County, I believe the acreage range is 4 to 45 acres to get the opt out. I would think the limit is to stop companies from putting up a large building without inspections.

Really enjoyed the livestream. Thanks Bob and Brian. I hope you decide to make livestreams a regular part of the channel again (hint-hint). 👍👍👍👍👍

Bob & Brian, Ive been a nomad for over two years now, and I share your worries that things are going to be more difficult for the next few generations. That said, I found this video to be really inspirational. I'm motivated to set up my own AZ high-country retreat for myself and my family and friends.

Buy land.

As to wind turbines, as mentioned a 60' tower requires a lot of maintenance, which requires some expertise such as adjusting guy lines. Another issue is weather, lighting, high winds or a tornado, those generators and blades aren't cheap. Flat solar is cheaper, easy to maintain and replace a few panels if necessary. Hydro is a dream; constant running water is hard to find or afford.

Homesteading and nomad life has a horseshoe shaped kind of logic that really meshes well. Mostly extreme independence from "normal" life.

You can buy shade sails. They are triangles of various sizes and you can string them together as needed. You don't have to cut your own canvas.

I love that term “community prepper”. I am also consider myself a prepper, but I want no part of squirreling my preps away, ans isolating myself. I live to teach and share my skills, garden, ideas, systems, and other things I have learned. I am involved in the local farmers markets, and believe that particular model of interdependence is vital for community health. My mantra for years has been “healthy, prepared, self reliant communities are safe communities”, and I aim to help support my community as much as I can. ❤❤❤. Love it!

The best place to buy land in Arizona is in southern Arizona, but in bisbee, bisbee, is at 5300 feet and it's more mild then northern Arizona in the winter they have I would say the best climate in Arizona you're around and it's not that expensive

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:00 🤝 Introduction of Brian from "Off Grid Back Country Adventures" and Bob from "Cheap RV Living." Both discuss off-grid living and nomadic lifestyles. 00:42 🚧 Brian highlights the progress he made on his property, emphasizing natural infrastructure. 01:24 🏡 He talks about recent developments, including food production and the establishment of spaces for chickens. 02:06 🏞️ Brian shares his love for living in Northern Arizona and his desire to stay there. 02:35 🤔 Discussion on the pros and cons of buying land versus maintaining a nomadic lifestyle. Highlighting the potential for a combination of both. 03:45 🧐Recent changes in the on-road vibe due to external events have prompted a shift towards seeking land. 04:26 💪 The challenges of continuous camping and the need for a resting place are discussed. 05:08 ❓ A viewer's question about buying land without restrictions, and how to navigate property codes. 06:05 💩 Insights on cost-effective septic solutions. 06:46 🔌 Discussions on electricity through solar power and backup generators. 07:13 💧 Talk about water sources, including community wells. 10:29 🌧️ Advantages and maintenance challenges of rain catchment systems. 12:43 🏔️ Brian's experience with properties in Colorado and the challenges faced there. 15:02 🌳 The joys of rain catchment in Arizona and the challenges in ensuring clean water. 16:38 💭 Another viewer's question on the decision-making process for choosing property locations and setups. 17:05 ☀️ The importance of weather considerations in choosing a location. 18:02 ☔️ Damp environments can lead to mold issues which can be detrimental to health. Quick drying climates, like in Arizona, can mitigate such issues. 18:42 🌲 Consider the elevation when buying land. If you have breathing problems, certain altitudes may not be suitable. 19:10 🌳 Juniper pollen is prevalent in certain areas, which could be an issue for those with allergies. 19:38 🏕️ Before purchasing, camp on potential land to get a feel for the environment, especially nighttime noises and possible disturbances. 21:03 🌞 Settling in one place often means needing more solar power due to increased energy requirements. 23:07 ☀️ Solar panels have become more affordable in recent years. 24:09 💨 Consideration for wind generators is rising, especially when owning land. Getting the wind generator high enough can generate significant power. 25:30 💧 The potential for hydro power (using moving water) can be explored on certain properties. 27:49 🏠 Owning land offers a sense of permanency, safety, and the ability to customize and make improvements to the land. 29:52 🌍 Concerns about climate change and environmental damage make owning a piece of land even more desirable for preparation and sustainability. 33:49 💵 The cost of land can be relatively affordable in certain areas, with the user citing 14 acres in Arizona for $20,500. 35:16 🚧 Zoning and permitting can be hurdles when trying to live permanently in an RV. Considerations like septic systems can add to the complexities. 36:24 🌵 Discussing nuances of county codes in Arizona, emphasizing the need for individual research. 37:19 📜 Apache County might allow opting out of zoning with certain agreements, but always verify current regulations. 38:14 🚫 Apache County essentially has unenforced regulations; many have been there for years without any zoning issues. 39:08 ⚖️ Though there are few regulations now, the situation can change. Understand the risks before settling. 40:25 🌲 Emphasis on the vastness and privacy of land in certain Arizona counties. 41:06 🌄 Highlighting the scenic beauty and appeal of owning parcels on mountain ridges. 42:15 🏜️ Discussion about enforcement (or lack thereof) in Coconino County, especially away from populated centers. 43:37 💰 Details on land prices and permits in Mojave County. 45:13 🌊 Mention of springs and diverse terrains in various parts of Arizona. 46:50 🚐 Recommending that potential buyers drive around Arizona to find the best fit. 47:58 🗺️ Using resources like U.S public lands and Onyx for mapping and land information. 49:10 🌲 Describing the diverse terrains of Williams and nearby regions. 54:36 🔍 Comparing Coconino and Yavapai counties, highlighting differences in regulations and appeal. 55:02 💲 Outlining the speaker's total expenses for his land and setup, emphasizing affordability. 56:12 📡 There were technical difficulties with the live stream due to a Starlink connection issue. 57:20 🛰️ Both hosts mention Starlink, with one of them experiencing connection problems. 59:06 🌐 The guest promotes his channel and website, offering it as a resource for those interested in off-grid living. 59:35 ⚠️ They discuss potential pitfalls when buying land, such as getting stuck with a parcel where living in a van is not permitted. 01:01:10 🌄 The importance of gauging the community vibe and understanding one's own desire for remoteness is highlighted. 01:01:53 🌍 They recommend land.com as a platform to search for land parcels based on specific criteria. 01:02:35 🌲 The correlation between land price and its remoteness is discussed. 01:03:04 🛒 Strategies for managing supplies when living remotely are shared. 01:03:56 🎪 Information about the upcoming RTR event in January is given. 01:05:18 🗓️ Tentative dates for the RTR are discussed, approximating January 8th through the 18th. 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Could you use a bicycle type manual generator during long rain spells? Sit and pedal and recharge your batteries while getting some exercise too.

I am preparing to sell my house and have been thinking about this for a while. Your live stream came at the perfect time! Thank you for the valuable information.

Fun video, thanks!

Love the bubbles!! Now I am definitely going to check out Arizona and visit my long lost desert rat brother… west of Flagstaff! Lol He hauls his water and grows a great deal of his own food… Been out there for decades! I used to think he was nuts, 😂but not now, after watching your video. Thank you so very much.

In Texas west of San Antonio but still in aquifer recharge zones the government is paying people to remove scrub cedar (water hungry trees).

Great interview. I follow you both.

Very good information and refreshingly accurate. One of your best videos Bob, many thanks.

Great vid, thank you

Like Valley Fever 🥵 What wildlife to expect 😮

For myself, looking for land: Make sure not on or near an EPA superfund site, ability of building (or lack of building restrictions), water rights, and mineral rights.... and for me, good medical providers with in hour or 2 from me. *sighs*

Fantastic....informative. not an American but despite that we found it very interesting. God bless America and may peace prevail in this beautiful world .

I’ve been looking for land but I cannot figure out where you guys found this affordable land. Please reply this is my second time asking. I sure would appreciate it ❤I’ve contacted a realtor and they have no idea but again have their own agenda

Thanks for all this information! Awesome!❤

Good info! I never lost you... idk what happened but the feed never interupted !

would love these guys for neighbors- so much knowledge

Watching of grid in Australia cheers

5:47 - I guess the definition of what is "septic" may vary here. For some people, a few, or maybe even many, a septic means all waste water treatment (toilet, shower, sinks). But the 55 gallon drum method really is only a composting toilet, not a full waste water treatment system. And it is an **outdoor** toilet if you have only a trailer parked, or basically an out house. I make this clarification as it was not well clarified in the video that this is not indoor plumbing which one may think of when talking about "septic". So, if one gets a call of nature in the middle of the night, and it is snowing or raining outside... Fun is to be had indeed. 🙂 *Do note*: I have lived in many places with an out house. Even our current house when we moved in only had an out house. And in winter, we kept a snow shovel by the house door in case we needed it to get to the out house. So I am not critiquing an out house, only saying this may needed better clarification what exactly this device entails. Hope this helps. In the end for us on upgrading: We went with a locally approved, fully self contained, aerated sewage treatment plant which takes all our gray and black water from the house (ours required power for the aeration -- we are not off grid, but there are some that do not require power). It was actually cheaper, and smaller, than septic tanks.

Thank you for all your wonderful information.

This is great advice and very helpful. Thank you!

Yes i think owning your own land is smart ... you may be unable to carry on as you are when older. Plus yes grow yoir own food!!! FOR those who dont know. You can cut the base the root end about an inch or 2. Plant the stalk in the dirt i leave the top exposed . Celery green onions cabbage collards lettuce these arethes iknow but sure you can plant onions garlic others too. Its miraculous !!! No seeds sprouting its already ready 👍👍

I love the idea, I've been thinking like that for a while I wanna live off the grid! and I would like to learn how the first Americans did I wanna learn how to make a root cellar to keep food from going bad

I’ve followed both of you for years. Good to see you togethet

REALLY informative/helpful, ty!

Great information - Thank you all.

Thank you!!!😊

this is so helpful!

Thx guys.

Thank u for sharing.

It would be nice to see a giant map of Arizona. As you guys point out the stuff just to suggest it. I have my map out.

Rural Missouri has very few restrictions in the rural counties. Example, Barry, Lawrence, Dallas, Shannon, Douglas county all good rural counties do what you want no issues. Many other good counties, stay away from Springfield (greene county) lots of restrictions there. Plus plenty of good fishing.

Thank you 1000 times❤

So much great information and answers to questions I didn’t know I had. Thank you 🙏

Great livestream!! Soo many of my questions answered 🙌🏼

Good information. Thx

Good ideas!

A geographical happy medium Thinking of wind & solar hybrid units Also, horizontal wind power Have a place partially into the land to hedge against both heat & cold There's CHEAP methods for ground based cooling

Thanks!

Lots of good info. Thanks

Y'all..🎉like the bubbles at the end 😊

Great conversation thank you so much I'm looking to do the same thing you guys are doing easy living off-grid solar power growing food thanks I learned a lot

Tons of information- thanks!

Thanks for the info 😊

Would love to see both of your lands,and know what you are going to do with your land Bob.

Thanks- very informative.

You two together, best of the best! WOW, thanks for all the info Working hard for the land , plan for success end of October, then the work (fun) comes, in the nm desert.

Really great video. I’ve been wanting to buy land here in Arizona and of course I’ve been doing my homework but this video cleared up some things I was wondering about especially concerning zoning enforcement. Thank you guys for sharing your knowledge.

Wow THANK YOU SO MUCH for making this video I have been looking for a long while and need more info. So so helpful all this information. Never thought of Mohave county….. please make more videos on this topic 🙏🏽

I lived in Colorado most of my life, became full time a year ago. I was in AZ most of the last winter. Yes, I can visit Colorado, which I did this summer.

I never lost your stream when you were having that issue. It was never down. And great info..!

Fruitvale Texas has a community well. My bill for water I about 20 per month. Love it out here.

Where are you ? I have enough money to buy a few acres of property, install a septic and even electricity and live the rest of my life in peace without the establishment bleeding my bank account ! I am a 72 year old disabled vet. I just need to be near a VA health facility and I’m set. Can you help me or even steer me in the right direction. I used to be stationed at Ft. Huachuca in the 70’s and I fell in love with Arizona. It’s been 50 years since I’ve been there and I’d love to spend the rest of my life there. Appreciate any help like do you have a good real estate agent to start me off.

Hi Bob and Brian, I've recently retired and am preparing to start my new journey as a nomad and live my best life. Although a little overwhelming, I find watching the many videos has provided useful information, guidance, and support. As part of my journey's plan is to purchase land. My questions: We can't park a van on the land? It has to be an RV? What is Brian's information? Thank you both for taking the time to share your wisdom. Much appreciated 🌻

Awesome video men.

You guys are so so lucky, in my country Scotland doing it right you shouldn't be stopped more than a couple of days at a time ,be their leave it clean because let's face it some people do not leave it clean, and they are the very people that get us all put of these places ,no excuse take your rubbish at least to a bin.

Bob, thank you for your efforts to emphasize planning for the future. I don't mean to disrespect anyone but it seems to me that one of the primary reasons for people finding themselves in a financial hardship situation is lack of planning and yes I'm guilty too. I recently made the transition from six years of full time van and RV living to buying a townhouse and was shocked by how much literally everything associated with home ownership had gone up in six short years. Long story short ... I hated owning the townhouse and sold it 18 months later. I was lucky in that I actually sold the place for 20% more than I paid for it so I felt like I dodged the proverbial bullet of being a distressed homeowner. Now I'm back in my RV full time but definitely planning for the inevitable transition back to being a homeowner one day. I too am looking for land and am very appreciative of all your videos that discuss the subject.

I think most valuable of this episode was DO YOUR HOMEWORK b/4 buying land ... & know yourself & your needs. Curiously all three of these priorities can easily get lost & result in impulse buying with great .. & possibly irreparable.... loss later. Envy the quietness, privacy & beauty you both have on your land.

I love San Tan Solar!!!! They have a store front in Georgia too and Phoenix Arizona. They are awesome!!!

Thanks for the useful info. Hope to pay you a visit sometime towards the autumn if I could

Great advise!

I just bought a container with doors in each end to pit a green house on one end. Plus sagty when I am gone...soo excuted...have followed and. Ommunicated with u both for many yrars...I have 13 acres in SLV and love kisses to Siera and ur boy too Bob.. I live mine as well...lol...Donna

Great information guys, thank you . I'm a new land owner in New Mexico. I would love to get land in Arizona.

Thank you guys for this, I hope to make the RTR in 2024

Bob, thank you for sharing ideas about a home base. As a retiree I would like to hear about your plans if you are too sick to be on the road. Thank you

So informative! Thank you! I had not thought about Arizona, because it looked like desert lands to me. I visited the Grand canyon on a family trip years ago, also Bryce and Zion canyons in south Utah. I lose the beautiful scenery, dry weather and no extreme weather in the Winter or Summer. What can you tell me about lands near St-Georges, Utah. I loved that town. Williams, AZ seems like a nice option. I live in Calgary, Alberta, close to Banff National park, in the Western Canada prairies. The weather is usually dry, though the temperatures can drop a lot in the Winter certain weeks.

Great advice

50 years ago after my tour in Vietnam, I was airbrushing and pin stripping Vans for dealerships... back then you could only get a 2 year loan for a car or van... but you could get up to a 6 year loan for a camper van... that's why those old custom vans had a back window and an ice box fridge and were upholstered inside... it also reflected the insurance costs. So I took my work chevy van, got two rear custom windows, paneled and carpet with 3 inch (Free) wrestling mats underneath... all I had to do was take it to a weigh station and then apply for a new title. I live in Australia and retired here after 9 years with the US Army... I have a teardrop as I have a younger wife so it's weekend trips for us... be safe.

As a Toyota owner and a retired mechanic I kind of knew this is what happened. You really didn’t need to go through too much to diagnose this problem. If the front drive shaft engages in four wheel drive and the front axles turn when the vehicle is rolling then the disconnect is inside the front differential. Since it wasn’t making noise (like grinding gears) then it has to be related to the front differential disconnect that took the place of hub locks long ago. This is a weak part of every 4wd vehicle. If you had a front locker you could have 3 wheel drive. It is a good thing this failed before the spider gears. That is usually what happens when you get a shift contraction from left to right and get wheel hop.

Very interesting video ❤

Hello.. How do you keep your vehicle registered while living on your property without an address?

Our co2 level is very good compared to other areas of the world. Our car pollution is very low. My son was in the army, and while in Europe he bought a used Porsche. Before he could have it shipped to the United States he had to have the fluids drained and the window glass changed out and a different exhaust installed.

Bob is cool, I loved that reaction to the starlink

southern az more to the east is also good for year round temps ......

I think purchasing land is getting more and more popular. For the same reasons, you just want a place that you can call your own @ can store water and grow food. And I don't know, I kinda like an area that does have rain worse. Case scenario, you know, you can always have water.

For retirees, the nine States that don't have a State Income Tax to save you money are: 1) Wyoming 2) Washington State 3) Texas 4) Tennesee 5) South Dakota 6) New Hampshire 7) Nevada 8) Florida 9) Alaska

I bought a little over an acre in arizona. But I need to put a driveway in

Septic system is a great idea nobody knows it’s there if you do it like an extra floor in the backyard. It’s been there for years now.

Extremely helpful video! I have been looking at land in Arizona for a couple years now but weather is important to me and knowing about the rules and regs over county and the fact you need to contact them to do your research is the info I've been looking for. There is tons of land near Kingman as bill stated but I've been Leary because I don't know the weather. I hope to purchase some land in the future and turn it into a noman pit stop of sorts. Like a place to stop and stay a while to charge your stuff, refill water, ride a horse, play in a garden, etc. Thank you and happy trails!

I live off the grid in North Florida , plenty of water , no traffic , the only thing is deal with summer days