Patiently waiting for the next step.

I'm anxious to get started, but it did snow again today. I've vowed to wait on buying the 7' x 18' trailer until after the workshop in May. The best deal seems to be at Freeway Trailers in Fife. Things I have learned I want to avoid include beavertails and tilt beds. A tilt bed wouldn't be horrible, however I don't want to pay for features I don't need. This is something that one salesman wanted to convince me I wouldn't be able to find. Another important feature to look for is a set of four brakes. Some states are comfortable with only two, but we don't want to be limited. Luckily, all the trailers I've looked at come with this standard. It does seem that salesmen want you to think that their trailer is the only one that special. Good times.

Vancouver Workshop

A couple weeks ago I signed us up to go to Jay's Tiny House Building Workshop. For those of you how don't know, he is pretty much the definitive tiny house on wheels guy. So this is pretty exciting. I'm planning on holding off on any large house purchases until after the workshop in May. I wouldn't want to do anything stupid.

Let's Pretend!

My sister helped me put some of my ideas into her Home Design Studio program. This is the rough product that we came up with. These are the screen shots. It has really helped me sort out the rubbish and it all feels a bit more real.

First Floor


Second Floor


View from the front.


The front wall removed.


The house without the front closets.


My favorite view with the three windows.


The kitchen and stove.

Tiny Test Run

These are my digs until my house is built. I'll have lots of time in small confined spaces by the time I move into my loft home. Course I cook and shower in my parent's house that this is parked next to. One of the perks of this place is the built in radio. Definitely something I'd like to repeat.

Step One: Move

Moving isn't always the solution when trying to build a house on wheels. However, in my case living in my parent's trailer means saving money. It also means I can use my father's collection of tools and his brain. I don't know if anyone's told him lately that his knoggen is key to the success of this project... but I just did.

The warmer climate will mean that I can build more then 4 or 5 months.

Showers

I am thankful for showers. They are relaxing, they wake me up, and they keep me from being gross. These are all things I like, but do I need to equip my house with a shower? It is where the volume of the gray water question comes from. Without a shower it would just be dishwater, laundry water, and sponge bath water. Lets think about where I'm parked. RV parks, host houses, campgrounds, pools, gyms, and a host of other places have showers, but when I think what I need, I don't need showers. I waste so much water in a shower. My parents can attest to that. If left unattended, I am in for 15 minutes. Way too much water.


In an effort to wrap my mind around what it would be like to NOT have running water, I read this article. He's all about the baking soda.

Insulation

A company called Bonded Logic makes insulation out of old blue jeans. They shred it and put it back together. Dee Williams used it in her little house and she feels like it's working.



Another place makes "Green Fiber" insulation out of shredded paper.