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Off-grid cabin discussion

Another vote for Garimin inreach. You can choose you plan, but I think I pay $25/month for 40 messages. You also get unlimited "preset" messages that you can set ahead of time and send from the device.
 
redneckengineered said:
There's definitely no secret to it. Lot of time and looking. My wife is a realtor that specializes in unique properties if you need any help. She's licensed in GA and TN. Little backstory to this property for those that care. It has been in the family for almost 40 years. My Dad grew up in the Poconos and when he moved to TN as a young man for work he set out on a mission to find a piece of property to satisfy his need to be in the mountains. He looked at a ton of crap before stumbling on the place we have now. There was a cabin on it (I use the term cabin loosely) and we used it as a weekend getaway up until I was about 6 or 7. He eventually knocked it down to build what you see now which has been there for about 33 years now. Dad always had his own way of doing things and is adverse to any sort of change but he is almost 80 and doesn't use the place like he used to. So I am starting to put my own little touches on things and looking at where we can upgrade hence the thread. I really do like the idea of adding some solar capacity. We have a 500 gallon LP tank now, it powers the generator, refrigerator, stove, water heater, and there are propane lights throughout. We get a year or so out of a tank. Changing the propane sconces out to LED would definitely be a nice upgrade. The cabin is heated with an old pot belly wood stove and it puts out all the heat you'll ever need. There is a propane wall mounted heater but we have never needed it. Dad insulated the hell out of the place when he built it, having come from up North.
Click to expand...

Care to send me your wife's realtor info? We're looking in those areas. Eastern TN is kinda what we're narrowing down to.
 
PM sent.

The ram pump thing is very cool. Just got done watching some youtube videos on it. In the old cabin before we had a well drilled we had a similar setup because one of the creeks comes down a pretty steep ridge so you get a good flow. But the well we had drilled eliminated the need for that. The generator kicking on every once in awhile to refill the pressure vessel is a minor annoyance. It is very quiet. If anything a good solar setup would take things to the next level.
 
Solar or water wheel I highly recommend Victron equipment. Has logging and remote monitoring capability.
https://www.amazon.com/Victron-Smar...er-Bluetooth/dp/B075NQQRPD?tag=91812054244-20

Solar system is eligible for %22 tax credit on the entire system + install.... So if you a DIY'er it would likely be free depending on how sharp your pencil is.

InReach is pretty sweat for satellite texting. I watched a thread on ADVrider where a Solo guy went down in Baja, broken leg and used a InReach to get a bambalence and get saved, I was sold after that. Spot is the same I think without the GPS interface.
 
redneckengineered said:
PM sent.

The ram pump thing is very cool. Just got done watching some youtube videos on it. In the old cabin before we had a well drilled we had a similar setup because one of the creeks comes down a pretty steep ridge so you get a good flow. But the well we had drilled eliminated the need for that. The generator kicking on every once in awhile to refill the pressure vessel is a minor annoyance. It is very quiet. If anything a good solar setup would take things to the next level.
Click to expand...

is there a better location on the property for more sunlight that is close enough to make a little solar farm?
 
Back in my day, saying 'Off-grid cabin' was an oxymoron.

Also that's not a cabin, it's a cottage, and it is the Mall Jeep of cottages. In my book you don't get to say 'cabin' when you have a cute little stone house on your second property. You can buy your way into that horseshit but since I don't need your tip or consideration, I'll do you the favor of informing you that so far, you are a complete poser.

Look, you have a nice little second house with all kinds of neat gadgets. That's a spending hobby. You have too much money and you need to spend it on things that entertain you. What I don't like is you could have done that shit at home with RC cars or maybe your SBC A-model. Why did you have to take up woods space from a rightful and deserving Outdoorsman such as myself and many, many other people that I know?

The only upshot of your type is that when your credit card can't buy your way out of trouble with that starving Survivor, your stores of food, gadgets, and ammunition will make nice additions to my stockpile after all you prepper and off-grid people are dead.
 
evernoob said:
Back in my day, saying 'Off-grid cabin' was an oxymoron.

Also that's not a cabin, it's a cottage, and it is the Mall Jeep of cottages. In my book you don't get to say 'cabin' when you have a cute little stone house on your second property. You can buy your way into that horseshit but since I don't need your tip or consideration, I'll do you the favor of informing you that so far, you are a complete poser.

Look, you have a nice little second house with all kinds of neat gadgets. That's a spending hobby. You have too much money and you need to spend it on things that entertain you. What I don't like is you could have done that shit at home with RC cars or maybe your SBC A-model. Why did you have to take up woods space from a rightful and deserving Outdoorsman such as myself and many, many other people that I know?

The only upshot of your type is that when your credit card can't buy your way out of trouble with that starving Survivor, your stores of food, gadgets, and ammunition will make nice additions to my stockpile after all you prepper and off-grid people are dead.
Click to expand...

Meds wore off again :flipoff:
 
Well I’m glad that everyone will now be talking about the boob in this thread instead of the cabin.:rolleyes:

So for you peeps out there...

What would be the monitory cut off point for you when it comes to paying to hook up to the grid?

example: cost of off grid stuff > cost of grid hook up + ten years
 
cj3a said:
Again what the fuck evernoob. Do you and jimmy numbers drink the same water?
Click to expand...

I see a trend with Evernoob. He is very jealous of people that seem to be doing better than him financially and lacks the impulse control (or gets too drunk) to stifle it. It’s too bad, he makes sense fairly often and has some interesting points.
 
Beautiful spot, extremely jel of that water feature.
I am looking from a different angle. On the grid now and working towards not being dependent on the .gov. Not totally disconnecting, Solar energy can be sold back to the power company around here. Solar never seems to catch up with itself, expensive panels obsolesce quickly, shady companies financing installations with a second mortgage.
Geotherm and heatpumps look pretty cool. We had a neighbor that had 4 of the small wind turbines, one mounted on each corner of a shed, batteries and controllers in the shed. Those thing were annoyingly loud even at a mild breeze.
So far I have only managed to install a well.:homer:
 
Mr Stubs said:
Well I’m glad that everyone will now be talking about the boob in this thread instead of the cabin.:rolleyes:

So for you peeps out there...

What would be the monitory cut off point for you when it comes to paying to hook up to the grid?

example: cost of off grid stuff > cost of grid hook up + ten years
Click to expand...

Too me the biggest part is how far do you have to run power? Shit is fucking $$$. I would honestly lean more on the water wheel and solar idea. I am toying with water power in my head for my place currently. Have 3 full time creeks.
 
Mr Stubs said:
Well I’m glad that everyone will now be talking about the boob in this thread instead of the cabin.:rolleyes:

So for you peeps out there...

What would be the monitory cut off point for you when it comes to paying to hook up to the grid?

example: cost of off grid stuff > cost of grid hook up + ten years
Click to expand...

I think it really shines when you're doing it pay as you go, and living in a camper or something

solar is becoming more cost effective than it was, better panels and batteries, then more efficient leds and air conditioners/ refrigerators making it easier to stay off grid

the bigger idea on cost effective off grid, imo, is buying cheap land without power access, that also likely is in an area where you can build without permits and high taxes, thus being able to live cheap

it wouldn't make much sense to build a permitted, highly taxed house on expensive land using solar, when you can see powerlines from your porch
 
Projectjunkie said:
it wouldn't make much sense to build a permitted, highly taxed house on expensive land using solar, when you can see powerlines from your porch
Click to expand...
I totally agree. I ask because I think about it all the time with my future build. The area that I would like to build is in the center of a 40 acre square parcel, with power being at the edge of the property line.

I am always thinking what the tipping point cost wise is to go off in comparison to staying on grid.
 
evernoob said:
Back in my day, saying 'Off-grid cabin' was an oxymoron.

Also that's not a cabin, it's a cottage, and it is the Mall Jeep of cottages. In my book you don't get to say 'cabin' when you have a cute little stone house on your second property. You can buy your way into that horseshit but since I don't need your tip or consideration, I'll do you the favor of informing you that so far, you are a complete poser.

Look, you have a nice little second house with all kinds of neat gadgets. That's a spending hobby. You have too much money and you need to spend it on things that entertain you. What I don't like is you could have done that shit at home with RC cars or maybe your SBC A-model. Why did you have to take up woods space from a rightful and deserving Outdoorsman such as myself and many, many other people that I know?

The only upshot of your type is that when your credit card can't buy your way out of trouble with that starving Survivor, your stores of food, gadgets, and ammunition will make nice additions to my stockpile after all you prepper and off-grid people are dead.
Click to expand...

You realize the shit is not going to actually hit the fan, right?

As for the rest of your chickenshit diatribe, the roman cottage is kind of the early western 'off grid' crib, so, you aren't just a dick, you are wrong too.

I dig the water wheel, I'd love to have something like that. The whole thread by the OP is just really cool. My son is thinking of going up to Alaska and doing a cabin etc. If he does, I'll retire and we'll go up and help him build it and get set up. I built a cabin in the 90's in northern new mexico, and I built a bunch of barns in western colorado when I lived there... I've been remodeling our family cabin for a few summers and so, I just really appreciate the craftsmanship of this stuff... and man, if you can put some money in on good parts and pieces, that is fantastic. That place looks like a complete blast!
 
redneckengineered said:
Eastern TN Appalachians.




There's definitely no secret to it. Lot of time and looking. My wife is a realtor that specializes in unique properties if you need any help. She's licensed in GA and TN. Little backstory to this property for those that care. It has been in the family for almost 40 years. My Dad grew up in the Poconos and when he moved to TN as a young man for work he set out on a mission to find a piece of property to satisfy his need to be in the mountains. He looked at a ton of crap before stumbling on the place we have now. There was a cabin on it (I use the term cabin loosely) and we used it as a weekend getaway up until I was about 6 or 7. He eventually knocked it down to build what you see now which has been there for about 33 years now. Dad always had his own way of doing things and is adverse to any sort of change but he is almost 80 and doesn't use the place like he used to. So I am starting to put my own little touches on things and looking at where we can upgrade hence the thread. I really do like the idea of adding some solar capacity. We have a 500 gallon LP tank now, it powers the generator, refrigerator, stove, water heater, and there are propane lights throughout. We get a year or so out of a tank. Changing the propane sconces out to LED would definitely be a nice upgrade. The cabin is heated with an old pot belly wood stove and it puts out all the heat you'll ever need. There is a propane wall mounted heater but we have never needed it. Dad insulated the hell out of the place when he built it, having come from up North.





The cabin faces west. You lose the sunset quick. It rises behind a ridge, then you have direct sun for a few hours then it quickly disappears behind another ridge. Thanks for the advice, I do think adding legitimate solar capability would be a real upgrade. The place works amazingly though for what it is, you barely realize you are off grid. If you do need power the entire cabin is fully wired like a home so you can turn the gen to manual run and plug in a vacuum, microwave some food, run a hair dryer, whatever. And it has been near maintenance free for 33 years. Probably hitting a gnat with a sledgehammer but it is fun to consider changes.
Click to expand...


Woah, cool history, to go along with saying I’ve been there way back in the day tagging along with Pearson. :flipoff2:

I don’t have off-grid knowledge, but I can say from watching solar everyday for work, the production out of a cloudy day vs clear sky can be decent. Having a somewhat narrow window to sunlight, setting up a little array to aim in that direction and it’ll ramp up and down quickly. Then a matter of the calculations of Usage Frequency, Usage Peak, Storage, and Generation.
 
DMG said:
I see a trend with Evernoob. He is very jealous of people that seem to be doing better than him financially and lacks the impulse control (or gets too drunk) to stifle it. It’s too bad, he makes sense fairly often and has some interesting points.
Click to expand...

I mean look, human minds are going to make patterns of behavior. My point is always this: I don't talk in the majority of threads. If your hypothesis was correct, then I should be in all the spending threads doing what I'm doing here.

My underlying point here is that Prepping and 'off-grid' is a fad and an industry. It's a spending hobby for 90% of the people involved. I would like to have that spending hobby but I'd like to have a bunch of others too, mainly an off-road vehicle to GTFO, hence the site. It would be more consistent that my bitch is personal economics if I was attacking that all of the time. So far my 'contribution' to tech on this site is to point out that there has been discussion about TBI on dual-plane intake manifolds designed for streetable carburetion. That's it. In a thread which contains a street/trail-head vehicle which is as close to poser as this demographic allows. Yes, the bar here is roughly that the off-road capabilities advertised by the aesthetics match the mechanical capabilities of the vehicle.

Still, strictly speaking, that truck is actually a 'poser' truck. I hope to god it's not intended for what is considered trial damage around here! So I should be attacking that.

OTOH, I have been building a narrative about how Guns 'n' Ammo, prepping, survivalism, and local Militiaism are bad because it distracts from the first available option, civic power. I have been absolutely unremitting in my position. Rag on the 'spending hobby' preppers, encourage local direct political action.

It's my job to not reply to your accusation directly, but I will because you're ignoring the immediate and shortest-path cause, which I've stated above.
 
gladman said:
You realize the shit is not going to actually hit the fan, right?

As for the rest of your chickenshit diatribe, the roman cottage is kind of the early western 'off grid' crib, so, you aren't just a dick, you are wrong too.

I dig the water wheel, I'd love to have something like that. The whole thread by the OP is just really cool. My son is thinking of going up to Alaska and doing a cabin etc. If he does, I'll retire and we'll go up and help him build it and get set up. I built a cabin in the 90's in northern new mexico, and I built a bunch of barns in western colorado when I lived there... I've been remodeling our family cabin for a few summers and so, I just really appreciate the craftsmanship of this stuff... and man, if you can put some money in on good parts and pieces, that is fantastic. That place looks like a complete blast!
Click to expand...

No, I don't realize that. That's my point.

If the issue is Civil conflict, then why aren't people spending money on creating political action networks coast-to-coast? Instead of thousands of more rounds of ammunition and more personal conveniences in your off-grid vacay home?

I also don't post on all the threads. I've established a place here: You don't get to play "I'm a civil conflict guy" without due diligence.

That due diligence is years, probably decades, of sitting down outside State Capitols singing Kuymbaya and getting pepper-sprayed in the face. Any type of 'civil conflict' which happens without that first is nothing more than aggression, and I don't want that.

If we do have a conflict, I'd like people to be lining up to act like we tried everything first, because we had. It is the right of the People to ALTER..... or abolish. ALTER. First. See it says right here:

whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it
Click to expand...

But only after

We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury.
Click to expand...

Ok. Spending the bulk of your political time on Prepping and fashionable cabins is NOT 'redressing in the most humble terms'. It is fantasy and dangerous fantasy.

We have NOT made repeated petitions. We've made one good one so far: occupying the Capitol building.

Because 'we' have the absolute power to get anything we want politically merely by staying home for 30 days, if there is a single instance of real Sedition on our side, we will be wrong forever. I'm not interested in besting the other side in rightness, I'm interested in destroying a good portion of the prison constructed over the last 70 years and moving in another human direction.
 
evernoob said:
No, I don't realize that. That's my point.

If the issue is Civil conflict, then why aren't people spending money on creating political action networks coast-to-coast? Instead of thousands of more rounds of ammunition and more personal conveniences in your off-grid vacay home?

I also don't post on all the threads. I've established a place here: You don't get to play "I'm a civil conflict guy" without due diligence.

That due diligence is years, probably decades, of sitting down outside State Capitols singing Kuymbaya and getting pepper-sprayed in the face. Any type of 'civil conflict' which happens without that first is nothing more than aggression, and I don't want that.

If we do have a conflict, I'd like people to be lining up to act like we tried everything first, because we had. It is the right of the People to ALTER..... or abolish. ALTER. First. See it says right here:



But only after



Ok. Spending the bulk of your political time on Prepping and fashionable cabins is NOT 'redressing in the most humble terms'. It is fantasy and dangerous fantasy.

We have NOT made repeated petitions. We've made one good one so far: occupying the Capitol building.

Because 'we' have the absolute power to get anything we want politically merely by staying home for 30 days, if there is a single instance of real Sedition on our side, we will be wrong forever. I'm not interested in besting the other side in rightness, I'm interested in destroying a good portion of the prison constructed over the last 70 years and moving in another human direction.
Click to expand...

Did you pay your rent last month? What gives you the position to say we? What puts you in the prized spot to decide what others do with their time, money, and efforts?

Go take your meds you fucking nut job.
 
Ted_Kaczynski said:
Did you pay your rent last month? What gives you the position to say we? What puts you in the prized spot to decide what others do with their time, money, and efforts?

Go take your meds you fucking nut job.
Click to expand...

Look at this baby.

?u=https%3A%2F%2Fodditymall.com%2Fincludes%2Fcontent%2Fupload%2Fbabocush-vibrating-baby-pad-6749.gif


Now you'll feel better. You're welcome.
 
evernoob said:
I mean look, human minds are going to make patterns of behavior. My point is always this: I don't talk in the majority of threads. If your hypothesis was correct, then I should be in all the spending threads doing what I'm doing here.

My underlying point here is that Prepping and 'off-grid' is a fad and an industry. It's a spending hobby for 90% of the people involved. I would like to have that spending hobby but I'd like to have a bunch of others too, mainly an off-road vehicle to GTFO, hence the site. It would be more consistent that my bitch is personal economics if I was attacking that all of the time. So far my 'contribution' to tech on this site is to point out that there has been discussion about TBI on dual-plane intake manifolds designed for streetable carburetion. That's it. In a thread which contains a street/trail-head vehicle which is as close to poser as this demographic allows. Yes, the bar here is roughly that the off-road capabilities advertised by the aesthetics match the mechanical capabilities of the vehicle.

Still, strictly speaking, that truck is actually a 'poser' truck. I hope to god it's not intended for what is considered trial damage around here! So I should be attacking that.

OTOH, I have been building a narrative about how Guns 'n' Ammo, prepping, survivalism, and local Militiaism are bad because it distracts from the first available option, civic power. I have been absolutely unremitting in my position. Rag on the 'spending hobby' preppers, encourage local direct political action.

It's my job to not reply to your accusation directly, but I will because you're ignoring the immediate and shortest-path cause, which I've stated above.
Click to expand...

your comments about “rent-seeking behavior” usually can only mean one thing. But I’ll take your word for it.
 
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