Help me understand campers please

[GPintheMitten]

Some places make it illegal to camp more than X days in a row or year. There is a thread on here about the issue another member had. Make sure your local codes allow you to live out of a trailer.

Pshaw. You may be right but I can't see a problem with a weekend here or there. Beyond that he's just storing it there.

 

[tamu94]

Pshaw. You may be right but I can't see a problem with a weekend here or there. Beyond that he's just storing it there.

I hear you but its common in some states. Here is the thread: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/289087-county-says-no-camping-your.html

 

[HCJtractor]

Just checked with codes office. Says I can get a permitted septic system first then apply for a permit to bring power there. Then I can camp. He made it sound as if I do those things, it's not a problem. But even those will cost thousands. And if I build a cabin, I'm sure the property tax will increase. And I still hate to invite tax officials there if I don't have to

That's why I was considering just a self contained camper w/o any hookups or permit, no electricity nor septic (except maybe a home made non permitted collection system on the sly). And yes, I know that's illegal and not "green". But it's better than what we do now, i.e. going in the woods. Frankly in my area, I doubt if anyone would even know nor care. I'm just talking about staying a day or two occasionally not living there. Code enforcement is pretty minimal. (Unless I open that door by requesting a permit)

So let me get this right. I can buy a small camper with propane tanks, water tanks, and sewage tanks and that would allow me to just park it and camp. Propane could heat enough water for a few showers and the batteries could power minimal lighting supplemented with a generator in a pinch. Then I just would have to dump grey water and my sewage as need be. In general, how long can you go between dumps (and I realize that is a "it depends question" but just a guess for normal use for two people with normal sized tanks. Grey water doesn't bother me. But sewage of course would have to be carried away or piped to a septic tank or similar system.

So as much as I would enjoy building a rustic cabin or tiny house, to do this certainly would require me to follow the rules and permit the process. And that I just don't want to do. Nor do I want to camp in a tent. So that leaves either a camper or a mobile shed. And a camper is certainly easier at least short term.

 

[dusty3030]

Potable water tank in them size varies 30 to 50 or more gallons.
Grey water 30 to 50 gallon.
Black water 30 to 50 gallon.

So they hold plenty! You buy black water tank chemicals you can flush down to control odor. The tanks are vented out the roof.

A good deep cycle battery (put an extra battery box and run two parallel to last even longer) will run the lights and blower for the heater. The water pump if you are using the on board water tank and not hooked to an outside source is also 12 V and pressure switched. So if you turn on the sink the pump kicks on, when you turn off the tap it shuts off. Like I said before put one of those solar trickle chargers on it and it should stay pretty well charged all the time.
The microwave and AC will need to be hooked up to outside AC power and for AC you need a generator with some oomph like 5,000 watt or bigger.

Water heaters on them are like 6 or 7 gallon so it is just enough to get wet then turn the water off. Soap down, rinse off. Does the job. They are dual power as well you can run them off propane or electric, your choice.

The fridge is electric or propane. I don't know how much gas it will burn if left lit all the time. I always ran mine off electric other than a few short hunting trips. You don't have to run it off propane you might as well just use a cooler and ice.

Heater is what eats up the gas, but you can always swap tanks easily so not a big deal. Keep a 20 gallon grill tank "back up" in case you run out one weekend then just bring your two main tanks out with you to get filled up before the next trip.

 

[GPintheMitten]

Just a guess but maybe have to dump the blackwater (sewage) a couple times a summer. You can probably find a camping facility reasonably close by go ogling or checking with gas stations in the area

 

[clemsonfor]

You can buy solar chargeing systems at harborfreight really cheap. wont do much in a days charge i guess but running more than one battery parallel it would charge them all week i guess and give you say 3 batteris or so to discharge and you can run a small tv on that if you want so you can watch satellite tv if you have it or just watch movies or she can watch rachel ray or michel and whatever that blonds name is?

 

[kenmac]

I do the same thing you are talking about doing except, I have power and water on my property. I run the grey water on the ground and bring the septic back home and dump in the septic tank. The times I leave the camper at the property, I use 1 of those portable septic things, and dump it at home. I don't know if my slide or furnace blower will operate on 12v DC or not . Never tried it. The fridge will operate on gas 12v or elect. 110v. When at the property, I use 110v. If you take a quick shower you shouldn't run out of H W. I usually have plenty . I also use my gas cook top. I can stay all week in the summer /fall just on the small 20-30 LB propane tanks (usually only use up 1 tank).

 

[HCJtractor]

Awesome. Thanks for all the info

 

[newbury]

Just checked with codes office. Says I can get a permitted septic system first then apply for a permit to bring power there. Then I can camp. He made it sound as if I do those things, it's not a problem. But even those will cost thousands. And if I build a cabin, I'm sure the property tax will increase. And I still hate to invite tax officials there if I don't have to <snip>

Reads like you asked either the wrong question or the wrong official.

Correct me if I'm wrong BUT

You want to be able to drive your trailer - entirely self contained - onto your land and park it. You don't need power, therefore you don't need to get a permit for power, therefore you don't need to get a septic system so you can apply for a permit.

I'm sure if you jump thru all the hoops you can build a 5,000 square foot house, but that's not what your wanting to do.

 

[kenmac]

Just checked with codes office. Says I can get a permitted septic system first then apply for a permit to bring power there. Then I can camp. He made it sound as if I do those things, it's not a problem. But even those will cost thousands. And if I build a cabin, I'm sure the property tax will increase. And I still hate to invite tax officials there if I don't have to

So, you are saying you have to get a permit for power ?? I wouldn't tell them my intentions of camping there.. If you aren't camping then you don't need a permit for a septic system.... Just tell them you just need power for when you go to the property to do some work.... I didn't have to get a permit for power. I just called the power co and had a power co engineer met me at my property and tell me what they required for setting up power on my property. I had to install a 20' pole and run the wire from my breaker box to the top of the pole for them to connect to. I asked if I would have to have a electrician run the wire and install the breaker box. The power co engineer said no. They would inspect the install B-4 they connected power , and if there were any problems with my wiring, or breaker box they would not connect.. I had no problems .So, I paid deposit and got power . Same with water. I paid a deposit , the water co, ran water to water meter. I ran water line from that point. I guess I'm lucky,, I have no codes in the county where my property is located, except for a septic system install