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Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / turn-key off grid cabin kits? Tiny house on wheels? Need help
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rugercpl
Member
# Posted: 21 Jan 2016 14:55
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I have a 5 acre parcel perfect for an off grid small cabin. I've had my heart set on a Tumbleweed tiny house trailer for some time but I want to explore the option of having a stationary small cabin built too but I don't want to build it myself since I'm not a skilled carpenter, mason, electrician, or much of a plumber. Im looking for something as pre-fab and turn key as possible.

A little background about myself, 3 years ago I purchased a hunting cabin nearby that had no water, no kitchen or sink, no toilet and was powered solely by an oversized and obnoxiously loud gas generator and heated only by a wood stove. Within those 3 years I learned a thing or two about off-grid outfitting and now the cabin has a gravity fed cistern, shower, toilet, sinks, on-demand hot water, solar power, propane heat, and a new more efficient wood stove. I was able to design and install these things with my own two hands but it didn't require much along the way of carpentry, masonry, electrical work. The original cabin was built when I bought it, I just retrofitted it with all these things as most of it was simple to do. That being said, I know a little about things but I am not a builder.

So I am looking for options to have another off grid place with as little building neccesary on my end. I can finish the small details but what I want is something plumbed and wired, and nearly complete as soon as it is dropped off. I'm not crazy about the idea of having to hire a contractor to pour a foundation, but of course I can't do that work myself. I just want something easy, and I know I will have to pay for it. I'm mostly attracted to a Tumbleweed being delivered so I can hook it up to water, connect it to septic, hook it up to solar generator (with generator back-up) and it's all done. If a stationary cabin is the way to go, then I want it to be as pre-fab as possible. The property is in the Catskills in New York State.

Your recommendations appreciated.

rockies
Member
# Posted: 21 Jan 2016 16:29
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Hi. Even if you have a prefab kit dropped off onsite you'll still have to provide a foundation. You don't say what kind you want (slab on grade, pier, etc) but from your comment about not wanting to hire a contractor to pour a foundation I'm guessing you want a pier system (most rural areas can't manage having a huge concrete truck come out anyway).

You could try using a screw pile foundation. They can support a lot of weight and install in a couple of hours. Once they are in you get a certificate for load bearing capabilities and you can build right away (check with your building inspector first).
If you ever have to move the cabin you can unscrew the posts and take them with you.

http://www.technometalpost.com/en-CA/

Check their site to find an installer in your area.

rugercpl
Member
# Posted: 21 Jan 2016 18:19 - Edited by: rugercpl
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those piers look like a solid option to a foundation unless there is a lot of rock where your foundation wants to be. I will definitely need to hire a foundation builder in any case.

My main question is if anyone can recommend a brand of prefab cabins that are nearly turnkey...plumbed, wired, and just needing a foundation, water, and sewer hookup, with electrical options with an off-gridder in mind...or companies similar to Tumbleweed building THOW's...tiny houses on wheels. Thanks

Don_P
Member
# Posted: 21 Jan 2016 20:32
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Sounds more like a park model RV or small modular would fill the bill. If you can get a prefab in you'll be able to get concrete trucks in, usually conventional is conventional for a reason, explore it first.

deercula
Member
# Posted: 22 Jan 2016 00:47
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I am considering one of these. . http://waysidelawnstructures.com/hunter-log-cabin/
http://waysidelawnstructures.com/log-cabins/cabin-accessories/

rockies
Member
# Posted: 22 Jan 2016 19:53
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http://www.cabintek.com/log-cabin-kits-new-york.html
http://bearcreektinyhouses.com/
http://amishbarnco.com/cabins-and-two-story-structures.html

You could try these.

vtbros
Member
# Posted: 23 Jan 2016 10:03
Reply 


Try Jamaica cottage shops in southern Vermont

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