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Small Cabin Forum / Member's Projects and Photos / Can my trailer count as a small cabin?
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gdhillard
Member
# Posted: 5 Dec 2016 17:54
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I am currently fixing up a 1978 Avion 30 footer, and find I have more in common with the small cabin crowd than I do with the RV crowd. I hope my wheels instead of foundation is not a problem here. Current mods have included a small wood stove, the Jotul 602, and a Nature's Head composting toilet. Both are awesome, and help to move me further off the grid. Pictures of the wood stove install and the toilet can be found on the flickr link below. https://www.flickr.com/photos/78810404@N08/

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 5 Dec 2016 18:07 - Edited by: MtnDon
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Quoting: gdhillard
Can my trailer count as a small cabin?


Count, with who? I seriously doubt it can be counted as a cabin if you are having to deal with the typical building permit or zoning dept. Most have specific rules that apply to things that appear to be RV's. The only official answer will come from the local jurisdiction.

DaveBell
Moderator
# Posted: 5 Dec 2016 18:43
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As far as being on and participating with this forum, sure. Many of the points of interest here are also applied to your RV. Like your woodstove, etc. I have an RV out at my property that I use until the cabin is built and have applied heating, toilet, etc. solutions here to it. Be sure to check out the search function here and welcome to the forum.

Just
Member
# Posted: 5 Dec 2016 19:54
Reply 


No bath took it out to make room for wood stove .Solar power , rain water collection ,outhouse ,and fun lots of fun ,wheels are in there somewere..
Wellcome aboard
20160701_102709.jpg
20160701_102709.jpg


toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 5 Dec 2016 20:52
Reply 


Quoting: gdhillard
and find I have more in common with the small cabin crowd than I do with the RV crowd.



In your case, I'd say absolutely! Think of it as a tiny cabin on wheels. You dont have to deal with permits, its an RV. You may have a limit on some areas how long you can stay. But so, its mobile.

bldginsp
Member
# Posted: 6 Dec 2016 16:08
Reply 


RVs are not covered by the building codes, but if you make alterations to the basic design or equipment the building department may take issue. Many wood stove manuals state "not approved for use in an RV". And the composting toilet may not be approved in your area. RVs are supposed to contain the waste and dispose of it elsewhere, or directly to a septic. In my area a lot of people buy a lot, put in a well and septic, park their RV there in summer and have a ball. The county allows them to stay there 4 months a year with such a setup. As others stated above, local rules vary.

But you are allowed to have an RV on your land, if you lay low there may be no problem. It just takes one disgruntled neighbor to call the building dept and complain, then they will investigate, and you will then find out what they think.

silverwaterlady
Member
# Posted: 6 Dec 2016 16:23
Reply 


Sure you can call it whatever you want.
Welcome.
We will be taking a trailer up to our cabin this spring and staying in it because we will be finally finishing the inside and cannot live in the cabin while that is being done.
The enclosed photos are the problem solver to the black water, we will be taking it to town and the rv dump station.
Different sizes to match your holding tank capacity
Different sizes to match your holding tank capacity
image.png
image.png


Gary O
Member
# Posted: 6 Dec 2016 21:25
Reply 


Quoting: gdhillard
I hope my wheels instead of foundation is not a problem here

Have you seen what some of us call cabins?
You jus' come on in, take yer wheels off, sit a spell.
Welcome to the craziness.
Gotta warn ya though, once you git the fever, it don't readily go away.

tfsimmons
Member
# Posted: 7 Dec 2016 12:35
Reply 


gdhillard,
I own mountain property that is not zoned for a cabin, so I have parked a trailer there. I have been welcomed by this fun crowd and have found some great ideas here.
Enjoy!

timcook
Member
# Posted: 7 Dec 2016 19:28
Reply 


That looks nice n cozy man, you could always slap some wood sides on it set it on a make shift foundation call it cabin.

bloodylizard
Member
# Posted: 11 Dec 2016 08:47
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Welcome, I also currently a owner of a 30 footer. I working on finding a piece of land in Northern Ontario Canada. I plan to transition from trailer to cabin.

bushbunkie
Member
# Posted: 11 Dec 2016 09:54
Reply 


Gary O has it right - Have you seen what some of us call cabins?
Cabin life for most of us isn't just the physical structure or the property...it's what it represents...a feeling...a philosophy...a way of life...which is unique to each of us whether you are a cabin dweller or cabin dreamer.
Welcome aboard!

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 11 Dec 2016 16:36
Reply 


Quoting: bushbunkie
Gary O has it right - Have you seen what some of us call cabins?
Cabin life for most of us isn't just the physical structure or the property...it's what it represents...a feeling...a philosophy...a way of life...which is unique to each of us whether you are a cabin dweller or cabin dreamer.
Welcome aboard!



Well put/said!

Eric Larson
Member
# Posted: 12 Dec 2016 17:33
Reply 


Might not be a cabin, but it's cool as hell.

pizzadude
Member
# Posted: 14 Dec 2016 01:07
Reply 


My wheeled "cabin" is 38' long with a couple tip outs, very roomy and cozy as heck. Heated solely with wood, up here in Minnesota where winters get fairly cool, it's always toasty warm inside with the wood burner.
Not the traditional cabin so to say, but that's what I refer to it as, and that's what I made it to be.
Nice Jotul👍

Borrego
Member
# Posted: 18 Dec 2016 10:49
Reply 


Yeah man, this is all about the mindset, not the structure! I would welcome anyone, even if they are just dreaming about having a 'cabin' someday.......

manny
Member
# Posted: 16 Mar 2017 20:41
Reply 


Hey!! Just look what i picked up this fall. It,s a beauty is it not? a 100 bucks.
20161117_110402.jpg
20161117_110402.jpg


toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 16 Mar 2017 21:42
Reply 


Manny, that looks like an old "shoot'n trailer"

For a benji, its worth it. Heck, I paid a benji for the trailer RV oven/cooktop I have in my cabin now.

bldginsp
Member
# Posted: 16 Mar 2017 21:59
Reply 


Congrats, Manny, you are now the proud owner of an- well- old trailer.

I lived in such a unit for a year or so. Was great in the summer. I had a nice garden, creek nearby, life's nice. In winter, well, it was a little dank.

One thing about those older trailers- they were made of wood frames with aluminum skins- inevitably if left out in the rain, water gets in the walls, wood rots, got a problem.

From the photo it appears that the aluminum siding on the front is buckling a bit. That may be from the wood frame at the base rotting, compressing, and the upper trailer gradually crunching its way down, compressing the siding against the hitch frame. Maybe not, but I've seen it do that...

I hope you get a lot of use for your $100. It's worth that to watch it go over the cliff, when the time comes....

Kamn
Member
# Posted: 17 Mar 2017 07:47
Reply 


Me and my wife have a 28ft fifth wheel trailer that we will be parking on the property until the cabin is built, so it will be our temporary cabin. A place to shower, stay warm, sleep, and cook.......its a cabin for us

manny
Member
# Posted: 17 Mar 2017 17:58 - Edited by: manny
Reply 


Yesser boys. Me and my hunting buddy will be fixing this old thing up. its been parked in the woods for about 6 yrs. we will be replacing the roof and one wall later this spring.I know its getting old , but so am I, and i think i can get a few more seasons out of her yet...

Just
Member
# Posted: 17 Mar 2017 18:48
Reply 


I gess I overpayed ,mine was 250.00$ . We too had to fix the roof I used low slope steel with a gutter so we could collect rain water. My place also seems to attract hunting buddies. .

manny
Member
# Posted: 17 Mar 2017 18:57
Reply 


Quoting: Just
I gess I overpayed ,mine was 250.00$

I had to dig deep in my pocket!! LOL .But I think it,ll all work out A couple more deep digs should bring it up to par.
20161117_110514.jpg
20161117_110514.jpg


gdhillard
Member
# Posted: 18 Mar 2017 14:29
Reply 


Gad! What a nice group! I just started the permanent residency process for Canada (currently a US citizen living in Virginia), and hope to haul myself and the Avion up to somewhere in BC, up the coast from Vancouver. I noticed the Bloodylizard is in Canada. Any idea how to check out the zoning requirements up there?

manny
Member
# Posted: 18 Mar 2017 16:47
Reply 


I think this will have to be looked after.
20161106_102719.jpg
20161106_102719.jpg


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