layout

I finally got around to updating the floor plan. The changes include the bathroom layout, the water treatment system, the skylights, the sink, the ventilation fan, and the toilet.

We decided to build a second lower loft in the back corner to elevate the toilet so we can store the water tanks in the area below. That way, almost all the plumbing can be be internalized. At first we were thinking of putting the tanks under the truck, insulating them and getting the kind of pump that can run dry to empty the pipes when we're not using them. Then possibly heating the tank area when it gets dangerously cold but that's just another big project that would end up costing us precious electricity in the winter when we have less to spare. Plus, I think the second loft will make the layout a bit more interesting.

(Click images to see full size)




We should be done with the wall murals by the end of this weekend, so I'll have some progress pictures up soon. We're going to move the truck and trailer into the back yard today before it snows again so it doesn't end up covered in road salt and rusting. Then hopefully there will be time left at the end of the day to start working on the walls.

Leaks, leaks, and more leaks

I suspect the box that came on this truck's chassis is older than the truck itself. I would estimate it to be 25-30 years old and about 10 years ago (when it was put on our truck chassis) it was refurbished after a major accident with its former truck.

One major problem we've run into several different times so far is leaks. Because of this box's age, many of the seam seals have hardened and cracked, letting in small amounts of water. I have also traced leaks back to sliver-sized punctures in the aluminum walls, and tightly jointed frame members (which were sealed well, but later a gap in the caulk the size of a BB was found under an overhang.)

All this to say, if anyone is thinking of buying a truck like this, make sure the box is as new as possible. I have heard that a good option is used U-Haul boxes, because they normally see very light use in their lifetimes. But it might not be a bad idea to just buy a new box and have it installed. Patches always leak, seams always leak, repairs always leak, sometimes even dents leak (no kidding)! We have spent as much time and money on a new roof, new decking, caulk, fixing bent beams, etc. as a new box would have cost without any of the headaches.

I think we have finally found all the trouble spots, but I won't be surprised if a few more turn up.

Mobile Garage

I forgot to mention that we bought a 7'x14' trailer to tow behind the truck. The guy we bought it from only used it once to haul two motorcycles to las vegas and back so it's in great condition. Plus, he let us keep the ladder ramp and tie down hardware so we're ahead of the game on that one.


The trailer will have a place in the front for a work bench and tools, the middle will be for our fitness equipment and miscellaneous storage, and the back will be just enough space for two 50cc scooters. I have a 2009 Honda Metropolitan and John has a 2009 Honda Ruckus and they will be our primary transportation once we relocate to a place with more favorable weather and sell our 2008 GMC Sierra. When it wasn't so terribly windy, we both rode our scooters every day to work/school/wherever and only used the truck occasionally.

Countdown

In less than six months, this house will no longer be mine to occupy. After we are gone, it will likely sit vacant for months or even years just like all the others around here. It's a shame, really, but I'll be glad to be gone. I feel bad for everyone who is going through this by force rather than choice.

We have around 5½ months of work to be done on the truck before we'll be ready. (Not done, but ready.) John got forced into working overtime on Monday and it's hard to say how often that will happen, or what other things will delay our progress. Since it's difficult to foresee anything other than things going right and they rarely do, I'm considering each day to be urgent.

So far we’ve installed a mobile home door, motor home steps, skylights, ventilation fan, air conditioner, a layer of spray foam insulation on inside walls, replaced the roof and parts of the floor, added rigid foam on the back wall and ceiling, removed the lift gate to add the tow package and replaced the roll up door with a permanent back wall.


Most recently, we finished the ceiling panels. They are made out of aluminum sheet metal over insulation, screwed into the roof beams and riveted together at the seams. You can't tell because this picture was taken at night, but once the reflective tubes were put in for the skylights, it brings in a lot more light even now with the covers installed. The walls will be a few inches thicker, which will bring them past the edges of the ceiling sheets and we're going to put up angle iron as crown molding where map meets metal. The base molding will be similar but it will have an additional (and removable) top piece to contain all of the electrical wires.


It was a balancing act of sorts just trying to get these sheets up. It's a much more complicated and difficult project than I imagined but it feels really good to have done it. John would pick up a 4x8 sheet of aluminum and carry it up the ladder and I'd scurry around the bottom trying to get the support boards propped up, then we'd have to take them out to properly line up the sheets and put them back in. It was incredibly frustrating and there were a few times where I thought we'd both end up crushed under a pile of metal and wood.

The laminated world map wall murals arrived in the mail today. John still has some caulking that he wants to do before getting started with the walls and it rained today so we'll probably start by Wednesday as long as it doesn't rain again tomorrow. We will screw in another layer of rigid foam and plywood, prime it and apply the murals.

Thoughts on composting toilets & water treatment

So after discovering some startling reviews (here at poopreport.com) about commercially made composting toilets, specifically the Envirolet, I felt really worried about our bathroom situation. Since every person I’ve talked to or read about who made their own composting toilet seems satisfied, I assumed that the premade ones would simply be better and more efficient, especially since they're ridiculously expensive. All of the claims on the manufacturers' websites falsely backed up my initial ideas about it. However, the consensus is that basically it’s too difficult for a fan and a heater to evaporate the amount of urine that a person produces on a daily basis without adding lots of composting material to absorb it all, and doubly so with double occupancy. It's just not practical.

So after looking at Nature’s Head mobile composting toilets, which are set apart by the fact that the liquids are separate from the solids, the world started to make sense again. First of all, whether the liquid is evaporated or dumped, there would be no real difference for us. Urine is sterile and actually safe to dump anywhere, despite all of the frowns about that. (Don't worry, that would be a last resort only.) The average human produces 1-2 liters of urine per day, multiply that by two and we’ve got a seriously dwindling water supply that would have to be replenished too often even if we recycle our greywater. This would not be a huge issue if we had a house with a rainwater catchment system in place but that will not be the case for us and a catchment system sized down for the RV probably won’t come close to replacing the liquid losses. So why would we be trying so hard to get rid of such a valuable resource?

You’re fooling yourself if you think that none of the water you drink has ever been inside another living being, right? So we’re going to have to alter our designs to include another step to filter the urine before adding it to the greywater that will then be purified with a second series of sediment filters and a homemade ozone generator. Yum!



I like the part that comes next when people tell me that it’s gross and/or not possible. My life is (seriously) so much fun. Yeah!

Okay, so we might not literally be doing this but I think it's the attitude required to take a different path and be successful. To most new ideas they hear, many people say: That can't be done! Instead you should ask yourself: How can it be done? That's one character trait that can either put up a road block or open your life up to limitless possibilities.

EDIT: It turns out that ozone generators are incredibly cheap. It's only $200 for a system that is large enough for a 50-200 gallon tank. I know that John was really looking forward to making one, but for that cheap I think it's worth buying just to save time.

Layout

Designing the space to reflect what we want in our life has been the most fun aspect of the project so far. One thing that Mike Reynolds said, in the documentary Garbage Warrior, in regards to architecture is that traditional houses are not designed with the environment or people in mind. The house that we're designing will make our lives better. It will take care of us.

The plans have changed significantly since I've made these, but I'll post them here before reworking the whole thing so that you can be part of the process with us and see how things evolve.

There will be a loft at the front end of the box, which will elevate our TempurPedic mattress and Migun thermal acupressure massage bed. Below that will be the couch with fold down tables for dining and a desk. The digital piano will be partially under the loft as well and slightly away from the wall with one of the two heaters behind it. The left wall will have two wardrobes and the washer and dryer stacked. The right wall will have the exterior door, refrigerator and sink base cabinet. The shower and toilet are at the back wall.