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Old 12-30-2019, 02:16 PM   #1
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Possible Skoolie work spot in AZ

Hey Everyone,

Earlier this year I bought a house with plenty of bus parking in a community that is tolerant of Skoolie work in the yard. I had hoped to rent it to a fellow Skoolie. It didn't work out. I didn't have any solid response so I rented it to a local.

I am thinking about another project.

I found a piece of land about 20 minutes from Sanders AZ. It has about 10 acres of relatively flat ground. I would install solar, generator, workshop building with a restroom and a water tank.

As you can see, it is really not grid. Solar/generator for power and hauled water. There is a community well about a mile away for filling thanks.

The property is at over 5000 ft elevation and enjoys a moderate climate.

Off the top of my head, I think that I could support 4-6 Skoolie at a time.

With as many folks as I have seen that have trouble finding a place to work on their buses or have had weather that slows them down, I think that a place like this would be beneficial.

What do you all think?

Anyone want to get on the wait list?

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Old 12-30-2019, 04:21 PM   #2
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I think it's a wonderful idea. How much would you expect to charge for rent?
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Old 12-30-2019, 04:33 PM   #3
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I might be interested in something like that at some point during this coming year, but I won't be ready for something like that for several months.
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Old 12-31-2019, 02:31 AM   #4
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I think it's a wonderful idea. How much would you expect to charge for rent?
I have not pinned that down yet. I was contemplating something around $250 a month.

I talked to the county building department today and found out that I must install a septic system before I can make any other improvements. I will be getting an estimate on that next week.

I am also looking at a water truck. That would simplify the water supply. I think that the one that I am going to look at holds 3500 gallons. That should last for about a month with reasonable conservation. I you should stumble across a good buy on an older water truck please ping me.
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Old 12-31-2019, 03:26 AM   #5
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I've seen some water trucks on the auction sites before.
Good luck with this, Steve!
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Old 12-31-2019, 03:37 AM   #6
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I've seen some water trucks on the auction sites before.
Good luck with this, Steve!
Thanks CB.

I am going to look at one that is going for auction. It has a DT-466 and a 7 speed syncro transmission. The ugly side is that it has over 400k miles.

All I need it to do is make a 30 mile round trip once a month.
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Old 12-31-2019, 07:17 AM   #7
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May be better to get a trailer with water tank. for a short distance you can tow that with a pickup.
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Old 12-31-2019, 07:27 AM   #8
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I was contemplating something around $250 a month.
I like the concept, but that's a lot for a spot without electricity. I pay $75 for my spot and I'm in the suburbs of a big city.

If you provided electricity (maybe from a large central generator) and water and also maybe bathroom/shower facilities so that people could live there while working on their buses, that might be worth $250 (or even more).

Edit: sorry, didn't read your entire post. I see you already mentioned the bathroom and generator thing, and that it would be indoors. Yeah, this wouldn't be a bad deal for $250. I almost rented an indoor workspace for my bus for $500 a month; it was 40' x 15' and had electricity and even a tiny bathroom, but unfortunately it was only 10' tall with a 9' high door.
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Old 12-31-2019, 10:58 AM   #9
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May be better to get a trailer with water tank. for a short distance you can tow that with a pickup.
Good advice considering that the water truck I was looking at turned out to have an 1100 gallon tank instead of the 2000 gallon tank that I was originally told.

I lived in a spot where we hauled water for our domestic supply. I was just the two of us. I had two 325 gallon IBC totes in the bed of my pickup. I would run into town and fill the two totes as needed.

I can pull a trailer up to 18k lbs with my truck. I am going to poke around and see what I can find for a trailer and totes/tanks.
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Old 12-31-2019, 05:37 PM   #10
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I pay $75 for my spot and I'm in the suburbs of a big city.
Are you able to stay overnight?
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Old 12-31-2019, 06:35 PM   #11
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Are you able to stay overnight?
Uh, I don't think the guy would be cool with me living in the spot, if that's what you mean. My bus is not yet habitable, anyway.
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Old 12-31-2019, 07:27 PM   #12
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Yes, that's what I meant. I currently pay $50/month for an outdoor parking spot with discretionary access to electricity and undrinkable water. Staying overnight would be inappropriate (never even bothered asking), and the nearest big city is hours away. That said, I am grateful for the deal I'm getting.
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Old 12-31-2019, 08:05 PM   #13
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Just to be clear, I am assuming that folks would be living onsite.

If I was going to offer storage with no hookups, for storage and no living onsite it would be a different animal. That would be a $75 option.

I am looking at a place with water and power. Living in and working on your bus would be encouraged.

If all you need is a storage spot this is not for you.

What started me down this road Was The numerous posts that I have seen that talk about folks who cannot find a spot to keep their bus or are having troubles with the city for having a bus on their property.

If you have a good spot that provides hookups, restrooms with a shower and the ability to live in and work on your bus without hassle for $75 a month then that is a better deal than what I could offer.

Thanks for your input.
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Old 01-01-2020, 05:37 AM   #14
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About 15 or 20 years ago I remember some Silicon Valley-based outfit trying to start a chain of community shops, where the owner would outfit the property with tools, particularly big and/or expensive tools that a person might not want to buy for a single use or for short term usage.

I don't know what happened to that operation I don't hear anything about it anymore, but it's an idea that has been bouncing around in my head.

I currently have a lathe, a milling machine some large air compressors, an industrial strength pressure washer, and a commercial sewing machine that I could put to work in such an operation.

I am thinking western Colorado is particularly fertile ground for a libertarian oriented community shop. Who knows, one might even be able to put on seminars on subjects like TIG welding, manual machining with lathe and mill, and rebuilding the caterpillar C7 that could draw in locals and folks from all over the country looking for a three day educational get away.
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Old 01-01-2020, 06:53 AM   #15
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Made a nice post and lost it all..

Long story short sounds like a very good ideal and I would love to be a part of it, but sanders seems kind of remote, if it were me I would try looking for something with a Walmart Home Depot within 15-20 mins.
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Old 01-01-2020, 07:12 AM   #16
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Steve I constantly am thinking of the same thing. Actually chewed up with it. We need 4 or 5 of these across the country. I think charging by electricity used with a very small daily or weekly fee in case visitor is totally self sufficient. All spots need to be close enough to an area that can provide some opportunities for some part time work. I would love to be a partner is such an adventure. As the gov't restricts more national parks this will be vital to keeping the dream alive. Maybe 2 of them be setup for building and repair of buses, aka homes, and 2 or 3 that are more park like. Just a dreamer. I will shut up!
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Old 01-01-2020, 08:27 AM   #17
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Once we get our rig set up, we may be interested as well. I'll have the front half of the car carrier set up for woodworking/metalworking to help others with their builds. Electrical and water would be helpful assets. Question: Would the utilities be included with the rent? I presume as much, but want to clarify that point....


Awesome concept Steve!


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Old 01-01-2020, 10:09 AM   #18
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Steve I constantly am thinking of the same thing. Actually chewed up with it. We need 4 or 5 of these across the country. I think charging by electricity used with a very small daily or weekly fee in case visitor is totally self sufficient. All spots need to be close enough to an area that can provide some opportunities for some part time work. I would love to be a partner is such an adventure. As the gov't restricts more national parks this will be vital to keeping the dream alive. Maybe 2 of them be setup for building and repair of buses, aka homes, and 2 or 3 that are more park like. Just a dreamer. I will shut up!
I'm on your side of the country too. I think Arizona is more my speed, but my kid hopefully starts college in the fall. Probably in Atlanta. He might take a year off, he likes to travel but he says he doesn't want to live in a bus.

If you decide to move forward you're pretty much guaranteed one tenant, willing to invest free and cheap labor to help get it off the ground.
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Old 01-01-2020, 12:20 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wrenchtech View Post
About 15 or 20 years ago I remember some Silicon Valley-based outfit trying to start a chain of community shops, where the owner would outfit the property with tools, particularly big and/or expensive tools that a person might not want to buy for a single use or for short term usage.

I don't know what happened to that operation I don't hear anything about it anymore, but it's an idea that has been bouncing around in my head.

I currently have a lathe, a milling machine some large air compressors, an industrial strength pressure washer, and a commercial sewing machine that I could put to work in such an operation.

I am thinking western Colorado is particularly fertile ground for a libertarian oriented community shop. Who knows, one might even be able to put on seminars on subjects like TIG welding, manual machining with lathe and mill, and rebuilding the caterpillar C7 that could draw in locals and folks from all over the country looking for a three day educational get away.
The idea is alive and well --
google "Makers workshop" or "Makers workspace" etc.
Usually in more urban areas cause it takes enough people (money) to make it work. Grand Junction might be big enough...
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Old 01-01-2020, 02:18 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by M1031A1 View Post
Once we get our rig set up, we may be interested as well. I'll have the front half of the car carrier set up for woodworking/metalworking to help others with their builds. Electrical and water would be helpful assets. Question: Would the utilities be included with the rent? I presume as much, but want to clarify that point....


Awesome concept Steve!


M
I am still trying to come up with a fair price structure.

What do you think of metered utilities with a certain amount of usage included in the monthly charge and use beyond that billed by the usage that exceeds the base?
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