synestine
Advanced Member
Greetings all,
I've been lurking around the forums for quite a while (First via the web, more recently via Tap-a-talk) and have been doing as much research around skoolies as I've been able to read for (literally) years now. While it's immensely gratifying to be able to read what others post, I've been itching to participate more. So I'm here to introduce myself.
My name is Ben and I live in the smog of the Salt Lake valley. Currently I'm working on raising a brood of children and trying to make them productive members of society (Slow going). I work on computers all day but earlier in life I was a Boy Scout and wood worker. I've never shied away from working on my own equipment, though I'm not trained in any kind of engine work, I've tried to do as much as I could to further my own knowledge and experience. I've wanted to build a skoolie since about forever. Currently I've just about got the wife on-board with the idea of making our own tiny home-on-wheels.
As for my ideas, I'm thinking of a 35-40 foot RE with basement storage and as much head room as I can manage (I'm a little leery of doing a roof raise myself, since I don't know how to weld (Yet) and I've heard a few horror stories about trying to get insurance) with the intention of full-timing all around the US (Including Alaska) and Canada.
I plan on gutting to the studs; insulating as much as I can possibly manage (Most likely expanding spray foam but possibly Mylar-backed foam board); re-doing the floor, walls, and ceiling; removing some/all of the windows (Replacing with RV-style windows if I remove all); large fresh and gray tanks (Approx. 150-gal each) with UV LEDs to make sure nothing nasty grows in them; an incoming water filter; composting toilet; triple-redundant heating (Furnace, propane catalytic, and wood stove) and dual-cooling (Mini-splits and several fans); 12v and 110v electrical systems; electric fridge; propane stove, convection oven, and outdoor bbq; several 20-pound propane tanks (I'm thinking 3) running through a manifold (Seems safer to me that way); tankless water heater; 20/30/50-amp shore-power hookups; 750-1000Ah lithium battery bank with 1200-1500W solar array on the roof; 360-degree video camera system; external antenna array for wifi, 4G, CB, and 2-meter; a home-brewed automation system to run all of it and log data (for my own amusement and edification mostly); and a 4-flat toad.
I've been following several groups of people who nomad around the country on YouTube or via their own websites, and generally trying to get as much information and ideas as I can. I'm looking forward to sharing with you all and learning as much as I can while working on this bucket-list item.
:Thanx:
I've been lurking around the forums for quite a while (First via the web, more recently via Tap-a-talk) and have been doing as much research around skoolies as I've been able to read for (literally) years now. While it's immensely gratifying to be able to read what others post, I've been itching to participate more. So I'm here to introduce myself.
My name is Ben and I live in the smog of the Salt Lake valley. Currently I'm working on raising a brood of children and trying to make them productive members of society (Slow going). I work on computers all day but earlier in life I was a Boy Scout and wood worker. I've never shied away from working on my own equipment, though I'm not trained in any kind of engine work, I've tried to do as much as I could to further my own knowledge and experience. I've wanted to build a skoolie since about forever. Currently I've just about got the wife on-board with the idea of making our own tiny home-on-wheels.
As for my ideas, I'm thinking of a 35-40 foot RE with basement storage and as much head room as I can manage (I'm a little leery of doing a roof raise myself, since I don't know how to weld (Yet) and I've heard a few horror stories about trying to get insurance) with the intention of full-timing all around the US (Including Alaska) and Canada.
I plan on gutting to the studs; insulating as much as I can possibly manage (Most likely expanding spray foam but possibly Mylar-backed foam board); re-doing the floor, walls, and ceiling; removing some/all of the windows (Replacing with RV-style windows if I remove all); large fresh and gray tanks (Approx. 150-gal each) with UV LEDs to make sure nothing nasty grows in them; an incoming water filter; composting toilet; triple-redundant heating (Furnace, propane catalytic, and wood stove) and dual-cooling (Mini-splits and several fans); 12v and 110v electrical systems; electric fridge; propane stove, convection oven, and outdoor bbq; several 20-pound propane tanks (I'm thinking 3) running through a manifold (Seems safer to me that way); tankless water heater; 20/30/50-amp shore-power hookups; 750-1000Ah lithium battery bank with 1200-1500W solar array on the roof; 360-degree video camera system; external antenna array for wifi, 4G, CB, and 2-meter; a home-brewed automation system to run all of it and log data (for my own amusement and edification mostly); and a 4-flat toad.
I've been following several groups of people who nomad around the country on YouTube or via their own websites, and generally trying to get as much information and ideas as I can. I'm looking forward to sharing with you all and learning as much as I can while working on this bucket-list item.
:Thanx:
