Cheapest, simplest long-term 1-2 person shelter on rural land?
Posted by CharlesStross@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 58 comments
This isn't strictly prepping related but I thought I might get the best answers here. I've got a few acres of very rural land in southern Oregon scrub desert that I spend 3-7 days on at a time. So far I've been in a one man tent, but I'd love to set up a shelter that can be there longer term and keep a cot in for when I'm out there. I don't need anything fancy (except perhaps a bit fancier than a bushcraft shelter) -- just something for a roof over my head and a spot for my pack that could accept some foam insulation to aid my sleeping bag in the winter, ideally not needing setup as arriving late at night and putting up a shelter in the dark sounds less than ideal (i.e. not a canvas tent I'd take down and put up).
I've looked at tuff sheds or even a 20ft shipping container, but those are all north of $4k for the cheapest options (not much at all for a livable shelter, I know, but I'm on a tight budget). I'm not terribly handy but at this point I'm even thinking of cobbling together a low-roof 6'x8' shack on some skids -- I'm envisioning something closer to a tent of wood than high-comfort living, but maybe with a bit more staying power than a $300 home depot shed. However, I figured I'd poll the community to see if anyone had any other ideas that would be simpler than a total construction newbie trying their hand at building for the first time, but ideally about as cheap. If I could come in at under $1500, I'd be a happy camper (literally).
Any obvious ideas I've missed? Thanks!
buried_lede@reddit
The smallest Quonset hut sheds-10 x 10 at Steelmaster, when on sale
jtbic@reddit
hyper adobe
atx78701@reddit
amazon sells some 6x8 sheds for under 300.
Zhopastinky@reddit
seems like you should be able to find an old camper trailer or cabover camper in that price range, you can put a cabover camper on struts without a pickup
GreyFoxLemonGrass@reddit
Trailers left alone in the desert end up filled with ratshit and chewed insulation very quickly.
HuggsNotDrugs@reddit
Is there a simple way to make it rat / mouse-proof? Is there something that deters rodents from chewing through insulation and finding their way in?
GreyFoxLemonGrass@reddit
No, otherwise people would do it. There’s a ton of plastic connectors, rubber gaskets, and gaps on trailers. Rats will find a way, and then it’s a disgusting mess.
CharlesStross@reddit (OP)
Hm that's not a bad idea -- would only need to be in barely rolling condition, and weather-shelter-only as opposed to needing plumbing etc. would be easier to find I'm sure.
ARG3X@reddit
Or an older RV with a blown engine. Just get it towed on site.
aspexin@reddit
Not just chewed up by rats as per u/GreyFoxLemonGrass but also that some jurisdictions will have issues with you putting up a mobile home on a plot of land not connected to water or sewage.
Then you have the added problem of squatters. If someone moves into your mobile home and you come back and find them in some jurisdiction's eviction is the only recourse and can be expensive and time consuming. Especially if you live nowhere nearby.
I'd say just pull your camper on and off property as necessary.
Saloncinx@reddit
This would be my idea too, find a super cheap camper that needs some work and just make the one way trip to the land, if you're never going to tow the thing again you could get a really good deal on one on rough shape. You can always DIY repairs if it does not ever need to be road worthy again. Like, tarp roof, and lots of caulk type repairs haha.
ARG3X@reddit
Or an older RV with a blown engine. Just get it towed on site.
InsaneNorseman@reddit
A buddy of mine (also in Southern Oregon, coincidentally) scored an old bumper-pull horse trailer for free off Craigslist. He used some sheet metal salvaged from discarded washing machines and dryers to pop-rivet over the side openings, framed in a man door in the back while still leaving the steel gate in place to lock up for security while he was away, and waterproofed the whole thing with roof coating from home depot. He insulated it with foam board and put bunk beds along one wall. He parked it permanently at his property and uses it just as you're describing. He said he's into it for a couple hundred bucks total, and that another nice thing about it is that nobody gives a "derelict" horse trailer a second glance in that part of the country. He removed the tires to discourage any would-be opportunistic scrap metal thieves, and leveled it out on a couple old railroad ties. He said that since it's pretty much all steel other than the 2x8 floor boards, he hasn't had any rodents get inside, either.
wpbth@reddit
I would get 20ft container. My BIL a has 2, 40s. One is a hunt camp 1 is for storage. He was able to build out the living quarters and they just ship it to the camp. No rodents no bugs.
Potential-Yard-7678@reddit
How about an earthbag structure? Sandbags aren't very expensive, and if you're in a desert, I assume there's lots of free sand available? https://offgridworld.com/build-earthbag-house/
CharlesStross@reddit (OP)
Now that is an idea I hadn't even considered. Thank you!
Cheftard@reddit
Dig down a couple feet, use that to fill bags. The shorter your walls are stacked, the less potential wind/water related collapse while off-site.
Rat_Fink_Forever@reddit
You can use hay bails, too. But you might have a horse eat your house...
SeaWeedSkis@reddit
Straw bales. Hay is for horses, straw is for gardens and building blocks. 😏
SpaceGoatAlpha@reddit
Cinder block buildings built on foundation and slab are actually remarkably easy to build, inexpensive for their durability, can be built in stages and can later be added on to as needed so you don't have to buy or transport everything at once.
You aren't building a home, just a shelter / cabin right? A 17.5' x 17.5 building will give you just over 300sq ft to work with, and you could build interior walls as needed. There might be no reason to insulate the entire building for example, and building a well insulated bedroom while using the other half for storage might be the best value for your money. Use inorganic building materials like metal studs, fire rated hardy board, stone wool insulation, tile, to make the entire place fire, water, rodent proof and as mold resistant as possible. I would recommend doing everything above board and getting a permit before you build.
rabbitin3d@reddit
This sounds kind of amazing. Do you happen to have any links to photos / websites / tutorials you like that show what that would look like? I mean, I'll for sure do my own internet search, but I was just wondering if you had info more specific to what you mentioned above. Thanks!
SpaceGoatAlpha@reddit
No, I don't really have any specific examples. What I'm describing is honestly closer to the construction of something similar to a detached garage, but without the garage door, with some interior finishing.
https://www.google.com/search?q=cinder+block+construction&udm=2
As long as you have a substantial and sufficiently strong foundation, there really aren't that many limitations to what you can build on a small scale with cinder blocks.
Also, If OP were to build a single-sided angled "shed" type roof or a "saltbox" style roof, that would then have all the area they might need to mount solar panels. With small-scale constructions like this, it's easy to build in those types of multi-purpose architectural choices.
BigFarmerJoe@reddit
The cheapest and most effective "structure" that is essentially a superior tent is an aluminum geodesic play dome for kids to climb on. You can build a well drained platform of flat rocks. These are like a hundred bucks and come in a box. Next step, vapor barrier, foam insulation, exterior tarp. Total cost- less than 300 bucks if done right, build able in a day or two, and will last a few years. It's basically just a hobo yurt.
etherealwasp@reddit
Go to a scrap yard and pick up a discarded round poly water tank. Usually they're mostly intact but just have an unrepairable leak somewhere. Cut it in half vertically (into two semicircles, looking from above) and take one of the halves.
Sit your half tank with the open/cut side down, cut a door into the flat side which used to be the top/bottom of the tank. You'll need to secure it down, and consider drainage.
SunLillyFairy@reddit
Another vote for Camper trailer.
Earthbag homes are pretty awesome, but they do take a lot of work. If you can dig down a few feet and use the dirt from that dig you’ll get free bag filler and much better temperature control in your shelter. There are a lot of good videos on YouTube on how to build them. I’ve seen great Earthbag cellars that would make nice living spaces.
Yurt… but new ones are expensive too.
I also saw an interesting build with berm wire, rocks and dirt. It doubled as fallout shelter. But if you don’t already have a lot of rock that can expensive...
Cement makes a great building material with nice insulation. And if you use molds vs blocks it’s easier to transport and less expensive than other methods.
ottermupps@reddit
Seconding the recommendation of an earthbag dome. Very cheap and quite solid, though you're going to invest a good bit of time - a week at least if you have help. I'd argue that a well constructed earthbag dome is probably the best cheap dwelling you can make.
Tycobb48@reddit
Dig a hole then all that's left is the roof. Spend two weeks on YouTube, bushcraft, and such. Underground is the ticket.
Kradget@reddit
Sounds like you're looking for a yurt or a cabin tent with a stove vent, but those run from several hundred to a couple thousand dollars.
Easiest way to improve those is probably to build yourself a rammed earth platform, then a platform out of pallet wood if you can find it on top of that. That, and a stove.
You could also try a pull behind camper or tent camper. Not sure how those are for pricing where you are.
NarcolepticTreesnake@reddit
This. Rammed earth floors were just called floors for most of human history.
Jr_dbrtn@reddit
I would build a A-frame shelter from some wooden poles, and corrugated steel roof sheets. Add a few inches of ridged foam insulation on the inside. Add a few poles at the front so you can put up a Tarp for rain or sun shelter.
NiceJewishBoy38@reddit
I honestly like the idea of the homedepot shed. Get a cheap shed, add some insulation. A cheap surplus fieldbed and a caping stove will get you pretty far, and you can make it as cozy or homey as you want. Could even add a camper battery pack for a fan or simple camping fridge.
MidwestVagabond1@reddit
Shipping container with spray foam insulation
GardenGrammy59@reddit
Check out straw bale construction or cob to build a small shelter
The_Sex_Pistils@reddit
A couple of shipping containers could make a good starting structure. I don’t know how much they cost these days.
Mysterious_Cow_2100@reddit
About tree fiddy! But seriously, closer to $4k. The sub $2k shipping containers are long gone.
The_Sex_Pistils@reddit
Damn. It’s been a while… thanks for that price update.
huscarlaxe@reddit
A tent of wood sounds like these. https://tinyhousetalk.com/micro-a-frame-cabin-in-the-woods/
BaldyCarrotTop@reddit
Miniature pole barn. Dig some holes and set some 4x4 posts. Run some 2x6s around the top. Add some roof trusses. Add some metal siding. A tarp can serve as a roof until you get the funds to build a real roof.
How about a portable carport. I've seen them with metal siding attached. Again, the fabric can serve as the roof for a wile until you get the funds for a more permanent roof.
Drive some rebar stakes into the ground. Arch a cattle panel between them. Do it again if you want more depth (a cattle panel is about 50 inches wide). Toss a tarp over it.
I know you said that you didn't want any setup upon reaching the site. But, throwing a tarp over a frame doesn't require much time or effort.
DeafHeretic@reddit
$10 tent from Temu
TimothyLeeAR@reddit
You slid under me. I was going go bid a $15 Chinese camping hammock from eBay.
I've been wear testing one indoors with nightly use. After a year the seam stitching wears through and panels separate. A few months after and the upper nylon fabric is thin and will tear from hand pressure. The hammock still supports weight safely. Hope to get two years wear from it before the bottom panel goes. I suspect the service life is shorter when used daily outdoors.
SeaWeedSkis@reddit
If you already have the tools then maybe the self-build shed will be cheaper, but if you need to buy tools then it will still run you around $4k.
You might find an old trailer to haul out there. 🤷♀️
EmotionalEggplant422@reddit
I always wanted to do this with pallets/skids. Build the structure out of pallets and then rip down other pallets for the 2x4s to strengthen your structure and use the smaller boards to seal up gaps almost like siding. You could then use the pallet like walls and fill it for insulation. I feel like with 20-30 pallets and a good drill/circular saw and a shit load of screws I could have a badass shelter made in a day
EmotionalEggplant422@reddit
I’d take some quickrete and make a little front patio to get off the mud too
2lros@reddit
https://urbanshippingcontainers.com/product/10ft-shipping-container/?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMImabEvJ_hhQMVDjMIBR2cQwdGEAQYAiABEgLv5fD_BwE
Try ten footers
Available-Page-2738@reddit
What might make the most sense for what you're describing would be a repurposed panel van. You could make it a project, fix it up nice over time.
HillbillyRebel@reddit
Home Depot actually has some pretty good metal sheds. There are some on their site that are 10x10 or 10x12 that run from $500 to $700. You could use the extra $1000 in your budget to make a floor, frame it out inside for strength, add some windows, and insulate it.
Later on, add solar panels, charger, and battery for power.
FollowingVast1503@reddit
I tried to keep a house in a rural area. Became mouse infested. How do you plan on keeping the wildlife out when you are not living there?
Kementarii@reddit
Agreed.
I vote OP stretches the budget for an old shipping container. Basic, solid, waterproof, vermin-proof, lockable while not in use.
Useful forever. If OP ever builds a "nicer" place on the property, the shipping container gets used as storage/workshop.
teraza95@reddit
Just get a camper van or convert one yourself. That way you can just drive onto the land and you're there, no set up required. Then you have bed, cooking and toilet facilities. Put some solar on it and you have power. That's what I've done
FollowingVast1503@reddit
I second the camper van. Too much went wrong on a rural vacation home I had.
MichaelHammor@reddit
Wattle and daub. Make a 10 foot circle in the dirt. Dig down two feet. Line the edges with 7 foot tall thumb thick saplings. Bind at the top in an arch with the opposite saplings. Weave smaller branches in the horizontal direction. Plaster with mud. Leave the top open for smoke.
n3wb33Farm3r@reddit
Dig a trench. Bend sheet metal over and jam it in to make an arch. Fill dirt on top. A lot of these were built ( quick and cheap) in London during ww2. Not a long term solution. Will most likely fill with water. Handy for an emergency tornado shelter. About as cheap as it gets
MsRebeccaApples@reddit
For me, it would depend on where the water is and then I would maybe see about building around the land.
Hot-Profession4091@reddit
What kind of homes did the natives build?
CharlesStross@reddit (OP)
Thule huts, generally, but as far as I understand the land I'm on wasn't a typical area for residency, used instead more for rituals and hunting grounds. Tribes mainly settled at lower altitudes. And not to put too fine of a point on it but I think I can probably get a handle on basic framing faster than I could become excellent at waterproof thule thatching haha.
tyler111762@reddit
look into buying a Hennessy hammock for a night andd day upgrade to your portable shelter, but honestly, your cheapest option is going to be one of those pop up bolt together sheds that you weight down and insulate.
therealharambe420@reddit
You can just frame up and Insulate a small shed yourself.
Buying and or recycling the materials and then following plans online for a small insulate shed is very budget friendly, possibly even as little as a couple hundred dollars if it's really small and your really resourceful.
You'll want to make it mouse proof.
There are probably a million different designs you could do very cheaply.
Building it on log or beam "skids" is a good option for semi mobility.
Steel siding and pink foam insulation will give you sturdy warm walls.
You could even do a really small "pole building" design. Like 8x8 or 10x10. That would be cheap and very strong.
The only limit is your creativity, resourcefulness and ingenuity.
At a minimum you'll want a basic set of hand tools along with a drill, chop saw, miter saw, tin snips and whatever else you may need. Harbor freight, FB, and craigslist is your friend when your getting a workshop started.
Sunbeamsoffglass@reddit
Surplus military tents with stove vent?