|
| Author |
Message |
Flying Wrench
Member
|
# Posted: 26 Apr 2015 06:29pm - Edited by: Flying Wrench
Reply
I've posted little here for a while, but mostly just asking questions. I wanted to buy some land and build my own place to live for at least five years. I still have a LONG way to go, but I have taken some huge steps in the last few months.
I first started looking for land about three years ago. I was mostly window shopping, and learning what I could. At that time I was nearly broke, so buying acreage and building on it was something between a goal and a pipe dream. Since then I've dug myself out of that hole and have landed a better paying job.
Roughly a year and a half ago, I started getting serious about buying land. I was looking in an area about 90 miles north of the Minneapolis/ St. Paul area (where I live), but none of them were working out. I actually put in an offer on a property with 20 acres and an existing, albeit run-down cabin, but the selling agent was not keeping up with the listing. It had been bought just a day or so before my offer.
The realtor that I was working with found a place that was further north than I was looking, but it had several things going for it. The terrain was a mix of high ground and swamp. It was close to a small lake, with only a thin section of public land between the lake and the property line. That part of the public land is essentially inaccessible to anyone except from the lake or the property. It is only a few miles from a nearby town, and within 20 miles of a large town, but it is still in a very rural area. One of my requirements was that the property needs to be remote enough that I could shoot a rifle and not upset the neighbors. This property met that requirement. Most importantly, and somewhat unexpectedly, the property was close to a few good friends of mine, as well as some other good people that I have gotten to know over the last few years.
I was able to purchase the property in December. It was essentially undeveloped, but there was a decent size area that had been cleared out. I made a number of trips up there, but only for a few hours at a time.
Last February I bought a small camper from someone on Craigslist. It is an old slide in pickup camper, attached to a flatbed trailer, with an enclosed storage area under the sleeping loft. The camper is in rough shape, but it is dry and fairly well equipped. It is not exactly the cabin that I want to build, but it will still be a place to get away to for a few years. If it deteriorates faster than I can maintain it, I figure that I can still strip out all the appliances, remove the rest of the camper, and have a flatbed trailer that is worth what I originally paid for it.
Last weekend I spent the night out there for the first time. The weather was great, and the skies were clear. The next morning was just as nice. I snapped a few pictures to share.
This is the view from the sleeping loft. The lake can be seen in the distance.
This is the camper. I believe that it will serve it's intended role well, but I'm still looking forward to making my property look less....meth labby...
Animal tracks on the frozen swamp.
The camper the day that I bought it.
I know that I still have a long way to go, but it feels great to have made it this far. I am looking forward to learning more and having more to share.
|
|
rockies
Member
|
# Posted: 26 Apr 2015 06:42pm - Edited by: rockies
Reply
So do you actually want to build a cabin up there? You could have a nice little place for about $4000 or so.
http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/cozy-cabin-zmaz06jjzraw.aspx
This is the basic design I used for a number of small cabins I posted on this site. $4000 will get you a shell (or maybe more depending on how you shop), but the plans are good and the author writes well. Make sure you don't put it near any place too swampy. Be sure to click on the "Cabin Assembly Diagram" for the plans.
Another trick is to pre-cut all the lumber to length and gather together the pieces for each wall into labeled bundles while in town (north wall, east wall, etc) so that when you take it to the site you won't have to do any cutting.
If you don't want to do any digging or concrete work for foundations, you could find a local installer of "Techno-Metal Posts". They screw into the ground and are ready to build on right away.
http://www.technometalpost.com/en/home/
You could have a nice little cabin up by the end of the summer. Good luck.
|
|
neb
Member
|
# Posted: 26 Apr 2015 09:19pm
Reply
Land looks really nice! Now the fun starts with planning and building. Good luck
|
|
pizzadude
Member
|
# Posted: 26 Apr 2015 10:01pm - Edited by: pizzadude
Reply
Flying wrench.. (indian name?)
I like your story.
You have a dream. You're making it happen. Good for you!
Your story is strikingly similar to my own. Someday a cabin, for now,, settle for a nice piece of earth and a cheap camper will get me through...
It's satisfying though, to call a piece of land your own, to own a shelter(though sub standard for some) paid for by your hard work. It's a sweet sense of accomplishment. It's exciting. And one day when you have a "real" cabin, it will be all the more satisfying.
I feel you bro.
Same situation.
3 years in the making. Got the land then and just recently rolled in my "home". I'm probably not too far from you as my property is 80 miles NW of Duluth.
Divorce is pushing me, along with a dream I've always had as a child. Bittersweet for me.
One thing you might want to put some thought into is property tax. With a permanent structure comes higher taxes. The camper will play no roll in tax increases. Something to think about. It's significant in my situation anyways.
You say you are going to live in your camper? I'm curious as to how you plan to heat it in the bitter cold winters.
Around the first part of June, I'll be moved in to my camper. I believe I'm ready. I'm prepared.
Any questions, just ask. I'll help if I can. This site is a great place to gather just about any info about just about anything. Good luck to you!🍕
|
|
Gary O
Member
|
# Posted: 26 Apr 2015 10:27pm
Reply
Man, that is so cool.
we were 'there' fifteen years ago
good times be comin' for ya...with out a doubt
cheers to you and your adventures
(P-dude, if you build a structure and don't tell anybody, will the county hear it?)
|
|
pizzadude
Member
|
# Posted: 26 Apr 2015 10:49pm
Reply
Lol
Good one Gary
The county has satellite imagery.
My luck would be the county would come knocking as I'm swinging the hammer on the final nail.
Sad face.
Maybe if you're really sneaky you'd get away with it.
Dang it. They're annoying like mosquitoes
|
|
Gary O
Member
|
# Posted: 26 Apr 2015 11:02pm
Reply
Yeah, true
Here they leave ya alone....too many renegades.
They hate it when they have to come out to inspect due to someone complaining. Then they don't do anything anyway.
County folks have a history of getting lost...at least not getting back to town...in one piece.
Just another perk here...
|
|
Flying Wrench
Member
|
# Posted: 26 Apr 2015 11:07pm - Edited by: Flying Wrench
Reply
My screen name is in reference to my job as an A&P mechanic for an airline. I ride along on charter flights and handle maintenance issues out of town. It is also in reference to my previous A&P job, back before I learned better ways to cope with stress. Some nights, wrenches went flying...Not proud of that, but it is in the past now.
Flying around for several days at a time gives me a lot of time to sketch out designs. If I have an idea, I'll start making a rough diagram. If I like it, I'll start getting into greater detail. I've gone as far as making part numbers for individual pieces of lumber on some of the smaller designs.
If I push it I'm sure that I could have something built this year, but I'm going to take it slow. I've bitten off more than I could chew before. I'm not going to do that this time. The more time I take, the more I can learn before hand, and the more I can save to buy the things I need .
|
|
|
Jim in NB
Member
|
# Posted: 27 Apr 2015 06:14am
Reply
Take your time and enjoy the adventure!!! You don't want to have the place one where there are any flying wrenches or hammers!
|
|
turkeyhunter
Member
|
# Posted: 27 Apr 2015 07:27am - Edited by: turkeyhunter
Reply
Quoting: Gary O (P-dude, if you build a structure and don't tell anybody, will the county hear it?)
GaryO.. exactly !!!
my take as well...don't ask don't tell
Flying wrench----congrats on your purchase....campers are fine as long as you either keep a heavy rubberized tarp over then OR build a tin roof- free standing over it.
|
|
OliveSheep
Member
|
# Posted: 27 Apr 2015 09:35am
Reply
Location looks great, and you're right about the camper. A lot of the appliances transition well into little tiny off-grid cabins / sheds. Enjoy your journey Flying Wrench!
|
|
Flying Wrench
Member
|
# Posted: 27 Apr 2015 11:34am
Reply
Thanks everyone.
|
|
Just
Member
|
# Posted: 27 Apr 2015 10:41pm
Reply
Quoting: Flying Wrench old slide in pickup camper
You are not the only one here with a old camper . there are a few of us.
We all have different reasons the most important thing is you have the land .
If I had any suggestions it would be constant mouse control old trailers seem to attract them . I know mine dose ...Best of luck
just
|
|
Salty Craig
Member
|
# Posted: 1 May 2015 07:24pm
Reply
Flying Wrench
Less meth labby!!!!! Funniest crap I've seen for a while. Hhahahahaha
Carry on brother!! Ya gotta start somewhere. Cheers
Salty
|
|
mike1967
Member
|
# Posted: 28 Jun 2015 01:54pm - Edited by: mike1967
Reply
Looks like a better start than some of us had. Enjoy your little piece of paradise. Spend a lot of time there to plan what you want to do. The FUN and HARD WORK are about to begin.
Mike
|
|
cabingal3
Member
|
# Posted: 28 Jun 2015 03:15pm
Reply
great place.great piece of land...enjoy!
|
|
moregon
Member
|
# Posted: 19 Jul 2015 10:38pm
Reply
Congratulations!! Looks like heaven......its beautiful and I'm sure your going to build something fabulous on it!
Monique
|
|
Julie2Oregon
Member
|
# Posted: 20 Jul 2015 12:58am
Reply
At first I read your name as "Flying Wench" and I thought, "YAY, an Off-the-Grid Sistah!" Hahahaha!
Ah, well, happy to make your acquaintance, and Congratulations on your purchase! I'll be doing the Camper in Paradise life, too. I figure that once the cabin is built, it will be make a good bunkhouse for guests.
Enjoy!!!
|
|
|
