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AlabamaDan
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# Posted: 8 Feb 2012 11:20am - Edited by: AlabamaDan
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As I'm planning out my little shack I'm thinking about power. I don't want a lot of stuff as life should be simple here, but I will want some things. It will mostly be a weekend, long weekend retreat for me. I have an idea, but I'm sure you guys have talked about it before. I have a generator that I could run, but I really don't want that sound in my relaxing place.
A few years back we had a primitive hunting camp – no running water or electricity. Most of the guys had old campers for shelter. The guy I stayed with would bring some water, a propane tank and a fully charged deep cycle marine battery from home. He'd fill up the water tank and hook up the tank and battery. Then he had everything he needed for a weekend.
I was thinking that I could find a wrecked camper and I could pull the stove, lights, and stuff and use it in my little cabin. I'm thinking about one of those little 3 eye stove/ovens powered by propane. I could use DC lights like the campers have in them. I could mount a little propane heater on the wall if I didn't feel like building a fire or if I let it go out. I might even luck up on one of those little propane fridges if I wanted one.
Other than finding a wrecked camper to pull stove from, what's the downside?
Here's a little stove like I was talking about for $70. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stove-RV-/280820884724?pt=Motors_RV_Trailer_Camper_Parts_Acce ssories&vxp=mtr&hash=item41623aa4f4
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turkeyhunter
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# Posted: 8 Feb 2012 12:30pm
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i would buy good used COLEMAN stove at a yard sale, for 5 bucks and put the 65 bucks left over by not buying the ebay stove on some 2 x4's and OSB....but hey just me :-)))
ps---i have stayed at hunting camps all over the USA and had a hunting camp since 1981, pop ups, campers, school buses, and a cabin is more fun and warmer too!!!!
start small build a 12 x 12 and you will be a lot happier--use a coleman lantern and stove, use a ice chest to keep you food cold and enjoy!!!!!
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MtnDon
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# Posted: 8 Feb 2012 12:49pm
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We like having an indoor place to cook and an outdoor place to cook. Small spaces heat up rapidly in warm weather when you use the indoor stove. So I like the idea of a salvaged/used RV range and a Coleman for outside.
RV heaters today are forced air furnaces. They work pretty good but are battery hogs. Unless you can find a really old convection RV heater you will need generous amounts of battery power when it's cold, or another form of heat. I seriously do not like unvented heaters in small places.
If the RV lights are the Thinlite fluorescent type thay are good. RV lights that use incandescent lamps also are battery hogs.
Balance out if it's worth getting and stripping an old RV and then having to dispose of the remains. Might be better to try for used appliances and maybe even new things, like new lights. Also be aware that most battery chargers that are built into RV's are crap, unless the RV was upscale or updated.
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AlabamaDan
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# Posted: 8 Feb 2012 05:01pm
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I do have some Coleman stoves and with a grill would probably do alot of outdoor cooking as well. But sometimes on a cold winter's morning I'd like to have an indoor oven to toss some biscuts in or maybe cornbread for dinner.
Thanks for all the advice, keep it coming. I'm in the real planning stages here...
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rayyy
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2012 02:02pm
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This is what Iv'e done,found a couple of old campers at a junk yard and scavenged them for water pumps,water lines,water tanks,lp gas bottles,pipeing.regulators,stoves refrigerators,sinks.fausets,light fixtures,ceiling vents,axcess panels,batterys,windows,doors.Lot's of good stuff for a little money.
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Bzzzzzt
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2012 03:50pm
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There is an RV scrap yard in southern Missouri on I 44 just about 6 or so miles east of the I-44 US71 interchange. I've been thinking about stopping there and seeing about salvaging the shower out of one for my cabin.
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dvgchef
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# Posted: 11 Feb 2012 07:27pm
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Love the planning stage - good luck!
I have a 2 story 12 by 12 that I use for weekend retreats.
Love the idea of an oven, but never really considered it - yet! I know for my cabin it would take up too much space.
I use a tiny cook stove for when it is too cold outside (MSR Pocket Rocket Camp Stove Aluminum and Steel) then a regular propane grill with a burner for outdoor use.
For heat, I use a Mr Heater 46343 LP Radiant Heater, LP Gas Radiant Heater; it works great. I started with a kerosene heater - that was a mistake - stink city - don't do it!
I threw a gutter on the roof of my outhouse, connected it to 2 rain barrels, and have plenty of water.
Your plan sounds like fun - good luck!
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sparky1
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# Posted: 23 Feb 2012 09:12am
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I lived in my 17 ft camper No running water for 3 years waiting to get well,septic & electric---got water from Near farm,ran small sears 115 volt gen,pump water on the roof in a 15 gallon tank Painted black. cooked on the (3) eye stove in it, furnace finally quit,bought Heater Buddy a had a few 20 LB tanks did fine, Camper/rv lights are $4.oo and up.Now LED lights, off 45 watt Harbor freight Solar panel Kit---I do fine.
sparky1.in s.va.
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