This month marks two years living off grid in the Sierra Nevada mountains, living in a wall tent while we build our house. Best decision I ever made.

Year one
- cleared land
- built deck for wall tent
- built tool shed
- built outdoor shower out of cedar
- built outdoor kitchen for food storage
- installed septic system
- built outhouse plumbed into septic

Year two
- received building permit
- started building 1000sqft house
- built garden beds

19f, living with parents and 4 siblings.

i love the fact that i get my own room, and even though i don't have a door yet (the house isn't finished building).

i can't get a job elsewhere, which is why i can't move out. dad said he'll pay me to work for him, which is fine by me. i'll try to make my bedroom worth it all.

i'm also very antisocial, and want to work on my mental health, diet, and self esteem. clear my body from acne and scars and change my diet.

i only have a phone for entertainment. sure there's a tv in the living room, but my siblings are using it 90% of the time. i also go to sleep kinda early, around 9-11pm, 10pm being their bedtime.

i only dislike it because it's a 15-30 minute drive from society. yes i'm one of those people that dislike society, but at the same time what if there's an emergency?? also, my siblings have school. doesn't concern me, but the nearest school is 30-60 minutes away + a bumpy, uncomfortable ride because the only vehicle is a tricycle.

my siblings are also pretending to like it. i promised them i'd buy a ps5 and a bigger tv for us to share soon, and they seemed okay with that.

So basically, as a Truck Driver, I can pull 53' trailers legally. My idea, instead of using earthbags or other labor intensive methods, why not just buy a cheap van or reefer trailer (they can be got for 3-5k used), rent a bulldozer, and then just park the trailer and push soil up to it until its covered.

Of course it wouldn't be that simple. To reduce the height I have to pile soil I think I'd actually dig out a channel that would be about as deep as the base height of the trailer. Then secure the chassis with rocks/cinder blocks (not dirt, the under chassis is unprotected steel, like a mobile home). Basically take the weight off the wheels of the trailer so I don't have to worry about maintaining tire inflation. Then secure the sides of the underspace so they won't fill in with dirt. Probably with rocks/bricks.

That would knock like 4 feet off the 13'6" height of the trailer, so I'd only have to pile dirt up against the sides about 9 feet. Idk if I would do more to protect the trailer walls from corrosion. They're aluminum, and painted already. Tarping a whole 53' trailer would add a lot of cost.

I know reefer trailers already have insulation, but out in the desert I think I would want more. Having the trailer surrounded by soil also makes it less conspicuous and less susceptible to wind/storms. Would make walking on top of it pretty easy, might even build a observation deck on top who knows.

Also, what part of NM do you all recommend I do this? I know Taos is famous for earthships but I can't find any cheap property there that isn't in Tres Piedras and I already read how rough it is there. I have found a few places in Sorocco, just need to get out there and judge whether the dirt roads are good enough to drive a semi on safely. Which is doubly important since I will be parking my truck there when on hometime. Are there any other offgrid friendly counties in NM I should be looking at? Also I read septic systems require 1 acre of land in some counties. Is that a county regulation or state regulation?

So, am I crazy? what do you all think?

We are off grid solar at present but multiple cloudy days present an issue. Does anyone have any low wind speed wind turbine suggestions that could supplement for cloudy days and lessen battery drain at night? East Texas average wind speeds 4-9 mph.

Before anyone says, I know this definitely isn’t fully off-grid 😂
But I came across this old stone house and thought it was interesting from a smallholding / self-sufficiency point of view. It comes with around half an acre, with the option to purchase up to another 20 acres adjoining it.
It already has a private water supply and it’s pretty rural, but otherwise would be a case of gradually making it more self-sufficient rather than buying a ready-made off-grid property.
I’m fairly new to exploring the idea, only had a few viewings, and honestly still seems a bit of a fantasy, but am I barking up the wrong tree here?
Where do I even start making it fully off grid?
Solar? Battery storage? Growing food? Livestock? Heating?
Interested to hear what people who actually live this way would prioritise.

I'm not fully offgrid yet, but I live in the mountains where power is unreliable, especially in the winter. I've slowly been acquiring LiFEPO4 48V batteries, charge controllers, inverter, etc.

I have a 15kw non-inverter generator that i use to power the house in emergencies. However, I have several sensitive electronics, and while the harmonic distortion on my gen isn't terrible, I know it's not great for the expensive sensitive electronics I have. It is tied into the 1000 gallon propane tank I have, and my heat is forced air propane with just the fan using electric. I don't have AC units as I'm at high alt where they aren't needed.

Rather than get an UPS for each system and have to spend more money I don't have, I was thinking I could get creative and use what I already have gotten for the off grid stuff to provide a creative means of backup power where most of the house and the sensitive electronics are, and then allowing passthrough power directly from the generator to an already existing subpanel that has the high ticket power items that don't need clean power anyway (well, dryer, etc).

I've included a rough diagram of what I'm thinking. Basically I would put in a 150A subpanel I already have. The high output battery charger would run to the 48V batteries run in parallel, which would then go to the inverter then to the main panel to provide clean power to the sensitive electronics, while the rest of the "dirty" power would run to the subpanel that has the dryer, well, etc on it. Obviously the correct breakers would be turned on and off in order to ensure there's no back-feeding of power (not in the picture, but there's a main cutoff to the pole on my main panel, plus another cutoff out on the power pole itself). I'm aware with my current amount of 48V batteries, the generator will likely be running just as hard to keep them topped off, and that's fine. Eventually that won't be the case, but the purpose for now is clean power using what I have rather than spending a few thousand for a large inverter generator. It's not my perm solution, but it will get me by until I have one. Thoughts?

What’s the absolute bare minimum amount of money you could have to start living OTG/homesteading? Like, cheapest land you can find, simple build, but durable enough for multi seasonal weather, with running water and electricity.

Hey all! I am trying to figure out an off-grid setup to run a window ac unit in New York 24/7 from may-september. The ac unit is 10,000 btu's running with a coolbot.

Does anyone have any recommendations of kits that could power this? New to solar and just looking for help with the math and what size I would need.

Thank you all so much!

Hi folks, I just took out the thermocouple because the flame won't stay lit. It looks pretty charred, is this usually what a thermocouple looks like when it's due?

Cheers.

Hello all! This is such an interesting way of living that I am so interested in. I came across the YouTube channel 'Homesteady' a while ago, and have so many questions that I think you all may be able to answer. They have 7 kids, and I just wonder if they are living so remotely, how are those kids meant to socialise and learn basic skills they'd miss by not attending school, joining sports teams, or even just seeing people on a regular basis? And what happens when they grow up and want to leave, I can't imagine how difficult it would be to adjust to normal life again if they choose to do so. I'm just curious what others experiences has been if you'd be open to sharing.

Hi all.

We're moving in to a tourer but there's no electricity hookup.

We have a solar panel and gas but also have an 11 year old who will want to play the xbox with his friends as we're moving him away from them.

Any advice on how to do this without it costing an absolute fortune? Looking at generators.

Also would like to use an airfyer and not sure if this is possible.

TIA

Hello r/OffGrid,

Following up on my previous posts, I wanted to show the electrical setup this time, along with a look inside the pyramid.

I wanted to share another update on the pyramid build and, this time, show what is actually happening inside.
The 4-level prototype has 40 solar panels — 10 on each face, 450W each, giving 18 kW of installed solar capacity.

One of the interesting things I’ve been observing is how the different faces perform throughout the day. The faces receiving direct sunlight produce most of the power at that time, while the other faces continue producing from diffuse and indirect light.

I intentionally separated the four faces electrically. Each group of 10 panels is connected separately to its own 5 kW inverter. This way, a lower-performing face doesn’t directly affect the others.
For energy storage, the system has two LiFePO4 battery units, 15 kW/hour each, giving 30 kW/hour of total storage capacity.

I also wanted to finally show the inside of the pyramid. There is quite a bit of natural light coming through the corner glass panels and the upper section.
The next step is to insulate the inside of the modules and cover them with decorative interior panels. The main purpose is to reduce heat transfer from the solar-panel-covered structure into the living space.
This is still a working prototype, so there are plenty of things I’m learning and improving as I go.
I’m happy to answer questions about the off-grid setup, power system, batteries or the interior.
And thanks to everyone who’s been following the build and contributing ideas and criticism. It really helps.

Hi,

I haven’t researched this yet but any of you guys have experience in using the wind turbines for off grid or private household? What are the main pros and cons? Any advice on using them? Any other factors to consider? Any suggestions for the brand or company?

Looking for recommendations, I am putting 2 inc totes underground due to extreme Texas heats to keep the water cool it’s a temporary while my water well gets done, what pump do yall recommend ?

Probably a dumb question but is it true that this tote can be used to store water for showering and dishes when cleaned out

It had a chlorine solution

Hi!

Currently in Suffolk, UK with broken down van (electrical issue).

Looking for short term park up in exchange for help.

White, British male (me, not the the dog) with in date government issued ID.

Huge amount of mechanical engineering experience as well as eco builds state side before C19. Can, have and will turn my hand to anything in return for some kindness.

Happy to chat and facetime(?) prior so all parties happy.

Currently stranded so looking for something pretty sharpish.

Many thanks:)

Any questions just ask.

I help organise a hemp expo in Tokyo and there's a building materials section in it, so I end up talking to most of the people attempting this here. I'm not a builder myself, so this is a question rather than advice.

Japan is hot and wet for a good part of the year. The thing that comes up from everyone who has actually poured hempcrete here is drying time. The wall takes considerably longer to cure than the European literature suggests, because the ambient humidity never gives it a break. On an off-grid build, where running a dehumidifier means running it off a system you sized for something else, that stops being a footnote and starts being the schedule.

Two things I'd like to hear from people who've built rather than read:

Has anyone cast hempcrete in a properly humid climate - southeast US, southeast Asia, coastal anywhere - and how did the real schedule compare to what you were told to expect?

And did anyone go to prefabricated blocks instead of cast-in-place to get around it? Blocks get raised as the answer every time here, and I genuinely don't know whether that solves the problem or just moves it to whoever made the block.

The other constraint locally is supply. Japan has almost no decortication capacity, so the hurd is mostly imported, which makes the material expensive before anyone has mixed anything.

Does anyone here live in an RV even though they're stationary?

I just purchased a few acres of desert in New Mexico. A travel trailer is pretty appealing to me because of the low cost compared to a tiny home and the fact I won't have to worry about permits and building codes as much. It's just me and my dog so space isn't much of a concern. I also have a lot of general handyman experience so maintenance and repairs aren't the end of the world.

I'm planning on slowly acquiring/building everything I need to get started over the next couple years before I start to live out there full time. I've been doing a ton of research, but the gist of my plan is this:

•Get septic installed

•Purchase a ~25' travel trailer in the 10k range

•Install a mini split and 800w of solar, supplemented by a duel fuel generator when needed

•Two or three 100 pound propane tanks

•Two 250 gallon IBC tote I can haul into town with my F-350 to refill, later down the line get a 5k gallon cistern or maybe even a well

•Build a carport with an attached 1 bay garage. Keeps my RV out of the sun and the garage gives me more storage and a decent workshop.

Is this a workable and realistic set up to start with? Any advice?

Here's a link to a facebook post with some of the same pictures where someone else says they built this in January. That person owns a company called SunPyramid that seems to have a facebook page but no website.

We’re driving a sand point well right now as we speak. 2”, we’re at 17’ now. We plan on driving another 5’ since my pipe is about 6’ in air. Dropping a fishing weight down tied to a trotline string, the last 3’ or so is wet and muddy.
I live in Eastern Oklahoma, 1/2 mile off the Arkansas River. Well is at the low point of my property which has EXCELLENT topsoil, then clay about 3’ down. Area it’s at is a slough most of the time, but is currently dry.
Any way to tell if I’ve hit water or not? It’s 1/4 mile from water and electric so I plan on using solar to use well for its purpose (water for livestock, irrigation during drought, flood my area for duck hunting).
Should I pour water down pipe? Get a blaster?
This thing has made a man out of me and my son. We’re averaging 1/4-3/4” every hit with a 45 pound t post driver!!

What is your experience so far with off grid communication? Meshtastic, Meshcore? Anything else? Can you share how does your setup look like? What have brought you best experience?

Long story short, I recently bought property with a fairly large creek and multiple springs and don’t know what to do with them. I already have plans for a micro hydro system but there is over 1000ft of creek and 3 small year round springs on the property.
The creek averages about 10ft wide, has a flow rate of about 1mil gal per day in the low season, and has a couple areas that are almost waist deep. Plenty of shade on both sides. Tons of rocks ranging from pebbles to 3ft in diameter. There are fish in the creek so no dams.
The springs get down to a trickle in the low season but one of them ends at an 8ft waterfall. They all empty into the creek.
I guess that’s about it! I can add pictures later. Just looking for some ideas of things to do with them.

Update: I’m really just looking for fun creative ideas. There is already a house that is fully self sufficient with the exception of power which I’m working on. I’m not worried about laws as I’m on a private road and the entire area for miles is private property. I’m not going to damage the ecosystem. Just customizing the land I bought.

Hey y’all.

Long time no post.

I was gifted a trailer with a Cummins 6bt motor and hydraulic pump on it. I was interested in the trailer primarily and the motor came with it.

1700hrs. Runs fine. In-laws construction biz closed down and needed their yard cleared out.

I know that’s a wonderful motor. I have one in my 89’ dodge that runs fine. I’m wondering what else to do with this one other than slowly using it as a parts donor.

I have 2 EV tractors with external hydraulics so no need for a stationary diesel hydraulic pump.

My solar and battery is super robust so I rarely need fossil fuels as it is. 12kW array, 60kwh storage plus 2x 100kwh batteries in the EV tractors. California so winter is crazy. Offgrid about 6 years now.

1.) Considering finding the rest of the Genset components and having a fuckoff big generator to charge everything quickly. (Already have a decent size propane generator though)

2.) Save for parts

3.) Sell it

4.) ?????

Any opinions? Is there some creative mechanical task I’m not considering?

I’m a good electrician, a kind of decent mechanic and halfway passable fabricator.

Wildest dreams what would you do with it?

Hi r/OffGrid!

If you saw my previous post about the solar pyramid I built on Saipan, this is a continuation of that story: https://www.reddit.com/r/OffGrid/s/Vk1A66H88h

This time, I’d like to talk about how it all started and what the actual construction process was like, rather than simply listing technical specifications.

Six years ago, my son found a small plastic pyramid toy in the sand and brought it to me. I kept it and put it on the dashboard of my car. The next day, it suddenly occurred to me: why not build a pyramid out of rectangular and triangular modules, cover it with solar panels instead of conventional walls, and create a quickly assembled, fully off-grid home?

The basic idea for the assembly and lifting method came together pretty quickly — using jacks or chain hoists at the corners, with hinged connections between the levels.

The goal was never simply to create something that looked impressive. I wanted to create a place where you could actually experience freedom and independence from the power grid and municipal water systems — without waiting for repairs or depending on anyone else’s infrastructure. True off-grid living.

A house like this could be built in a very remote location. The modules and equipment can actually be carried by hand, even along a mountain trail if necessary. No foundation and no heavy machinery are required — just a reasonably level piece of ground.

At this point, the technology has been developed to the stage where a four-person crew can assemble a four-level house in about 3–4 days.

Structurally, the house consists of rectangular and triangular modules welded from galvanized steel profiles. Each module weighs approximately 40–50 kg, and the footprint is 144 m² (12 × 12 meters).

Because the modules are standardized, they could potentially be manufactured on a production line. They are bolted together on site.

Each new level is assembled on the ground, connected with hinges to the level below it, and then the entire structure is lifted by one level using jacks or chain hoists at the corners and secured with bolts.

Solar panels and corner glass units are installed on the second level from the ground, and then the same cycle is repeated for the next level.

In the beginning, there was a lot of trial and error. We rebuilt various parts of the frame several times while working out the geometry and angles that would make the structure reliable over the long term.

From the very beginning, I had one major goal: everything — the modules, solar panels, equipment, and even the interior finishing materials — should fit into standard shipping containers and be ready to be transported anywhere.

There is still a lot of work to do before the pyramid becomes a fully finished living space, especially when it comes to the interior.

Ventilation is one of the biggest challenges. During the day, it currently gets quite hot inside, and solving this problem is my top priority right now.

That’s why I’d genuinely appreciate any advice from this community — whether it’s ideas about insulation, interior layout, passive cooling, ventilation, or ways to improve the structure itself. Obviously, many of you have much more experience with these things than I do.

Feel free to ask me anything about the construction process.

If you’re interested in future updates — electrical equipment, videos, the 8- and 12-level versions, comparisons, and so on — feel free to follow. And thank you to everyone who has already done so!