Tiny houses.

[shadows4]

Wife and I have been watching Tiny House Hunters on HGTV. Just don't get the tiny house movement. For what some of these are going for you could buy an awesone RV. JMHO

[tinner12002]

Some are considered RVs now as they have the same RVIA stamp. I have talked to one dealer/builder and they warranty them to be able to travel the highways just as well as an RV. Some are built on TT and some are built on GN or 5ver trailers. Custom built, home type cabinets not the junk RV type, same or better quality appliances as RV. I've been looking at them as a possible toy hauler...not sure why people think they are flimsy, built with 2x4 structure, some have horizontal wood inside and out. They use rigid board insulation or spray foam insulation. DRV uses the same basic stick construction but they use metal studs and rock wool insulation so why are they not considered flimsy also?? The RV manufacturers that I went through the factories on only use about a couple dozen #10 or 12 screws to hold the sidewalls to the base whereas these people use 3/4" bolts to hold walls to frame so where's the flimsy in that?? Just courious, been looking at them, pricing them, not any more expensive than an RV but built like you want it built with options you want. Not saying they are the answer but they might be worth looking into.

[1968mooney]

Has anyone noticed the "bias" against "tiny homes" coming from posters that live in units only a few sq. ft. larger than the houses? The people that sell these houses are called "foul names", just like RV Salespeople. My opinion is, if someone wants to live in a tiny house, who am I to put them down? I would not be caught living in either one. Seems everyone on the forum wants everything their way. Be careful what you ask for, you may just get it.

[WTP-GC]

Wake up this morning and read this thread...funny because my wife and I were discussing the exact same thing yesterday while watching one of these shows. Not only can you buy a good RV (with far more amenities) for the same or less cost, but you could also by an actual mobile home. We laugh when we drive by one of our local RV dealers because they're right next to a mobile home dealer. The RV dealer puts up a banner for a middle-of-the-road right for $39,995 but the adjacent mobile home is a 3BR/2BA 1800 SF with 2x6 walls for $34,995 LOL

The tiny home are for trendy granola crunchy kinda people (of all ages) who think there's something cool about living in an upgraded version of a 3rd world country standard home. Most of the people I've seen on the shows have either a transient job or some sort of artisan occupation. In other words, they're people that don't want to work...(get the popcorn)...

[bikendan]

and have you noticed that many new tiny home owners end up parking it on family or friends property?
so they don't even end up paying for where it's parked nor own land to put it on.:R

[Strabo]

Naio wrote:

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

kknowlton wrote:
What I don't get is the composting toilets. How do you dispose of the waste from them without violating zoning laws, etc.?

When the composting is complete - the waste is not a bio-hazard substance. All liquid is 'evaporated' - assisted by a heater to increase evaporation.

The resulting material to be composted is about 10 percent of the input material. A properly operating composting toilet can handle the waste of 4 or 5 people and only produce a few pounds of composted material each week.

Here is a link to a unit specifically designed for RV / Marine use - Evergreen RV / Marine Composting Toilet

I've seen a composting toilet installed in an Airstream. A family of three used the unit. The owner showed the state park manager his material to dump. There was no smell. He used sawdust as an additive, and his approx. 5 gallon trash bag of waste was according to him - two weeks of waste from three people.

Made me wonder about running 30 gallons of water and waste through the black tank every 8-10 days. Sometimes we choose less desirable camping spots because it has a sewer connection.

He used a 42 gallon Blue Boy for gray water collection and disposal.

Interesting that this second (third?) hand experience is so different from the experience of people who actually have composting toilets -- the real kind, that hold a year worth of waste. They say it still stinks after the year is up.

And, of course, the manufacturers say you need two years of composting before it is safe.

But give it a try, let us know how it works for you and whether it was worth the thousands of dollars.

You made me laugh, keep us posted.

[Naio]

PawPaw_n_Gram wrote:

kknowlton wrote:
What I don't get is the composting toilets. How do you dispose of the waste from them without violating zoning laws, etc.?

When the composting is complete - the waste is not a bio-hazard substance. All liquid is 'evaporated' - assisted by a heater to increase evaporation.

The resulting material to be composted is about 10 percent of the input material. A properly operating composting toilet can handle the waste of 4 or 5 people and only produce a few pounds of composted material each week.

Here is a link to a unit specifically designed for RV / Marine use - Evergreen RV / Marine Composting Toilet

I've seen a composting toilet installed in an Airstream. A family of three used the unit. The owner showed the state park manager his material to dump. There was no smell. He used sawdust as an additive, and his approx. 5 gallon trash bag of waste was according to him - two weeks of waste from three people.

Made me wonder about running 30 gallons of water and waste through the black tank every 8-10 days. Sometimes we choose less desirable camping spots because it has a sewer connection.

He used a 42 gallon Blue Boy for gray water collection and disposal.

Interesting that this second (third?) hand experience is so different from the experience of people who actually have composting toilets -- the real kind, that hold a year worth of waste. They say it still stinks after the year is up.

And, of course, the manufacturers say you need two years of composting before it is safe.

But give it a try, let us know how it works for you and whether it was worth the thousands of dollars.

[sdianel_-acct_c]

The only way I would buy a Tiny House is in a community like a park model. It is not for towing down the interstate hwy! There is a blog I just read about a couple that bought a Tiny House and now can't find anywhere to park it due to zoning issues and some campgrounds and RV parks not allowing them to rent a space there. They were in Colorado and asked to move 3x and decided to leave Colorado. A nice fifth wheel would be so much more realistic.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

kknowlton wrote:
What I don't get is the composting toilets. How do you dispose of the waste from them without violating zoning laws, etc.?

When the composting is complete - the waste is not a bio-hazard substance. All liquid is 'evaporated' - assisted by a heater to increase evaporation.

The resulting material to be composted is about 10 percent of the input material. A properly operating composting toilet can handle the waste of 4 or 5 people and only produce a few pounds of composted material each week.

Here is a link to a unit specifically designed for RV / Marine use - Evergreen RV / Marine Composting Toilet

I've seen a composting toilet installed in an Airstream. A family of three used the unit. The owner showed the state park manager his material to dump. There was no smell. He used sawdust as an additive, and his approx. 5 gallon trash bag of waste was according to him - two weeks of waste from three people.

Made me wonder about running 30 gallons of water and waste through the black tank every 8-10 days. Sometimes we choose less desirable camping spots because it has a sewer connection.

He used a 42 gallon Blue Boy for gray water collection and disposal.

[Naio]

kknowlton wrote:

What I don't get is the composting toilets. How do you dispose of the waste from them without violating zoning laws, etc.? Grey water I can see dumping on the ground

Both of these are legal in cities with modern building codes.

[kknowlton]

We enjoy watching the show; the use of space and making some items do double duty is pretty creative. Yet we chuckle at these kids who "don't want to live in a trailer park" and then end up in a CG in their tiny home.

What I don't get is the composting toilets. How do you dispose of the waste from them without violating zoning laws, etc.? Grey water I can see dumping on the ground (especially out on some farmland that isn't used for farming), but...

Interesting that only the most recent shows (currently there are 5 or 6 separate shows about tiny homes) have even begun to address weight and towing. 🙂

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Properly disposing of gray water is a complex task and pretty much requires the Tiny House be permanently setup.

A couple 'solutions'

What to do with Grey Water

Create and artificial wetland

The reality when you read the details is that unless they have an existing sewer system to hook into, most Tiny House folk just dump the water on the ground under the concept of 'watering plants'.

They consider it not sewage, but recyclable water if used to water plants.

[N7SJN]

I have yet to see what they do with the waste water. Composting toilet,OK,but where do you get rid of the waste water (grey water)?

[timmac]

I laugh at those prices they pay and some of the really small ones don't have a toilet or shower, when they decide to sell later on they will be lucky to get 1/3 of their purchase price or less even if it will ever sell..

Its a fad and soon many will see that a RV is a better deal..

[dapperdan]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
I think the whole thing is a big con and the network producers of those shows are laughing all the way to the bank. They are preying on people who will literally agree to do anything to get their 15 minutes of fame.
The show reminds me of watching another con, Dr. Oz, when he tells people that some roots and dirt ground up in a blender will taste exactly like a chocolate Sundae. Then you watch the people gag it down and summon every ounce of muscle control to not puke it all up and forfeit their chance to be on TV.

I couldn't agree more!! Just a big con game disguised as "entertainment". Ice Road Truckers and Axmen come to mind as well. Oh, and the WWE, the last "real" sport in America. :W

Dan

[bikendan]

irishtom29 wrote:

shadows4 wrote:
Wife and I have been watching Tiny House Hunters on HGTV. Just don't get the tiny house movement. For what some of these are going for you could buy an awesone RV. JMHO

Easy enough to understand; the people who like tiny houses want something quirky and cute and aren't particularly attracted to mass produced RVs and the squares they associate RVs with. What you would consider an awesome RV they might consider tacky and lacking warmth and individuality.

THIS^^^^

The Milleninials that are the majority of buyers, think that they'll be seen as earth-friendly and anti-status by buying a tiny home.
And a RV is for old people and not cool or hip.

It's the same thing why many buy the Honda Pious hybrid, instead of the Honda Accord hybrid.
Cause the Pious looks like a hybrid and not the Accord. They want everyone to know that they're all about saving the earth.
Yet they'll do most of the driving on freeways, where the hybrid is no different than any regular economy car.