Going off the grid takes planning focus and a lot of dedication but it can be done anywhere. The key to being off the grid is being creative with resources and shedding those monthly bills like rent or a mortgage and of course electricity.
But the question isn’t typically what needs to be done but how to do it. So this is, How to Go Off Grid In:The City
The Beginning
How you began will definitely set the tone in regards to your level of success in the transition from how you are living now to going off the grid and planning is essential. You will need a proper vehicle for this to be an effective adaptation. That is the first plan to set in motion.
You will need funds to make the purchase and/or build your vehicle or tiny home on wheels. Decisions have to be made on the city you plan on staying in, insurance for your vehicle and registration etc. You want to smooth out any problems before you dive too deep into the project
Vehicle Type
You have a few choices when it comes to your “house”.
Van
Always a good choice, they are cheap, easy to find and have an abundance of cheap parts readily available. This is a concern mainly for expedience with any fixes that need to take place. The van can also be customized to fit your needs and they blend well into everyday city life. However, they have far less space than the other choices, may lack headroom meaning if you choose standard height you will be hunched over anytime you are inside. These are not always good on gas especially older models
Sprinter
Another popular choice. They are spacious with a good deal of headroom (no need to haunch over). Have decent space for a better floor plan and layout. Can be customized to suite your needs and also blend in with everyday city life and get decent gas mileage The issues are that they may be tall to fit in some city parking garages, they are outrageously expensive in up front cost and customization. The parts are expensive.
Skoolie
The buses sport old school all metal bodies which allow for further customization of the exterior. They are incredibly large and spacious, although you can choose smaller models for a cheaper build. Can be easily customized and have great head room making layouts more open. There is room for storage and visitors. Skoolies are atrocious on gas with some parts being harder to find. With exterior customizations and paint color changes they do not blend well into the city.
RV/Camper
These are spacious and with a lot of headroom. The more expensive ones have pop outs making them far larger than any of the other choices. They have standard layouts, sleep 3 to 4 and typically have water and septic systems. They also widely vary in price a new ones being price well over 100k and older ones can be had for free in some cases. The older ones are typically in need of repair and may cost as much to repair or more than a van build.
Trailer Type
If you choose a trailer some of the bigger cons are always the same regardless of the trailer choice. It will be harder to park in regular spaces limiting where you can go. They don’t blend with the city and most importantly they are all only as good as the vehicle towing them meaning more money up front and two separate entities to maintain. Two registrations, to separate insurance policies etc.
Tiny House on Wheels
This is a custom and spacious home compared to the vehicles. You can easily have full bathrooms and kitchens, multiple sleeping areas, alot of natural light etc. They are however expensive to build compared to the vehicles besides the sprinter.
Tear Drop
This is not really an option unless you have basic amenties in your tow vehicle. I’m not sure it would be comfortable otherwise. Now if you have a van and wanted to use all your space for a living, area kitchen and bathroom and got the tear drop trailer to sleep in that would make more sense. Personally I would just sleep in the van on a foldable cot or mat but it is an option.
Pop Up Trailer
This isn’t a great option for the city either. When you are traveling it is fine but setting up the pop outs is a more permanent feature that doesn’t blend well with city living. If it is done it typically needs to be relegated to particular streets or under bridges which limits where you can lay your head at night
Trailer Home
These comes in many shapes and sizes and boast the same perks of the tiny house on wheels. The difference is these can be had for far cheaper if you know where to search and most of them can be customized to a certain extent without affecting the structural integrity of the original build. The key with these is to keep the price low, not tear it down. A good example albeit on the more expensive side is the airstream. A cheaper example is shasta
The Decision
With the options available a decision must be made. The easiest and cheapest option for going off the grid in the city is the Van or the Skoolie. These are the ways that I have done it effectively. The Van is always my top choice because it is easy for it to blend in every scenario allowing you to rest unfettered absolutely anywhere. You also have more parking spaces available to you and less people upset with your vehicles present.
As soon as you start bringing school buses in neighborhoods, or RV’s and attached trailers your time is limited and people notice when you arrive. The key to living off the grid in the city is adapting and blending. You don’t want to be harassed by locals and or police Find out more about How to Go Off the Grid In: The City by clicking the link.
Let me know what you think, do you think you can live off the grid in the city?
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