How to Build a Boondocking, Bugout, Off Grid Living, Survival Trailer

Whether you're into extended stays far from civilization, or concerned that when society falls apart you need to be ready to fend for yourself. No matter what the reason, the difference between barely existing and being comfortable comes back to the basics of life as we know it.

Having access to clean water, electrical power, even showering facilities, all without expending precious resources, may seem like a pipe dream when you're mobile and living in a small space, but with a reasonable investment you can bring most of the comforts of home right along with you.

Odds are your traveling vehicle contains your sleeping arrangements. You might also have modest cooking abilities, some food and clothing storage, and possibly a porta-potty of some sorts. If you want to bring luxuries along it's time to look outside the box (your vehicle) for space.

Towing a small trailer isn't a big deal. By keeping it light weight, and smaller than the vehicle pulling it, the impact on your fuel economy should be minimal. Balance it properly and it should handle on the road like it isn't even back there.

What type of trailer you choose is up to you. Enclosed, or open, there are advantages to both. The important issue in your decision should be what can your tow vehicle handle easily.

On, or in this trailer the following should be carried, or mounted.

Electrical System:

Making electricity without a generator can be accomplished in two ways, wind power and solar power. Your trailer should be equipped with both.
A typical solar electric system consists of an array of solar panels, a bank of deep cycle batteries, and a 12 Volt DC to 110 Volt AC inverter large enough to run what you need to run. A minimal sized setup would be 100 watts of solar panels, an inverter capable of handling 1,500 watts of load, and battery bank of 2 or 3 batteries.

Don't expect to run an air conditioner off this size of setup, you'll only have enough power to run your TV or computer for a few hours, some lights, and occasionally microwaving a cup of coffee or bag of popcorn. With only 100 watts of solar power charging your batteries recharging will take some time.

The second part of your electrical system should be a small wind charger. 400 Watt models are modestly priced and readily available. Combining a wind charger with your solar system will greatly increase the amount of power you have available.

Water System:

Life without adequate water isn't much of a life. Relying on what little on board water storage you have will have you out of water in a matter of days or weeks at best. You can forget showering, there just isn't enough water for that.

Carrying a couple sanitary 55 gallon plastic barrels with you will allow for setup of a water catchment system that can provide both drinking and showering water. Excluding the desert southwest, most of the country gets usable rainfall on a regular basis. A simple plastic tarp, strung between some trees and allowed to sag in the middle and drain into a barrel, will catch all the water you'll need. If your trailer is an enclosed model, running rain gutters down both sides that are plumbed into a barrel inside will let you collect rain water even while you're driving. Remember clean rain water is supposedly safe to drink untreated. Personally I'd boil all water before drinking it.

Showering System:

Now that you have both water and electricity, setting up your shower is simple and easy. With a 12 Volt DC water pump you can plumb your trailer just like your house. Build your shower enclose within your cargo trailer, or open air with a plastic tarp offering privacy.

Nobody enjoys an ice cold shower. Your shower isn't complete until you have a way of generating hot water. There are a number of options when it comes to heating water.

With a source of propane it's a simple matter to plumb in a portable tankless water heater that will let you enjoy that long hot shower. Of course with society left many miles behind you propane may become a little scarce.

A solar water heater can be as simple as gluing end caps on a couple lengths of 6" PVC piping. Tap in a couple of fittings into the end caps and plumb your plastic tubes together. Hook them up so cold water is pumped into one end while hot water is being drawn out the other.

Paint your PVC tanks flat black. Exposed to direct sunlight this alone will work pretty well, but if you want the best results mount your black plastic tubes into a wooden box with a clear Plexiglas top. Line the box with shiny aluminum (even tin foil will work). This gives you the benefit of reflective heat being concentrated on the black tubes. This will get your water plenty hot.

Now lay in a supply of canned goods, or a 90-day Emergency Food Supply Kit, and you'll be ready for the next disaster or extended stay camping trip. No matter what the reason that makes you dependent on your own supplies, preparation can make it a reasonably comfortable experience.