Going Global in Nick Stratton’s Off Grid RV: The PlanetShifter.com Magazine Interview

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Going Global in Nick Stratton’s Off Grid RV: The PlanetShifter.com Magazine Interview

A large part of the reason for me doing this project is to show people that you do not have to live paycheck to paycheck. Imagine if you started out with something small like this soon as you got out of high school. The money you would have saved, there would be a lot more property holders, less loans defaulted on(less loans in general).

I think the people that give this a try will be happier after the fact. Imagine actually being able to work to live! Instead of live to work. For most it has been just a novel concept. Offgridrving.com is just one way to get out of the rat race, Why work 6 days a week and pay mortgage on a home that you are rarely (at least in the daytime) It makes sense to me that if you are going to work 6 days a week you do not need a large living space because you are gone all of the time anyways.

This is a little bit of where I am coming from. I have been stuck living paycheck to paycheck for far too long. I am 25 now and still working at paying off debt from when I turned 18 (and it’s not much at all maybe 300 on a store card here and 400 on a store card there, but the economy shifted and I’ve been unable to pay anything more than my day to day bills)

This is a similar story for many, many other people. I hope people enjoy the project and contribute to it. Off Grid RVing.com is busy being built up into a community where like minded people can share information and make a step to not living paycheck to paycheck.

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You are not really living off grid! You have simply changed the normal utility-based grid to a smaller node. How do you define self-sufficiency?

The grid refers to the electricity piped in from nuclear, coal, natural gas power plants, as well as the oil pipe lines and shipping grids that get the fuel where it’s "needed" Self sufficiency to me is having zero utility bills. The simple fact is that there is no reason that every house on the planet does not have some form of wind/solar setups. It can be as simple as a solar water heater on the roof to preheat the water. This is an off grid RV in every essence of the term.

How important is the mobility factor vs. the shelter itself?

The RV form factor works really well for my project. I can travel around or be stationary. Everything is built in, no furniture to purchase or replace, no vacuum to buy or bags/filters to replace. All in all it just works great.

What is the capacity of the inner tube biodigester? What are the safety issues?

I will be building and testing this small scale methane digester most likely some time after the MREA renewable energy fair - June 18th-19th. I will be there.

Tell us about the pros and cons of the harbor freight solar panel kit?

The cons: It might have the worst customer reviews I have ever read, 99percent of them deal solely with the charge controller though. Recently they upgraded the controller to a new digital version I have been getting mixed reviews on this one. I just might have to purchase it and do some testing here at Off Grid RVing.com to let everyone know.

Can you deploy a grey water system in an RV? What are your water options?

Yes you can. If you fill a 6 inch PVC to drink (or so I am told), this works on gravity. With that knowledge it would make sense that you could build a smaller scale PVC pipe sand filter to gravity feed your gray water into a "French Drain" (a hole dug in the ground and filled with goose rock). In some parts of the country gray water can be used to water the lawn and such. I do not use any cleaning chemicals, just vinegar and baking soda. I am pretty sure not a whole lot of much is going down my drains (lately a whole lot of sawdust while I’m building the off grid RV, heh)

Does the RV have many windows? Skylights? What systems are passive?

There are three windows and one window in the door. All 4 windows can open with a screen to keep the bugs out. The hot water system is utilizing passive solar energy for heating water for the shower and sink. I also found a neat solar roof vent that I am thinking of using in the RV. Later this fall when it starts getting chilly, I will build a solar pop can air heater to give it a try for day time heating. I have some other plans for night time/daytime heating too.

What are your thoughts on community choice aggregation?

Will check it out.

Is the vehicle pulling the RV running on alternative fuel?

At the moment, no. I will be working on that soon though. Little by little.

Will you calculate your environmental footprint throughout the year and report it?

Aye I can work on that.

Connections -

Nick Stratton
www.offgridrving.com
nick at offgridrving.com

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