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Unique Off-the-Grid Home on wheels (Update March 2023).
We are currently putting our experiment to the test, having subjected our Design / Build to a program of robust field reviews. The results once again, are exceeding our expectations. Included are many images with descriptions of details, including observations and specifications. See also our Review page with product profiles and some recommendations. |
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Synopsis...
This Project is for the adventurous at heart. It's all about the idea of coming face-to-face with the challenges of today's living and embracing a lifestyle that gets the most out of life. Having lived aboard our sailboat for a number of years here on the West Coast, we didn't find it a stretch to design a unique ultra -functional, self-sufficient mobile living space designed for both the Vagabond or the sophisticated and discerning both short and long-term getaway proponent . The challenge was to incorporate and inter-relate all the systems required for creature comforts and efficiency of operation. This sounded fairly straight forward at first thought, but once we began the process it was anything but simple. It has taxed all our experience from our marine and rigging background in sailing, to Graham's background as a Master Joiner, to years of lighting design and experiential design and engineering for the Resort Industry and so on. The result is a very unique "Non-RV" Off-the-Grid home on wheels, quite adaptable to any lifestyle situation. |
The next challenge was to Custom Design and integrate systems, fixtures and finishes that reflect a smart, well designed, efficient and comfortable environment in a small footprint. It would have to have the ability to weather all the elements both warm and cold, wet and dry. It would also have to be able to live without connection to the global power grid for as long as needed. The goal was to make it intelligent but personable, happy but dependable, pleasant but robust. In short, all the elements that exemplify design programming at its best. Everything from dimmable reflector type LED luminaires of high CRI (Colour Rendering Index) values, to exquisite full-grain pull-up Italian leather seating, to the best (and most robust) stainless steel fittings available. This would be a "Non-RV" design build with smart electrical wiring raceways and efficient tambour storage with Forbo Eco Friendly Floors and non-VOC veneer core casegoods and solid VG Douglas Fir wood surfaces and so on... Scroll below the sample drawing for an update with photos.
We started with a Legend Trailer from The Legend Manufacturing Co. in Alma MI. A 7 x 16 Deluxe, Flat Front, all aluminum version. We found that this model best suited the customization elements of our Design concept. The next step was to configure the factory options needed as a base model to suit our build-out. Some of these included: Added aluminum frame members for reinforcement, insulation, thicker aluminum exterior skin, Salem vents, etc.
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Unique Off-Grid Home on wheels - Completion It's been over a year...Here's a sampling of the end result, which truly exceeded our expectations... |
Forward View
-Vertical Grain Douglas Fir inset cabinet doors and drawers with hand made fir pulls and finger grips.
-Soft-close Blum hinges and Tandem drawer slides.
-Custom stainless locking pins to hold drawers in place during travel.
-Solid Eastern Maple / VG Fir strip solid wood countertops with cork-lined lift-up recycling bins and wine cellar.
-All wood surfaces have satin waterborne finish with hand-rubbed Beeswax composite top coats.
-Aluminum Tambour rolling clerestory and garage doors.
-Focused, reflector-type, adjustable LED downlights (3000 K / high CRI).
-Full Unique Off-Grid Stainless Steel Range.
-Full size SS Sink and Faucet with custom inset cutting board.
-Vertical Grain Douglas Fir inset cabinet doors and drawers with hand made fir pulls and finger grips.
-Soft-close Blum hinges and Tandem drawer slides.
-Custom stainless locking pins to hold drawers in place during travel.
-Solid Eastern Maple / VG Fir strip solid wood countertops with cork-lined lift-up recycling bins and wine cellar.
-All wood surfaces have satin waterborne finish with hand-rubbed Beeswax composite top coats.
-Aluminum Tambour rolling clerestory and garage doors.
-Focused, reflector-type, adjustable LED downlights (3000 K / high CRI).
-Full Unique Off-Grid Stainless Steel Range.
-Full size SS Sink and Faucet with custom inset cutting board.
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Rear View
-VG Douglas Fir slatted back wall panel over 3mm Forbo Cork underlayment, both acoustic and insulative. -Maple and VG Fir solid wood countertops - (you can see the Fir inlay strips in this view). -Aluminum Tambour rolling doors at top clerestory perimeter. -Focused LED downlights at the ceiling beams. -You will notice an opening with shutters, which serves as both an egress passage and a welcome proximity to the outdoors on nice days. -The table is solid VG Fir, and the Italian Pull-up Leather Setee has a perimeter rail , which also acts as a raceway for wiring for USB, Volt Meter and Arc Fault / Ground Fault 120v AC outlets. The table drops down into a bed. The Leather covering the table is left over from the upholstery that we use for protection of the table surface. -The key on all solid wood surfaces to be held-fast is to anchor them with sliding rails so that the wood can expand and contract with changes in humidity. This way nothing cracks. It's an old-school principle built into all good furniture-making techniques. 
Mini Slide Show - The Process Construction, Methods and Materials. |
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Mini Slide Show - Custom Interior Detail Highlights |
Ruby being Mellow.
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Electrical and Solar. And for the Electrically inquisitive...A quick look at the Solar Off-Grid Power setup: |
Solar Charge Controller and Victron Cerbo GX and Circuitry, Midnite Solar Lightning / Surge Suppressor. Note the Marine grade switches, Circuit breakers, BussBars and tinned copper stranded boat wire with SS cable clamps.
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Rear Garage View
-Flip Down 12 volt and 120 volt Electrical panel -3000 Watt Inverter (Victron) -3 x 200 Ah 12v Lithium Ion Batteries (Marine Blue by Discover) -12v Contour Sub-Panels with Fuses (Blue Sea Systems) -120v Switch / Breaker Panel (Blue Sea Systems) -120v 30a Shore Power Switch (Blue Sea Systems) -150/85 MPPT Solar Charge Controller (Victron) -GX 50 Touch Screen / Cerbo GX (Victron) -BMV Battery Monitor and Shunt (Victron) - All Wire is Ancor Marine (Tinned, stranded copper) -FTZ Lugs, BussBars and Fuses (Blue Sea Systems) -Red / White Gooseneck LED Chart Light -USB / 12v / Voltmeter / (Blue Sea Systems) - 4 Position e-series Battery Switch (Blue Sea Systems) -Leviton 20a / 125V Extra HD Industrial Grade / Weather- Tamper resistant GFCI duplex plug. -RGB LED Floodlight IR Controller -MK3-USB Cable Interface (VE Bus to USB) Module for computer connection (Victron) -Low Wattage 12v Battery heater pads. -Low Wattage 12v Fresh Water Tank heater pads. -X-Sense Wifi Smoke Detector -Class ABC Fire Extinguisher -Ruuvi Wifi Temperature Sensor 
24" deep Garage at the rear. Electrical at left, Storage at right. Note the pass-thru at the centre and overhead block and rope for lifting. Screen at left door can be clipped into the opening if required. Roll Down blind can be used to close off the Electrical compartment.
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Keep in mind that this is only a snapshot. There are numerous switches and buss bars and circuit breakers and fuses... and so on. The whole Solar off-grid power system can be overwhelming if you don't have any electrical background. The idea was to thoughtfully engineer this assembly focusing on detail while keeping the concept and operation simple and functional.
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Exterior Views- Fittings, Awnings, Starlink, etc... |
Top / Roof View-
Streetside / Front- Folding Mast Steps for Roof Access
Sunbrella Custom Wheel and Tank Covers. 
Streetside / Rear- Wireless Security Cams, MIFI Antenna,
Rear Back-up Camera, and RGB Floodlights ; Brahma wheel lock, 30amp Smartplug shore power outlet. 
Furrion Tank-less Hot Water Heater.
Custom ZipDee curbside awning. You will see these gorgeous awnings as OEM on Airstream trailers (even the vintage ones.) Also notice the doubled hinges at the rear and the hold-open cambar clasp on the right door. We use a Ronstan quick cleat system to hold the doors closed from the interior, for quick egress to the exterior, if required.
ZipDee window awning covering all streetside utilities;
including windows, Salem vents, Aquor water valves, Perko deck fill, Furrion hot water heater and exterior shower access door. 
-Notice the superb quality of the welding at the mitred aluminum rear barn doors of this Legend trailer.
-Wireless / rechargeable Lorex 2K cameras mounted to the 80-20 rail system at the roof. - Curbside ZipDee awning tucks nicely into the curvature at the roofline. -Cast stainless eyelets are used with the 80-20 system. These are adjustable and designed to be load supporting. 
Starlink Satellite Dish mounted on 80-20 rails. Location and angle optimized to mitigate interference with Solar Array. Lower portion of bracket is permanently mounted to rail system. Dish is removed for travel and can be relocated to a remote bracket if required for better sky view.
Scanstrut waterproof Cable Seal to rout Starlink Cable thru Aluminum Trailer framework to WiFi Router.
Stovetop Espresso Maker
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Solar Panels
10 x 100 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panels (Renogy) in Parallel - Series Array, wired with Photo-Voltaic 10Ga Stranded wire into Buss terminals at Water-tight Scepter J-box. Quick-Plug solar connections crimped and soldered. Roof Rails Panels are slid onto an "80-20 System" 1.5cm x 1.5cm Ultralight Extruded Aluminum T-Slot Rails. Rail brackets are tapped into aluminum roof framing members along outside edge only, bedded with butyl rubber and coated with Manus Bond 76AM Polymer. Roof Fan Units 2 x Maxxfan Deluxe 06200K Smoke Lid Ventilation Units. 
Curbside-
Smooth Fenders, Side Entry Door, Legend Lit Handle, Fixed Aluminum Step, Mesa Ribbed Aluminum Siding, SS Cam Bar and SS Hold-Open Hasp. 
Custom Propane Tank Holder-
-Twin 30 Lb Propane Tanks (Worthington) -10 x 30 mm 80-20 Aluminum Extrusion Platform -SS 1/2" Threaded Rod with top Wing Nut and HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Spacer -Tanks are mounted on a custom shaped inset HDPE pad with drainage holes. -0-15 in / WC Winters low pressure in-line gauge -Rego Twin Stage Auto Changeover Regulator -Gas Lines are all Copper, sleeved with Nitrile Rubber Composite Hose 
Lightweight and non-corroding aluminum ZipDee Awning framework with Sunbrella Marine fabric in "Cadet Grey". Includes optional centre rafter support.
Satin aluminum tambour slats at the top portion of the window shade serve as a weatherproof cover for the assembly during travel. Also notice the Perko flip-down mast steps (used on both sides of the trailer), which are used as hose and gear hangers.
-Very cool cast ZipDee end cap at the streetside window awning.
Folding Mast Steps (a Sailboat thing) for Roof Access and hanging exterior lighting, hose and various gear. Can't have too many.
Meticulous aluminum welding at all framing members.
50 ft of extra cable has been coiled and secured at the roof, to allow for relocation of the Satellite Dish to an alternate mount for best reception. This would depend on available Clear Sky unobstructed views.
OEM Legend lit door handle.
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