A Blank Canvas

Well, here is the first photo of my future home! I didn’t set out to get a red trailer but the red one is what I ended up with! I had reserved a trailer to buy on Saturday. It was the economy model in white. Well...the trailer sales store naturally has a better built, more expensive model sitting right next to the economy model. I admit, I was easily persuaded to upgrade to the better built one. The fact that it is my favorite color had absolutely nothing to do with it, I swear!

If I had intended to convert this trailer to just go out on the occasional painting trip, I would have stuck with the economy model, however, I am planning to live in this trailer for an unknown while after the house sells. I wanted something sturdy and well built. The extra cost was probably less than what it would have taken to get the economy trailer up to the standard I want. I need it to last and I need it to be as safe as possible. This one came with a better quality tire for example. I could have replaced the economy tires but that would have just been one of the things I would have had to replace to get it to this level. All and all, I am happy with my choice and feel like I got a decent deal.

I drove it home and it handled quite well. I will say though, the fuel gauge dropped at an alarming rate and that is with an empty trailer! I am going to have to be very mindful of the weight I add when I build it out.

At the moment, I am gathering the first round of materials to begin the build. I will be starting with insulation. I am going to put Reflectix in the roof with a ceiling of bamboo fencing. Nice and light. The warm days we have been having recently showed me just how hot that roof can get in the summer sun. It was too hot to touch! The walls and floor will have rigid foam insulation.

While slowly gathering the materials I need, I have been planning the layout for the trailer. Here is a picture I took with the layout in blue tape!

The squares on the walls with the “x”s through them are where the windows will go. This picture is from the rear and is overlooking the bed. There will be a little kitchen area on the left where you can see several over lapping squares on the floor and a small tub at the far end. On the front wall will be a wall easel! I will be able to paint as large as a 40” x 40” panel. 

By the door on this side will be a cupboard to hold my electric cello. A small set of pantry shelves complete the tour at this time. I will have a lot of storage under the bed where I will keep clothes, sheets, towels, and other equipment. 

The two metal items on the floor are ladder racks. We just installed them this afternoon. I also found a brand new stainless steel rv sink at the Re-Store for $10! 

So first up is getting the insulation installed, then the walls painted, windows installed, the rough in of all the furnishings, and the electrical. I am going to be keeping things pretty simple to start with. I will be eventually adding a solar powered system to the rig. I am not adding water tanks or any gray or black water holding tanks. I will make do with water jugs and a simple bucket system. 

I did splurge on one item. I bought a teeny wood stove made for boats as my heat source. It was an investment and I will be able to use it in the future when I have land and am building the cob shed to live in while building the cob house. Lights will be solar or battery powered for now, unless I am plugged into shore power. 

That is it for the moment. The chaos of closing the book on my former life continues. It seems to be going agonizingly slow but it is moving forward bit by bit. 

Stay tuned for more updates!

-Renee