Forums46
Topics538,021
Posts9,731,919
Members87,055
|
Most Online25,604 Feb 12th, 2024
|
|
|
Off grid hunting cabin
#8399201
09/27/21 01:30 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422
Sewer rat
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422 |
We are in the process of putting a cabin at our ranch. Right now it is looking like it will be a mobile home. It is hard to justify spending more on something we might spend 30 nights a year in.
We are getting a water well drilled, septic tank installed, and power is the next issue. We are looking at about 15k to have power ran to the build site. Are there solar alternatives that would do the job in this price range? We plan on having conventional electric central heat and air, and the water well to power.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8399205
09/27/21 01:35 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
|
Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
You can do a solar well and gravity feed the house/cabin via storage tank.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8399244
09/27/21 02:07 PM
|
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,695
krmitchell
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 4,695 |
15k sounds pretty cheap honestly. If you want ac/electric heat solar is going to be a stretch without a lot of batteries s and even then the summer would be rough for AC. A generator would be cheaper but comes with another set of maintenance/issues.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: stxranchman]
#8399245
09/27/21 02:07 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422
Sewer rat
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422 |
You can do a solar well and gravity feed the house/cabin via storage tank. I have seen those setups. My bigger concern is the electric for the cabin in general. Lights, heating, cooling, refrigerator, etc.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: krmitchell]
#8399250
09/27/21 02:10 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422
Sewer rat
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422 |
15k sounds pretty cheap honestly. If you want ac/electric heat solar is going to be a stretch without a lot of batteries s and even then the summer would be rough for AC. A generator would be cheaper but comes with another set of maintenance/issues. I'm not really complaining about the cost I think it is reasonable for what it is. I am just wondering if maybe the solar was a better option in my scenario. The 15k get the power to basically the corner of my place which would be an ok location for the cabin. Solar would give me the freedom to put it anywhere on the property without added cost. Electric service likely has some minimum monthly fee. Not sure if it is significant or not. We have rural water to the corner of the property but they want $100/month minimum for service and it goes up from there based on usage. I am getting a well drilled for 5k. I would spent 5k in their monthly fees in about 4 years.
Last edited by Sewer rat; 09/27/21 02:14 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8399272
09/27/21 02:23 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,385
Jroutdoors
Pro Tracker
|
Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 1,385 |
We put in double wide put it closer to road instead of where my mother wanted it for the same reason cost of power to site. Does not even cross our minds anymore as we still have deer and hogs around house even off the fm road
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8399278
09/27/21 02:25 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,841
DocHorton
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 8,841 |
Spend the 15k....don't think twice. Anything else will just provide frustration.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: DocHorton]
#8399320
09/27/21 03:13 PM
|
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,498
TX_LT230FH
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,498 |
Spend the 15k....don't think twice. Anything else will just provide frustration. I concur. We looked at Solar when we set up our place. It was fairly expensive, with a long-term pay out. We went with a local CO-OP and haven't regretted it. I asked if we could add solar and "sell back" the electricity we didn't use and the CO-OP wasn't capable of doing it. Go with the 15k and never look back. I only lost power for a few hours during this years Snowmageddon. If we had had solar, everything at the ranch would have frozen solid.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8399328
09/27/21 03:22 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
|
Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
You can do a solar well and gravity feed the house/cabin via storage tank. I have seen those setups. My bigger concern is the electric for the cabin in general. Lights, heating, cooling, refrigerator, etc. How far is the electric being run? I just had 1.4 miles run for $29,500...I had no choice since it was needed for me to build a home and live on it. I looked into solar cost vs. Coop power. A solar system to power the house and well would have been about the same cost as the coop power. Then I would have needed to replace the battery bank over time and more than once depending on life of the batteries and my life expectancy. I opted for the electircal coop power due to the costs down the line of the solar system. There was a 26% tax credit for solar IIRC when I looked into it. Have you priced a propane generator and maybe then dryer/water heater/etc run off of propane? For 30 nights per year it may be enough saving with the generator to go with it vs electrical power line and meter.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: krmitchell]
#8399370
09/27/21 03:49 PM
|
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794
ILUVBIGBUCKS
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 9,794 |
15k sounds pretty cheap honestly. If you want ac/electric heat solar is going to be a stretch without a lot of batteries s and even then the summer would be rough for AC. A generator would be cheaper but comes with another set of maintenance/issues. ^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^ To set up a solar system to power up ac/heat is gonna be very costly to say the least. Either pay up front to get electric to where you are putting your house or a gen set would probably be a lot better in the long run. Gen set whether it is diesel or propane of course will cost you a lot more to run than elec will in the long run so that needs to be considered as well...especially if you are going to leave the ac/heat on when you are not there.
High fence, low fence, no fence, it really doesn't matter as long as you're hunting!
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: ILUVBIGBUCKS]
#8399376
09/27/21 03:53 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,476
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
|
kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,476 |
15k sounds pretty cheap honestly. If you want ac/electric heat solar is going to be a stretch without a lot of batteries s and even then the summer would be rough for AC. A generator would be cheaper but comes with another set of maintenance/issues. ^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^ To set up a solar system to power up ac/heat is gonna be very costly to say the least. Either pay up front to get electric to where you are putting your house or a gen set would probably be a lot better in the long run. Gen set whether it is diesel or propane of course will cost you a lot more to run than elec will in the long run so that needs to be considered as well...especially if you are going to leave the ac/heat on when you are not there. Yelp, on my old lease I think we went through 1000gals if diesel. Biggest thing is fuel storage. Gas or Deisel over a summer isn't best option. So that leaves propane, but then you are at their deliver mercy
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400025
09/28/21 03:18 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 762
machinist
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 762 |
An idea on running power. I don’t know the area you are in but I bet you can someone to drill you holes for your poles. I am thinking it was like $250 a hole. Usually a co-op will have poles that they have removed, we have Brazos in our area.They gave us poles for free. Find you a oil field electric repair company to put up your poles and run your wire.You can probably DIY this for half the price. All the power company will have to do is the hookup
some people like silver and gold I like brass and lead with a little powder in between
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: stxranchman]
#8400030
09/28/21 03:25 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422
Sewer rat
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422 |
You can do a solar well and gravity feed the house/cabin via storage tank. I have seen those setups. My bigger concern is the electric for the cabin in general. Lights, heating, cooling, refrigerator, etc. How far is the electric being run? I just had 1.4 miles run for $29,500...I had no choice since it was needed for me to build a home and live on it. I looked into solar cost vs. Coop power. A solar system to power the house and well would have been about the same cost as the coop power. Then I would have needed to replace the battery bank over time and more than once depending on life of the batteries and my life expectancy. I opted for the electircal coop power due to the costs down the line of the solar system. There was a 26% tax credit for solar IIRC when I looked into it. Have you priced a propane generator and maybe then dryer/water heater/etc run off of propane? For 30 nights per year it may be enough saving with the generator to go with it vs electrical power line and meter. Roughly 3/4 mile. I haven’t t looked into the generator costs. I met the water well driller out there today. We popped the first hole and it was dry. We are going to move to a different spot and try again in the morning.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: machinist]
#8400035
09/28/21 03:27 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422
Sewer rat
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422 |
An idea on running power. I don’t know the area you are in but I bet you can someone to drill you holes for your poles. I am thinking it was like $250 a hole. Usually a co-op will have poles that they have removed, we have Brazos in our area.They gave us poles for free. Find you a oil field electric repair company to put up your poles and run your wire.You can probably DIY this for half the price. All the power company will have to do is the hookup I never thought of this. I have a a wide variety of heavy equipment and could drill the holes myself. I was already planning on dozing the right of way for the line. I have the capability of drilling 18” holes 8’ deep.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400044
09/28/21 03:35 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
|
Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
An idea on running power. I don’t know the area you are in but I bet you can someone to drill you holes for your poles. I am thinking it was like $250 a hole. Usually a co-op will have poles that they have removed, we have Brazos in our area.They gave us poles for free. Find you a oil field electric repair company to put up your poles and run your wire.You can probably DIY this for half the price. All the power company will have to do is the hookup I never thought of this. I have a a wide variety of heavy equipment and could drill the holes myself. I was already planning on dozing the right of way for the line. I have the capability of drilling 18” holes 8’ deep. I think you would then responsible for the line from the Electrical Companies last pole to your house in the future. Any ice storms, trees fall on the line, etc would be up to you to repair. A friend of mine had this issue in McCulloch county when he bought his ranch. The previous owner had installed the line from the front gate to the house. It was then his responsibility and he needed a new line. He either had to pay for it himself or pay the rate the Electrical Co quoted him for a new line. You can do a solar well and gravity feed the house/cabin via storage tank. I have seen those setups. My bigger concern is the electric for the cabin in general. Lights, heating, cooling, refrigerator, etc. How far is the electric being run? I just had 1.4 miles run for $29,500...I had no choice since it was needed for me to build a home and live on it. I looked into solar cost vs. Coop power. A solar system to power the house and well would have been about the same cost as the coop power. Then I would have needed to replace the battery bank over time and more than once depending on life of the batteries and my life expectancy. I opted for the electircal coop power due to the costs down the line of the solar system. There was a 26% tax credit for solar IIRC when I looked into it. Have you priced a propane generator and maybe then dryer/water heater/etc run off of propane? For 30 nights per year it may be enough saving with the generator to go with it vs electrical power line and meter. Roughly 3/4 mile. I haven’t t looked into the generator costs. I met the water well driller out there today. We popped the first hole and it was dry. We are going to move to a different spot and try again in the morning. I paid a water well witcher $100 to come out and find me a couple of spots. He has a 93% success rate and it was worth it for me since water can run from 220'-400' in the area I am drilling a well. My original spot I wanted a well, he said he would not drill there.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400138
09/28/21 11:53 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950 |
5K to drill a water well? The water must be very shallow where ever you are. Here to get a good supply of water you go between 500 and 700 ft.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400218
09/28/21 01:15 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091
Nogalus Prairie
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 27,091 |
For what you want to run, spending the 15K is the best option by a long shot.
I learned long ago you can't reason someone out of something they don't reason themselves into.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400221
09/28/21 01:20 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422
Sewer rat
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422 |
The water is less than 150’. Right now I am just paying $15/foot trying to find it. I actually have geophysical tools that can find the water with no sorcery but if they can hit within three holes or so it is cheaper to do that.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400284
09/28/21 02:05 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,593
decook
Extreme Tracker
|
Extreme Tracker
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 4,593 |
The water is less than 150’. Right now I am just paying $15/foot trying to find it. I actually have geophysical tools that can find the water with no sorcery but if they can hit within three holes or so it is cheaper to do that.
One down, two to go. Sure you don't want a witcher to verify before they drill another dry hole?
Press for an AMERICAN.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400293
09/28/21 02:19 PM
|
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422
Sewer rat
OP
Pro Tracker
|
OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 1,422 |
I don’t want to derail the thread but water witching is about as polarizing as Covid vaccination. People either swear it works or they don’t believe it. As a geophysicist who has spent the past thirty years mapping underground using science I fall into the latter category.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400326
09/28/21 03:02 PM
|
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,213
Hudbone
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 14,213 |
Elmo was awfully efficient with his peach twigs. He was either lucky or had an extremely coveted skill set.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8400334
09/28/21 03:09 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
THF Celebrity
|
THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950 |
I wonder if Elvira witches for water?
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8401086
09/29/21 04:26 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 762
machinist
Tracker
|
Tracker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 762 |
I believe in it. I have found water, pipelines and septic tanks
some people like silver and gold I like brass and lead with a little powder in between
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: Sewer rat]
#8403520
10/01/21 06:34 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,744
psycho0819
THF Trophy Hunter
|
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,744 |
I see a combination of all to best suit your needs.
A smaller solar setup for lights and small appliance needs. Generator to run a couple of window units for A/C when needed. Propane for cooking/heat, and to run the generator.
In the long run though, you'll spend more to keep all that running than if you bit the bullet and got electricity brought in.
Tolerance is the virtue of a man without conviction.
The end of the world began the day it was created, and life is a sexually transmitted terminal disease.
|
|
|
Re: Off grid hunting cabin
[Re: psycho0819]
#8406054
10/04/21 02:34 AM
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 168
billhoag
Woodsman
|
Woodsman
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 168 |
I see a combination of all to best suit your needs.
A smaller solar setup for lights and small appliance needs. Generator to run a couple of window units for A/C when needed. Propane for cooking/heat, and to run the generator.
In the long run though, you'll spend more to keep all that running than if you bit the bullet and got electricity brought in. This Look at solar power station up to 3000 running watts and 6000 watts start up power $4000 by Hysolis 6 solar panels @. 295 watts each $800 7000 watt Lifan generator $2000 Power center can run averything in small home while being charged by solar or generator when it’s cloudy use propane for hot water, heat and stove and worke great for me around 30 days a year check shopsolarkits.com This is my setup for 2 story 800sq ft cabin off grId
|
|
|
Moderated by bigbob_ftw, CCBIRDDOGMAN, Chickenman, Derek, DeRico, Duck_Hunter, hetman, jeh7mmmag, JustWingem, kmon11, kry226, kwrhuntinglab, Payne, pertnear, rifleman, sig226fan (Rguns.com), Superduty, TreeBass, txcornhusker
|