Progress: Foundation is finished!

More Progress: Footings

Its official!

I spent last weekend in Mexico, staking out the house and checking the orientation. It doesn't look like much, but this is a huge milestone for us! Construction has began. We moved the camper off to the side to make room. The next day the crew showed up and started the foundation work. At some point, they'll back fill the entire lot with about 3 feet of dirt to get it above the flood plane.

Breaking Ground

It's been a long time sense I posted. We've been busy thinking about all our options for our build, getting estimates, calling shipping container companies, saving our pennies, etc.

After much debate, we've finally settled on having a small concrete block house built by local Sayulita builders. We officially break ground the second week in March. I designed the house in SketchUp. It's small and simple (600 sq ft) but uses an open floor plan and what I hope will be a good use of space. We're also having it built in a way that will support a second floor if we  eventually want more space. For now, the roof serves as an awesome patio.

I was really hoping to build it myself, but taking a year off work just isn't in the cards right now. Also, my wife was stung by a scorpion last time we were at the property. That was a good indication that we need a safe place. The camper has officially run its course.

Lastly, after adding up the cost of building a shipping container house, it was about the same $ to have a small (but bigger than a shipping container) block house built.

So, with a little luck, we'll be receiving the keys to our finished house in a few months. I'll be traveling down to check on progress every few weeks.

Here's a couple images the house and the floor plan.

Coming soon???

The end of an era... and the beginning of a new

The Tiny Casita made its way to its new, but somewhat temporary home while the new owner (yes, I said new owner) completes the work, and prepares her for her more permanent home. It was a bittersweet morning indeed.

However, we decided that now that we’re a small family, and because we already have a "permanent" vacation home in Mexico, that we want to be more mobile. Each weekend a new adventure! Where the wind blows! With that in mind, we’ve purchase a vintage molded fiberglass trailer; sometimes refer to as an “Egg”. Our is a 1972 Compact Junior made by Hunter.

The great thing about these fiberglass campers is that they’re very lightweight. This one comes in at around 950 lbs. That means we can tow it with our Jetta TDI wagon rated for 2000 lbs. towing capacity. Plus, we normally get around 55 gallons (highway) per mile without the trailer. We’re hoping to get around 45 while towing which is really great.

The camper doesn’t look like much now, but by this time next year, she’ll be a beauty!

For now, I’ll be heading down to Pueblo this weekend to tow her home. Our plan is to enjoy her the way she is for the summer, and start a total restoration next fall. Stay tuned...

Time for a recap

I started this project more than a year ago. I originally had hoped to take the Tiny Casita down to our land in Mexico. I even built it with the harsh tropical climate in mind. Over the last two months I’ve spent 4 weeks on our land in Mexico and sense then, I have come to a couple inevitable conclusions.

We will not be bringing the Tiny Casita to Mexico after all. Logistically, it just isn’t worth it for me. The stress of trailering, or having it trailered for 2000 miles, as well as hoping to get permission to cross the border with an RV permit and/or import taxes just seems like too much. Sorry to the folks following the Tiny Casita build whom we’re hoping to see it make the journey safely to Mexico. It just isn't going to happen. 

After spending 4 comfortable weeks in our Motorhome, already parked in Mexico, I’ve decided that until we build a concrete house there, the RV is just perfect. Which brings me to my next point of discovery.

Maybe a tiny concrete house isn’t the way to go for our land in Mexico? Concrete block is cheap. Only about 1.5 Pecos per block. Why not build a slightly bigger house? Something that will last forever and can be used for generations. With that in mind, we’ve been talking with a few architects hoping to find someone that shares our love for simplicity. Will keep you posted as we move forward. 

That’s doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for the Tiny Casita. We’re currently investigating several options. Land in Colorado can be found relatively cheap, depending on where you look. We’re big fans of Grand Lake so for now, we’re keeping our eyes peeled for a good deal on a tiny chunk of land near the lake.

We’ve also considered a little piece of land near Traverse City Michigan. Michigan is absolutely beautiful in the summer. I grew up there and certainly miss the lakes. It was lifestyles I guess I took for granted growing up, but hope to share a little taste of the lake life with my son. My extended family lives in Michigan too so this would be a great way for us to spend time with family there.

As far as the build goes: Just a few things left to work on. Floors, and plumbing.

Mission accomplished!

It was quiet a trip to Mexico! Upon arriving I found a dusty old RV that looked worse for wear, and appeared to be lost in a jungle of weeds and overgrown grass. “Punchita” looked sad, and I started to second guess whether buying property in Mexico was the right choice.  To make matters worse, I found a few dead scorpions, and a live one inside the bathroom. A year of being covered and left for dead had taken its toll on ol' Punchita.

Time to get to work. With Punchita uncovered and sprayed clean of bugs and critters, I started to clean. As the dust and grime gave way to clean and shiny, I again filled with optimism. It’s quiet here, and beautiful. Flocks of parrots visit the large Mango tree each morning, surrounded by jungle and the warm Pacific just a few blocks away.

In order to get to the real work, I needed to move Punchita over a few feet and then slightly angle her for a better view. Battery still charged but no start. Later figured out it was a failed fuel pump. I "MacGyvered" the fuel pump from the generator with a new wire straight from the battery and boom! She started right up. I pulled her over slightly and laid down some thick black plastic to keep the moisture down and the bugs at bay.

Water: My original plan was to shop at Home Depot shortly after arriving in Mexico.  However, the Home depot was a crowded mess and didn’t have what I needed. I ditched Home Depot and decided to buy my supplies locally, which I feel better about anyway. With the help of the guy we purchased the land from, a few hours later I had a large cistern sitting on top of a block platform, filled with clean water and gravity fed into the RV. A solar powered 12volt pump provides pressure inside the RV. Water! This is HUGE!

Septic: I wasn't sure what I was going to do here. Buy a tank and have it pumped out now and then? Install a Biodigester? Great idea, but available by special order only. Then I got a crazy idea to build micro version of a real septic field.

With two 55-gallon Rubbermaid trashcans, some PVC pipe, some yeast to start the breakdown process and a few hours of digging our septic was complete. The idea here is exactly like a real septic. First tank traps solids and start the breakdown process. Any solids that make it into the second tank breakdown here. Remaining liquids disperse out the PVC leach field. I may decide to lenghten the pipes here eventually. We'll see how it works first.

Black water feeds directly into the septic system while the gray water can either stay in the tank until use, or go directly into the garden. This should be fine for occasional use. We'll be using only natural soaps and cleaners. Disclaimer: This septic system not legal anywhere! Use at your own risk.

Deck: I was hoping to source local wood but sadly, the lumberyard in Sayulita was out of the boards I needed. I trip to Home Depot in Puerto Vallarta and an hour of work and I have a nice deck. Something about a deck just feels better… and it helps keep the interior of the RV clean. PS, not sure this is what Thrifty had in mind when they rented me the car...

Love it when a plan comes together. With the help of a local gardener we cleared the land tall dead grass. The grass will grow back quickly and bugs will stay away if we keep it cut. Fridge and stove are both running smoothly on propane and I even have hot water. Cold beer and a hot shower, who can ask for more? Taco and cerveza time!

And now for some good news

I’ve been spending most of my energy getting ready for the trip to Mexico. However, while I've been busy gearing up, my step dad was here for a visit and offered to help out on the Tiny Casita. So while I was at work, and too busy making alternative plans for Mexico, he jumped in and coated the entire interior with two coats of Thompson’s water seal. It looks great! The sealer really popped the wood grain. So in addition to be all sealed up and water proof, it looks great!

Here's a photo of the carpeted loft. I used the carpet squares so they can easily be taken out to clean, or changed.

Just a few things left to do.

• Install doors and shelving in cabinets

• Sliding doors in bathroom

• Install shelving in kitchen and bathroom

• Electrical switch covers

• Install bamboo floors

I go about things the wrong way...

We've certainly had our ups and down lately in regards to the Tiny Casita project. We’ve had to rethink and re-plan but I think now, we’re in a good place.

In regards to taking our Astro Van and leaving it in Mexico. No can do. The MX government has been cracking down on illegal cars and has been known to take your car if you don’t have a proper permit. We can cross in our vehicle and get a legal permit for up to 6 months. After that it’s illegal unless you nationalize the vehicle. Well, we love our Astro Van but economically, it didn’t make sense to nationalize ($1900).

With that in mind, we reluctantly sold the Mighty Astro. Our hope now is that we can either buy a bigger tow vehicle here or our second, and more likely option would be buy a vehicle already in Mexico.

We also learned a few things about water and septic’s in Mexico. Seems we were going about things the hard way. We’re still interested in getting our well finished, but until then I can buy a tank, along with everything else we need, from Home Depot in Puerto Vallarta and for an extra $40, they’ll deliver everything to our lot. We’ll then have a water truck come and fill the tank. Simple!

As far as septic goes I have two choices. Buy a tank, burry it and arrange to have it pumped out now and then. Or the second and more likely choice, buy a small bio digester. 

Up until a few days ago I had now idea what a bio digester was. Our neighbor in Mexico suggested it as he is using one at his place. So for around $500 I can buy a bio digester tank, and the needed PVC tubing and with the help of a couple guys, we should have a self maintain septic that is also good for the environment buy reducing the amount of methane gas release into the environment. Price below is in MX pecos.

Long story short: We’ll be flying down in a couple weeks, renting a car, going to Home Depot, buying what we need, having it delivered and then spend a couple weeks working and enjoying. We’re still not sure what we’ll end up doing with the Tiny Casita. Mexico hopefully, maybe we’ll look for a small rustic lot here in Colorado, maybe we’ll decide to sell it. For now, it’s all about getting the land in Mexico to a place that we can start comfortably using it. Whew! Feeling better!