I want to invest in Solar Powerd RVs

Gizmo j

Golden Member
Nov 9, 2013
1,881
510
136

I think this is the best way to solve homelessness.

I want to buy all-electric RVs and attach solar panels to it and sell them.
 

KMFJD

Lifer
Aug 11, 2005
33,885
54,574
136
The homeless don't have money to buy your fancy RV.
What about these?

a-little-hut.jpg


Shipping containers
 

Scarpozzi

Lifer
Jun 13, 2000
26,392
1,780
126
I suppose my annual electric expense for a 3000 square foot home is maybe $2,000? If you make a $120k RV solar, what does that add to it's selling price? How long do the battery banks last before you have that expense?

If you're willing to take cold showers or use a solar water heater for and cook and heat efficiently with gas....give up AC, you only need limited electricity. 1 panel might cut it to recharge a phone/tablet/laptop. It's still a much lower standard of living unless you are shooting for off-grid.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,600
1,005
126

I think this is the best way to solve homelessness.

I want to buy all-electric RVs and attach solar panels to it and sell them.

LOL! How long does it take to charge an electric rv using only solar panels I wonder...
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
71,266
14,063
126
www.anyf.ca
Would be something fun to build just for a project, but it would not be cheap, and definitely not for homeless. I always thought converting an old bus to an RV would be a fun project. I don't have room for that sort of project though. I really want a bigger property so I can get more into stuff like that. Then again I say I want to do all these things but half my projects around the house aren't finished lol.

If it was not for the stress and logistics of planing out where to park it would actually be cool to do a cross country trip in an electric RV. It would cost virtually nothing. When low on battery just park and go explore whatever town your in by biking or walking. Charging with JUST solar would take days though. But if you have zero plans and lot of time it would work out ok. BuT yeah the issue would be finding places where you're allowed to park for several days. Walmart is usually ok with it but you don't want to count on that everywhere.
 

SaltyNuts

Platinum Member
May 1, 2001
2,398
277
126
What does that fancy RV sell for? Can't imagine its cost efficient, much less something some homeless person could afford.

And what about those shipping containers, what do they cost? I've heard about those before. But they look all metal - would that not be EXTREMELY inefficient in the summer especially (in hot parts at least, like Houston)? Wouldn't it be cheaper just to pour four walls of pure concrete, then I dunno, some simple wood on top to hold more concrete poured over it for the ceiling? I would thing that would be an EXTREMELY good insulator, and maybe cost less than the container?
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
71,266
14,063
126
www.anyf.ca
The containers aren't cheap either. I recall seeing some for sale for a few grand and that was a private sale. The container companies seem to be very conservative about showing their prices on their sites, so I can only guess it's very expensive probably like over 5 grand. There's a neat appeal to it but honestly, at that price, it's probably not any more expensive to use plywood. You still need 2x4 studs inside, you still need insulation, and you still need a vapour barrier, and drywall. So really all you're saving is the outside sheathing material, and I guess siding etc, since you'd probably keep the metal part as the outside wall.

One main appeal of containers is you could get the skeleton of a building up fairly quickly though so you can work on everything inside without worrying about the rain etc.
 

snoopy7548

Diamond Member
Jan 1, 2005
8,301
5,384
146
What does that fancy RV sell for? Can't imagine its cost efficient, much less something some homeless person could afford.

And what about those shipping containers, what do they cost? I've heard about those before. But they look all metal - would that not be EXTREMELY inefficient in the summer especially (in hot parts at least, like Houston)? Wouldn't it be cheaper just to pour four walls of pure concrete, then I dunno, some simple wood on top to hold more concrete poured over it for the ceiling? I would thing that would be an EXTREMELY good insulator, and maybe cost less than the container?

Get a shipping container, slap some wheels and a motor on it, and BAM, there's your RV. Add solar panels and you're all set.
 

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
71,266
14,063
126
www.anyf.ca
Get a shipping container, slap some wheels and a motor on it, and BAM, there's your RV. Add solar panels and you're all set.

Or tracks, no need to worry about a steering rack and all of that, set it up to drive like a tank! One washing machine motors on each side geared down and a good inverter and you're good to go! Should get at least 1km/h out of it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: snoopy7548