I know it’s been awhile but I enjoyed watching this. Reminds me of when I used to build little huts and houses as a child out of randomn things. Sadly I see many people don’t have that imagination anymore. Great work!
The Dirt Effect yes it’s natural. People nowadays are just to fixated on being lazy and having others do things for them instead of working for themselves so they wouldn’t understand.
Thanks Paul, it was a lot of fun to build and makes for a nice quiet space to spend some time. No doubt you can relate to this. Your work is quite remarkable!
hey paul love your coroplast campers , i see alot of former homeless in my city using similar ideas like yours made of coroplast, its tyme i make one now for camping , cheers from surrey b.c canada
If I lived in a warmer climate, I wouldn't even own a house (by choice). I actually like tiny living spaces like this. If you could find a way to secure it or if you had local friends with a secure yard to store it when you wanted to wander around without the shelter, that would be ideal so nobody would steal it. I would also add a small motorcycle storage battery and a rooftop solar charger so that you could charge a cell phone and tablet computer and have some LED lighting at night. Nice work!
Emergency shelter that could be fitted with a heating and cooling unit run by solar power even a heat to electric power converter to run the a/c and lights.
I'm astonished at how heavily overbuilt this is, the size of timber used are wholly at odds with the type of structure being built! Not only have the materials cost a good deal more than necessary, but they weight considerably more than they need to be for such a structure. The weight of the finished unit, even with the lightweight roof panel was excessive for it's size. The size of the timber used for the bookshelf is beyond belief. A similar sized unit using the stitch and glue method would have been lightweight and immensely strong, enabling it to be moved one handed! However, all that really matters is that the builder is happy with it, the opinion of others (myself included) don't really matter..
Stitch and glue method? What size framing and wall board would you use? I'll admit there's a huge part of me that would prefer a double wall (of something lighter, coroplast perhaps) with some form of insulation between. Of course the creator is in Australia and probably doesn't need it lol
Thanks Will, it seems like Micro Shelters are the natural progression from their big cousins in the Tiny House Movement. I'd love to build a Tiny House one day or similar type cabin.
This one cost about a grand, but that is Australian prices and for new materials. It is kind of expensive to ship stuff to Australia, hence the inflated prices. You could build one out of scrap for much less. You and the Old Man should get on the tools together. A word of warning though, once you start building stuff it can get quite addictive. Enjoy!
That's very nice of you to say Dapeng Hsu. If you are still keen to hear more, I have started a trivia training school called Pub Quiz Prep, the website is not surprisingly called www.PubQuizPrep.com and as always there is an associated TH-cam channel.
Action Hero G'Day Action Hero, I love your comment. You might be in the camp of people that see this as a coffin on wheels. If so you might enjoy further discussion and analysis in the film 'Can You Be Interred in a Micro Shelter' th-cam.com/video/hnR3NH_5Mwk/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching!
A tent can only protect you so much. Something like what was described could not only make a camping trip pleasant it could also save you life or your loved ones in an emergency situation! ; )
Things change really quickly when you least are prepared for them too! I always ask myself a lot of what ifs. I can not prepare for everything but I can at least know how to respond when things don't go had planned. This is why I thought of different ways to address emergency shelters that can be used for any natural desaster. That are easy to deploy and get the job done.
I even thought about an inflatable emergency shelter that works just like a emergency life raft. That is filled with foam that hardens making it more durable and permanent. Even green houses that can be connected to the shelters. To grow food create fresh water and provide oxygen if the air was toxic. Not to mention solar panels and heat transducers that generate electricity to run heating and cooling within these shelters. Water hammers to help with treatment and to provide heat and moisture for a closed environment while controling molds and fungus and other harmful organisims. You know with the world going so crazy I have been brain storming like mad. I have come up with some really cool advancements.
Torsion box floor from 4mm ply and 3/4 ribs, filled with foam for insulation and canvas covered foam walls would cut your weight to 1/4 to 1/5 of what you seem to have now. Might even go lighter on the floor by using 1/2 plywood as ribs, strength is in the skins. Foam canvas technique is cheap.
You could make a collapsible shelter out of fiber glass pannels with foam insulation on the inside that lock into place from the ground up with the roof locking in place holding it all together. Seven feet long three feet wide and twelve inches high when closed with handles and wheels. ; )
A quanza hut design made from corraplast would work. Double up the corraplast and use foil bubble insulation inbetween the corraplast and revit the sheets together and put a window and a door in the front and rear panels. Then take a few aluminum straight ladders and use them to form the skeleton of the shelter to hold front and rear panels in place. Then have an insulated tarp that you pulled out of the base that was on a spring roller to cover the shelter and attach to other side of base. Light weight easy to use very cheap. Novartis
It would just be an upgraded design idea that Paul Elkins had. Hay you could even use aluminum ladders to make bunk beds or a bed. Even designed to be telescopicbto take up less space. ; )
These wooden chicken coops are reallly a waste of materials time and money because they will not last and are really just designed to fail to begin with. = /
If you take the board over you window and hinge it at the bottom, add two pieces os rope to keep it from falling all the way down, then you have a table on the outside. If you open the window you can reach it from the in side.
i think caravan sites and donated old caravans and tents and land would be a great idea for homeless people , everyone needs somewhere to live and its better than the streets , why dont we have much like this in the uk ? the only sites you see are on the outskirts and are normally full of close nit travellers
Thanks Lacrosse_Boy_7898 Making stuff from scratch is a great way to customize your end result in alignment with your specific goals. I wish more people designed things uniquely for themselves rather than trying to please the masses or buying a mass produced product that isn't quite right.
u should `ve added u a sun roof curtin to block the sun on those hot days your trying to stay kewl ....... plus with the curtin it might block rain noises .......
Thanks Dick Flinghammer, Yeah this micro shelter would be a little hard to take long distance on foot or behind a bicycle. Would turn a few heads though.
I think it's a nice build. If you topped it with a few solar panels, and provided a little room for a couple of 12V Deep cycle batteries and charge controller, it's be near perfect. Then of course you'd wire in some 12V Power ports and lighting... and Voila...! Curious though... how do you get it to your 'site' on such small casters?
I love this! People with the creativity & passion to fill this niche:) But there's a HUGE & DESPERATE chunk of population out there, that's not being considered. Focusing only on the HOMELESS, these ideas may never LAUNCH. Having $00.00 return on investment, liability, & possibility of lowering surrounding property values. The people living in very real terror, horrible lack of security, even in abuse, as I am... are those on Social Security & disabled. We have money, just not enough to fit into mainstream. We can't be homeless, we're not well. Living on $937mo. I'll for the first time have hope, when investors/builders start putting together wee tiny home "communities". Perhaps 100' (shed size) w/ loft, fully contained, 6-7,000 Something people could pay off in a few years, then have just a land payment, possibly set by percentage of income. Good investment for all parties:) This is a project that would LAUNCH.
A working result is always a good thing! Where do you plan to use it ? In your garden or around your house ? As I'm looking for further distances, I'm interested in a lighter multifunctional bicycle trailor, which can be equiped as a sleeping shelter too. I assume you could also create a bicycle trailor when using material with lower density (weight per volume) but with same or better strongness as camping & tent equipment does. Actually I started with residual material and few bought new parts. During my work I rethought and redecided to make it in a different way. Thats why I'm looking for better solutions like here.
With all that excessive 2x4 material he's going to need a mule to pull it any distance. All the casters do is make it easier for law enforcement to tow it away.
Hi, yeah this was to be used in the backyard. The wheel design was for occasional repositioning to take advantage of solar gain with the changing seasons.
+NeuroInfinity I probably dropped about $800 on this project. But if recycled elements were used or you live in a different country (not Australia) it would be a lot cheaper. The wheels and roof were quite expensive. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
It hit five degrees F last night at my residence and I live near the southern Border of TN/AL. Would this thing keep me world or would I freeze to death?
Hi Dwight, this is made for Sydney (Australia) conditions but you might need a bit more insulation where you live. Given its small, your body heat does help quite a bit if you keep the door and window closed.
Very nicely done! I am thinking of making a micro shelter myself. How has the Outback Shack held up over the years? I was also wondering how thick the plywood you used is.
Hi, awesome shack! How is it holding up after all these years? And if its still alive it would be nice to see like a follow up video after all these years.
Still standing. The exterior paint work isn't as crisp as it once was, but I kind of like the weathered patina. You'll catch glimpses of it in my newer films, for example the Hen House build. Thanks for commenting.
As a safety shelter yes, but this is another thing. I would say it rather be as it is, no phone charging, ipads, or anything that lets you engage in electonic devices. Its too cool to spoil it with that.
Ever heard of a tent? It can fold up in a small bag and weighs nothing. I've lived in a tent for 10 days of continuous rain and it was completely waterproof. Soccer fields and green belts could be opened up at night for homeless people with little or no impact.
I took this build pretty slowly and worked on it between a full time job, looking after a growing family and community commitments. All up it was over 6 months. If you could set aside a good week of construction time, you would be finished pretty easily.
Super great job, Nathan! In fact, I'm starting the build this week of my own micro shelter. I will be using a lot of recycled materials and have a budget of $150... I know yours cost about a grand to make and sadly, I haven't that kinda cash. So, I'm curious... do you have a parts list? Or even plans that can be purchased? Inquiring minds wanna know. :)
Kelley Chambers Hey Kelley, that's great that you are building your own Micro Shelter! I basically only worked from the plan that I had in my head and this was refined as I built. Sorry there is no printed version. You'll find the website has a pretty detailed build process though, www.thedirteffect.com/the-latest/archives/07-2012/3 , I would love to see some of your photos of your micro shelter. I reckon the use of re-claimed materials will give it more character too!! All the best.
+ratrod diesels My brother and I crafted that pull over in a cabin he and his wife were living in that was in the middle of a State Forest. Completely off grid and all. Nice place. My brother was the brains behind the design and I did a bit of stitching. I was keen for a bigger hood but my bro reined me in.
I love this project and i'm interested in doing something similar, how much did it cost you and do you have any advice for someone starting their own micro shelter build?
I’m working on one too so it’s kind of funny because I’m trying to build one and I have all the right pieces it’s just that it’s being a struggle right now because it’s so hot out here and I’m getting it done now I’ve got one piece of wood cutting few more to go only one more to go and I’m done yeah and then I’ll have the trailer almost built
Richard Terry I am hoping that a kind hearted truckie will allow me to hitch it to the back of their road train. If I run out of road, I guess I am pushing it the rest of the way.
One need be cautious about pranksters, or worse, being easily able to lock one inside one's shelter. A traditional hasp and padlock can be dangerous simple because even a stick passed through the hasp can lock you inside.
I did think about installing a turret in order to maintain security, but instead put a simple toilet type latch which is useable from both sides and located next to an opening window. Basically I didn't want the kids to be able to lock/trap themselves inside.
They are 200mm castors. Two of them swivel and two are fixed so I can steer the Outback Shack around the backyard. I got them sent across from Western Australia.
About a grand. You could do it for a lot less if you sourced reclaimed materials and were flexible with your design. I did this instead of an extending our main dwelling so I was happy to be a bit more indulgent on the materials.
I consider Paul Elkins as the modern day Leonardo da Vinci, whereas I view myself as a backyard enthusiast. The idea was originally planted after viewing a film by Derek Diedrickson $200 micro shelter/hut/vacation camp-simple to build/small budget weekend camp/home (Occupy Boston?). He made what was called 'The Little Blue Bump'. This design morphed in my head over a six month period and ended up resulting in the Outback Shack Micro Shelter. This end product looks more like Elkins design than Diedrickson's, but that was the sequence of events. Both Elkins and Diedrickson are geniuses with their own unique approach. I find both of them inspiring and refreshing.
I want one for my self I really need that at this moment at this time... 😭😭😭😭 But I can't even afford the materials and can't do it by my own maybe I can but I don't have material s and equipment 😭😭😭 whats makes me sad that I really need that 😭😭😭
Thanks for the comment Josephine. Tipping it on end to install the wheels was one of those moments that could have gone horribly wrong. I kind of approached this with a win/win mindset. Either I walk away with my spine intact, or this film goes viral.
The sound of the rain is a huge blessing. I love it.
I know it’s been awhile but I enjoyed watching this. Reminds me of when I used to build little huts and houses as a child out of randomn things. Sadly I see many people don’t have that imagination anymore. Great work!
Thanks for commenting, it is a great feeling to get amongst it and work with your hands on a project.
The Dirt Effect yes it’s natural. People nowadays are just to fixated on being lazy and having others do things for them instead of working for themselves so they wouldn’t understand.
Don't worry about other people: Just live your best creative life and be grateful you're this way. Peace.
I like it! Looks very inviting.
You truly are amazing !!! As a designer I am completely taken back by your work !!
Aqsa Riaz
Aqsa Riaz
Thanks Paul, it was a lot of fun to build and makes for a nice quiet space to spend some time. No doubt you can relate to this. Your work is quite remarkable!
hey paul love your coroplast campers , i see alot of former homeless in my city using similar ideas like yours made of coroplast, its tyme i make one now for camping , cheers from surrey b.c canada
Carpet squares affixed on the inside would take out the hollow drum sound and insulate the walls at the same time.
I love the porta potty lock! Genius!!
It was a great idea until someone took it a little too literally one day. Oh well, at least the micro shelter isn't carpeted.
If I lived in a warmer climate, I wouldn't even own a house (by choice). I actually like tiny living spaces like this. If you could find a way to secure it or if you had local friends with a secure yard to store it when you wanted to wander around without the shelter, that would be ideal so nobody would steal it.
I would also add a small motorcycle storage battery and a rooftop solar charger so that you could charge a cell phone and tablet computer and have some LED lighting at night.
Nice work!
You have probably already stumbled across this guy but if not check out Rob Greenfield. He is doing just what you describe.
Great job
Nathan Anderson!
Thanks Donna, it was a lot of fun to build. Thanks for watching.
You are welcome
Nice, idea shack. Congratulations!
You are gifted!
Thanks for watching, Happy New Year!
Cool design, mate. Thanks for the sharing
Good job
Emergency shelter that could be fitted with a heating and cooling unit run by solar power even a heat to electric power converter to run the a/c and lights.
I'm astonished at how heavily overbuilt this is, the size of timber used are wholly at odds with the type of structure being built!
Not only have the materials cost a good deal more than necessary, but they weight considerably more than they need to be for such a structure.
The weight of the finished unit, even with the lightweight roof panel was excessive for it's size.
The size of the timber used for the bookshelf is beyond belief.
A similar sized unit using the stitch and glue method would have been lightweight and immensely strong, enabling it to be moved one handed!
However, all that really matters is that the builder is happy with it, the opinion of others (myself included) don't really matter..
Stitch and glue method?
What size framing and wall board would you use?
I'll admit there's a huge part of me that would prefer a double wall (of something lighter, coroplast perhaps) with some form of insulation between. Of course the creator is in Australia and probably doesn't need it lol
thank you sir for sharing a greaat video i injoyed it greatly.....
Awesome!Very creative
Sandra Fuller Thanks Sandra.
Awesome its like a fancy dog house 4 people. I love it . get away from wife box. They will sell as fast as you can build them. What its really 4.
Love it a great way to go camping..
Built something like this and boy it was heavy and no good on hills you definitely get a work out pulling it.
That thing was definitely built very very heavy
I’m thinking of using foam for this reason
Very nice and cozy! : )
Wow this thing is awesome i like small things like that :D
Thanks Will, it seems like Micro Shelters are the natural progression from their big cousins in the Tiny House Movement. I'd love to build a Tiny House one day or similar type cabin.
Yes i was thinking to talk my dad into building one of these awesome things you've made . How much does it cost to make its cool?
This one cost about a grand, but that is Australian prices and for new materials. It is kind of expensive to ship stuff to Australia, hence the inflated prices. You could build one out of scrap for much less. You and the Old Man should get on the tools together. A word of warning though, once you start building stuff it can get quite addictive. Enjoy!
Thank you :D
I like the way you talk very much. I watched some of your videos several years ago. I thought it was a deck project.
That's very nice of you to say Dapeng Hsu. If you are still keen to hear more, I have started a trivia training school called Pub Quiz Prep, the website is not surprisingly called www.PubQuizPrep.com and as always there is an associated TH-cam channel.
Can you build one tall enough for you to stand up in?
Wow, you have a really nice collection of power tools - which enabled you to build ... a box.
Action Hero G'Day Action Hero, I love your comment. You might be in the camp of people that see this as a coffin on wheels. If so you might enjoy further discussion and analysis in the film 'Can You Be Interred in a Micro Shelter' th-cam.com/video/hnR3NH_5Mwk/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching!
The Dirt Effect I see what u did there 😂😂 that would of pissed me off
A tent can only protect you so much. Something like what was described could not only make a camping trip pleasant it could also save you life or your loved ones in an emergency situation! ; )
+Jim Martin Thanks Jim. It certainly has gone through some pretty wild weather and come out the other side still intact.
Things change really quickly when you least are prepared for them too! I always ask myself a lot of what ifs. I can not prepare for everything but I can at least know how to respond when things don't go had planned. This is why I thought of different ways to address emergency shelters that can be used for any natural desaster. That are easy to deploy and get the job done.
I even thought about an inflatable emergency shelter that works just like a emergency life raft. That is filled with foam that hardens making it more durable and permanent. Even green houses that can be connected to the shelters. To grow food create fresh water and provide oxygen if the air was toxic. Not to mention solar panels and heat transducers that generate electricity to run heating and cooling within these shelters. Water hammers to help with treatment and to provide heat and moisture for a closed environment while controling molds and fungus and other harmful organisims. You know with the world going so crazy I have been brain storming like mad. I have come up with some really cool advancements.
I even learned about infrasound that speeds up plant growth has well! Its been an amazing time.
+Jim Martin Aside from anything else, it is nice to become that little bit more self-sufficient and hopefully useful and productive for others.
We are trying to do the same where we live in Hanford Ca.93230, making them for the homeless. Thanks for sharing, gave us some more Idea's
+Robert Sandoval That's great Robert, good on you. I'd love to see some photos of the finished shelters!
Robert Sandoval no ur not lol
Torsion box floor from 4mm ply and 3/4 ribs, filled with foam for insulation and canvas covered foam walls would cut your weight to 1/4 to 1/5 of what you seem to have now. Might even go lighter on the floor by using 1/2 plywood as ribs, strength is in the skins. Foam canvas technique is cheap.
Not bad at all bro👍
Neat, I like the idea.
I LOVE this!!!
that is really cool :)
You could make a collapsible shelter out of fiber glass pannels with foam insulation on the inside that lock into place from the ground up with the roof locking in place holding it all together. Seven feet long three feet wide and twelve inches high when closed with handles and wheels. ; )
Paul Elkins does lighter weight ones with political sign boards.
Or use Azdale with frameless Windows and doors.
A quanza hut design made from corraplast would work. Double up the corraplast and use foil bubble insulation inbetween the corraplast and revit the sheets together and put a window and a door in the front and rear panels. Then take a few aluminum straight ladders and use them to form the skeleton of the shelter to hold front and rear panels in place. Then have an insulated tarp that you pulled out of the base that was on a spring roller to cover the shelter and attach to other side of base. Light weight easy to use very cheap. Novartis
It would just be an upgraded design idea that Paul Elkins had. Hay you could even use aluminum ladders to make bunk beds or a bed. Even designed to be telescopicbto take up less space. ; )
These wooden chicken coops are reallly a waste of materials time and money because they will not last and are really just designed to fail to begin with. = /
It looks quite nice but seems exceptionally heavy. I'm sure less heavy duty lumber would work just as well & increase ease of mobility.
My great relief came after I placed it back down on the ground after installing the wheels and did not suffer a herniated disc in my lumber spine.
might be good to cut a piece of roofing felt to put on top, and take off, so less noise when raining
If you take the board over you window and hinge it at the bottom, add two pieces os rope to keep it from falling all the way down, then you have a table on the outside. If you open the window you can reach it from the in side.
i think caravan sites and donated old caravans and tents and land would be a great idea for homeless people , everyone needs somewhere to live and its better than the streets , why dont we have much like this in the uk ? the only sites you see are on the outskirts and are normally full of close nit travellers
Which you can fit any where and it would be light weight but very durable and could be used in any weather. ; )
I wanted to be criticiz it but I can't becuse it's your design and I like that you like it mate
Thanks Lacrosse_Boy_7898 Making stuff from scratch is a great way to customize your end result in alignment with your specific goals. I wish more people designed things uniquely for themselves rather than trying to please the masses or buying a mass produced product that isn't quite right.
u should `ve added u a sun roof curtin to block the sun on those hot days your trying to stay kewl ....... plus with the curtin it might block rain noises .......
During the warmer months I have started putting some artificial grass on the roof to take the edge off the heat.
great job!
nice, 2 thumb's up!
I like!
I likee but I need aero-light weight to prevent miles of exaggerated explatives in headwinds and uphill conditions. Cheers
Thanks Dick Flinghammer, Yeah this micro shelter would be a little hard to take long distance on foot or behind a bicycle. Would turn a few heads though.
I think it's a nice build. If you topped it with a few solar panels, and provided a little room for a couple of 12V Deep cycle batteries and charge controller, it's be near perfect. Then of course you'd wire in some 12V Power ports and lighting...
and Voila...!
Curious though... how do you get it to your 'site' on such small casters?
yeah. that was a concern of mine too. he may live where it is warm.
shoushikochou he's from Australia so i geuss it is warm he lives.
you didn't allow enough thickness under the cabinet for the mattress as well as the length of your feet?
they should build shitloads of these for homeless people
Jay Haych yup! Crate them up and ship em out!
You didn't leave room for mattress under your feet?
Wait!! They make laser guided jigsaws???? Why haven’t I heard about this??? 🙈🙈🙈🙈
I love this! People with the creativity & passion to fill this niche:) But there's a HUGE & DESPERATE chunk of population out there, that's not being considered. Focusing only on the HOMELESS, these ideas may never LAUNCH. Having $00.00 return on investment, liability, & possibility of lowering surrounding property values. The people living in very real terror, horrible lack of security, even in abuse, as I am... are those on Social Security & disabled. We have money, just not enough to fit into mainstream. We can't be homeless, we're not well. Living on $937mo. I'll for the first time have hope, when investors/builders start putting together wee tiny home "communities". Perhaps 100' (shed size) w/ loft, fully contained, 6-7,000 Something people could pay off in a few years, then have just a land payment, possibly set by percentage of income. Good investment for all parties:) This is a project that would LAUNCH.
That is a great idea Anna. Have you checked out the work of Habitat for Humanity?
A working result is always a good thing! Where do you plan to use it ? In your garden or around your house ? As I'm looking for further distances, I'm interested in a lighter multifunctional bicycle trailor, which can be equiped as a sleeping shelter too.
I assume you could also create a bicycle trailor when using material with lower density (weight per volume) but with same or better strongness as camping & tent equipment does.
Actually I started with residual material and few bought new parts. During my work I rethought and redecided to make it in a different way. Thats why I'm looking for better solutions like here.
With all that excessive 2x4 material he's going to need a mule to pull it any distance.
All the casters do is make it easier for law enforcement to tow it away.
Hi, yeah this was to be used in the backyard. The wheel design was for occasional repositioning to take advantage of solar gain with the changing seasons.
Why not put shingles or vinyll siding to protect the wood finish?,or pehaps paint it with waterproof paint
Still trying to decide what to do. I like your shingle idea.
Is it possible to disclose the dismension and plan?
This looks awesome and very cosy!
How much did this project cost all up, excluding the tools?
Thanks!
+NeuroInfinity I probably dropped about $800 on this project. But if recycled elements were used or you live in a different country (not Australia) it would be a lot cheaper. The wheels and roof were quite expensive. Thanks for taking the time to comment.
It hit five degrees F last night at my residence and I live near the southern Border of TN/AL. Would this thing keep me world or would I freeze to death?
Hi Dwight, this is made for Sydney (Australia) conditions but you might need a bit more insulation where you live. Given its small, your body heat does help quite a bit if you keep the door and window closed.
Im homeless can i get a micro shelter?
pretty awesome is right haha right on, this must have been pretty heavy though did you happen to weigh it??
Very nicely done! I am thinking of making a micro shelter myself. How has the Outback Shack held up over the years? I was also wondering how thick the plywood you used is.
From memory it was 5 ply, it is holding up nicely but on reflection I wish I had have sprung for the more expensive Marine Ply instead.
Hi, awesome shack! How is it holding up after all these years? And if its still alive it would be nice to see like a follow up video after all these years.
Still standing. The exterior paint work isn't as crisp as it once was, but I kind of like the weathered patina. You'll catch glimpses of it in my newer films, for example the Hen House build. Thanks for commenting.
Very cool I am currently building my own micro shelter/Bicycle camper out of all lightweight wood you should check it out
I would of used solar panels for the roof. Sure added cost and weight, as you need a battery, but the power would be worth it.
As a safety shelter yes, but this is another thing. I would say it rather be as it is, no phone charging, ipads, or anything that lets you engage in electonic devices. Its too cool to spoil it with that.
It looks heavy, is that ideal as a bicycle camper?
The first test ride was abandoned after I nearly was crushed to death on my first downhill section...oops.
Ever heard of a tent? It can fold up in a small bag and weighs nothing. I've lived in a tent for 10 days of continuous rain and it was completely waterproof. Soccer fields and green belts could be opened up at night for homeless people with little or no impact.
hi there awesome vid how many days did it take to build this?
I took this build pretty slowly and worked on it between a full time job, looking after a growing family and community commitments. All up it was over 6 months. If you could set aside a good week of construction time, you would be finished pretty easily.
could you have made it any heavier?
Train wheels? But that's about it.
Just pull this behind a bike ,,, it is my new home when i am on crack.
Can you hook it behind a bicycle and go bicycle camping with it easy? What is the total weight of it?
I don't think so, I reckon this is over 200kg, so I would need a pretty expansive gearing setup on the bike. Good question though.
Super great job, Nathan! In fact, I'm starting the build this week of my own micro shelter. I will be using a lot of recycled materials and have a budget of $150... I know yours cost about a grand to make and sadly, I haven't that kinda cash. So, I'm curious... do you have a parts list? Or even plans that can be purchased? Inquiring minds wanna know. :)
Kelley Chambers Hey Kelley, that's great that you are building your own Micro Shelter! I basically only worked from the plan that I had in my head and this was refined as I built. Sorry there is no printed version. You'll find the website has a pretty detailed build process though, www.thedirteffect.com/the-latest/archives/07-2012/3 , I would love to see some of your photos of your micro shelter. I reckon the use of re-claimed materials will give it more character too!! All the best.
did you make that cool blanket pull over ?
+ratrod diesels My brother and I crafted that pull over in a cabin he and his wife were living in that was in the middle of a State Forest. Completely off grid and all. Nice place. My brother was the brains behind the design and I did a bit of stitching. I was keen for a bigger hood but my bro reined me in.
I love this project and i'm interested in doing something similar, how much did it cost you and do you have any advice for someone starting their own micro shelter build?
I’m working on one too so it’s kind of funny because I’m trying to build one and I have all the right pieces it’s just that it’s being a struggle right now because it’s so hot out here and I’m getting it done now I’ve got one piece of wood cutting few more to go only one more to go and I’m done yeah and then I’ll have the trailer almost built
Great work, post me a link when it is done!
Can I put it to back of my bike?
Might be a little too heavy for a pushbike. Check out some of Paul Elkins bike campers though.
Erm. How exactly do you plan on getting your outback shelter into the actual outback?
Richard Terry I am hoping that a kind hearted truckie will allow me to hitch it to the back of their road train. If I run out of road, I guess I am pushing it the rest of the way.
Guest quarters is a bit of a stretch, mate.
if I put this on a trailer would I need a permit? I live in Rochester NY
You can check locally. He seems pretty busy - why would he look up something that you can do? 🤗
One need be cautious about pranksters, or worse, being easily able to lock one inside one's shelter. A traditional hasp and padlock can be dangerous simple because even a stick passed through the hasp can lock you inside.
I did think about installing a turret in order to maintain security, but instead put a simple toilet type latch which is useable from both sides and located next to an opening window. Basically I didn't want the kids to be able to lock/trap themselves inside.
yup
This looked suspiciously like a wardrobe..... But heavier.
The alternative working title for this project was, "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe", but some dude had already taken it, ahh well...
quick question how much did u spend in creating this?
About a grand but you could do it far cheaper with re-claimed materials. It would look cooler too.
What kind of wheels are those?
They are 200mm castors. Two of them swivel and two are fixed so I can steer the Outback Shack around the backyard. I got them sent across from Western Australia.
how much did this cost to construct?
About a grand. You could do it for a lot less if you sourced reclaimed materials and were flexible with your design. I did this instead of an extending our main dwelling so I was happy to be a bit more indulgent on the materials.
Just a bit wider would be optimum
Were you inspired by Paul Elkins, was Paul Elkins inspired by you, or do great inventive minds just think alike?
I consider Paul Elkins as the modern day Leonardo da Vinci, whereas I view myself as a backyard enthusiast. The idea was originally planted after viewing a film by Derek Diedrickson $200 micro shelter/hut/vacation camp-simple to build/small budget weekend camp/home (Occupy Boston?). He made what was called 'The Little Blue Bump'. This design morphed in my head over a six month period and ended up resulting in the Outback Shack Micro Shelter. This end product looks more like Elkins design than Diedrickson's, but that was the sequence of events. Both Elkins and Diedrickson are geniuses with their own unique approach. I find both of them inspiring and refreshing.
The Dirt Effect
I believe you are correct in regards to the other two gentlemen but too modest in regards to yourself, good sir.
Definitely Heavy Duty!
nice nice
Do you sell these I would love to buy one
+Nikko Benoit Hi Nikko, this was a one off build. Feel free to use any of the ideas though in your own design.
:D Need some Solar lighting.
Show ✌
Why do ALL these guys frame a 4' × 4' × 8' wooden crate like their building a 3 car garage ... ?
5 kids.
When and where is one supposed to use this. It seems incredibly inefficient to me.
Interesting interesting
Its not an obsession if its temporary
I want one for my self I really need that at this moment at this time... 😭😭😭😭 But I can't even afford the materials and can't do it by my own maybe I can but I don't have material s and equipment 😭😭😭 whats makes me sad that I really need that 😭😭😭
Like Hong Kong apt
If it meant to be sleeping in the outback what about security from dingos and wild abbo's
tosgem what do you mean wild abbos? BTW I am American
Wild Abbos???????
@@TheMNrailfan227 Drop bears and stingrays too.
That's a really nice dog house! Or was it a coffin?
Make another one then link thim together
Toby Stagner I would love to do this, I have considered putting a second storey on as well, maybe at right angles.
I'm build a 24 ft. v-nose cargo trailer conversion on my channel
Mega
look at me, a german version greets
way too heavy it needs to be less than half that weight
I agree
Thanks for the comment Josephine. Tipping it on end to install the wheels was one of those moments that could have gone horribly wrong. I kind of approached this with a win/win mindset. Either I walk away with my spine intact, or this film goes viral.
I would hope it had some weight so it will not blow away so easily lol
lol maybe install wheels first?
Check out Deek Diedricksen!
The guy is an inspiration. I watched his Little Blue Bump vid and six months later I find myself building the Outback Shack Micro Shelter.