when they become modular and lock together. they might catch on.

are they bear proof?

 

The panels screw together.

If you mean two different shelters would lock together, then yes, that would be nice - it would be something to suggest, they are just getting started and have a forum.

Bear proof?

Probably not, especially not a brown bear. But they would probably be more resistant to entry than the typical camper or trailer made with an aluminum skin over a wood frame.

 

An option that I like, especially as an alternative to the shipping container as these are much more durable, are the mil-surplus comm shelters.

THis is the one I want to put on my truck because it would fit so well:

Very rugged (much more than a shipping container) and they come in different sizes and configurations. Some are even fold out or modular. Relatively lightweight, insulated, waterproof, weatherproof, etc.

An S280 like above can be found for between $1.5K and $3K. They are somewhat insulated (IIRC R4?) with the insulation sandwiched into the walls and ceiling. The doors and windows (if the config has windows - all have at least one door) are much more secure than that of a shipping container and they are made for human habitation. Many come already painted in camo (see note below on the paint).

If I was to bury a metal container (I probably would not though - they are not made for that), it would be one of these, not a shipping container - these are much stronger. Granted, they are smaller.

A lot of hams use these for what they are designed for, as a comm shelter. Some people use them as I want to - as a camper.

Note: the exterior paint is a known carcinogenic if you sand it or otherwise disturb the paint (scratch it, scrape it, etc.) so if you want to repaint one you are best to paint over the top of what is there as the dust can do bad things to your lungs. The reason for the paint is (IIRC) it is low IR and other good military stuff like that. The military has quite strict and extensive protections for when they paint/repair the exteriors.

I believe that as long as you don't sand/scrape/blast the paint, you would be fine.

I have seen some modded with civilian windows and such, which I will probably do. Also, I think that I would add some rigid insulation panels on the inside, or maybe some of that high R-value refrigerator insulation - R4 or R5 is not enough for my purposes.

Rover, these would probably be bear proof - the windows and doors are meant to resist concerted attempts at entry.

 

An option that I like, especially as an alternative to the shipping container as these are much more durable, are the mil-surplus comm shelters.

THis is the one I want to put on my truck because it would fit so well:

QUOTE]


I guess you could chamo a dumpster for the same thing.

 

Third idea - blowup concrete shelter

Video speaks for itself, mostly.

I looked into these once and as I recall they are not inexpensive (more than $20K) but that is less expensive than many campers or trailers (although they can be had for less used) and certainly less than a earth bermed house.

Interesting features, like the ability to resist fire and small arms and ability to be buried. Not something that can be moved. I would have questions as to how long it could last, but I am betting it would be measured in decades, certainly years.

 

We are in the process of finalizing which type of structure to build on our BOL homestead come spring. One of our criteria is low cost and relatively simple yet aesthetically pleasing. Our main prospects are Cordwood, Strawbale, Cob and Earthbags.

Cordwood is basically mortoring up firewood into a wall. Strawbale is stacking up bales of straw. For insulation value strawbale is hard to beat. But both also require a lot of resources.

Cob is nothing more than clay, sand and straw.

For roughly $350 you can get 1000 earthbags (sandbags) that would easily fit into the trunk of a car. You just need a shovel and a bit of know how. Militaries all over the world have been building these things for years.

Obviously I left out the major details but I didn't want to write 4 books on the subject in one post.

 

Of those, and if I were going along the lines of building something myself, I would probably go with straw bales, with rebar driven through them, then sprayed with some kind of concrete.

Lots of different ways to create shelter out there, earth bermed being one of my favorites.

 

Looks like a large casket, I guess you can be buried in them. Sorry just my opinion.

 

I have three HUMVV com shelters here. You cant quite stand in them, but good enough to get you out of the weather and off the ground.

Cool stuff, thanks for sharing

 

Saw that the teal containers require a cinch strap around them to give them rigidity...

They need to solve that problem.

 

No. I believe the strap is to cinch together the weather seal (they mention it somewhere). The rigidity comes from the panels themselves.

 

SNIP

http://www.tealinternational.com/TealCamper/index.html

These are new. They are basically modular panels that you order in a kit and put together yourself. There are several different sizes and options. Not inexpensive, but not near as expensive as a less durable (IMO - but I haven't seen one of these yet) typical consumer RV (like a travel trailer or camper - at least the ones made with wood frames and aluminum skins).

$7300 for a 4X8?

That's the size of a piece of plywood.

I could buy a used semi trailer and have it on a piece of land and fix it up for that. You could build a cabin or a hell of a lot of other things for that much.

 

Yes that is outrageous, I got a shipping container delivered and buried for 5k

 

My Coms Shelters are aluminuum skinned inside and out with Kevlar hollow core between aluminuum layers. Rigid (use my forklift to move them) and weigh a mere 600lbs. I will need to patch some holes from the a/c unit and many others but a bargin at Gov Liquidation, I paid $400 each and after the initial batch the prices dropped to $200.

Also, you can get old ambulance bodies off a one ton, they weigh about 2500-3000 and are built for impact survivability, and are well insulated. Many people who scrap them say you cant just crush them with an excavator you must partially disassemble BEFORE you crush. Nearly all are high grade aluminum alloy I-beam construction.

 

I edited my post.

 

How about an earth bag structure large enough to pull an RV, and perhaps the vehicle that pulled it, into? If your RV is inside a structure, how sturdy or well-built or insulated does it really need to be? Even one with a leaky roof would work well inside the structure, where it doesn't rain. An RV usually has the things you need already built into it, like kitchen, bathroom, beds, ect...

The structure itself could be a no frills type; no plumbing or electrical. Just something to keep the elements off the RV and perhaps conceal the RV from prying eyes if it is camouflaged.

Earth bag, straw bale, tire, wood, COB---whatever works best for the materials on hand at the BOL location. It should be a lot easier and cheaper to build a garage than a house. Think of the RV as a substitute for building the kitchen, bathroom, electrical & plumbing, and bedrooms in the shelter.

The shelter can be camouflaged if you get creative. Berm it and add a living roof. Cache supplies at the location so the supplies are on-hand and safe from theft.

Personally, I like building with earth bags, since there's dirt or sand of some kind at just about every BOL. Plus, earth bags make for a very sturdy structure, though I'd bet other types of structures could be built bear-proof as well. Whatever space is left in the structure after parking the RV and vehicle is your elbow room.

BTW, earth bags are being used for both above ground and below ground structures. If you really want to get into the ground, earth bags can and do keep the hidyhole from collapsing in on itself. Lots of manual labor, but the cost can not be beat. Look it up.

 

Nope, I had two 20ft insulated shipping containers for several years. Tough as nails. Insulation is way better than any I could home do. Inside the temp would be 70 all day even with 105+ July days. Steel framed insulated doors on the end and quite resistant to entry. Two cost me 2500 delivered. A quick sandblast and spray paint, steel end door and they were good to go. I used mine for storage mostly. I was always surprised at how cool they were in the mid day sun. That insulation was designed to keep foods frozen below zero. Inside was stainless steel walls and aluminum flooring. Sold them with the farm. I wish I had keep one.

 

That teal camper thing looks like those plastic rubbermaid lawn sheds, what is it made of that it costs so much?