Reefer Trailer Home (buying, camper, living in)

[Skagrock]

Has anyone here converted a reefer trailer in to a living space? Do you know of someone who has? If so could you pass there name along to me. I'm trying to decide how best to make the move to my land. In the long term I can see building a home. But for the short term I can see building and living in what would become an outbuilding. The reefer trailers intrigue me. Any info/response would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Northern Maine Land Man]

I know of two used as camps. You can heat the thing with a candle. The first buyer put a wood stove in there and the temp went to 120 degrees. They had to open the window, It is insulated on all six sides. The reefer unit is still in place high in the front, but it will be removed for storage. A small propane heater will be more than enough heat, but beware. The unit is sealed. You will need to allow for ventilation or the propane unit will use up all the oxygen in the "box". The owner would not want me to divulge the location or his contact info. I have pics though.

[Skagrock]

Thanks, fellow Northern Mainer! I would love to see the pics. I looked at a couple of reefer trailers today, a 48' and a 53 footer. They were priced at $2500 and in decent shape. I'm seriously considering buying one. I'm moving this spring and making plans now. I don't want to buy one of those Amish buildings although they are nice. I have a lot of tools and 2- 4'X8' work benches. I think I would partition the trailer in to work space and living space.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Sounds like a good plan to me. The units I have seen are containers used in ocean shipment. They don't come with wheels. Consider transportation costs. If you get one that has wheels, you will have storage space under it.

[Maineguy04654]

Refer units are not something I would want to live in. First some can be almost air tight so while you can heat it with a candle you can kill yourself with the carbon monoxide it gives off. Next you have NO clue what may have been in the unit and what has soaked into the insulation that may do you all kinds of harm.

[Skagrock]

Installing a few leaky windows and a door will provide the air needed for properly operating a wood stove for heating. Having smoke and CO alarms installed would be the prudent thing to do as well. Generally these kinds of trailers were used for hauling food products so the idea that potentially toxic substances are absorbed in to the insulation is highly unlikely. Additionally the insulation is covered with panels made from a material called kemlite, a high impact strength fiber glass reinforced plastic. The MSDS data sheet on Kemlite says that it's a pretty benign material and that potential health hazards do exist when cutting, drilling and sawing the material where dust can be created. I suspect that there are more carcinogens and potentially toxic materials found in modern camper trailers than there are found in reefer trailers.

[Nor'Eastah]

Whatever you use, I'd suggest spraying the outside with olive drab paint (or at least dark gray). The usual white sticks out like a sore thumb. It's better if you hide the fact that you are living in it. And don't talk to any "code enforcement" guys - they just want you to put in a $20K septic system!

[Submariner]

Having a legal septic system might be a good idea.

Of course if you search close you may find the remains of an old outhouse. My Grange hall still has an indoor three-hole facility.

[Skagrock]

Originally Posted by Submariner

Having a legal septic system might be a good idea.

Of course if you search close you may find the remains of an old outhouse. My Grange hall still has an indoor three-hole facility.

I'm planning on putting in a legal gray water system and having a composting toilet.

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by Skagrock

I'm planning on putting in a legal gray water system and having a composting toilet.

All Grey water 'systems' are legal gray water systems.