Living in a Trailer INSIDE of a Hoop House?

I have read about many examples of people who temporarily live in a used travel trailer on their land while they're building a permanent home. However, for those of us living in cold climates like Michigan, living in a poorly insulated used travel trailer would likely be uncomfortable / inefficient during the winter months.

My question is, does anyone know of any examples of people living in a travel trailer that has a large hoop house built over it? It seems like this would be a fairly inexpensive way to make a trailer much more energy efficient and comfortable during winter (assuming carbon monoxide is ventilated out properly) and also considering most northern homesteaders would likely want to have some kind of greenhouse on the property eventually anyway.

Of course, hoop houses can be unbearably hot during summer months, but the end wall of the hoop house could be opened up and the trailer pulled outside. Alternatively, if a large white tarp was draped over the top of the hoop house and attached to the hoops, and the sides were rolled up to allow ventilation and breezes, then the sunlight wouldn't directly touch the trailer, and it might actually be cooler than a trailer that is directly outside.

I was not able to find any online examples of anyone who has done this. Does this seem like a viable short-term plan, and does anyone know of any examples of this being done?

Thanks,


Miles

Never seen the straight up hoop house but I've seen a number of iterations of the "trabin" where a roof and some number of walls are built over/around the trailer.
The closest to what you are describing I actually saw in Michigan, they had the trailer parked under an old carport or hay storage roof or something, they put up uninsulated wood panels on the east and west walls, salvaged panels from a walk in freezer on the north wall and made a half hoop with greenhouse plastic on the south wall.
Built decking around the trailer and had a large stove out there to supplement the trailers heater. It was quite comfortable  when i visited in early march.
I would worry about condensation and wind damage if using a simple hoophouse, but otherwise its a sound basic idea in my mind

I know lots that have parked the trailer in what would become the shop or barn--large metal building. I have seen videos of people building their house inside a greenhouse.  No reason it shouldn't work.

I think it would be worth a shot, especially/mainly for winter.  Shade cloth for the summer would be an option too or you'd cook yourself right out of it.

s. lowe wrote:Never seen the straight up hoop house but I've seen a number of iterations of the "trabin" where a roof and some number of walls are built over/around the trailer.
The closest to what you are describing I actually saw in Michigan, they had the trailer parked under an old carport or hay storage roof or something, they put up uninsulated wood panels on the east and west walls, salvaged panels from a walk in freezer on the north wall and made a half hoop with greenhouse plastic on the south wall.
Built decking around the trailer and had a large stove out there to supplement the trailers heater. It was quite comfortable  when i visited in early march.
I would worry about condensation and wind damage if using a simple hoophouse, but otherwise its a sound basic idea in my mind

"Trabin" I like that :D
I knew I couldn't have been the first person to think of something like this, but I just couldn't find anything documented online. Condensation is a good point to consider. I have read about people battling condensation in trailers during winter no matter what. In my mind, adding the hoop house might cause less condensation inside of the trailer, because there would be less of a temperature difference between the inside trailer wall and the outside trailer wall? Condensation would probably form on the inside of the hoop house itself, but hopefully the trailer in question is able to handle that little bit of "rain".

Wind / snow load is another valid concern that would apply to any hoop house in Michigan or other snowy climates. Assume the hoop house in this scenario is well engineered with the gothic style peaked roof that sheds show loads well

R Scott wrote:I know lots that have parked the trailer in what would become the shop or barn--large metal building. I have seen videos of people building their house inside a greenhouse.  No reason it shouldn't work.

Yes, this video by Kirsten Dirksen is actually what inspired this line of thinking for me    

That is super cool! And don't think I've not considered covering my 100 year old drafty farm house in plastic! LOL

I know this is from two years ago but did you ever figure out if your plan worked out . I have thought of the same thing since times are getting tough and very expensive, people need an offgrid home that wont cost too much to heat. If you get back to me I'll show you my plans. Its a 20 x 40 hoop style greenhouse that I'm hoping to build, with my trailer inside and a woodstove, vented on top and both sides with solar vents, in the summer i will roll up the sides and leave a top canopy on to protect the trailer( that leaks a bit) i think its a great idea! judyrosehall@gmail.com

Hi Judy;
I think it will work out just fine for you.
As long as the snow load or the wind does not take out your hoop house it should help quite a bit.
Is your wood stove going to be in the trailer or out in the hoop house?
If your stove is going to be outside, you should consider building a rocket mass heater!
Imagine a nice heated bench to sit on with fresh warm air all around you while you gaze at the winter wonderland beyond the hoop walls!

I've actually thought about putting a greenhouse over our trailer.

I know many people who live in hoop houses, both with or without a camper.  One guy I knew even put a door and wood stove in one.  I plan to do this as well. I bought land that is zoned for various uses, including agriculture. I plan to live in it for a few years before I build while also using that time to start trees and plants that take years to grow.  I will be in the desert so the hot air and moist plants should allow me to hydro generate more than enough needed water.  Anyway people can and have done it.

I have an idea 💡 living in a greenhouse.  The land is zoned for agriculture.  I can get a large one under $500.  Many people actually do this until they get set up for off grinding and get permits 😂 if you get a long enough one you can start your potted plants in there that take years to grow like fruit trees, mesculine cactus, weed 😂
People DO this to stealth live apparently and I can get a large one and a small one for my storage.  Then scour free building materials like pallets to raise my living area floor.  While also collecting and building a solar system 😄

https://www.google.com/search?q=stealth+living+in+a+hoop+house+greenhouse+on+agriculture+land&oq=stealth+living+in+a+hoop+house+greenhouse+on+agriculture+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgBECEYoAEyCQgAEEUYORifBTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCDE2MDVqMGo5qAIOsAIB8QVa8uOEKEhL4PEFWvLjhChIS-A&client=ms-android-motorola-rvo3&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8