Jay and Morgan made their dream of building a tiny home on wheels a reality by designing a low-cost model. Starting with a 27-foot shell, the pair customized it with reused materials, natural wood decorations, and a dependable off-grid solar system. Despite low sunlight, the system provided power to their home for more than a month without the use of a generator.
A budget-friendly little house built from the ground up. The concept began when Jay and Morgan purchased a 27-foot-long shell made by another tiny home enthusiast in Sutherlin, Oregon. “The entire shell frame was built by a gentleman in Southerland, and we brought that up here and finished out the interior,” Jay explains.
That shell laid the groundwork for a two-year DIY adventure. The pair had been living in La Pine, Oregon, for five years and were already drawn to hands-on crafts. Morgan responded: “We’ve always kind of like doing projects together.” While she referred to herself as the “idea person,” Jay was the “general contractor,” bringing their vision to fruition step by step.
Their common goal was to build a low-cost tiny house that supported an adventurous, self-sufficient living. Sustainable architecture and off-grid features power the tiny abode. A major component of the couple’s strategy was to construct a home that could run entirely off-grid. Jay elaborated: “It’s totally off the grid as long as you’ve got a source of water, it can pump it, heat it, we’ve got all the electricity, wood-fired stove for heat.” Their decision to build off-grid sprang partially from a desire to park their home in isolated locations, such as one by a river where standard residences were not permitted.
“We’re adventurers, we like to build stuff and get outside,” Jay said, adding that the flexibility of an off-grid setup made their dream even more tempting. Warm wood treatments and innovative design components were used to improve comfort within the 216-square-foot room, which also included a loft. Morgan’s advise for anyone considering this lifestyle?
Don’t let fear deter you. “Do not be afraid of the learning curve…” The person taking on this task will need to learn about solar and how to run it. “It’s very comfortable if you’re comfortable with the idea,” she remarked. See Jay and Morgan’s affordable tiny house in the video below: