A family's tiny home arrived on their 10-acre ranch in Missouri, marking a major step in their off-grid journey and move from West Texas.
Here's what to know
Content creator Franklin Ranch Off Grid (@FranklinRanchOffGrid), documenting their family's project on YouTube, shared the delivery and the work needed to get the building into place. The family's next priority is drilling a well.
Establishing their off-grid homestead comes with another substantial expense: a $10,586 quote for a well to provide their own water, though a total that can often be higher in many other areas. A fundraising goal of $8,000 toward the cost is listed in the video's caption
What the creator believed were old trash-burning and outdoor fire pits stood in the delivery truck's path. Before the home arrived, the crew dismantled both rock pits and flattened the areas enough for the driver to get through.
The delivery hit another obstacle when the hauler's vehicle needed a trip to the mechanic. Once the building finally reached the clearing, the creator asked to move it to leave room for landscaping.
More background
The building already has electrical wiring, tile flooring, and a plug-in mini-split. The creator plans to test the mini-split with a Jackery power unit that will provide the homestead with electricity.
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The plans call for a combined living and dining area with a small couch and a wall-mounted television. Inside, the family will create a bedroom for the creator and his wife, a bathroom partition extending about six feet, and a kitchen with a sink overlooking the property.
The move to Missouri also brings a considerable change in the family's expected water costs. The creator said that when they lived in Texas, they had anticipated spending $80,000 to $100,000 for a well in the desert.
"This is not everybody's lifestyle, living off grid, doing this hard work for hours, and all that type of thing. This ain't for everybody, dog," the creator said.
What's being done?
After contacting a local well driller, the family launched the Franklin Ranch Well Fund to help cover the expense.
"Next up: getting our well drilled so we can finally have our own water source!" they wrote in the video's caption.
Viewers following the project can expect footage of the drilling and installation, which the family plans to document. Beyond securing water, the creator wants to add interior lighting and finish arranging the space.
A planned collaboration with Watt Cycle is another upcoming step, with the creator saying he would notify the company that the wired building had arrived.
"I got so excited when I saw the notification that your tiny home was delivered. I only have one question: Where will your children sleep??? Beyond that CONGRATULATIONS!" one commenter wrote.
Where can I learn more?
For this family, getting the tiny home delivered is just one step toward living off-grid. These stories cover more aspects of the off-grid lifestyle.
• In Missouri, one resident's off-grid tiny home plans hinge on county rules and possibly a wrecked house.
• A Pennsylvania family plans an off-grid move to 10 acres, leaning on Amish know-how.
• A tiny home owner describes bugs and generator limits alongside long drives to town.
• An off-grid hopeful asks about the transition to independence, learning that every gallon counts.
• A woman seeking well water during outages gets advice to start with a transfer switch.
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