Advice on setting up SHTF cabin

[Lionheart]

I have a property under contact that is 7 acres on a river, with a small cabin. The cabin has power but no water and is secluded. I am thinking of using it a weekend place or a rental property. I would like to add a well and bathroom/kitchen to it. I was thinking of setting it up as a survival place for my family in case the grid went down. Can any of you recommend ways of setting up the well that would be good for an "off the grid " scenario? I was thinking of adding a cistern type water system that would work without power and of course some type of diesel/propane generator backup power. I even thought about using the river to generate my own power...I would appreciate any advice or suggestions for places to learn more about my options before I drill a well. If anyone has practical experience with this I would love to meet you at the property for ideas.
It is built on a hill and I am even thinking of adding a bedroom/bunker on side of cabin.

Thanks in advance.

Edwin

 

[WC1911guy]

Contact Survivor Johnny on here. He's a true expert at all things survival and SHTF information. He loves to help people out with stuff like that.

 

[biker_bill]

You mentioned you were on the river. When I was a kid we had a cabin on the river and used something called a hydraulic ram to pump water up from the river to the cabin. I hadn't thought about it in years until I read your message. It was quite inexpensive and needed no power. It lifted water from the river a pretty good distance up the bank to the cabin. It just needed water running past it to work. I found this pretty quickly, it kind of show's how it works. http://schou.dk/animation/

 

[linebacker]

just some suggestions:
hand pump for your well like the good ole days, close to the cabin, maybe back porch ?
use an outhouse for your crapper
solar panels with 12volt batteries for limited use of power if needed
kerosene lanterns and candles
potbelly stove for cooking and heat during winter


youtube is a good source of info

 

[titan2k10]

I wouldn't rely on diesel/propane for backup power in the scenario you are preparing for. I think using the river to generate your power is a great idea just wouldn't know how to go about accomplishing it. Another option could be solar but depending on location and cover etc could be limited by cost as well. Let us know what you decide!

 

[Survivor Johnny]

Light at night in a grid down scenario is as easy as having solar yard lights that charge during the day and you bring em in at night. No fuel needed. If the river has a good flow and is not too far from the cabin maybe there is a way to do a water wheel and some gearing to an alternator (just theory cuz they don't turn easy and have to spin very fast) is a septic system viable? And how about rain gutters on the cabin that fill barrels with pipes to a sink spigot for non potable water needs. You can make a gravel, sand and charcoal water filter (with a 5 gallon bucket) for the river water but it should still be boiled or treated for drinking

just some off the cuff thoughts

 

[Tacticalcountryboy]

You can build a ram pump to get running water without power, and drill your own well as long as you have water within 24' from the surface you can hand pump it. and of course rain water collection is key. you could set that up to gravity feed, or install a 12v rv pump inline. I would also use grey water collection to use for watering garden etc.....

I would install solar panels instead of the generator for the cost, and have very little maint. and no fuel costs. you could also build a cheap water wheel generator.

wood burning stove for heat AND cooking, they are priceless.

you could do an outhouse or composting toilet, or if you have or can rent equipment the better option is an actual septic system.

 

[Tacticalcountryboy]

I am in the process of doing all of this myself.

 

[Wolf six]

Rampump for the garden/ water to the house. They make a lot of noise so keep that in mind

Solar/ hydro for power. Use power to charge batteries/food storage/radio

Get a good idea what kind of people live around you.

Get a good perimeter fence set up. See southernprepper1 on youtube for that.

For heating i would do a wood stove or one made from oil drums
***look up how efficient fire places arent

Cooking- rocket stove/ wood stove

Sanitation- use an outhouse also look at southernprepper for this, he has a good video on making latrines

 

[Inbonuscivis]

a couple of things....
#1 having lights at night when no one else does is asking for problems....OPSEC OPSEC OPSEC
#2 you can make a simple generator with an alternator and a collection of scavenged car batteries.
#3 Septic system could leach into you water source so position your water intake upstream from your cabin.
#4 i agree with wolf six, a wood stove is an excellent option and you can even heat hot water with it (wrap copper pipe around the chimney connected to water, as it heats up the pressure will force the water up the line) a hot shower will make the misses and kids a lot more bearable.
#5 Security, should you decide to be on the water....think like a bad guy....its very quite to slip into someones property unnoticed with a canoe or inflatable kayak....(did a gorilla camping trip Sunday night this very same way....slept on their property without them knowing it.) have a means to alert you if someone is floating into your hide.
#6 Fences are great for live stock but will not keep a motivated enemy out....just ask any Vietnam vet.
#7 Solar Cells Fail, Generators Break, Fuel Depots run out.....what I mean by this is have a secondary plan for EVERYTHING even if that means hauling water to the house via bucket....it helps to have a bucket.
#8 Patrols and Track Catchers....find natural avenues of approach to your hide (IE ditches, creek beds, etc) and make sure you keep them clear of your patrol tracks....this will let you know if someone has been watching the place.
#9 Food Preservation....what happens when you eat all the fish within 1 mile upstream and down stream of your location? The resources will go quick so have a plan to smoke and cure large harvests of fish.

Finally and most importantly....#10 Tools....things are going to break be prepared to fix them with what you have on hand...the more tools the more you can fix.