New member's yurt plan

[Bob Rowlands]

A nomadic trad yurt with zero amenities has about zero appeal to Americans. Mongolians - likely the fatherland of the trad yurt- are used to hardships we here in the States really aren't interested in putting ourselves through on a year around basis. Heck, tents of any kind are dang near relics nowadays in U.S. campgrounds. It's an RV park basically nowadays and has been since the millenium. Plus generators abound as well. Few people have the slightest interest in doing any work at all setting camp while 'on vacation'. A tent and setting up camp means work. "Nah. If there's no ignition key I'll pass." lol

[MG1917]

Originally Posted by Bob Rowlands

A nomadic trad yurt with zero amenities has about zero appeal to Americans. Mongolians - likely the fatherland of the trad yurt- are used to hardships we here in the States really aren't interested in putting ourselves through on a year around basis. Heck, tents of any kind are dang near relics nowadays in U.S. campgrounds. It's an RV park basically nowadays and has been since the millenium. Plus generators abound as well. Few people have the slightest interest in doing any work at all setting camp while 'on vacation'. A tent and setting up camp means work. "Nah. If there's no ignition key I'll pass." lol

Hi Bob. That is mostly true, but let us not forget that “needs must as the devil drives,” as the old folks say. Mongolians don’t prefer to heat their homes with the dung of their livestock, per se; rather, they have no choice.

[Jafo]

I agree. While I am perfectly capable of starting a fire with a tinderbox, I see no need when there are literally billions of butane lighters available to me.

[Swykes]

We have just moved into our 32’ yurt. The platform is constructed on a 48’ x 44’ deck. Due to the topography of the property, our contractors built a utility room underneath the yurt. It is insulated & heated. It contains a grey water holding tank, a fresh water holding tank, on demand propane hot water & venting. The bathroom vent goes through the floor to this room, and the vent for the Nature’s Head composting toilet also goes through the floor to the same area. The platform is insulated with spray foam. We decided that the fewer holes hat were cut in the walls, the better. The weather in winter here can often get to -40C, so we needed a system that would not freeze. The yurt is totally off-grid, so everything needs to be efficient.

[Drunken hobbit]

Double post deleted, oops

[Drunken hobbit]

Originally Posted by Swykes

The bathroom vent goes through the floor to this room, and the vent for the Nature’s Head composting toilet also goes through the floor to the same area.

Where does the moist vented air go, once it is in the room under the yurt?

[Swykes]

There is a vent in the utility room. It is just a passive vent, no fan.

[MG1917]

Your yurt design sounds similar to Bob’s from juicymaters. He also advocates putting utilities under the yurt in a crawl space. What are you using to heat the crawl space, and what are you using to heat the yurt? You said your are totally off the grid; are you running a solar power system? What are you doing for water?

[Swykes]

There is an electric baseboard heater in the utility room. We heat the yurt with a Vermont Castings propane, free standing fireplace. We also have a back up generator. We are currently hauling our water, but come summer, we will also collect rain water. We have a solar system for power.

[MG1917]

Originally Posted by Swykes

There is an electric baseboard heater in the utility room. We heat the yurt with a Vermont Castings propane, free standing fireplace. We also have a back up generator. We are currently hauling our water, but come summer, we will also collect rain water. We have a solar system for power.

Wow, that sounds awesome. Are you going fully off the grid by choice or necessity... or a combination of both? I’d love to see pics of your yurt and systems if you have some. I believe there’s a section on this forum for users to post pics of their yurt setups if you’re interested.