Off-Grid: Living and Working From a Camper With No Electricity, Water, or Septic

A meeting reminder popped up on my screen. 30 minutes – plenty of time to change into a dress shirt, tame my mane, and brush some powder on my face. 

I glanced down at my laptop battery: good. Then, my phone: yikes. The hotspot must really drain the battery…

Most people working from home would simply plug their phone into a wall charger. But my home was a 19-foot Coachmen Clipper camper parked on our newly purchased land with no electricity. 

I dashed outside, wheeled out the generator, and attached an extension cord to the camper. Willing my mind to remember Brett’s instructions, I flipped the switch to on. Pushed the choke. Pulled the cord. Pulled again. Again. Finally, the engine roared to life and I lingered for a moment with a small sense of pride.

Inside, with the outlets working, I took advantage of the opportunity to run a flat iron through my hair as my charging phone kept the internet alive. Opened the meeting invitation. Looked out the window to a view of trees and ferns and… raindrops?

Very funny, Mother Nature. I flew back out the screen door. Turned off the generator. Wheeled it back into the makeshift garage. Attempted to cover my hair as the sprinkles turned to rain. 

With moments to spare, I logged into the meeting and smiled at my co-workers sitting around a conference table in a building I used to work in every day. My clothes were damp. The frizz returned to my hair. My phone was only partially charged. But I made it. Let the meeting begin… 

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This is just one of many moments I felt a growing distance between my old self and a new one. Someone who had willingly traded modern conveniences for a new life filled with more adventure, nature, freedom, and challenges. 

You have to start somewhere, and our journey of buying land and building our own home started with living in a camper with no electricity, running water, or a septic system. Here’s a rundown of how we made it work. 

Note: This information is based on our own experience and should not be viewed as professional advice. We hope it inspires you to think through your needs, do your own research, and choose solutions that are best for your situation.

Off-grid electricity

Our camper battery provided enough power to operate certain conveniences like the ceiling lights and water pump, but the electric outlets required more juice. We achieved this through two different methods: a portable generator and a power converter. 

Portable generator

A portable generator has a gas-powered engine that creates electrical power. When connected via an outdoor extension cord, the camper could operate just as if it were plugged into a traditional electric supply. 

Generators provide reliable energy, but the drawbacks include noise while it’s running as well as the costs, including an upfront investment and ongoing expenses of gas and maintenance. Brett inherited one from his grandparents, so our costs were significantly reduced. If we were buying new, we’d also compare the costs, benefits, and environmental impact of newer solar models.

Power converter

Our other source of power came from a power converter. Instead of using gas, a power converter creates electricity by connecting to a battery – such as a spare car/RV battery – and has a panel with electrical outlets.

This was a great option at times it wasn’t convenient to run the generator, such as when it was raining or if I needed to be on a call and didn’t want engine noise in the background. The biggest drawbacks were the limited battery life and the nerve wracking experience of hooking up the converter box and the battery.

Internet access

During the time of our off-grid living, I was a full-time employee that needed a strong internet connection to access my employer’s VPN. Nearly all of the time I connected via a mobile hotspot, but I had a backup plan of using public wi-fi if needed in an emergency. 

Hotspot

A mobile hotspot converts a cellular network signal into a wi-fi signal that your device can connect to using the provided ID and password. With a quick call to my cell phone carrier, I upgraded my data plan to include a monthly hotspot limit that would work for my needs.

The biggest drawback of a hotspot is the battery drain on your phone. Some people choose to buy dedicated hotspot devices to avoid this issue. 

Public wi-fi

Off-grid public wi-fi may sound like an oxymoron. In truth, our land was within a 20 minute drive of coffee shops that could provide internet access if needed. I understand that isn’t an option for everyone – especially those truly off the beaten path – but it may be worth scoping out your surroundings to see if there is a business you could drive to if needed as a backup option.

Clean water

Before we got our property well working and water tested (oh, what a happy day), we needed a source for showers, dishes, and drinking water. Again, we found two solutions. 

Refillable water jugs

The first order of business was how to fill the camper water tank, which flows to the kitchen sink and shower. To accomplish this, we bought six-gallon jugs with nozzles to fill, transport, and pour water into the tank as necessary. Our water came from a garden hose at our short-term rental.

Refillable drinking water bottles

It’s possible to run hose or stream water through a filtration system to make it safe for consumption, but we had the luxury of making weekly trips to our house rental to clean between guests. Part of my checklist always included filling numerous bottles with filtered well water for drinking, making coffee, and cooking. Brett also made a point to fill a water bottle or two before he left work for the day. 

Fridge, stove, and hot water

When the generator was on, our fridge and freezer would run using electricity. So what about the rest of the time? There was a more efficient way to keep food cold — plus heat water and allow for cooking in our compact kitchen.

Propane

Propane is a liquified gas that can efficiently power appliances, including an RV fridge, stovetop, and water heater. Our camper had a hookup for a propane tank near the battery at the front of the trailer. We had a 20 pound tank lasted all summer.

A septic solution

Many off-grid living resources will recommend composting toilets, but we chose a different approach to managing waste.

Portable waste holding tank

A portable waste holding tank, like the 28-gallon Camco Rhino, offers a sanitary solution for emptying a camper’s black water tank as it fills. This solution made sense for us because our house has a septic system that we could empty the portable tank into every couple of weeks. It wasn’t a pleasant process, but it got the job done.  

A mindset for success

Tools are helpful, but I think the most important part of this time in our life was our mindset surrounding the experience. It was an adventure. It was temporary. It was a way to practice self-reliance and later appreciate the luxuries we gradually acquired – including electricity in June, a working well in July, and a septic system in October. 

Most importantly, it showed me how the challenges and frantic moments were worth the opportunity to wake up in the woods and sip my coffee slowly. Instead of rushing to get ready and out the door for work, I could journal and look up through the screen door to watch deer across the stream or a family of turkeys fly down from their nighttime perch. During lunch, I could take Paisley for a walk to the lake to stretch our legs and get some fresh air. At quitting time, I could start a campfire and prep the dinner we’d cook over it when Brett got home.

Those are moments I treasure and practices I try to continue, on or off-grid.

Your turn

Are you planning an off-grid adventure? Share your own tips, tools, or questions in the comments below.