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Status
Updated 2026-10-11.
Where we are
Step 1 is done. The workspace exists. FreeCAD and Sweet Home 3D are installed. See Design software.
Step 2 is done. Nathan approved design C — Bath 18 on 2026-10-11: an 18 ft × 8 ft box, about 4,000 lb loaded, towed by his 2026 F-150. Wet bath with a gravity toilet and black tank, galley, a desk for two 27 in monitors, bench seat, queen bed, propane furnace, 6 gal water heater, Coleman Mach 3 roof air conditioner on shore power, electric brakes. See Layout options, Floor plan, Elevations, Utility plan, Weight, Pictures and Decisions.
Step 3 pages are written: Materials ($18,271 at list prices), Tools ($1,684 budget tier), Build steps (14 phases) and Budget (the total, the cuts, and a phased plan) and Price breakdown (every line in one table, with tax). The price work is done; the money decisions are open. Research notes so far: Joe's build, frame basics, layout dimensions, off-grid power, Texas trailer law, bathroom and water and heat, air and propane.
My limits
| Tow vehicle | 2026 Ford F-150 Lariat 4x4, 5.0 L V8 (tows 9,100 lb or more on a ball hitch) |
|---|---|
| Budget target | Under $5,000, tools included |
| Budget cap | $10,000 |
| Changes from Joe's build | Larger (18 ft × 8 ft); wet bath, sink, heat and air conditioning inside; a desk for two 27 in monitors; stove outside; angled front; off-grid power plus shore power; brakes |
| Welding experience | None yet. No tools yet. |
| State for title and registration | Texas |
Open decisions
- Money: the cap (whole trailer or per year), the cuts, and any design change. See Budget.
- Later: solar panels, MPPT controller and inverter (last priority; roof space and wire runs are reserved).
Budget
Design C costs about $19,950 at today's list prices, tools included, before tax and delivery. The cuts on the Budget page bring it to about $14,200. Built in phases, the shell on wheels is about $8,800 with tools in year one.
Next step
Nathan reads Budget and answers three questions: is the $10,000 cap for the whole trailer or per year; which cuts are yes; any design change. Then Claude turns the materials list into a shopping order for phase 1 and the design pages follow any change.