Has anybody ever built a basement out of tires, put a stem wall on top of it and set a modular double wide on top of that. Then built a tire U on each end of the modular house with a green house across south side?

We were thinking on the east end of the basement using semi tires for basement wall with stem wall on top, off set with an area for smaller tires for the ground level east u. Then on the west side install a doorway in the basement wall. The floor of the U and basement will be at the same level. To the north we want a large patio area with a parallel tire wall approximately 25’ from the building for more winter protection

Building site beta plan and crude sketch shows a cut away of the transition from basement wall to modular and protective tire u.


We are lucky enough to own 4 acres in an Eastern Colorado “pocket of freedom” and a 1995 modular home that is on the north edge of Denver. It would save us approximately $800+ dollars per month if we join the two. With the current economy and job situation it has become imperative that our home and land become one. We have found that there is not a market for selling a 15 year old, well built, 4 bedrooms, 2 bath modular.

Our known solutions:
1. Sell modular where it sits.

Bad to weak market
Park rent is ridiculous =$600+/mo

2. Put modular on our land on blocks with a cinder block foundation.

Quotes received $40,000. Including move and set

3. Form and pour standard cement basement on our land. Maybe with potash in cement?

Lack of motivated contractors in area
price ?

4. On our land build ½ basement 4-5 rows of tires with 4” reinforced cement cap with 18” stem wall to set modular on?

Feasibility ?

5. On our land build a full basement with 8-9 rows of tires and 6” reinforced cement cap with 18” stem wall to set modular on?

Feasibility ?

We are looking for inexpensive solutions that will help lead us to a sustainable future. With the employment situation; I do have more time than money.

I do enjoy packing tires and building. On weekends we are getting a pretty good crew of volunteers helping to clean up the property and build as directed as long as we provide meals. I have experience and/or training in building construction, plumbing, electrical wiring, alternative heating, solar, masonry, Aquaponics, and gardening. I have built a few custom homes from the ground up years ago.

Any input would be helpful and appreciated.

Thanks,
Don and Shery

Can you possibly find someone to move your home for a few grand? 40k sounds ridiculously high. If you can get the modular on the land, live there and build the earthship when you have the time and money. Sounds like a task to try to mold a modular home into an earthship.

To tear down, move, and set up the modular I have gotten bids from 4100 to 7300 dollars. The only bid I have been able to get on a foundation, of any kind, came to a little over 34,000. And that was a cement block foundation with the home on block pillars again.

The cost for the tear down, move, and set up seems reasonable. The cost for the set up on cinder blocks seems outrages. There has got to be better options.

This entire property will be a long term project for us. I just hope it doesn't take us as many years to get back to a flush toilet as it did some of the crew on Garbage Warrior.

I am pretty sure you can get a brand new double wide for 20k. At least here in missouri they go for that. It sounds like you may be better off to sell the modular where it sits,even if you only can break even,just to get out at the land and lessen your bills. Since you are in a pocket of freedom,spend some money on a temporary set up that you can sell when the earthship is ready to move into. Maybe an RV or build a small cabin that can be converted into a guest home or storage. Just throwing some ideas out there.

Thank You. You may just have something there.

I talked to one of the modular home sales lots; if we trade in our 15 year old home they will give us a three year old demo model set up, on life support, on blocks, on our land and they will top it off with a mortgage in our name for only 150,000 dollars. Total cost to us $299,385 over 30 years. I did not sign.

We did start building a test U last summer; To see if I thought I could build with recycled materials. I have a post in the Colorado category "Test U" on it. The test U was going to be finished for a production greenhouse, food storage, and warm shower. We had thought of an RV before and ruled it out because we would have to winter at least one year in it.

You opened up an new line of discussion here.

Option #6
Sell modular. Buy RV for temporary shelter and modern amenities. Build sleeping area into test U for emergency shelter from Colorado Storms. Start building permanent Earthship home.

-- Could be implemented quickly
-- Could be accomplished in stages
-- Covers contingencies for weather
-- Wife thinks it might work

More questions
?- Cost per Sq. Ft. for owner built Earthship
?- County rules on temporary housing

I thought all we really needed was a different perspective. We gained a excellent option already.

Thank you,
Don and Shery

I read about a couple who did the rv thing. They got a bunch of straw bales and put them under and around to keep it warmer in the winter. As far as cost goes,it depends upon how resourceful you two are. Try to find deals,spend the time shopping and you can save some green. I am in the same boat as you, my land is an hour drive from my house. What I am doing is building a 20' i.d. circular hut,with a witches hat style roof,it will have vertical glass windows throughout the front giving it a greenhouse but elegant look. I will catch the roof water,divert it to the cistern and even have a down sized gray water planter around the front. A small bathroom,and we will be set! This is going down this summer,the first course is laid out and nearly packed.I have made dozens of trips out there over the past year since i bought the land,even if i could only pack a few tires by myself i would. I dont have a pocket of freedom though, so i am doing an outlaw build. I am still paying taxes for a decrepit building i tore down,so thats good on paper!