Gaming Setup - Computer Setup

After my girlfriend of two years and I broke it off back in December, I found myself stuck with a huge, expensive house and no one to share the rent with. Spending $1500 a month (which is a lot for a house out in the rural countryside I live in) to shower, shit, and sleep didn't make a lot of sense. I've been interested in building my own home for a long time but never had the capital to do so. So about a month ago I gave notice to my landlord and bought a cheap used travel trailer to live in full time while I save for my house and eventually to live in while I build it.

What is your Internet situation like? Even in a mobile home you must be a bit grounded.

I have a Glock 26 (carry gun), a Daniel Defense DDM4V1 AR15 AND a Henry AR7 survival rifle. All I'm missing is the zombies.

I hope you have the pinky extender for that baby glock. Feels like a toy without it.

I have the same studio monitors. They are totally awesome. Also nice setup.

Yeah they are awesome. And in such a small space they just fill it perfectly.

Haha I love that sub. The goal from this adventure is to save enough to build a tiny house in cash!

You sound like a character from King of the Hill, and that's a good thing.

The experience you gain doing things yourself is invaluable, and oftentimes it is as much fun to build something as it is to enjoy the final project.

NOT to be the creepiest guy on earth but, you camp, you carry, you know about computers, and you use M50's. (yep, totally just looked at your past posts.)

Give him Coolcomputersetups Gold instead of a beer.

Not creepy at all! Let's just say that I have eccentric and diversified interests.

Not sure if being a tease or sarcastic.

Mhm, suuuure. You're not fooling me!

X220... i7 Quadcore... are you sure about that?

Attending LAN Parties with this must be awesome! No need to drive home afterwards, just crawl into bed and crash :-)

Haha I should totally do that now!

Seeing as you no longer have a property which you own, where do you park the Battle Vehicle when you need to use it?

There is an RV park (a really nice one, at that) not far from my old house. It's worked out really nice because space rent with full utilities hookups is like $300 a month. Well below the $1500 a month I was spending in the old house. And the park strictly enforces that only newer model RVs are allowed so it's not trailer trashy at all. Just a bunch of older couples that retired to travel full time.

I stayed in a park like the one you describe, and it was awesome. Totally changed my perspective on trailer parks. Everyone was super nice, rent was like 300-400 depending on the size of your pad, and they had a nice pool with two hot tubs.

Yeah there's definitely a camaraderie amongst RV owners. Especially when you are a young guy setting out on your own to fulfill your dreams. Some of the nicest, most helpful people I've ever met.

How is your internet situation? Curious on this.

I replied to another comment with this info, but the park has free wifi (which is slow during peak usage hours) so I just tether my 4G LTE phone.

So do you have true unlimited plan?

No, we are on a company shared plan with pooled data, but the allotment is enough that I can manage good enough on it. The laptop also has a Gobi broadband card integrated into it but it is only 3G so I usually tether my phone for a faster connection. If for some reason I used more than 10GB or so in a month I would just switch to the 3G line or to the park wifi. I don't game much, it's mostly web stuff which is pretty low bandwidth.

I go through 70GB at least in a month. I would be screwed with fees.

I use PS+ and Uncharted 3 is over 40GB on its own. Yeah, I would be in serious trouble

Sprint doesn't throttle or cap, AFAIK.

This is the part that always turns me off to it, otherwise I'd be living in one of those mini houses on a trailer now. For $400 you could rent a room and have access to a full size bathroom and kitchen. $500 you could rent a whole small apartment. Still, that's a really nice looking setup, trailer and gaming setup. Sitting on a stool would kill me though, I'd end up putting that tank up on its end in the corner, you'd have a taller box but get back your leg room.

So you can travel the world and still be an pale introvert!

Spot on! Actually it's so I can save to build my house. I'm an avid backpacker and really don't like trailer camping. I backpack to get away from technology and modern convenience.

You backpack to get away from technology, but you built a gaming setup you can ride to your backpacking adventures? hmmm.

No. My trailer stays parked at the RV park. I take my Xterra and my dog and not much else to go to a trailhead.

Ok, that makes more sense. That sounds enjoyable.

Yeah living in the Pacific Northwest means I have access to some of the most amazing trails in the world. Doing ten days on the PCT in early Sept. Its funny, even with the computer setup I'm still pretty outdoorsy. My girl and I are starting to look for properties to build on, and we are thinking some nice wooded acreage in Oregon's coastal range.

This is really cool... finally something unique

Thanks man! It definitely isn't something you see everyday but I spend so much time at my computer (what else are you going to do in an 8x18 space, really?) that I couldn't sacrifice my desk and speakers to go down to a 12in notebook.

I love this concept and I am actually thinking of buying a old used air stream and having it refurbished to look something like this for a computer setup/ mobile theater...

That is GORGEOUS. I love Airstreams and would one day love to own one for recreational purposes but even the old ones that need a lot of work are expensive. In contrast, the 2007 Fleetwood Pioneer Spirit 18CK I bought was $7500 and in tip top condition. Still smells new. The thing with smaller RVs and trailers is that people rarely buy them to live in full time. They will buy large Class A motor coaches or fifth wheel trailers. So you know that a small trailer was typically just a weekend recreational thing and didn't see much use.

That is GORGEOUS. I love Airstreams and would one day love to own one for recreational purposes but even the old ones that need a lot of work are expensive. In contrast, the 2007 Fleetwood Pioneer Spirit 18CK I bought was $7500 and in tip top condition. Still smells new. The thing with smaller RVs and trailers is that people rarely buy them to live in full time. They will buy large Class A motor coaches or fifth wheel trailers. So you know that a small trailer was typically just a weekend recreational thing and didn't see much use.

My grandparents retired to an RV, but had to travel during cold months. How are you wintering?

Well I live in Northwest Oregon and although I haven't done a winter in it yet I don't see it being an issue. Some RVs have the holding tanks exposed on the bottom so the cold can cause freezing issues but on my trailer the tanks are enclosed in the chassis, which is heated, so winterizing isn't as big an issue. It also rarely gets below freezing here in the Willamette Valley. Lots of 40 degree soaking wet rainy days.

As someone who just spent two years living in an RV in the Pacific Northwest (with a pretty great gaming setup and even a small server rack), our problem when it got cold wasn't the tanks but the hose. Make sure you insulate the hose and buy some heat tape--less than fifty bucks can save your water supply in the dead of winter.

Yes, a dehumidifier is a must in an RV. Condensation build up is not only unpleasant but also destructive. I have one! I also like my temperatures a little colder than most so I usually have at least one window open. I'd love to see pics of that gaming setup if you had any!

It isn't a mid sixties single-wide in a trailer court.

Very cool ... We're (my wife and I) are in the last year or so before selling everything and buying an RV (38-40 ft Class A) to travel around the country.

Awesome! I will look into it. I noticed there isn't really a gull time RV coolcomputersetups... Maybe I'll create one?

There's barely an RV coolcomputersetups (GoRVing), a full time one would be cool.

How do you remove your poop from the RV? Is there a septic tank built in or something?

Yeah there's a 40 gal grey water tank for sink and shower water and a 40 gal tank for black water which is poop/piss. There is a hose that you connect to the sewer line at the RV park and you dump them as necessary.

How long before you have to empty it?

Depends on how much you use it. 40 gallons is a lot of shit. I usually use the park's rec room showers because my six gallon hot water heater goes quick and I like long relaxing showers. Usually I empty the tanks weekly. All you have to do is pull a handle on the outside of the RV.

This is something I want to do but im not aloud to have a trailer on the property >.<

Well buy the trailer and go live in a nice RV park. Rent is going to be ~$300 a month with utilities included, they have nice shower and laundry facilities onsite if you don't want to use your rig for that, and you can save up tons of money!

Well, the costs on a newer RV will be substantially less than on an older one. I went with a trailer instead of an actual motorhome because I was working on a tight budget (I wanted to pay all cash for it) and with an RV you have to factor in the cost and maintenance of the drivetrain and engine and so forth that a trailer doesn't have. That said, you obviously have to have a tow vehicle to make a trailer cost effective. I already had a Nissan Xterra (2005) which was capable of towing up to 5000 lbs so I was good to go on that front. I paid $7500 out the door for the trailer. I did end up financing a couple of grand on it because my original budget was around $5000 (that's what I had saved up) but the difference between a $5000 trailer and a $7500 one was substantial. That was the difference between a 1999 and a 2007 trailer, with AC versus without, etc. Money well spent.

Awesome! I find myself slowly looking at options like this too. No point in going into large debt, when you can do something like this.

The best way to avoid debt/get out of debt/acquire wealth is to live below your means. I made a lot of very stupid financial mistakes when I was 18-22 and now it's time to reverse that and set myself up for success. How much space does one person really need, you know?

My thoughts exactly. I stupidly got into student load debts. Because you "have to go to college". Now I just want to build my business, pay off that debt, and have something to live in like this so I avoid the debt pitfall again. Also what happened to building up to living in a huge house? So many of my friends seem to skip that and go straight for the 3 or 4 bedroom with just them. Not worth it in my opinion.

My girl and I have zero interest in children, so we are looking at some tiny hyper efficient houses from Tumbleweed Tiny House Company to build on some acreage with our dogs and maybe a horse or two. Just simple, sustainable, debt free, independent living.

I know of a couple that bought a storage shed and converted the inside into a nice livable space. Not a bad idea. Land around here is cheap so i will save up some cash to get some and probably go this route. It really is a smart idea, good luck to you.

Thanks man, and to you as well. I resolved to start living simply, and it is feeling really fucking liberating to slowly lift that burden of debt. Just stay confident in yourself and stay focused and it is an awesome journey.

Member of r/TinyHouses as that's what I want to build one day. r/Frugal is an...odd place. There are certain things I'm not going to do to save money, because my time is worth more to me than the effort it takes to save $1.00 making your own deodorant or whatever. Haha.

Yeah, I stop by once in a while and find something interesting/worthwhile. I'll have to check out r/personalfinance.

This has been my dream since I was a little kid. Young me is super pumped to find out its a cheap dream. Old me is upset with myself for my life goal to be something my family would loathe so much.

All I can say is that you should go for it. The RV/tiny house lifestyle isn't for everyone; you really need to be cognizant of your needs and wants. Living simply means making some sacrifices but saving money and living under your means is very rewarding. Don't let the narrow minded opinions of others stand in your way. I thought my folks would hate it, turns out they embraced the idea.

When I looked at the screens showing Windows, I literally though it was an actualy window.

Haha, I wish my view was that nice. But there's a window behind the LCDs that I obviously can't use so a nice landscape seemed fitting. That's in Oregon, too, so it at least looks local.

This is really nice. I admit that I have a completely unfounded bias against trailers, but this has really turned my perspective around a bit.

Thanks, man. I understand the hate, there is definitely a strong association with backwoods rednecks and whitetrash when it comes to trailers, often because they are poorly kept or old and run down. Is it an ideal living situation? No. Is it an efficient means to an end (saving tons of money)? Absolutely. I'm making the best with what I have and I am happy with that.

Be careful when using desktops and "heavy" electronics in mobile homes / campers. The wiring isn't strong enough and it heats up a considerable amount. Check the walls and make sure they are not hot to the touch around the computer. I don't want to see anything bad happen to your awesome battle-station.

Oh, absolutely. They use thinner wire to save weight and cost. The LCDs draw pretty low power, and the "desktop" is an ultraportable 12in Thinkpad in a docking station with a 65w adapter. I'm not too worried about it. If I had a gaming rig with a 700W PSU I'd definitely not chance it.

I mentioned that sub in a couple other posts, funny you should mention it! The ultimate goal from this money saving endeavor is to build a tiny house on some acreage. Loving some of Tumbleweed's designs.

"Living simply in such a small space really makes you evaluate what is important and what isn't"

Thank you, man. I have an Australian Shepherd and he has some decent energy in him (comes with the breed) so because of the tight quarters we try and be as active as possible. Lots of walks and runs, hiking almost every weekend (going to Drift Creek Falls this weekend), etc. That was my big hang up originally, but he handled the transition very well.

This bot does not work well!

Thank you, man. I have an Australian Shepherd and he has some decent energy in him (comes with the breed) so because of the tight quarters we try and be as active as possible. Lots of walks and runs, hiking almost every weekend (going to drift Creek Falls this weekend), etc. That was my big hang up originally, but he handled the transition very well. ノ( ^_^ノ)

This is way cool! I may have to borrow your idea once I pick up my travel trailer in a few weeks.

Go for it! Just remember to post pics and PM me if you need any help.

You just gave me a great idea when I go roughing it on my MTB trips. By roughing it I mean fine dining and a nice red wine followed by a late night of Magic the Gathering.

We're coming to your town!

This is one of the most interesting things I've seen on this coolcomputersetups

Thanks! Definitely a unique spin on the traditional gaming setup. I love seeing everyone's setups though, regardless of how fancy or basic they are.

I can't help but feel a little disappointed. Hoped for it to transform into a big stompy robot!

So how does this not slide around when you pull the trailer? Sorry if the answer is further down in the thread, in that case call me an idiot.

Everything is bolted down. LCDs included.

So I know this is kind of a different question, but I'm going to be studying network engineering and was wondering what your day to day responsibilities consist of. Also, is the pay good? Thanks

How do you go to the bathroom?

It has a full bathroom and kitchen. Shower, tub, toilet, vanity, fridge, freezer, stove, oven, microwave , AC, etc.

Can we have a tour? :D.

Sure! Here are some shitty phone pics

Looks like you inadvertently shared your delete links for those images...

Both images are already gone...

One of them works, the other one is still deleted.

Okay, uploaded a few more and fixed the broken one.

Thanks I was on my mobile and screwed it up. Fixed!

Still can't see the first image :(

How can you people stand that horrible black line in the middle of your fucking screen?

Nice! I just have a meth lab in mine.

For the sake of your neighborhood, I hope to god you don't keep the RV in your driveway.

Shooting straight with you, I lived in a small hick town of 1500 people and had one of the nicest houses in town. Well manicured lawn, new construction, newer cars in my driveway (2005 Xterra,2006 mini cooper). The trailer was there for a couple weeks while I transitioned out of the house. The trailer itself is only a few years old and in great condition. My neighbors had cars on blocks and rotting trailers and furniture and shit in their yard. So it was hardly the Southamptons.

Hahaha fair enough, sounds like it fit right in! Good luck to your and your girlfriend.

Woah, woah. That was not even supposed to be a backhanded insult. I was not insulting you, you said in your response to my post that your neighbors had cars on blocks and rotting trailers? Me saying it fit in was just a response to what you said--was not meant to be an insult. If I wanted to insult you, you gave me a lot more ammo to work with other than you saying you lived in a "hick" neighborhood.

I think you're forgetting the fact that you're the one that described your neighborhood. I'm sure your RV is much nicer than your neighbors' lawn decorations. I was just saying that you having your RV in the driveway was not out of place then. I'm sure it's much nicer than your neighbors' lawn decorations and I'm happy to hear you take pride in your things.

Duly noted. No hard feelings.

Really man? You went through the effort of commenting just to be a dick?

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