This Stand-Up Desk Cost over Thirty Thousand Dollars!
From burning more calories than sitting, to making you healthier and happier, to just plain trendy - the tech and blogging world is suddenly all about stand-up desks.
The word is out. Sitting is killing you and stand-up desks are the solution.
Bob Villa will show you how to make one. HermanMiller will sell you one.
Here at DitchingSuburbia we are putting a stake in the ground and claiming the world’s most expensive, most fully-featured, outdoor stand-up desk.
Here are the specifications:
- 34’ total length
- Living quarters attached
- Sleeps 4
- Onboard kitchen and bathroom
- Built-in Wifi
- Overhead awning for use in inclement weather
- Auxillary monitor included
- Lockable office door for security
- Auxillary power outlet available
- Total weight: 9000lbs (Requires dedicated pickup truck to transport)
- Total cost: $32,000!
In All Seriousness
Our RV came with this luggage door intended to provide access to an optional outdoor refrigerator.
Since we didn’t get that option the door instead opened to a 4” deep storage space. As luck would have it the door was at standup height.
To make the space into a usable stand-up desk I:
- Installed a removeable hanging table salvaged from our first RV
- Ran power into the space and installed an outlet
- Added some metal “L” brackets to the rear panel for added strength
- Installed a 22” monitor using a wall bracket
- Installed a hook for my office keys
Voila! With just a few hours work I had created the world’s first stand-up outdoor desk on wheels with living quarters attached!
At work, outdoors, standing up.
A keyboard shelf and second monitor are all I really need.
The desk doubles as an outdoor movie theater.
The desk requires rental of an entire campsite for setup.
Transporting the desk requires a dedicated 3/4 ton pickup truck.
Outdoor Office Challenges
While using the the outdoor standup desk I am subject to:
- Weather. I’m good between roughly 65 and 80 degrees. Much colder or hotter and I’m better off indoors.
- Sun. If the angle of the sun is such that the awning isn’t blocking it then the white sides of the RV make the glare brutal.
- Insects. This hasn’t been a huge deal but at times I’ll go back inside to avoid being bitten up.
- Campsite layout. Depending on the slope of the campsite I somtimes have to stack wood blocks to stand on to get a comfortable working height.
- Neighbors. Being outside can make me look available for conversations by vacationers. If this becomes an issue I either put headphones on or head indoors.
But overall?
I love it.
Outdoor Office Benefits
In spite of the above challenges working outdoors has it’s benefits:
- It gets me out of the RV where I can concentrate better.
- I’m in the fresh air. I can’t imagine working in a building where you can’t even open a window.
- I don’t feel like I ‘waste’ beautiful days being inside online all day. I’m out and able to enjoy it.
- I have variety. I’ll sit some and stand some.
- I watch wildlife. I enjoy the mental break that watching birds, squirrels, rabbits and other wildlife can present.
- The family benefits. If they are inside the RV yet they don’t have to worry about distracting me from work.
So there you have it - the challenges and benefits of using the world’s most expensive outdoor, stand-up desk! You might also be interested in how we get internet and lessons learned about making an income while traveling fulltime.
Other Mobile Offices
If you are curious about how other RVers keep an office in their rig Technomadia.com has a great series with a number of examples. View Part One or Part Two.
Where Do You Work?
Do you have an usual space to work in?
And if you knock over your coffee cup, it won’t spill on your keyboard!
Seriously though, that’s a pretty cool setup!
Thanks Marci!
Ha! I love this. I shelled out for a varidesk (adjustable stand up desk) before the wife and I hit the road this past year.
I have to say, being up to get up and move around outside throughout the day beats standing up for a few hours a day in any office. In all seriousness though, I need an outside stand up desk like you’ve got here.
Love it!
We’ll sell it for $33K…;)
Love this! Funny, clever and practical! Sharing… Our creative office space includes Marc’s ergonomic dedicated bunkhouse office http://www.rvlove.com/2014/10/16/our-rv-bunkhouse-to-office-conversion/ and my comfy passenger cockpit setup with dual screens.
Great set-up! I too bought a varidesk a few years ago because hours of sitting here at my home office were killing my back and it works great but is heavy. I’ll have to keep this in mind for when we hit the road…hopefully in a few years!