Have House, Will Travel

Many an American yearns for a little piece of land on the seashore or in the mountains but resists the temptation because he can't afford to build. For such frustrated folk Outboard Marine Corp. and Alcoa this month introduced a tidy solution.

Dubbed the "Hideout," it is a completely furnished 10-ft. by 14-ft. aluminum unit with fiber-glass roof and plywood floor. It costs $3,685 (a stripped-down camper's model goes for $2,985), can be trucked anywhere and plunked down ready for use. No sewage lines or foundations are needed. Three adjustable legs attached to foot-square steel plates support it firmly on any piece of relatively solid and level ground.

Designed with the packed efficiency of a small trailer, the Hideout crams all galley, utility, bathroom and storage facilities along one wall, spreads the living area along the other, and leaves enough room in between for a sliding glass door and picture window. An electric "Monomatic" toilet that recirculates its own treated water is good for about a week before its tank needs emptying. A 20-gal. pressurized hot-and-cold water system feeds a galley sink and a hand-held shower head, a three-burner gas range and 2.7-cu.-ft. refrigerator keeps the family fed. Even in cold climes, a gas wall heater, aided by a liberal use of polystyrene foam insulation, keeps things cozy. For the more adventurous who plan to stow their Hideout far from any electricity pole, all appliances are available in gas models. For those who want more of the amenities, a modern porch or flagstone patio can easily be added.

In the "living area," a horseshoe-shaped sofa converts into a roomy double bed, while overhead a 5-ft. by 10-ft. bunk can handle two adults in comfort, three children in a squirming pinch. But probably the best part of the Hideout is its mobility. When the ocean water gets too cold for swimming, a family has only to call a trucker, have him tow the house in toto to a hideout in ski country.

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