Unpack Node.js to a custom folder and perform paths setup

I want to unpack Node.js (Linux Binaries (x64)) to a custom folder and use it for a few projects. The difficulties appear when I start using console. I can't use npm at all and I've got no idea how to install global modules in this case. For instance, I install gulp -g and even specify the installation path for it, but when I wish to use gulp, it doesn't work. So, again, I do not use package managers and /usr/lib folders, the whole node.js package in one, single folder. How to use it that way if possible at all? There may be a few more Node.js versions there and it would be greate to have a way of setting up the /paths/variables for the selected /folder/version of Node.js.