Tiny Houses That Are Built On Wheels
After reading this title, you may be thinking -- “tiny houses on wheels”? What is that all about? If that’s the case, you’ll want to keep reading because that’s what we’ll be talking about here.
The whole idea of a house that is moveable is for people that like to explore, people that don’t want to be rooted to one place forever.
You may or may not already know the benefits of owning a tiny house in the wake of the recent housing crisis - better for the air (because you’ll have a smaller carbon footprint), much better for your wallet, better for the land, and better for your peace of mind. You’ll be able to apply the efficiency skills you use to maintain your tiny home to every aspect of your life. Many tiny houses are just that - miniature versions of normal houses, built on some kind of foundation on a plot of land. But that’s not the only option!
Keeping your small house mobile has its benefits too. Whereas keeping a traditional home mobile would require thousands of dollars in extra architectural supports and probably a military transport helicopter, maintaining a tiny house’s mobility is much easier. If you’re careful with the size and construction, you can transport your tiny house with your own vehicle, by yourself!
If my house is on wheels, does that make it an RV? No. Not really. Nor does it make your tiny house a camper trailer, or a mobile home.
Recreational vehicles have a certain standard for construction, and much of their design involves ways to reduce weight and improve gas mileage. Most aren’t well suited for long-term living. And unless you’re really innovative, your tiny house won’t have an engine.
A camper trailer is a closer relative to a tiny house on wheels, but it’s still not the same. It’s pulled by a vehicle, just like a wheeled tiny home would be, but it’s still meant for temporary use.
Some tiny houses are designed to work like a trailer in that they have similar utility hook-ups. The size of your tiny house on wheels is legally constrained the same way a trailer is - eight feet wide (8 ½ in some states) and a little over 13 feet high, and somewhere between 12 and 70 feet long. But tiny houses are heavier, more permanent, and have higher quality structures.
Mobile homes come in larger sizes, but they require special permission from the Department of Transportation and professional shipping companies to transport them. They can be very difficult to move again. And they’re still not as well-built as a typical tiny home - especially if you build your tiny house with your own loving hands!
Why keep my house mobile? The biggest reason is that you won’t be tethered to one location. Let’s say you find the perfect area for your tiny house. You pour a concrete foundation and build it, or have it dropped off there. You hook up all your utilities and start enjoying your new digs - until three weeks later, when mosquito season begins. You researched the weather, but no one mentioned this! They’re so thick you can’t go outside, which is a big problem in a tiny house. You’re afraid to open the door because it lets in part of the swarm every time you do.
This is an extreme example of course, but there are plenty of other reasons you might not want to be permanently bonded to a single location. Maybe the person who told you that you could drop your tiny house on a corner of his property changed his mind. Maybe you recently got some less-than-desirable neighbors. Moving a non-wheeled house is so expensive. It’s usually cheaper just to buy a new one or tough out whatever difficulties are plaguing your life.
But if your tiny house is on wheels? All you need to do is hook it up to a vehicle and tow it away, headed for greener pastures!
Okay, I want to build my tiny house on wheels. Now what? That’s up to you, of course. There are companies that will sell you a pre-made, well-built tiny house that’s already on its wheels, ready to roll. Some will also sell you a kit and a matching trailer, so you can assemble your house yourself; all you need to do is pick the size and design. You can find a set of little house plans and get the building materials on your own. Or, you can obtain a sturdy trailer and design a true DIY home. How you go about getting your tiny house on wheels is all up to you.
After reading this title, you may be thinking -- “tiny houses on wheels”? What is that all about? If that’s the case, you’ll want to keep reading because that’s what we’ll be talking about here.
The whole idea of a house that is moveable is for people that like to explore, people that don’t want to be rooted to one place forever.
You may or may not already know the benefits of owning a tiny house in the wake of the recent housing crisis - better for the air (because you’ll have a smaller carbon footprint), much better for your wallet, better for the land, and better for your peace of mind. You’ll be able to apply the efficiency skills you use to maintain your tiny home to every aspect of your life. Many tiny houses are just that - miniature versions of normal houses, built on some kind of foundation on a plot of land. But that’s not the only option!
Keeping your small house mobile has its benefits too. Whereas keeping a traditional home mobile would require thousands of dollars in extra architectural supports and probably a military transport helicopter, maintaining a tiny house’s mobility is much easier. If you’re careful with the size and construction, you can transport your tiny house with your own vehicle, by yourself!
If my house is on wheels, does that make it an RV? No. Not really. Nor does it make your tiny house a camper trailer, or a mobile home.
Recreational vehicles have a certain standard for construction, and much of their design involves ways to reduce weight and improve gas mileage. Most aren’t well suited for long-term living. And unless you’re really innovative, your tiny house won’t have an engine.
A camper trailer is a closer relative to a tiny house on wheels, but it’s still not the same. It’s pulled by a vehicle, just like a wheeled tiny home would be, but it’s still meant for temporary use.
Some tiny houses are designed to work like a trailer in that they have similar utility hook-ups. The size of your tiny house on wheels is legally constrained the same way a trailer is - eight feet wide (8 ½ in some states) and a little over 13 feet high, and somewhere between 12 and 70 feet long. But tiny houses are heavier, more permanent, and have higher quality structures.
Mobile homes come in larger sizes, but they require special permission from the Department of Transportation and professional shipping companies to transport them. They can be very difficult to move again. And they’re still not as well-built as a typical tiny home - especially if you build your tiny house with your own loving hands!
Why keep my house mobile? The biggest reason is that you won’t be tethered to one location. Let’s say you find the perfect area for your tiny house. You pour a concrete foundation and build it, or have it dropped off there. You hook up all your utilities and start enjoying your new digs - until three weeks later, when mosquito season begins. You researched the weather, but no one mentioned this! They’re so thick you can’t go outside, which is a big problem in a tiny house. You’re afraid to open the door because it lets in part of the swarm every time you do.
This is an extreme example of course, but there are plenty of other reasons you might not want to be permanently bonded to a single location. Maybe the person who told you that you could drop your tiny house on a corner of his property changed his mind. Maybe you recently got some less-than-desirable neighbors. Moving a non-wheeled house is so expensive. It’s usually cheaper just to buy a new one or tough out whatever difficulties are plaguing your life.
But if your tiny house is on wheels? All you need to do is hook it up to a vehicle and tow it away, headed for greener pastures!
Okay, I want to build my tiny house on wheels. Now what? That’s up to you, of course. There are companies that will sell you a pre-made, well-built tiny house that’s already on its wheels, ready to roll. Some will also sell you a kit and a matching trailer, so you can assemble your house yourself; all you need to do is pick the size and design. You can find a set of little house plans and get the building materials on your own. Or, you can obtain a sturdy trailer and design a true DIY home. How you go about getting your tiny house on wheels is all up to you.