Trailers
November 26, 2008 · Print This Article
A typical flatbed trailer is ideal for building a Tumbleweed Tiny House. They are available at many trailer and RV stores. The picture is a typical flatbed trailer.
Often when you purchase a trailer, it will have sides or ramps. That’s okay, you will just need to remove the sides and ramp. It’s actually pretty hard to find a trailer without some sides built in. Sometimes they are referred to as utility trailers.
Trailer sizes are listed as the size of the actual trailer bed. It does not include the hitch or the wheels. For example, a 7? x 14? trailer would be 7? between the wheels. Almost all trailers are
8?6? wide when you include the wheels; and as it turns out, this is the widest possible width for road travel without a permit. The bed of the trailer would be 14? long, and when you add the hitch, it would probably measure 17? long.
Except for the New Popomo, all of our portable homes require a flatbed trailer where the wheels are taller than the trailer bed. The maximum legal road height in the US (without a permit) is 13?6?. None of our homes are taller than 13?5?. But more important than the legal road height is the height of the bridges. Most bridges are in fact much taller than 13?6?, but to be safe, you can not build on a trailer where the entire bed is above the wheels.
The Popomo does not have a loft, and therefore is designed to fit on a trailer bed that is “over the axle”. The advantage to that design is that it provides for a wider house, albeit shorter.
Most trailers come with a double axle. Usually, each axle is rated to hold 3,500 lbs. However, some axles are rated for 5,000 lbs each. Therefore, a double axle trailer will have a total rating of 7,000 lbs or 10,000 lbs. This rating will have a large impact on the price. It is referred to as “GVWR”, which means Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Keep in mind that the GVWR includes the weight of the trailer. So if the trailer is rated for 7,000 lbs and the trailer weighs 1,000 lbs, you can put 6,000 lbs on it. On our website, we list the weight of our houses including the weight of the trailer.
Except for the XS-House, all of our homes require a double axle trailer. The XS-House can be built on a single axle trailer if the axle is rated for 5,000 lbs.
Trailers usually include brake lights, a license plate, and a breaking mechanism. The lights and brakes attach to your car/truck, and when you use the brakes, it will also apply the brakes to the trailer.
There are many sizes for hitch balls, but almost all are either 2? or 2 5/8?. The hitch ball on your car/truck is easily changable, and probably around $30.
Because the trailer is roughly 18% of the material cost, saving money on the trailer is the easiest way to control construction costs. Consider buying a used trailer. craigslist.org is an excellent place to look for a used trailer. Prices for used trailers range from $500-$1500, a savings of $1000-$2000.
I am looking to build the fencil or popomo I have a Toyota Tacoma truck with enhanced trailer package can I tow these homes safely. Thnanks
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To reduce the wieght and cost of the framing can I use metal studs? Thank you, s
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Garth McMurtrey reply on November 28th, 2011 6:56 pm:
I calculated the weight difference for a 20 ft tiny house between steel and wood studs. The steel studs if placed on 24″ centers rather than the usual 16″ centers that wood studs require will save about 400 lbs over wood studs. I didn’t include floor framing in this calc. It will cost about $150 extra for the steel studs.
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I was also wondering about the possibility of using metal studs instead of wood studs to reduce weight?
Also, I am having a hard time finding the pros and cons of using a new/recycled flatbed trailer vs. using a recycled RV trailer… It seems that it would save a lot of money to be able to disassemble and reuse some parts of an old RV (including the trailer assembly). I have found how to figure out the weight of the RV and the cargo weight allowed, I would think that if I can stay within those weight limits with my tiny house I would be fine, right? Can anyone else shed some light on this possibility? I get to wondering why I can’t I find more examples of this, makes me wonder if there is some overlooming reason not to? Is there something I am missing other than it being more work to disassemble an RV? Thanks!
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Tim reply on November 25th, 2011 8:12 am:
Macy,
I was looking for the same information about using an old camper trailer. I’m worried that the trailer wouldn’t carry the load of the house. How did you learn to figure the GRVW of the old campers that i see advertised on Craigslist? Besides looking for the manufacturers advertisements i don’t know how to do this. Also, does anyone know how to estimate the weight of a tiny house? I think i would custom design the house to the trailer i find but then i won’t have the benefit of the weight estimate of the Tumbleweed’s plans.
Please let me know if you find any more information on using old camper trailers for a tiny house.
Thanks
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Macy reply on December 5th, 2011 3:56 pm:
Sorry to be so slow to respond. I found this information by simply asking the people who had the trailer for sale. The GRVW is posted on a sticker in most trailers. I looked at several and did not feel comfortable going with this route because of the length of house I am looking to build (24′), I know by adding up the weights of various materials that my house will be much heavier than most RV’s are intended for. I think it is possible to build one on a used RV trailer if you are cognizant of the weight, I have since seen a couple of examples of successful stories where others have done this.
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Tim reply on December 6th, 2011 10:43 am:
i’m worried about the weight issue too, however i think the only way i could afford to build the tiny house is by recycling a camper trailer. i’d love to learn more about the successful examples you mentioned. even if they are unsuccessful i would be interested in learning about what to avoid when building on a camper trailer.
I have one quick question, and if anyone could answer me I would very much appreciate it. I am an amateur builder and am planning on starting my Wee house this summer. I was imagining building it on a 16′ trailer yet noticed none of Jay’s houses are built on 16′ trailers. Is there a reason for this? Could someone downsize and build lets say a Lusby model type house with out a porch on a 16′ trailer? I am planning on having a side door rather than in the back and both ends of the house to be gable ended to simplify roofing and assembly.
Thanks so much!
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Nathan reply on January 29th, 2012 12:48 pm:
On the houses with porches I don’t see any architectural reason why you couldn’t just cantilever the porch off the back of the trailer. There isn’t much weight being supported back there and so long as you have 60% of your weight on the front of the trailer you could do it no problem. Just move your lights and license plate to the back of the house and build on!
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Re: fastenings would you recommend using angle plates and decking screws rather than nails ?
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does anyone know a reason why i couldn’t use a 20′ trailer for lusby and just add a couple feet either to the porch or to the kitchen? that’s a washer/dryer. i’m planning on building it for my family of 4 and want to strech it as much as possible.
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Nathan reply on January 29th, 2012 12:52 pm:
Yes, as long as 60% of your weight is at the front of the trailer [forward of the axles] you can add the space just fine. In fact with the longer trailer, the axles are going to be further back, and your porch doesn’t add much weight compared to the rest of the house so it would actually be safer to do it this way. I would love to see your house when it is finished! Thanks.
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Steel studs? Do you want it fall apart the first turn you go around? You cant extend beyond the bed of the trailer, morons.
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kelly reply on January 31st, 2012 10:14 pm:
you shouldnt call people morons when you cant even read posts correctly or have the knowledge to support what you are saying.
“you cant extend beyond the bed of the trailer.” they where not asking about extending beyond the trailer bed. they where aking about using a different size trailer and either adding a porch for a larger trailer or eliminating one on a smaller trailer.
and as far as the steel studs go why not? why dont you take a look at featherlite trailers “Featherlite trailers are made with all aluminum frame and skin”. as long as it is braced and fastened correctly I.E. cross braces and rivets i say go for it
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