Tiny house semi trailer is a unique mobile home built on a semi trailer chassis, offering mobility and compact living quarters. These innovative dwellings are typically designed to be towed by a truck or large vehicle, allowing for flexibility in relocation.
They provide a minimalist lifestyle with essential amenities such as kitchens, bathrooms, and sleeping areas, catering to individuals seeking a more straightforward, more sustainable way of living or those desiring adventure on the open road. Mark Johnson says,
“Tiny house on foundation plans redefine the boundaries of modern architecture, merging functionality with sustainable design principles.”
Building a tiny house on a semi trailer is a big project. Many people like making tiny houses on trailers these days. Tiny house semi trailer can serve as a solid base for your new home. But before you begin building, many important things must be considered.
Best Tiny House Semi Trailer
There are too many distinct kinds of trailers to list them all. That being said, you must use a flatbed to construct a tiny house on it. This will provide you with the necessary surface area as well as size. Let’s examine the four distinct models of Best Tiny house semi trailer that are available.
1: Deck Over Trailer
The Deck over Trailer is named for its design, where the bed is positioned above the wheel wells. Unlike the Deck between Trailers, there’s no restriction on width due to the wheel wells, so it can be as comprehensive as eight feet. However, it is inappropriate for tiny homes with lofts because it is higher off the ground.
This means you’ll need to choose single story designs if you opt for this trailer. Despite this limitation, the Deck over Trailer is still one of the Popular Trailer Options for building tiny houses.
2; The Deck Between Trailers
The Deck between Trailers is a type of trailer with a flatbed between two wheel wells. This means the bed is lower than the top of the wheel wells. Because of this setup, the bed cannot be wider than the distance between the wheel wells.
However, the good thing about a deck between trailers is that it sits low to the ground, making building a taller, tiny house easier. This trailer is one of the Popular Trailer Options for building small homes.
3: Dovetail Trailers
The Dovetail trailer offers flexibility, allowing for both deck over and deck between models. The back section, which slopes towards the ground, thus the name, differentiates it. Typically used for transporting cars, trucks, or other vehicles, this feature makes loading and unloading easier than standard flatbed trailers.
However, this design can pose challenges when building a tiny home on a flatbed. Additional welding and modifications are necessary to adapt the Dovetail for tiny house construction, adding complexity to the building process. Despite this, the Dovetail remains famous for its versatility among trailer options.
4: Gooseneck Trailers
The Gooseneck trailer offers both deck between and deck over models and gets its name from its unique hitch design. You’ll need a pickup truck equipped with a ball hitch installed in the truck’s bed to tow this trailer. The trailer’s gooseneck extends over the truck’s tailgate to connect to the hitch.
These trailers are perfectly suitable for building tiny houses on them, providing a stable and reliable foundation for construction. As a result, Gooseneck trailers are popular options among those looking to make tiny homes.
Weight Vehicle Rating
When you pick a trailer, it’s essential to know its Gross Weight Vehicle Rating (GWVR). This tells you how much weight the axles can handle. Axles are the parts that hold the wheels, so you need to know how much they can carry.
Let’s say you find a trailer with two axles, and each axle can carry 3,000 pounds. That means your trailer can hold 6,000 pounds in total. But wait! You have to consider how much the trailer itself weighs. If the trailer weighs 2,000 pounds, it can only support a tiny house of 4,000 pounds. And remember, that’s even less when you add in things like furniture, appliances, and people living inside.
Things To Consider About Semi Trailers
It would help if you also thought about other things regarding your caravan. Without a doubt, it must have brake lights and a place for your license plate. If not, driving on the highway will only last for a while. To ensure the lights for the person behind you turn off when you brake, you should also confirm that a braking mechanism connects the trailer and the towing vehicle.
· Types Of Hitch
To suit your car, there are five different types of trailer hitches. A Class V caravan, however, is the only kind appropriate for something as big and weighty as a tiny house, regardless of the model you decide on. It should be more than sufficient that these hitches have a maximum weight capacity of about 17,000 pounds.
Tongue weight, commonly known as hitch weight capability, is another feature. It speaks to the maximum weight the hitch can support, unlike the wheels. Ensure that this is considered when determining the trailer’s final weight.
However, before you begin, you should be aware that attempting to tow your home with either an excessive or inadequate tongue load will result in complications. Once you’ve determined how much your tiny house will weigh, ask the manufacturer about the appropriate tongue load for your towing vehicle.
This implies that a Class V rated ball mount and hitch ball are also required. Luckily, these are affordable and readily available at almost any vehicle body shop. Additionally, it would help if you implemented a weight distribution scheme.
2: Size Of Trailer
Before you start building your tiny house, it’s a good idea to think about what kind of design you want. But there are rules about how big your trailer can be. Your trailer can only be 8 feet and 6 inches wide by law. In most states, your tiny house can only be up to 13 feet and 6 inches tall, although in some places out West, it can be 14 feet.
Your caravan can be up to 53 feet unless you have a special permit. However, a caravan about 28 feet long is sufficient for most tiny residences. Remember, when deciding on the length of your trailer, you must also consider the size of your hitch. That means your setup will be at least four or five feet longer.
3: You’re Towing Vehicle
You can have a mobile tiny house, but moving it around will require a vehicle, even though it doesn’t always have to be attached to the trailer. A full size truck ought to be adequate most of the time. Under the engine, the majority of big SUVs will have sufficient power.
But, a truck is required for towing if you plan to use a gooseneck trailer. The weight of your caravan, the house, and your other possessions will all play a significant role in your chosen vehicle, so there is no one size fits all recommendation. We can draw some broad conclusions to assist you in selecting a car.
Light to Medium Duty: This refers to light trucks with a 3,500 pound payload capacity and several cars and minivans. Since a trailer this small will likely only have one axle, it is unlikely that most tiny houses and trailers will weigh less than this amount.
Heavy to Medium Duty: Up to 5,000 pounds should be no problem for these trucks and SUVs. Now, we are discussing huge trailers with two axles or just a single oversized axle. There are a lot of additional factors at play when using this classification, which presents a challenge. Medium to heavy duty vehicles can have towing capacities that vary by up to 3,000 pounds when considering gear ratio, gearbox, and engine.
Extra Heavy Task: Except in a few cases, we’re only talking about commercial vehicles now. These trucks have a 10,000 pound maximum payload capacity; however, you should inquire with the dealer about the tools required to manage this much power and a trailer of this size.
Extremely Heavy Duty: To make your trailer and small house movable, you’ll need an extremely heavy duty vehicle if it weighs over 10,000 pounds.
Fortunately, determining your vehicle’s towing capacity is a manageable task. With the information provided above, it is easier to narrow down your options. The exact towing capacity can typically be found on the manufacturer’s website or from the dealer.
It’s worth considering that purchasing a truck is only sometimes necessary. You could rent a car equipped with a hitch when needed to save money or simplify things. While you’ll still need to buy or rent a trailer, this approach allows you to tow it to your destination and return the rental truck afterward. When it’s time to move again, you can rent another car for the job.
Alternatively, hiring a tow truck driver is another viable option. This eliminates the need to operate a vehicle with a heavy load attached at the back, saving you the hassle and potential safety concerns.
4: Price Of Trailers
Figuring out the exact price of tiny houses, especially those on trailers, can be tricky. But many people want to know how much the trailer itself will cost.
Typically, a basic flatbed trailer might cost around $3,000. For example, getting a used trailer or making modifications can save you money when you buy a car.
Some people have different opinions about this. Since the trailer is like the base of your tiny house, some suggest it’s worth spending more on it. You can find other ways to save money on things like materials for the rest of your tiny house.
5: Tiny House Specific Trailers
Remember, nowadays, there are trailers specifically designed for tiny houses. These trailers are built with solid steel and sturdy axles. Unlike regular trailers, they don’t have wooden decks. Instead, they have steel beams where you can securely attach your tiny house, making for a safer connection.
Nowadays, these trailers are manufactured by several different businesses. Along with the benefits already mentioned, they can elaborate on any of the previously discussed topics and assist you in comprehending many other facets of the caravan that you require for your tiny house.
Examples of these companies include:
Tiny House Trailers by PJTrailers
Where to Park the trailer?
Finally, let’s talk about where you can park your tiny house trailer. It all depends on the rules in the area where you want to live. Different places have different zoning laws determining where you can park your home. So, before you move your tiny house, it’s crucial to check these laws to avoid hefty fines. Here are some key things to consider:
- Does the area have a minimum size requirement for a home to be considered permanent?
- Can you legally park an RV on the property?
- If yes, can you park it without having another permanent home there?
- Can you live in your RV all the time?
- If you want to park your tiny house trailer in a place that allows other small buildings like studios or guest houses, do the local laws permit this?
- If yes, are there minimum size requirements?
- Does the additional building need to be on a permanent foundation?
- How much is the smallest tiny home?
Though architecturally built luxury residences can easily reach $150,000, most modest houses will cost less than $130,000. The price range for a fully equipped tiny house is $85,000 to $130,000. The price of prefabricated tiny homes can start at $35,000, but additions and add ons will undoubtedly drive up the cost.
What Is The Difference Between Trailer And Semi Trailer?
A full trailer features front and rear axles, with a drawbar firmly connecting it to the towing unit. Typically 40 feet long, it can pivot vertically about the towing unit, steering through the front axle’s direction. In contrast, a semi trailer lacks a front axle, relying heavily on a road tractor unit for support and movement.
Equipped with “legs” (landing gear), a semi trailer stabilizes itself when disconnected from the towing unit. The critical disparity lies in the fact that a trailer possesses a front axle, while a semi trailer relies on the towing vehicle for mobility and stability on the road.
Why Is It Called An 18 Wheeler?
It is named an 18 wheeler because a semi truck or tractor trailer has eighteen wheels—that is, eighteen rims and tires. The semi truck/tractor has eight wheels on the back, whereas the truck/tractor has one wheel on each side of the front (steer axles). There are eight wheels on the trailer the tractor is attached to, for eighteen wheels.
Frequently Asked Question
What Trailer Is Best For A Tiny House?
The Deck over Trailer stands out as the ideal choice for single-story Tiny House RV designs.
Do I Need A Special License To Tow A Tiny House On A Semi-Trailer?
Regulations vary; in some areas, you may need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or endorsement. Check local laws for specifics.
Why Choose A Semi-Trailer For Towing A Tiny House?
Tiny house semi trailer offer stability, weight capacity, and flexibility for various tiny house sizes and styles. They ensure safer transportation with better weight distribution.
