Hi, my name is Jill. After my father was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, we decided that we didn't want him to spend his last few remaining years sitting around. Instead, we decided to start travelling. We travelled using many different types of transportation, and throughout our sometimes challenging adventures, I learned how to deal with transportation and Parkinson's. To help others who are in the same boat (transportation pun intended), I decided to create a blog devoted to transportation and chronic illnesses or disabilities. In these posts, I plan to look at everything from choosing transportation to travelling safely. Please, explore my blog and enjoy your travels!
Transportation Strategies for the Chronically Ill and Disabled
5 Mobility & Transport Ideas to Consider When Designing a Tiny House
Jesus Collins
Many tiny home builders create their homes off-site because the eventual home of the tiny house is off the grid or far from construction supplies. In other cases, they may build their tiny homes off-site because they are not sure where they ultimately plan to put their tiny homes. If you fall into this category, you have to think about the logistics of moving your tiny home once it's complete.
There are multiple tips and ideas that you may want to implement as you design your home. Here's some ideas to keep in mind:
1. Modify an existing mobile structure
Whilst many of the tiny homes showcased on TV shows and websites features charming wood structures, adorable lofts and innovative designs, that certainly isn't the only approach you can take. The cornerstone of the tiny house movement is sustainability, and you may want to embrace that ideal by utilising something that is already mobile.
To that end, consider repurposing a small caravan trailer, a bus or even an old train cart into a tiny home. In spite of the fact that the last option requires railroad tracks or the addition of new wheels, all of these little homes have mobility built right in.
2. Use a shipping container.
Alternatively, forgo using a mobile option and use an object that is designed to be used in shipping and transporting. Shipping container conversions, in particular, are super fun to do, and you don't have to worry about building the frame for your tiny house. When you're ready to move the tiny house, you hire a crane and pop the container onto a flatbed trailer. Conversely, without a crane, you can load shipping containers onto tilt beds with chains and a bit of patience. Essentially, you wedge the trailer underneath the shipping container and back up slowly until the trailer is completely supporting the shipping container.
3. Build on a trailer.
So that their tiny homes are relatively portable, many people opt to build them directly on trailers. If you do this, make sure that you do not exceed the weight capacity of the trailer you are using. Additionally, try to use a double axle trailer. When it's time to move the tiny home, a double axle trailer puts less weight on the hitch of the towing vehicle, and as a result, you can use a strong ute, rather than a semi-trailer truck, to move it.
However, if you use a single axle trailer, you reduce your load bearing capacity, and ideally, your tiny home should not weigh more than 1,815 kilograms on one of these trailers.
4. Pay attention to road limitations and towing safety precautions.
If you opt to build your tiny home on a trailer or even if you are modifying an existing caravan, you need to keep safety tips and rules of the road in mind. In particular, orient the heaviest parts of your home in the middle of the trailer. If your design has the heaviest parts on the sides, front or back of the trailer, it is likely to sway dangerously during transport.
Additionally, don't create a tiny home that is too long—the total length of your trailer and towing vehicle must be less than 19 metres. If your home hangs more than 1.2 metres off the back of the trailer, plan to have red visibility flags on the home during transport.
5. Outsource moving your tiny home to a transport company.
If you don't want to worry about the safety and logistics of moving your tiny home, outsource the job to a transport company. These companies know how to move your precious cargo carefully, legally and compliantly. Consult with a transport company before you start building to ensure your design meets any safety specs they require.
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